A. INTRODUCTION
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 , NLT).
1. After My resurrection, First Sunday, I told My disciples to Go. “As My Father has sent Me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21, NLT).
2. Second Sunday. “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:13, NLT). Two new commands:
a. Preach to everyone in the world, not just Jews.
b. Go to every place.
3. Third Sunday – task. “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . . teaching these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matt. 28:19-20, NLT).
a. Public identification with Me.
b. Colonialize them into assemblies.
4. Fourth Sunday – message. “I would suffer and die, and rise from the dead on the third day . . . proclaim this message with authority” (Luke 24:46-47, ELT).
5. Fifth Sunday – geography. “You will be My witnesses . . . Jerusalem . . . in Judea . . . Samaria . . . the ends of the world” (Acts 1:8).
B. WITNESSING
1. Go tell everyone, in all places, at all times, using every effective means, to reach all people.
2. What is a witness? Tells what:
a. They saw,
b. Heard,
c. Experienced.
3. Sometimes your witness involves what:
a. You experience in your mind.
b. Share your emotions and,
c. Tell what you did, i.e., your decisions.
4. The church obeyed.
a. “Witness with us of the resurrection” (1:22).
b. They went everywhere witnessing. “Everyone heard them” (2:6).
c. All who dwell in Jerusalem (2:14). “Into the temple” (3:1, 5:43).
d. “House to house” (5:43). “Out to the cities round about” (5:16).
e. “Scattered abroad everywhere” (8:4), “Samaria” (8:5), “Gaza” (8:26), “Caesarea” (10:1), “Lebanon, Cyprus, Antioch, Syria” (11:19).
5. What makes a believable witness?
a. Credible – testimony of a changed life.
b. Growing – “As new born babes – grow” (1 Peter 2:2, NLT).
c. Indwelling Jesus. “You in Me and I in you” (John 14:20).
d. Desire. Called a “burden” (Ps. 126:6).
e. Love. “The love of Christ controls us” (2 Cor. 5:14)
f. Willing to serve them. “Since I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet” (John 13:14).
g. Believe in power of the gospel. “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 7:16).
h. Be ready. “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:14, NLT).
i. Be wise. “They that be wise shall shine . . . shall turn many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3).
j. Let power of Holy Spirit flow. “When the Holy Spirit comes . . . you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8, NLT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
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