Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Good to see you here all this evening. We have a few but faithful people here tonight right? Are reading for Max one today tells a story of Jesus ascension. We learned that Jesus promised the disciples the father would send them the Holy Spirit. And they were to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came to them. The disciples asked Jesus, if Jesus would now restore the kingdom to Israel, Jesus replied, That is not for them to know the time the Father has fixed. Jesus told them they would receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. And they would be Jesus witness in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and Samaria, and to all the ends of the earth. When he had said these things, as they watch, Jesus was lifted up, and the cloud took him out of their sight. Then two men and white robes appeared and asked the disciples, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven. I will talk focus tonight on Acts, chapter one, verse eight. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. What is the Christian witness? A Christian witness is someone who knows the testimony of Jesus speaks it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's look at the first part of the definition. In the first part, we are told that a Christian witness is someone who who knows the testimony of Jesus. We know the testimony of Jesus by bearing being hearers, and readers of the God's word. The apostles and disciples were with Jesus three years, being taught by Jesus. They were watching, listening, and learning from Jesus. They took this knowledge, and after Jesus ascended, they spread the world, the word throughout the known world at that time. We go to church where we listen and learn God's Word through the sermons. The Lutheran witness issue of February 2010, stated, God shows up when his word is proclaimed. And he speaks to His people today no less clearly, and truly than he did through the prophets of old. Jesus teaches us through the words of the sermon, we hear, and we are like the disciples listening to Jesus. Another way we learn about Jesus is through the liturgy, which is directly from God's Word. In the design, divine service. God serves us by speaking his word to us. Wherever Christians gather, God's word is that the center and is his gathering point. By that word, God speaks to us in the service. The heart of the divine service is the word of God. The Holy Spirit instructs us and changes our hearts. You may remember Martin Luther is explanation of the third article of the Apostles Creed, which states I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ, my lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened being with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers and enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps up with Jesus in the one true faith in this Christian church, when we confess, day after day, he fully forgives all our sins. This is also emphasized in Jeremiah, chapter 24, verse seven, which says, I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. This is a great comfort to us as we know we have a God who loves us enough to send his son to take our sins on himself and die for our sins. What is a Christian witness? A Christian witness is someone who knows the testimony of Jesus speaks it by the power of the Holy Spirit. The second second aspect of the Christian witness is we speak the testimony. That is we talk about Jesus was friends, relatives, neighbors, people we may know, we talk about Jesus and actually use his name in our conversations. Or we may have a chance encounter as Philip did in Acts chapter eight. Philip and the Ethiopian unit are traveling the same road. Phillip overheard the unit reading Isaiah and Philip asking if he stood understood what he was reading. The unit said to Philip, about whom I asked, does a prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? Then Philip opened his mouth. And beginning with this, Isaiah 53, verse seven scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. What was the result of this encounter between Philip and the unit, the unit believed and asked to be baptized, then the unit went away on his weight, way rejoicing. What a joy it is to be able to share the gospel with someone. You never know when you'll have the opportunity to witness to. So it is good to have this words ready. So you will be ready. The word comes to another when we open our mouths and speak and they hear the word. What are some possible barriers to witnessing? People may be thinking, I can't do it. I'm afraid of offending someone. Afraid I don't have the right words, and won't speak the words correctly. There is a long list of things to fear. But we only are called to plant that seed. Others may water it as it says in first Corinthians three verse seven, I planted Apollo's watered, but God gave the growth. Some may think I don't know how to witness or know enough to witness. But if you know the Apostles Creed, you know enough to witness. Have you tried and it didn't work? Did you feel discouraged? But God does for us as He gives us the Holy Spirit. So our objection, objections do not matter. We have the backing of the Holy Spirit. What is a Christian witness? A Christian witness is someone who knows the testimony of Jesus speaks it by the power of the Holy Spirit. And third, we go out by the power of the Holy Spirit. And this is the answer to our personal witnessing fears and problems. Halls and Peter's preaching had different results.
Immediately after Saul was converted to Paul, he preached that Christ is the Son of God in the synagogues. All who heard it were amazed and said, Isn't this the man who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem? But Paul confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. But Paul learned of the plot, the gates were watched day and night to capture and kill Paul. But at night his disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. On another occasion, Peters preached the gospel and got him arrested and he spent the night in jail. And this account Peter and John were speaking to the people teaching about Jesus and proclaiming His resurrection from the dead. The priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed by the message The Sadducees laid hands on Peter and John, and put them in prison until the next day. Despite this, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of men who believe came to about 5000. We speak the words about Christ, who he is, and what he has done for us. As Peter did, we don't worry about the results. And we let the Holy Spirit do the work of the Holy Spirit works through the words, even if you feel like you don't know enough. Don't feel good. No, he does the work. We say the words about Jesus, the Holy Spirit is responsible for the result. We use the power of the Holy Spirit to plant the seeds and rest in the promise that he will complete the work. We do not try to convince another we speak the Word and the Holy Spirit takes over the Holy Spirit does the conversions in the hearts of the here's the here's my believe, or not believe. You also may remember Peter sermon at Pentecost in Acts chapter two, when many did believe we hear so those who received his word are baptized, and there were added that day about 3000 souls. In conclusion, I made three points about a Christian witness. A Christian witness is someone who knows the testimony of Jesus speaks it by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai