YOU are MY WITNESSES ACTS 1:1-14
ACTS 1:1-14
ACTS 1:3 “After His suffering , he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
ACTS 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8 “But you will receive power (du-na-min---as in dynamo, or dynamite) when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses (mar-tu-res—as in martyr) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
WE ARE HIS WITNESSES But, what kind of a witness will you be?
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” Acts 1:1-2
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” Acts 1:7
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES William Carey believed God’s command to go to the ends of the earth was for us to obey! He was willing to go even if no one else would. “Sit down young man. If God wants to reach the heathen He will do it without your help or mine.”
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES We too are instructed witnesses; We have 66 books of the Bible. We all have our own copy no doubt! We have more advantages than any other generation in history.
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them…” Matt. 28:18-20
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, … you are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:47-48
1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
We are disciples of Christ. 1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES We are disciples of Christ.
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” Acts 1:8
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:5
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days”, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”” Acts 2:16-17
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES Derek Redmond was favored to win the gold medal in the 400 meter race at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. 150 meters in he pulled a hamstring.
2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES We are filled with the Holy Spirit. “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:13
INSTRUCTED WITNESSES EMPOWERED WITNESSES PRAYING WITNESSES
3. PRAYING WITNESSES “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14
3. PRAYING WITNESSES “They were all continually united in prayer…” (CSB) Acts 1 :14 UNITY and FELLOWSHIP.
3. PRAYING WITNESSES “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42
3. PRAYING WITNESSES “They raised their voices together in prayer to God…“Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”” Acts 4:24 & 29
3. PRAYING WITNESSES We pray to the Father.
3. PRAYING WITNESSES
INSTRUCTED WITNESSES EMPOWERED WITNESSES PRAYING WITNESSES WE ARE HIS WITNESSES INSTRUCTED WITNESSES EMPOWERED WITNESSES PRAYING WITNESSES
WE ARE HIS WITNESSES 1. INSTRUCTED WITNESSES 2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES We are disciples of Christ. 2. EMPOWERED WITNESSES We are filled with the Holy Spirit. 3. PRAYING WITNESSES We are to pray to the Father.