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Read: Acts 1-6
Background:
Acts was written by Luke. It was the first account on sharing the Gospel message after the ascension on Jesus Christ. The Book started with the apostles still lost on what course of action should they do next. (Acts 1:6) And Jesus Christ before ascending to Heaven gave them this instruction: “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)What is a witness?
According to merriam-websters.com – witness is attestation of a fact or event: testimony.
What comes from being Christ’s Witnesses?
I. It is the work of the Holy Spirit
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4)It was not on their own that Peter and the other apostles were able to proclaim who Jesus Christ is in the midst of the crowd gathered in Jerusalem at that time. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Nor do they say that it is by them that people will be saved. Rather here’s what they Peter said: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
So, if you are trying to reach out to someone, bear in mind that it is not by you that that someone will be saved. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that people will come to know Jesus Christ.
II. Fellowship with believers
‘All the believers were together and had everything in common.’ (Acts 2:44)‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ (Proverbs 27:17)
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
It’s amazing these people devotes themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). You can see the hunger for the Word of God that these people have, the longing and excitement that these people have to know more of who Jesus Christ is and the overflow of the Holy Spirit in their lives that they cannot help but speak of the word of God boldly.
III. Miracles and Blessings
‘Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” (Acts 3:6-7)‘All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possession as their own, but they shared everything they had.’ (Acts 4:32)
This doesn’t mean that if you cannot perform miracles, then the Holy Spirit is not in you. No! It means that whatever situation you are in right now; it will manifest how great Jesus Christ is in your life. It means that you no longer see the gravity of your situation, rather you see something of more importance and more valuable than what you have. It’ not just a matter of perspective, it’s a matter of faith. It’s amazing how believers would just give everything they had to be shared by all. It’s because they found something greater than money.
(Ananias and Sapphira – what’s for the Lord is the Lord’s. Mathew 6:24 says 'No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money'.)
IV. Suffering and Persecution
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)“They seized Peter and John and, because it is evening, they put them in jail until the next day.” (Acts 4:3)
Peter and John was even told by the rulers, elders and teachers of the law not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). They even arrested the apostle and put them in jail (Acts 5:19).
Conclusion
We cannot be witnesses of Christ on our own. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that is given to us through Jesus Christ. We gather and have fellowship with other believers and longer find satisfaction from the world but we delight in the salvation we have through Jesus Christ. And above all, let us embrace that suffering for Christ’s sake is part of this all.“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
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