Tag: witnesses
Day 2–Being a Witness
Scripture reading for February 17: Acts 1:8-9 “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, He was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight.”
As a responder, how we conduct ourselves is vitally important to doing our job with excellence and representing our department well. We may rush to the incident, but we are not so hurried that we don’t take time to assess the situation and communicate with those in authority over us and with those in need. In an accident or medical emergency we keep calm and work methodically and carefully with compassion and respect for the individual’s involved. We treat our team members courteously and professionally, avoiding the use of foul language or derogatory attitudes. We should humbly serve, counting those we are serving as more important than ourselves. We enter dangerous situations to save lives and restore order. Our attitudes, actions and demeanor communicate care and proficiency and bring calm to the incident and those affected.
God works to empower His people from the inside out. His gift of the Holy Spirit indwells or clothes each person with God’s character, gifts and graces. God wants us to represent Him well and accurately and the Holy Spirit works inside us to transform us into Christ’s image and character of holiness. We work out our salvation and transformation as God works inside us by His Spirit. (Philippians 2:12-13) We are to be witnesses, not just ‘do witnessing.’ This involves changes inside us that we can’t do by ourselves. We can yield to the Holy Spirit and invite Him to give grace to make changes.
The mission Jesus shared with His disciples was to send them first to their immediate countrymen in Jerusalem with the message. Next they would go to the Samaritans and share and finally to the ends of the earth to all people. They could not do this on their own. God’s power and presence would be with them to give direction, authority, conviction and miraculous signs. (Mark 16:20)
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who is always with me to guide me and empower me. I invite You to work into my heart and character the traits of Jesus Christ that I might represent Him with excellence as I serve others as a responder. Amen.
Week 8–Day 1–The Authority to Serve
Scripture reading for February 16: Luke 24:45-49 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
As first responders, we need power at several levels to enable us to do our job. First, we are given authority to respond by becoming members of a fire department, sheriff’s department, EMT unit, or Highway Patrol. We are given official identification as members of the department and assigned under a command structure where we are accountable to a senior leader. We must have physical strength to do the job of handling heavy equipment, power tools, and driving trucks and vehicles. We learn the knowledge of what to do in various emergency situations and how to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships.
Jesus Christ equipped those willing to follow Him in each area with the authority and strength and understanding to do their job. He also taught them the importance of working together in teamwork and accountability. A major part of this empowerment was the promised Gift of God the Father, the Holy Spirit. The original disciples were told by the resurrected Christ that they must wait in Jerusalem for this ‘Promise’ and that they would be clothed with power from God’s throne itself. The purpose of this authority was to empower them to become witnesses who could effectively proclaim the Gospel message of forgiveness of sin through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
To be an effective member of a team of responders, we must understand authority. All of us are under God’s authority and those He has placed in authority over us. We voluntarily act in obedience to those over us and the framework of directives defining our mission. We are thankful for our leadership and support them fully.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for empowering those responding to You with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for those in authority that You have placed where You want. Teach us all to respect authority and work together to accomplish the mission. Amen.
Killing the Author of Life
Scripture reading for May 8: Acts 3
“And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, Whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And His Name–by faith in His Name–has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”” Acts 3:11-16
God is always at work to challenge the worldly views of man with the wonderful works of His own hand. He used the apostles Peter and John. They were going to the temple to pray when they encountered a lame man begging near the temple gate. As he asked them for alms, they extended their hands and spoke healing over him in Jesus’ Name. The man was instantly healed and his world view changed from beggar to believer and worshipper. This drew a crowd and the apostles addressed the crowd directly about their own need to repent in their hearts towards Jesus Christ. It was these same Jews who had demanded a murderer be released and yelled for Jesus’ crucifixion. They had the ‘Author of Life’ killed, but God had raised Him from death. The healing of the lame man demonstrated Jesus was alive and the Gospel was preached!
The apostles were Jews who had become followers of Christ. They were going to the temple to pray. Their mission was the same as Jesus’ mission, to reach lost people of every nation, beginning with the Jews. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, anointed for the mission and Jesus was with them performing signs and wonders to break through the religious attitudes and hard hearts. Witnesses of Christ’s resurrection declare God’s mission to reach even the hardest hearts.
Have you ever been confronted with a wrong that you have done and not faced up to? Why is it hard to admit to doing wrong and sin? How is this confrontation of those who crucified Jesus an act of selfless love on the part of the disciples?
Prayer: Father, I appreciate that You confronted me in my sin and rebellion and called me to repentance. Thank You for the witnesses You sent to me with a message of Your love and mercy. Give me faith and patience to share God’s love and a hand extended in Jesus’ Name to those in rebellion. Amen.
Power to be Christ’s witness!
Scripture reading for November 5: Acts 1-4
I was saved as a teenager in a little country Methodist Church in rural Iowa. I gave my life to Jesus but did not know about the Holy Spirit or His work on my behalf. I went to college, got married and began to build a family and farming business, still unaware of His presence and power. I rededicated my life and my wife got saved in our mid-twenty’s and we began to hear about the Holy Spirit. The people we were studying the Bible with were different. They had power in their lives and were full of joy. The talked about being filled with the Holy Spirit and we heard some of them praying in a different language. We even heard them singing in other languages as they worshiped and it sounded like heaven!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
This experience began with a promise and command from Jesus right before He ascended into heaven. He ascended into heaven and two men dressed in white told the disciples that this same Jesus would come back in the same manner as He left them. They were to wait for the Promise of the Father as Jesus had told them! (Luke 24:49-53)
On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4, the disciples were all together when suddenly the wind began to blow inside their upper room ! Tongues of fire entered and rested on each one and they all began to speak with other tongues and glorify God. They went out from that room empowered to speak in other languages telling the wonderful works of God to those in the temple. Peter stood up and preached and 3000 repented, were saved, baptized and told to receive this Gift of the Father! (Acts 2:38-41) The church was born and powerful witnesses are still spreading the Gospel throughout the world!
Let me encourage you to seek the Lord for this power. Simply ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:9-13) The Holy Spirit is our “Helper” sent from the Father to live in those who believe on Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-15) He takes the Word of God and reveals it to us. He is our Counselor. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is with us to strengthen us and enable to be a witness. We receive Him when we repent and are born again. We are filled with Him when we seek the Lord Jesus for that power. May God empower you with the Gift of His Holy Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18)
Witness instructions!
Scripture reading for July 31st: Luke 24, Psalm 1, Proverbs 27
Luke 24: 44-49 “Then He said to them, “These are My Words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Your are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
The risen Jesus Christ met His disciples in their grief following His resurrection and encouraged them in many ways. He clarified His instructions to them by pointing them to the Scriptures of Israel and His fulfilment of all that was written of Him. He opened their minds to understand His suffering, death, and resurrection. His purpose was that they might preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His Name to all nations and peoples. This would begin in Jerusalem. But they were not to go in haste, but to wait for the ‘Promise of the Father.’ The Holy Spirit would be poured out giving them power to be His witnesses! They would be empowered with His Spirit, understand His Word, and like Jesus, lay down their lives!
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your wise counsel and Your Gift of the Holy Spirit to live in me and empower me to be the witness You desire. Thank You for understanding of Your Word and the privilege of sharing the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins through faith In Jesus Christ and His selfless sacrifice for our sins. Through the Spirit, fill me with Your wisdom to reach each person You send me to.
Proverbs 27:11 “Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad that I may answer him who reproaches me.”
Powerful witnesses for Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 11th: Luke 10, Psalm 137, Proverbs 13
Luke 10:13-16 “”Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you, rejects Me., and the one who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me.”
Jesus was in the process of sending out the seventy-two witnesses into the countryside around Capernaum. As part of His sending, He pronounced ‘woes’ on Chorazin and Bethsaida as well as Capernaum. These cities had been where He had ministered in power and now these sent-out ones would also minister in power and share the Gospel of grace through believing in Jesus. Jesus told them that their witness was powerful. Those that would hear and heed, were hearing Him and those that heard and rejected them were really rejecting Him. Those that rejected Him were rejecting His Father Who sent Him and them! Like Babylon of old, who had the Jews in captivity for 70 years and destroyed Jerusalem and many residents, these cities and people would suffer for their own rejection of truth.
Psalm 137:8 “O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall He be who repays you with what you have done to us.”
Prayer: Father God, as Your people and Your sent-out witnesses, help us to understand the authority that we have to declare Your truth. As we sow Your Word of mercy through Jesus, open hearts of the lost and bring a revelation of Your love and grace through Jesus. Without You, they will perish and suffer for their own rebellion. We agree with You: You want none to perish but all to come to You in repentance. Amen!
Proverbs 13:5-6 “The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.”
Focus on the mission
Scripture reading for January 24th: Acts 1, Psalms 17, Proverbs 17
Acts 1:6-11 “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.””
Jesus had been with HIs disciples for nearly 40 days after His resurrection. He appeared to them, allowed them to touch Him and taught them, opening their minds to the Scriptures. As He prepared to leave them and ascend into heaven, they asked Him about the time of revealing the full kingdom of heaven. Jesus told them not to be concerned about the timing. Rather, they would receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit soon to empower them in their calling and mission: reaching the lost world with the Gospel Good News. He sent two angels to assure them that He would return just as He promised and He arose with the clouds of heaven in great glory!
Psalm 17:15 “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your presence.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for clearly defining the focus and mission of Your disciples as that of witnesses of You and Your power and glory and saving message of repentance and faith. Thank You for the assurance that we will see Your face again and dwell in Your presence forever. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit in me, I set my face towards Jesus Christ, Wisdom from God, and ask to be used as a witness today.
Proverbs 17:24 “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.”
Obeying God, not men!
Scripture reading for April 12th: Acts 5
Key Scriptures: Acts 5:27-33 “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this Name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those who obey Him.””
Obedience to God has rewards now and in eternity. The high priest was in authority over Israel and had brought the apostles in earlier and sternly commanded them to not speak or teach in the Name of Jesus. The apostles, in opposition to these instructions from spiritual authority, had continued to boldly preach repentance and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name. Many signs and wonders were also being reported through the Name. Peter, when directly confronted, plainly told the high priest that they must obey God rather than men. He then accused them again of crucifying the Lord Jesus Whom the Father had raised from the dead and exalted to His right hand. This was the ultimate position of spiritual authority. Listen to the witnesses!
Acts 5:38-39 “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, . . “
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the Holy Spirit and the boldness of Your witnesses recorded for us in Scripture. Deliver me from the snare of fearing men and empower me to obey You alone.
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
Witnesses add souls!
Scripture reading for April 7th: Acts 2
Key Scriptures: Acts 2:32-38 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”‘ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “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.”
In chapter two, Luke faithfully records the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection. It was on that day at 9:00 am that the waiting and praying disciples, men and women, about 120 in total, were filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. This empowered them to go out of the upper room speaking in new tongues, and telling forth the wonderful works of God in language inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those Jews gathered from the nations in the temple courts heard them extoling God in their own languages and were perplexed. Peter stood up to preach and explained what was happening as fulfilled prophesy. He pointed them to Joel’s and David’s prophesy and called them all to repentance and baptism. Their sins would be forgiven and the promise of the Holy Spirit was for them as well, Jew and Gentile! Hallelujah! Three thousand were added to the 120 that day!
Acts 2:39 “For the Promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the amazing grace and power You freely gave to Your disciples and all who would receive their word preached. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit that my witness will add many more souls to Your Church! Multiply the witnesses through me Lord!
Acts 2:41 “So those who received his Word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Promise, power, preaching!
Scripture reading for April 5th: Luke 24
Key Scriptures: Luke 24: 44-49 “Then He said to them, “These are My Words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
While He was with His disciples, Jesus Christ had repeatedly explained the Scriptures and plainly told them of His coming death, burial, and resurrection on the third day. Now, after the resurrection, on the evening of the third day, Jesus met with His disciples and showed them His glorified body of flesh and bones. They were full of joy and amazement but struggled to believe it was really Him. Jesus then again explained everything about Himself from the Law and Prophets, opening their minds to understand. He explained the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins that was for all nations and peoples, beginning with the Jews in Jerusalem. He declared them “witnesses” and told them to wait in Jerusalem until the “Promise of My Father” came upon them. This would clothe them with the power needed to fulfill His mission of reaching the lost world.
Acts 1:8 “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 ends of the earth.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for fulfilling all the Scriptures, which are Truth. Thank You for Your amazing plan to reach the whole world with Your appointed “witnesses”. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit and power to do Your will on earth as in heaven! I open my mind and heart today to better know You through the Scriptures.
Acts 2:38-39 “And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.””