We Are Witnesses

10TEN

August 30, 2015
Amazing Life Church
“We Are Witnesses”
Greet people
So much comes to my heart each week that I have to
sift the things that I believe that God would have me
share. When I am praying for something real, something
authentic, and something relevant, I always find myself
looking at the story of Jesus. It is fascinating to me how
He was interwoven into every book of the Bible. Types
and shadows of Him are found throughout, from
Genesis to Revelation. I absolutely love this stuff.
I want to begin today in the book of Acts and I want to
make this statement as I do. “The heart and soul, the
constant theme of the book of Acts is the story of Jesus.
Who He is and what He did.”
“If the church was built on that message it obviously
should be maintained, strengthened, and increased by
that message.”
Bear with me as I share some thoughts titled, “We Are
Witnesses”Page 2
Acts 10 tells the story of Peter being called to the house
of Cornelius. There Peter preached this message.
Acts 10:38-43 NASB
38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed
Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He
went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the
land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to
death by hanging Him on a cross.
40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that
He become visible,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were
chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and
drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and
solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been
appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through
His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins.”
Preach
Biblical power and Kingdom authority will be
accomplished by the telling of the story of JesusPage 3
Acts 10:44 NASB
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy
Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the
message.
WOW Preach Again
If you remember a few weeks ago I mentioned a prayer
that I used to teach youth. We prayed it a few times.
Ephesians 1:17-23 NASB
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the
knowledge of Him.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so
that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are
the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward
us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of
the strength of His might
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him
from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the
heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in
the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and
gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.Page 4
The Bible gives us a clear representation of Christ and
His Finished Work. From birth to death and then
resurrection we have been clearly taught who He was,
What He did, and what He provided for those who
follow Him.
Preach My Heart-Have we grown complacent?
Have we shrouded His Majesty with words that have
no power? If so, How do we get it back?
(Tell The Story of Jesus)
I Peter 5:6-11 NASB
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand
of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for
you.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the
devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the
same experiences of suffering are being accomplished
by your brethren who are in the world.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of
all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish
you.
11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.Page 5
1 Peter 5:9-10 Amplified
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—
rooted, established, strong, immovable, and
determined], knowing that the same (identical)
sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole
body of Christians) throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of
all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has
called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
will Himself complete and make you what you ought to
be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen,
and settle you.
Share false teachings on suffering from the passage.
Sufferings translated means, an affliction, an enduring,
and undergoing. In verse 10 suffered means, to be
affected, have been affected, to undergo in a good
sense.
Remember these verses are in response to verse 8.
1 Peter 5:8 Amplified
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be
vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of
yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in
fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and
devour.Page 6
Listen carefully to this.
In the context of these verses they are speaking of the
afflictions that Christians undergo on behalf of the cause
of Christ.
Christ experienced this same inward suffering when His
flesh was tempted in the wilderness and in the Garden
when He cried out to the Father.
The devil is constantly trying to confuse and hinder
your walk with Christ. He is fearful that you will come
to understand the Finished Work of Christ on the cross
and become the overcomer Christ died for you to be.
Everything that happens in your life can be an
amazing testimony of who Jesus is and what He has
done.
Preach Verse 10
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of
all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who
has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ
Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you
ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and
strengthen, and settle you.”