Special thanks to Brother Terry Herndon for leading the class Sunday. Of course it was Mother's Day and we were a little slim on attendance, but had a good class in which we focused on the key verse of the Book of Acts - Acts 1:8.
Here are some of Brother Terry's notes:
"Power, Witnesses, Witnesses to Whom?" Acts 1:8
Parallel passages: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23
This commission was not only for the disciples, but for you and I today. It was used by the early believers to establish the church and for the churches to grow in numbers. This same commission should be used today for the same purposes.
Our human flesh is weak. It has no strength, neither should we have confidence in it. Therefore, Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power.
POWER - Dynami (dynamite) meaning strength, might, virtue, might, ability; Acts 4:33; 6:8; 8:10; 10:37-38; Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:11
So the power that was received was the power to be witnesses and it was the power of God which is freely given to those who believe in the name of the Lord.
HOW IS THIS POWER RECEIVED? By the Holy Ghost coming upon you. When does this happen? Cf. Romans 8:9-11, 15
WITNESS: martyria (martyr)
Acts 6-7 reveals the witness of Stephen. Paul in Acts 22:20 stated that when the martyr Stephen was stoned, that he was a witness.
A witness is one who should be willing to undergo persecution and even death. A witness is one who tells others of past events that he/she saw (or, in our case believe).
WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE? WHAT IS THE WITNESS?
Acts 1:22 be a witness with us of His resurrection (Jesus' resurrection)
Mark 16:20
Luke 24:46-48
WHERE SHOULD THE MESSAGE GO? To all the world.
Where is our Jerusalem? The street we live on.
Where is our Judea? This community, city, county, state
Who are our Samaritans? Those of other cultures, races, etc.
Believers we have been given the power (ability) by the Holy Ghost to be witnesses (tell the world about Jesus). 90% of believers have never told anyone what Jesus has done for them.
John 4:35 "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
Congratulations to one of our members - SUSANNE COOK graduated from Itawamba Community College this past weekend. Good job! Wish we could have been there with you to celebrate, too.
Keep on praying. Thank God for the person of the Holy Spirit Who helps, or wants to help us, pray and pray effectively.
God bless you this week! Tell at least one person this week what Jesus has done for you.
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1 comment:
A good reminder that we should be a witness for our Savior. Any time a passage is repeated in Scripture it holds a special command or instruction from God. One of the ways that we know that we are saved is that we bear fruit. A Christian bears fruit by sharing his/her faith with others. Our purpose is to tell, the Holy Spirit waters and Christ harvests.
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