Witnessing – Acts of Apostles

Luke, in his Gospel, shows what Christ began to do on earth. Acts shows what he continued to do by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels we hear Christ’s teachings. In Acts we see the effect of his teachings on the Acts of the Apostles. The book tells of the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles. All through the Old Testament we find God dealing with the Jewish people. In the New Testament, we find him working among all nations (People like us other than Jews).

When you go through Acts 1 and 2 we see the disciples hear the last words of instruction from Jesus. He spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was then that Jesus gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). They waited. The church was born on that day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3). It was 50 days after the crucifixion. From this time Pentecost was not to be a Jewish feast, but the dawn of a new day, the birthday of the Church of Christ.

At that day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and thus endowed for special service. They not only were enabled to preach in power but also could speak in the different tongues represented that day at Jerusalem (Acts 2:2-4). The wonderful thing about Pentecost was not the blowing of a violent wind or the tongues in fire, but the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit that they might be witnesses to all people. If we do not have the desire to tell others of Christ, it is evident that we do not know the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some mocked, they have had too much wine (Acts 2:13). People always try to explain away the miracles of God on natural grounds. But rationalism can never give a reasonable explanation of anything that is divine.

The theme of first sermon by peter was that Jesus is the Messiah. The real power of the Holy Spirit was shown when Peter, rose to speak and 3000 souls were saved. In Acts 2:47 we see, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. This is the real objective of the church.

In chapter 3 we see a great crowd gathered around a lame man who had been miraculously healed. Peter took advantage of the circumstances to preach his 2^nd sermon. Again he told them that Christ, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah. So powerful were the words of Peter and John that a total of 5000 men now turned to Christ. The leaders commanded the apostles not to preach. The work of the Spirit is always a signal for Satan to work. Whenever the Spirit comes to bless, the adversary comes to curse.

When the church became unselfish and sold all they had and gave it to the apostles, we see deception from Ananias and Sapphira. But the Holy Spirit revealed the truth and they were punished with instant death, for claiming to give all to God, they had kept back (Acts 5:4-5).

In chapter 6 we see a meeting of the church was called and seven members were elected as deacons (Acts 6:1-7). The first two deacon’s names were Stephen and Philip (Acts 6:5). The opposition was centred around Stephen. He was just a layman, but he did great wonders because he was full of faith and power. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church. The second deacon, Philip preached Christ. But God called him to leave and go south, which leads to Gaza (Acts 8:26). On the way he met an Ethiopian. When you are in the will of god, things do not just happen. No joy or sorrow comes into your life except by God’s permission.

Saul made havoc of the church. The more moral and intelligent a person is, the more harm that person can do when controlled by Satan. The story of Saul’s conversion is one of the most thrilling accounts in history. He was a man breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). Then we find him preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He was the apostle to the Gentiles, as Peter had been to the Jews.

From Acts 13 through 28, we see Paul and the Church at Antioch. It was here that a new name was given to Christ’s disciples. They were called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

While Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel and suffering all kinds of persecution and hardship, many at home in Jerusalem were stirring up the most troublesome question – “Must a Gentile become a Jew, accepting Jewish law and ceremonies, in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1). Paul and Barnabas stated, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The law doesn’t save anyone.

In Paul’s third missionary journey, the last one, he told farewell at every place. He knew it was a final farewell (Acts 20:37-38). Paul tried to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and between slave and free.

The book tells about being witness. “You will be my witness” (Acts 1:8). Salvation comes to this world through Christ alone (Acts 4:12), hence people must know him. Christ’s plan includes us. Persecution almost always has spread the gospel like wind spreads fire. This has been true all down through the centuries since our Lord lived on the earth. I pray that this point of time, when persecution is at high, the Spirit of God will strengthen you to carry his word to others so that they can receive the greatest miracle, Salvation.

Son of God - John

The author of the Gospel of John was “son of thunder”, the disciple whom Jesus loved. In this gospel, we are shown that the baby of Bethlehem was none other than “the one and only, who came from the Father” (John 1:14). All things were made by him (John 1:3), in him was life (John 1:4), yet he became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). No person can see God; therefore, Christ came to declare him.

We open the gospel of John and find an unwritten question – What do you think of Christ? In the first 18 verses, John discusses about Christ and gives us the answers. It opens like the book of Genesis, Jesus portrayed as the Son of God. Our Lord had no beginning. He was in the beginning. He is eternal. Christ was before all things, therefore Jesus is no part of creation – He is the Creator. “The Word was with God”. He is the Second person of the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit). He is called “The Word”. He came to declare God, to tell about God.

“If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well” – John 14:7.

In the first chapter we see John the Baptist confessing that he knew Jesus was the Messiah because he saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him (John 1:32). So he says, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).

We see in John 1:35-40, Christ calling his first disciples. It is different from that of Luke. Both the gospels we see Andrew being called. But in John, the second person’s name is not mentioned. But in these verses it is mentioned that Andrew went and called Peter. So the person who was with Andrew when Christ called them was not Peter. But when you read the last chapter of John, we see John himself testifying that he is the person who was not mentioned by name in the Gospel. So technically we can prove that John, not Peter is the first disciple. But that does not matter in our way towards our life destiny. Jesus is our main objective, not who his first disciple is.

In the public ministry of Jesus, we see him giving wonderful teachings about eternal life to Nicodemus (John 3:16) and the new birth (John 3:6). Nicodemus was a moral upright man, yet Christ said to him, “You must be born again” (John 3:7) in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Being born again means, being born in Christ so that you live a life with Christ’s characteristics. Another place he saw an immoral woman face-to-face and showed her what kind of life she was leading. Christ did not condemn her or pass judgement upon her, but he did reveal to her that he is the water of life. People are trying everything, but they still are unhappy and restless. She went back and her simple testimony brought a whole town to Christ (John 4:1-42). She can be called as the first ambassador of Jesus Christ.

The raising of Lazarus is the final sign we see on John’s Gospel. Here the great claim Jesus made for himself to Martha is recorded, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:15-26). He talks about eternal life.

In John 13:18-30, Jesus foretells his betrayal by Judas. Christs last week can be seen from John 13 to 17. We call it Passion Week.

·         The triumphant entry into Jerusalem

·         The cleansing of the Temple

·         The conflicts in the temple

·         The discourse on the Mount of Olives

·         Preparation for the Passover

·         The Last Supper with his disciples

After announcing his going, the Lord gives his disciples “a new commandment”, that they love one another (John 13:34-35). Discipleship is tested not by the creed you recite, not by the hymns you sing, not by the ritual you observe, but by the fact that you love one another. After he ended his talk with the disciples, Jesus spoke to the Father.

Immediately following his prayer, Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane, knowing all things that should come upon him. Jesus was now ready to give the real sign which he told in John 2 – “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” John 2:18-19.

Almost as sad as Judas was Peter, the deserter in the hour of need, denying three times that he had any connection with Jesus. This is a lesson for us – overconfidence.

Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, “place of a skull”. They crucify him afresh and put him to an open shame. Salvation is costly. Christ died for our sins. It cost him his life.

From John 20 we see, on the third day, the tomb was empty. The grave clothes were all in order. Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus appeared 11 times in all after resurrection which helped his disciples to believe that he was God. Jesus wanted every doubt to be removed from each one of his disciples (Thomas the doubter John 20:28). They must carry out his great commission and bear the Gospel into the entire world (John 20:21).

In conclusion, people had sinned and lost the image of God, so Christ “the image of the invisible God” came to dwell in people. No person could see God; therefore the only begotten Son who was in with Father came to declare him to us. Jesus is God himself in human form, coming to earth. Jesus is the witness of the Father to humans. Jesus knew the Father and came to tell what he knew. He wanted humans to know the Father as he knew him. In John 1:13, we see what salvation is not – being born of natural descent. The new birth when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour makes us “children of God”.

I pray that you accept the free salvation which is being given by Christ Jesus by praying and asking to forgive your sins and make you his child so that you will be born again and be his child.

God of Glory - Luke

Luke is the gospel for the sinner. It brings out Christ’s compassionate love in becoming man to save man. Here we see the God of Glory coming down to our level, entering into our conditions and being subject to our circumstances.

Luke alone tells the story of the visit of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Only Luke tells of Jesus visit to the Temple when he was twelve years old. As a man Jesus toiled with his hands; wept over the city’ kneeled in prayer and knew agony in suffering. Luke alone tells of healing Malchus’s ear (Luke 22:51).

This gospel is also for the outcast on earth. It is Luke who tells of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:33), the publican (Luke 18:13), and the prodigal son (15:11-24), of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2) and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:43). Luke records Jesus’s compassion for the woman of Nain, and the depths of his mercy to the woman who was a sinner.

There is a controversy we see in calling Christ’s disciples. In Luke we find Christ’s first disciples as Peter and Andrew, where as it is different in the gospel of John. We can see that when we go through the John’s gospel summary.

After the resurrection Jesus proved everyone that he was a real man with flesh and bones. In Luke, no less than eleven appearances of Jesus are recorded, following his resurrection – not only to individuals, but also to crowds. Three times, we are told, his disciples touched him after he arose (Luke 24:39). He ate with them, too (Luke 24:42).

As Jesus put out his hand to bless them, “he was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:51). Now, he is no longer a local Christ, confined to Jerusalem, but he is a universal Christ.

In this gospel Luke speaks more of prayers of our Lord. Prayer is the expression of human dependence on God. Why there so much working and activity in the church and yet so little result? The answer is simple – there is not enough private prayer. Even Christ, being the son of God, prayed for the holy presence.

I pray that you spend more time with God than men, to see results in your life and decisions.

Servant of God - Mark

When you read the Gospel of Mark, we can easily determine its objective – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” – Mark 10:45. Mark was not trying to prove certain statements and prophecies concerning Jesus. His only object in writing was to tell clearly certain facts about Jesus: That Jesus is the Son of God. He proves this not by declaring how he came to earth, but by showing what he accomplished during His brief period on this earth.

John, whose surname was Mark, is the writer of this Gospel (Acts 12:12,25). He was the son of Mary, and cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch and was the cause of a serious disagreement between them (Acts 12:25; 13:5). Finally he became a great help to Paul (Colossians 4:10-11; 2 Timothy 4:11).

There is no introduction in Mark. The other Gospels have lengthy openings, but there is none in Mark. The opening verse says, “Gospel of Jesus Christ”. He adds, “Son of God”, to show Christ’s divine glory. Miracles have a leading place in Mark, as parables have in Mathew. Twenty miracles are given in Mark in detail. These miracles of Jesus were proof of his mission from God. Through his miracles, Jesus inspired faith in many of those who saw and heard him.

An important thing we find in Mark 1:35 is about Prayer. “He arose very early and went out of the city to a lonely place and prayed”. If the son of God needed to pray before he undertook his work, how much more should we pray. Perhaps if we lack success in life, it is because we fail at this point.

From Mark 8:31 to Mark 15:47, we see Christ’s direct claim to be King and the suffering and rejection he had to go through because of that. Jesus tells his disciples that he is to be rejected by elders, chief priests and scribes (Mark 8:31), he is to be delivered by treachery (Mark 9:31), he is to be put to death by the Romans (Mark 10:32-45), and he is to rise again the third day (Mark 9:31).

In Mark 16, we see Christ being exalted and his words that his disciples are to take his place, and he will serve in and through them (Mark 16:20). The command rings with urgency of service. Not a corner of the world is to be left unvisited; not a soul to be left out.

The greatest sin of every age is the rejection of Jesus Christ. Everyone who had heard the Gospel must either accept the Lord as Saviour or trample him underfoot. There are people who made their choices right by accepting him. But the ones who accepted him should show his characteristics.

I pray that you accept Christ and live with his fruits and gifts to bring others to salvation. 

Gift of God - Matthew

The Gospel of Mathew starts with the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. This statement links Christ with two of the great covenants God made with David and Abraham. God’s covenant with David consisted of the promise of a King to sit upon his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:8-13). Gods covenant with Abraham promised that through him should all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3). David’s son was a King and Abraham’s son was a sacrifice. Mathew opens with the birth of a King and closes with the offering of a sacrifice.

Jesus is associated with the Jewish nation. Mathew used wisdom in not alienating the Jews who might read the story. He is convincing them that this one fulfilled every prophecy spoken concerning their promised Messiah. He quotes freely from the Old Testament. On every page he is trying to connect the Gospel with the prophets and show that all of their teaching is being fulfilled in the person and kingdom of Jesus Christ. Mathew, the author is no doubt a Jewish believer in Jesus (Mathew 9:9; 10:3). He was a tax collector at Capernaum under the Roman law when Jesus chose him as one of the 12 disciples. In Luke we find his other name, Levi.

The Gospel of Mathew breaks the silence of 400 years between Malachi’s prophecy and the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Israel was under the domination of the Roman Empire. No man of the house of David had been allowed to sit upon the throne for 600 years. Mathew traces Jesus line back to Abraham and David to show he was a Jew. He shows Jesus as of royal descent, the King, the promised ruler of Israel. Of the 3 gospels, Mathew alone tells of the visit of the wise men from the east (Mathew 2:2).

The birth of Jesus was followed by 12 years of silence until his visit with the teachers in Jerusalem. Then silence shut him in again, with the only word “carpenter” (Mathew 13:55), to let us know what he was doing. Jesus took 30 years of preparation for 3 years of ministry.

Even though Jesus Christ was son of God, when he came to the world, he prepared himself to serve people. If you want to be in medical profession, you need to spend lots of time and years for your preparation. You cannot serve God without preparation. Even Paul had good knowledge on the Old Testament, before he saw Jesus and took his apostolic work.  I pray that God will help you in the preparation and call you at the right time to serve him.

When you read the book of Mathew in New Testament, chapters 3 to 16, we see the proclamation of the Kingdom. First, we see in Mathew 3:2,3, the voice : “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, a voice of one calling in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”. In Mathew 4 we see, Jesus, the King stepping from his personal and private life into his public ministry. He is facing a crisis. Satan met him. After the blessing of Father God in Mathew 3:17, Jesus comes forth to carry out the plans for which he came into the world. He was led into the wilderness to face the first major conflict of his public ministry.

Jesus preached sermons from mountain. This sermon contained the laws of his kingdom (Mathew 5-7). After more than 2000 years, this Sermon on the Mount has lost none of its majesty or power. The teachings of this sermon overtop all human teachings. Christ shows us that sin lies not just committing the act, but in the motive behind it as well (Mathew 5:21-22. 27-28).

We see amazing miracles in Mathew 8 and 9. He met human needs. There are twelve amazing miracles in these two chapters.

Jesus not only preached himself but he also gathered others around him. A King must have subjects. He would reflect his light through human instruments. He says, “You are the light of the world” (Mathew 5:14). Jesus still has a great message for the world and he needs us to carry it. He was calling men and women into his companionship to train them to carry on his work. In Mathew 13, through parables, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to

·         The sower

·         The weeds

·         A mustard seed

·         A net

·         Yeas in the dough

·         A hidden treasure

·         A pearl of great value.

These parables, called the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 13:11), describe what the result of the presence of the gospel of Christ in the world will be during this present age until the time of his return when he will gather the harvest (Mathew 13:40-43).

Jesus found his helpers not in the temple among the doctors or priests, nor in the colleges of Jerusalem. He found them on the seashore mending their nets. Jesus did not call many mighty or noble, but rather chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). We can see in the Old Testament how God called David who was least in his family with all his brothers serving as Royal soldiers. Yes, sometimes God will select the fools who are willing to carry on his word without questioning him. At this moment the question I want to ask you is, are you a person who is willing to be a fool for God so that God can use you to do mighty things?

When you read the Gospel of Mathew 12, we see much controversy among the leaders concerning Jesus. Then we see a Life’s most important question in Mathew 16:13. “What do you think of Christ?” This is the question we need to ask ourselves. Peter replied to this question, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”. It grasps Christ as the Messiah, the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Hebrew prophets. This confession is great because it exalts Christ as the son of God and lifts him above humanity and crowns him with deity.

Mathew 21 to 28, we see the Triumph of the King. On the morning of Palm Sunday it was understood that Jesus was to enter the city. Jesus for the first time permitted a public recognition and celebration of his rights as Messiah-King. The end was approaching with awful swiftness and he must offer himself as Messiah, even if only to be rejected.

Christ’s authority was brought into question as he went into the temple and ordered the merchants out, overturning their tables and telling them they had made the house of God a den of thieves. A bitter controversy followed. “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words” (Mathew 22:15). He bade farewell to Jerusalem until he would come again to sit on David’s throne

Much of Jesus discourse in Mathew 24 and 25 is devoted to Christ’s second coming. He exhorts us to be ready in the parables of the faithful servant (Mathew 24: 45-51), the ten virgins (Mathew 25:1-13) and of the talents (Mathew 25:14-30).

Although a large number of disciples believed in Jesus and followed him, the opposition of the religious leaders was bitter and they determined to put him to death. On the grounds of blasphemy, and of claiming to be King of the Jews, thus making himself the enemy of the Roman emperor, Jesus was delivered up by Pilate to be crucified. After hanging on that cross, the saviour died, not from physical suffering alone but of a broken heart, for he bore the sins of the whole world. We hear his triumphant cry, “It is finished”. He paid the debt of sin and became the world’s redeemer.

Jesus was put in Joseph’s tomb, and on the third day he arose, as he had said. People thought he was dead and his kingdom had failed. By his resurrection, Christ assured his disciples that the king still lived and that one day he will come back to establish his kingdom on earth.

The climax of the book is found in his great commission. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mathew 28:18-20).

Christian faith is no national or racial religion. It knows no bounds of mountain or sea, but it envelops the globe. We are called not to run the world with armies and make people submit under the sword, nor are we called to bribe people and make them submit to get the numbers. A follower of Christ is called to be an example to the people around him and teach them and show them how to live a Christ centred life and pray for their needs so that the Spirit of God will turn them in the path of living water. May God bless you to be a faithful servant of the most high.