The Burden of Witnessing

Intro

Text - Acts 4.18-20

Acts 4:18–20 NASB 2020

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Title - The Burden of Witnessing

Background

In chapter 4, the religious leaders of Israel were disturbed bywhat the disciples were doing in the temple grounds. They were preaching and teaching the people about the Christ and His resurrection from the dead

the apostles were put in prison and tried the next day before the priests

the apostles were warned not to speak again in the name of Jesus

but the apostles were steadfast in what they were doing -

it is not just a commandment

it is the fact that they have seen and heard that cannot be denied and that were too good to be kept in secret!

Main Point

A believer of Jesus Christ is not only a beneficiary of His sacrificial work on the cross.

A true believer, by virtue what he/she has seen and heard, becomes a witness to what he/she now believes.

But why are so many Christians today not actively witnessing for Jesus Christ?

What is lacking in these Christians?

Is it possible that many church goers today have nothing to witness about?

What makes a true witness?

A witness is someone who has seen and heard

The disciples saw and heard

Acts 3:14–15 NASB 2020

14 But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

Acts 5:30–32 NASB 2020

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 10:38–41 NASB 2020

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 that He did both in the country 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 be revealed, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

It takes hearing and seeing to become a true witness

Nathaniel - John 1.45-51

John 1:45–51 NASB 2020

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Saul - Acts 22.14-15

Acts 22:14–15 NASB 2020

14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear a message from His mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard.

God wants to be seen and heard - Isaiah 40.3-5

Isaiah 40:3–5 NASB 2020

3 The voice of one calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the uneven ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A witness is the result of becoming a true believer.

It takes a true believer to produce a true witness.

it is true that faith comes by hearing the word of God

A true believer is one who has seen and heard about a certain thing

illustrations

israel was God’s witness - To Nathaniel - “you will see greater things”

Isaiah 43:10–12 NASB 2020

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. “I, only I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me. “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And I am God.

A witness is bound to what he has seen and heard

the apostles are bound to the things they have seen and heard

Acts 4:20 NASB 2020

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

1 John 1:1–4 NASB 2020

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

Everyone of us is bound to what we ahve seen and heard

Hebrews 6:4–6 NASB 2020

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Conclusion