Jesus Wants You for His Witness

Introduction

Turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter one verse six. We will be studying Acts 1:6-11. We are on our 2nd message in our book series on Acts. Last week we looked at the thought you can count on God’s Word because it is factually accurate and instructive. And with these two truths we can move forward and be Christ’s witnesses.

Perhaps you have you asked your child to do something and their mind is so set on what they think should be happening that they completely miss what is asked and about to happen? Are perhaps you have been the persons asking the question and are practically blindsided by what comes next. The disciples found themselves in a similar situation. They are rightly expectant of Christ’s coming kingdom, but they don’t understand what is happening next in God the Father’s game plan. They are ready to rule and reign with Christ. (Matt 19:28) While the disciples are not wrong for what they expect, they just have their timing messed up and must get themselves in line mentally with God’s game plan.

Acts 1:6–11 “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

D. Jesus told his disciples they would be his witnesses.

P. Every born again believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit and ought to be a witness for Jesus.

T. When we witness sometimes there may be questions we wish were answered, there may be unanticipated answers, astounding revelations after his answer, and whatever happens we may move forward assured by Christ’s coming return.

As you witness for Christ...

1. We may ask God for unnecessary answers. (Acts 1:6-7)

Acts 1:6–7 “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

Explain

This is Jesus final resurrection appearance and the disciples are eagerly awaiting to see if Jesus at this time will restore the kingdom to Israel. Let me remind you the nation of Israel’s leadership delivered Jesus to the Romans to be crucified just over a month earlier. The leadership still rejected Jesus. The disciples are still rightfully expectant, and Jesus does not rebuke them for their asking, but tells them the timing is in God the Father’s hands.

Jesus’ disciples as well as all Jews had always understood the Messianic prophecies of Jesus 1st coming and 2nd coming as happening at the same time. However, there is a term called progressive revelation. Progressive revelation is when God gives further insights over time into what He said in the past that become apparently clearer as He unveils His plan for history to mankind. Progressive Revelation has been aptly described as a mountain range. If you are climbing a mountain, you may see the silhouette of a mountain behind the other mountain. It looks like a simple up and over, but when you reach the mountain’s summit you find there are a number of mountains in between.

Lest you get to critical in your mind, let me show you one of many Scriptural examples. Turn with me to Zechariah 9:9–10 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem, And the battle bow shall be cut off: And he shall speak peace unto the heathen: And his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, And from the river even to the ends of the earth.” Many more could be given including Psalm 2; 100; Isaiah 11-12.

Jesus first coming and second coming are not distinguished. The reason being is that the intervening valley of progressive revelation was unseen before this time. Now at the summit where Jesus ascends from the Mount of Olives a new dispensation of time is opening up. We are not just moving from crucifixion to conquering Christ ruling the nations. There is an unknown gap of time in between the two events.

The disciples were still anticipating their rule with Christ upon the twelve thrones in his kingdom. Had not Jesus promised this to them? Had not they been fighting about who’d be greatest? Christ’s coming to the disciples was still a singular event. Remember Jesus himself foretold his sufferings to his disciples on at least three separate occasions. Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34) In harmony with Isaiah 53’s prophecy Jesus would come as the suffering servant, but the power hungry disciples didn’t understand. Throughout Jesus ministry and even during last supper, the disciples were jealously vying for sitting on Jesus right and left hand when he came in his kingdom. (Mk 10:35-37; Luke 22:24-30)

At the last supper Jesus promised a place of honor in His kingdom. Luke 22:28–30 “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Why is their a delay? God has other intervening plans.

Look at what Jesus says in verse seven of our text. Acts 1:7 “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

God the Father controls history. He has put under his own authority the timing of events. We don’t have to know what they are. Our job is to trust and obey.

However, we see an exciting mystery of God unfolding. The church will be birthed in Acts 2. A mystery, the Apostle Paul states, unknown until this age. The mystery is the church.

Argue

Why? The nation of Israel rejected Christ’s offer of the kingdom and is set aside for now as a consequence of their unbelief.

As Romans 11:25 states, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Matthew 21:42–44 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” That nation is the holy nation of Jews and Gentiles joined in one body the church during the intervening age.

The church age was a mystery that had formerly been unrevealed. Ephesians 3:8–10 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

Illustrate: When your parent has a surprise as a kid and you want to know what it is and when you can have it. God also wants us to eagerly await what he has in store for his children, but we must remember as Christ there will be hardships as we wait as Christ suffered.

Apply

We often want to know the things that are unnecessary for us to know. We are connivers many times trying to manipulate things to our advantage. Although God’s knows and controls what is going to happen, Jesus’ response reminds us that God does not owe us an answer. We must simply trust and obey Him.

Are you trusting God’s timing this morning? Jesus answer was a bit shocking to the disciples. He wants them to do something other than judging on twelve thrones in his kingdom.

2. We may receive an unanticipated answer. (Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Explain

Jesus tells them they will receive power from the Holy Ghost.

Jesus must first depart before he can come. I think the disciples may have forgot Jesus was going to leave. The disciples seemed to have thought that perhaps Jesus would reign and they would be judges teaching the people all that Jesus commanded.

Jesus reminds them they will receive power from the Holy Ghost/Spirit, not to be a great judge, but to be a powerful witness.

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.

The word witness is martyr. We use the term martyr for someone who paid the ultimate price to bear testimony. God may not call you to die physically for His sake, but he does tell us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. One of the ways we do this is having a testimony that is holy and a mouth boldly proclaiming what Jesus did for us. He died to be the Savior of the world, and whoever repents of their sin and turns in faith to Christ alone for salvation is gloriously saved!!!

The scope of our witness is first at...

Jerusalem - our home and community.

All Judaea - Clare County

Samaria - Inner city Saginaw, Pontiac, Detroit, maybe the dumpy part of Lake.

The uttermost part of the earth - the world. John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

If we need the Holy Ghost to witness, we are entering a spiritual battle. When you give the Gospel you are not to be dependent upon your intellect and personality. If Jesus gave us the Holy Ghost, it is because we can’t do the job without God’s help. Witnessing is spiritual warfare. Every time we witness, we need the Holy Spirit’s power. We need pray Satan be bound, and the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of the Lost. We need to speak God’s Word and ask for it to be unhindered and expect the Gospel to save.They had wanted power to reign with Christ, instead they are promised power to witness.

The disciples would not understand this as a multi-national mandate until Acts 8 and 10 when the Samaritans and Gentiles also recieved Jesus and God also gave them the Holy Ghost just like they had received.

Argue

The disciples had probably anticipated the rule of Christ from Jerusalem and the Gentiles learning of Christ that way. Not through their individual witness and being sent out as Christ was sent out as a servant.

The thought of their Jewish Messiah being the Savior of the world was hard for them to get their minds around.

Yet it was something in their Scriptures over 700 years before. Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.”

Why do we need the Spirit?

Without Christ we can do nothing. The Holy Spirit is functionally under the Jesus authority and does his bidding.

The pattern for Christ was suffering then exaltation, so we will need the Spirit’s power to witness through suffering.

2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

Colossians 4:3 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”

Being a witness for Christ will cost you, but its return on investment are out of this world.

Illustrate: Sam Houston/Uncle Sam’s I want you poster for the army. Jesus wants us to enlist as his witnesses, in fact if you are a Christian you already are a witness. The question is what kind are you?

Apply

You may not have anticipated that when you became a Christian that you were to be a witness, but their is not a greater privilege on earth. We get to be God’s instruments to turn people away from darkness of sin to the light of God and the forgiveness available to them in Jesus Christ. Literally, a soul saved is a soul saved from hell’s fires and kept eternally safe in God’s hands.

While you may not have anticipated your responsibility with being saved. Anticipate your opportunities to give the Gospel by learning to explain the Gospel.

Have you explained the Gospel to anyone before?

You know being a witness for Jesus is simply telling what Jesus did for you.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

What happened when God saved you? Explain that. Remember without your witness how will people even have a chance to believe. God didn’t give this commission to Pastors. He gave it to every born again Christian.

My job as a pastor is to help equip you to obey and be a witness. So study to show yourself approved.

Memorize the Romans Road and show yourself an approved workman to God. (2 Timothy 2:15).

Be ready to share by setting apart God in your heart. (1 Peter 3:15)

If you are always distracted by your agenda you won’t be the witness God wants you to be.

Make it a priority to witness even when you are going about your business.

Live a life becoming of the Gospel.

Seek the Holy Spirit’s help.

Ask God to give you witnessing opportunities and receptive hearts.

Challenge others to trust Christ as you have. Give your salvation testimony.

3. We may be amazed by what follows His answer (Acts 1:9-10a)

Acts 1:9–10 “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up,...”

Explain

Jesus ascended to heaven before their very eyes. The cloud blocked their vision and Jesus was received back to heaven. (Acts 7:55)

They couldn’t believe their eyes and stood dumbfounded at what had just taken place.

Jesus was gone.

Argue

God didn’t want them walking by sight, but by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

God wants us to walk by faith with Him. Sometimes he brings spiritual leaders and friends in our life to depend on, but our dependence is to on Christ first.

Illustrate: A Spiritual leader dying and going to heaven. This will force you to develop a more personal relationship with God and learn to walk with God yourself.

Apply

While Christian friends and family may go home, God intends for us to continue witnessing for Him.

Jesus is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. He intends to do his work through you and I. Are you a willing witness for Jesus.

I am shocked. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I am scared. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

God may bring circumstances and losses into our lives, yet in those things God wants us to still be his witness.

4. We may rest assured Christ is coming again. (Acts 1:10b-11)

Acts 1:10b–11 “...behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Explain

The two angelic messengers reminded them that Jesus would come the second time.

Jesus will come again to rule the world.

Before the second coming Jesus promised he would come again for us.

The Rapture: John 14:1–3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

We will be saved from the hour of temptation/Great tribulation of seven years that will come upon the whole world.

Revelation 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Ater the rapture and seven year tribulation Jesus will come the second time. Every one will see him. Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

At the second coming the Jews will recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

Jesus will rule the world a 1000 years and on into eternity. Revelation 19:11–15 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Jesus will reign with his saints. Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

The tribulational saints and those whom come with Jesus in the clouds with REIGN with Jesus.

Jude 14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Revelation 19:14 “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

I rest assured that Jesus will continue to literally fulfill his promises. So, I in hope will witness like the disciples of Jesus. Jesus is coming again and we must work before the time is up. We are in the final seconds. We don’t want to be losers. Let us be faithful till the end.

Argue

Some say no. Jesus will return spiritually. There have been false cults and theological teachings, but the Bible says he will come visibly. Jesus was handled and seen in the first coming and the Bible says he’ll come in like manner again.

Illustrate: We would have been blasting away about our Lions today if they’d won. Instead, we are mourning. We have the Gospel of Christ. We can be saved from our sins. This is the greatest news ever.

Apply

Be faithful to be a witness to Jesus salvation and warn of his coming in judgment.

Warn others that Jesus will judge their sins and they must turn to the Savior before it is too late. The cost of rejecting Christ is you will not have life. Instead you will have eternal death/separation from God in the Lake of fire eternally.

Be urgent in your witness. 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Jesus is coming again.

Conclusion

What are you intent upon? Have you been missing the memo:God wants you for his witness.

Will trust the Holy Spirit to empower you to be his witness?

Purpose to be His witness today.

Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior.