Untitled Sermon (10)

Acts 1:8

Witness 

When you look the word witness it can have multiple meanings. The first definition that I like is someone who usually sees something take place. We all can testify to say we have witnessed somethings transpiring in our lives. We have witnessed season changing we have witnessed births and death. We have witness trials and tribulations, we have witnessed natural disasters, we have witnessed heartbreaks and failures. We have witnessed all these things that have happened but as a believer with us witnessing all of the things I listed and even more, we have also witnessed the power of God who triumphs over all that we have been through. From us witnessing his power it brings me to my other definition of witness is when you testify about what you have seen take place in your life and not only that but you are able to live a life style where others can witness you. As a believer we have been called to be a witness. I know it’s still early in my sermon but can I just get 7 people and I’ll make 8 that can say I have been called to be a witness. Rather if it’s me witnessing with my lifestyles or testifying with my mouth, my assignment is to be a witness. I don’t care if my name never gets called, I don’t care if I ever get the chance to be on the major platform…. Our job is not for  the lights but our job is to be the light (2x). We have too many people who don’t want to witness but want to perform. We have been called to be a witness and spread then Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just ask your neighbor Are you here to perform or are you here to witness.  

Antithesis: However if we be real today we can say that there has been times in our lives that we don’t want to be a witness. There are moments in our lives where we have seasons in life where we want to just stop caring throw in the towel and quit. We told God we weren’t coming back. This has happened because we are tired and it seems like every time we take one step forward we get knocked back 2 steps. 

And These moments in our life have caused us to think and we just don’t understand why life is the way it is. And we constantly ask ourselves is it worth it to continue to serve and be a witness. We constantly have been praying and serving and fasting and crossing every T and dotting every I and We are still suffering…. This has caused us to want to throw the towel in and forget what we have been called to do. And if some of us be honest today we have been in a season like that before where we have quit on God where we have thrown in the towel because we just couldn’t take it anymore…. I know that’s not nobody here but it’s the people at the church down the street but these are real moments in the life of the believer where they have wanted and have given up on God. 

However we thank God that the season of giving up didn’t last that long because we had a reminder down on the inside of us on why we couldn’t quit and why we had to get back in the game. This happened because we had and assignment attached to our yes. Just look at someone and tell them there is an assignment attached to your yes. And every time you want to quit there is something fighting down on the inside that keeps you coming back again.  Lied on but you still coming back, talked about but you still coming back, mistreated but you are still coming back. You keep coming back because you understand the assignment that’s attached to your yes and there is something down on the inside working on the outside oh what a change in my life. You realize that all things are working for your Good. Just look at someone and tell them I can’t quit now.  I know I wanted to quit but something won’t let me and every time I try to turn away something happens where I want to give up but there is fire shut up in my bones to get back in the game. And I came to prophesy to the person that’s been going through and wants to give up that you will be like Jeremiah and it will be like fire shut up in your bones. Don’t give up on God cause he won’t give up on you he is able. Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above we can ask or think. DONT GIVE UP CAUSE GOD CAN DO IT. 

Thesis: As a witness we must realize there are certain things we must do and be equipped with to be a witness. 

We will learn through our text today what it takes to be a witness and not only what it takes but what we must have. The texts give us some instructions that we must take heed to leading up to the outpouring of Gods Holy Spirit. 

Point 1: As a witness God will reveal things to you. 

Let’s Dive into the text. The Bible says in verse 3 Acts 1:3 “During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.”

This shows me That if you are a witness God will reveal and teach you some things. The text says that he showed himself to the disciples giving them proof of what had recently just transpired which was the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus comes and proves to them that I am the same one who went through all that I went through. Church if we are going to be a witness we much take what he reveals to us and believe it. I don’t know about you but is there anybody here that can say christ revealed himself to me to prove that he was who he said he was. He revealed to me that he was a healer when he healed me. He revealed to me that he was a deliver when he Delivered me. He revealed to me that he will be a way maker, He revealed to me that he will be a friend to the friendless, He revealed to me that he can do anything but fail.

This is a reason now why I praise the way I do and why I worship the way I do because he revealed some things to me. So excuse me if I get loud excuse me if I buck but you Just don’t know what God has done for me. Just believe we ought to take a pause for the cause and shift for the lift right here and Give God praise for revealing himself to us. God will show and reveal himself to us so we can be witness

Not only did reveal himself but he revealed and discussed the Kingdom of God with His Disciples. In this discussion he reveals that he wanted the advancement of the kingdom. This is why he is revealing himself to us. He wants us to help advance the Kingdom. We are living in a day and age now where we have believers making it about themselves and not about God. The times we are living in we need Gods Kingdom agenda to be first in our lives. Especially in the World we live in with the President that we have we must stay Focus on the advancement of the Kingdom. The bible even tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God. We are seeking after titles and positions but we must learn to seek the Kingdom first. As a Witness Our Job is to seek the Kingdom First. Just nudge your neighbor and tell them seek the kingdom. You been searching and seeking everything else first but I come to encourage you today its Time to Seek the Kingdom First. We got work to do! You been complacent Long enough you been in your feelings long enough its time to shake out of because we got work to do for the Kingdom. Seek the Kingdom first. We have been called to advance the Kingdom.

So First we understand that. As a Witness God will reveal some things to you.

Secondly, As a Witness you must listen to his instructions and remember his Promise.

Okay Its right there in the text if you have your bibles open and your apps unlocked. The bible Says in Verse 4 of Acts 1:4 “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.”

Brothers and sisters we must realize and understand that it is key to listen to Gods instructions. When you listen to Gods instructions you reap the benefits of listening. We are living in an hour now where we don’t want to listen to the instructions of God. But if you listen to the instructions things will work out for you. The disciples understood that it was key to listen to his instructions because he had something promised towards them. Many times we miss out on what God wants to Give us because we have failed to listen to his instructions. Its Just like when you were in school. The teacher made a promise to the students if they listened to the instructions and direction they would Go to the Playground but if you failed to listen you would go back to class.

Brothers and sisters we should always want to listen to the instructions of God because if we listen to the instructions of God, there is something that he promised to us that we will have. We see here he tells his disciples to stay here in Jerusalem and this is because the promise he had for them he Told them in John 14:26 “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

His promise was that he would send them the Holy Spirit that would advocate on our behalf and help us to be reminded of the things that he has done.

I don’t know about you but as a witness every now and then I need a reminder of the things he has done. This reminder essentially helps us to keep pressing on and to continue to follow his instructions.

Brothers and sisters your bible tells that God is Not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that he should repent if he said it God is going to do it. We as witnesses and believers have a book full of promises that we can take at his word. Just look at your neighbor and tell them I can trust his Word. Is there anybody here that Can say i will listen to his instructions. We must do this because if not we will begin to think we can do it ourselves and start trusting in our own ability but the Bible tells us that if we trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding but acknowledge him in all our ways he will direct our pathsss………

So thats all I come to encourage you to do today is wait on the promise. Don’t get weary in well doing…… But Continue to wait.

For they that wait on the Lord he shall renew there strength…..

For if you continue to wait God will blow your expectation For Eyes have not Seen……

So As a witness God Reveals things to us

As a witness you must listen to instructions and remember his Promises.

Finally as a Witness you will be empowered to Spread the Gospel.

The text says in the 8th verse of Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

As I hasten to my close church family we see here that this Gift of the Holy spirit is empowering us to be a witness to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And brothers and sisters if you read through the book of Acts you see the spreading of the Gospel taking place and it Should still be taking place today. Just look at your neighbor and ask them when is the last time you spread the Gospel. We got christians spreading Gossip but not the Gospel. But I come to encourage you today that its time to start spreading the message about Jesus Christ again. We share everything else but the Word. But Its time to spread the Gospel for everything is going down but the word of God. Church we got to spread the Word because thats all that matters. Heaven and Earth will pass away but my Word will Stand Forever.

Spread the word! Spread the Word in season and out of season. When they want to hear it and when they don’t want to hear it.

So we see here that different things happened on the day of Pentecost. They were all in one place with one accord then a mighty rushing wind came through and they began to speak in other tongues and were filled. And we thank God for this but we have to realize and understand that we have been called to be a witness by spreading his gospel with our lifestyle. Yes the laying on of hand is good, yes the speaking in tongues is good, yes the shouting and bucking is good but our Job above all of that is to be a witness.

Not only that but Pastor Gray I found out something about a witness in the court of law when you are a witness and you go to testify on the witness stand you have to testify and present the evidence you have against the person or business. Rich if the the evidence is adequate and substantial enough they will take that witness and put them in a program called the witness protection plan….. my brothers and sisters when we give our life to Christ and become a witness we have a witness protection plan because we are able to testify that can’t nobody do me like Jesus can’t nobody do me like the Lord. You might be asking what is my witness protection plan. My witness protection plan is that one of these days and it won’t be long you will look for me and I’ll be gone. I’m going where the wicked shall cease from troubling……

I got to leave you but there is a story…..

There was once a man who lived in a small town. Every Sunday, he would get dressed in his best suit, grab his Bible, and head to church. He didn’t say much, didn’t sing loud, and never preached a sermon. But every Monday through Saturday, he lived like Christ—he helped his neighbors, encouraged the youth, prayed for folks when they were down, and always greeted everyone with kindness and a smile.

One day, a young boy from the neighborhood was asked by someone, “Do you know Jesus?” The boy paused and said, “I’ve never met Him… but I think Mr. Johnson might be one of His cousins.”

Church, that man never stood behind a pulpit, never led a revival, never spoke in tongues, but he was a witness. His life testified. His kindness preached. His actions declared the goodness of the Lord.

You may never be famous. You may never have a microphone. But somebody is watching you. Somebody is reading you. You might be the only Bible they ever see.

So live like a witness. Talk like a witness. Love like a witness. Because somebody’s salvation may come—not through what you say—but through what you show.

So go ahead and let your light shine. Be a witness at home, at work, in the street, and in the struggle—because when the Spirit empowers you, your life becomes living proof that Jesus is real!

Why am I going to be a witness because of what he did for me…..