Power to Witness - Pastor Stuart Price

• 10/08/2017
• SLC Stuart Price

 

 

Power To Witness

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth Acts 1:8

 

Jesus gave very clear directions to the disciples before he left this earth. In Acts 1:4-5 He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. Jesus said John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

 

The book of Acts is the sequel to Luke. In Acts 1:1 Luke references his ‘former book’ and picks up where he left off. In Luke 24 he is restating the Great Commission Challenge Jesus gave. ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’ But here he says ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.’ It would seem that they should have gone with all haste to carry the news of the risen Saviour to the ends of the earth.

 

But He wanted them to be equipped for the task.

 

When God calls, He qualifies, He equips and He prepares. Hebrews 13:21 So the instruction to wait for the Holy Spirit, who will anoint you with Power to break every yoke and strong hold of the enemy.

 

We are given the power so we can tell people about Jesus, enabling them to know Him too. We are enabled by the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Spirit and receive supernatural power to be His witnesses as He has commanded. As we avail ourselves of this power, God will use us as He changes people’s lives for all eternity.

 

To be a witness, is to share what you have seen and heard. To keep it simple, because it is your life story. If you saw a car accident, and had to go before a judge. You would not need to write it down! You would simply say what you saw and heard. I was waiting at the red lights, when in front of my eyes, a car ran a red light and crashed into another car that was in the middle of the intersection.. etc.

 

To witness Jesus to someone, is to speak your story of the Jesus encounter that you had. Keep it simple because it is what you have experienced. Be real, not religious or off putting. Jesus met a woman at the well. All He did was ask for water. That opened up a conversation with her that had far reaching results. Build relationships - love people. Do not make it conditional to them becoming Christians.

 

The work of the Holy Spirit, is to convict the world of sin John 16:8

 

 

 

3 ways to talk to people about Jesus.

 

1. Remember Where you Came From.

            Remember that you, too are a recipient of grace, you will be more humble, and             less tempted to judge.

 

2. Ask Questions and Listen.

            The first duty of love is to listen. If you listen you will hear where they are

            spiritually. Build trust and respect. Do not be a know all.

 

3. Lighten up and Share your Story.

            As you share your story, recount what happened when you encountered Jesus             and how He intervened, guided, healed, spoke to, or touched your life.

 

Share why He is the reason for your peace, for your hope, for your confidence in life. As you talk to people, there may be no greater way to grow in your faith.

 

The Power of the Holy Spirit will build in you also.

           

Much love and blessings

Pastors Stuart & Colleen.