Title: Finding Eyewitnesses / Acts 1:9-11
Contents
As you walk down the street, you will see banners like this on the side of the road. “We are looking for a person who witnessed a black car and a motorcycle crash at 00:00 on the 0th of January.” It means that we are looking for witnesses who directly witnessed the accident. Why are we looking for witnesses? Perhaps even though you are the victim, you may be the perpetrator. The vehicle that caused the accident may be hit and miss, and it may be difficult to get compensation for damage. In such a situation, if there is a witness, you will be freed from the frame and you can be compensated. What would you do if you were a witness to the accident? Are you going to pretend you didn't know until the end? Or will you reveal the truth as you witness it?
Who will be a witness for Jesus?
In today's text verse 8, Jesus is looking for "Who will be my witnesses?" The book of Acts begins with a reminder of the theme of the Gospel of Luke. The theme of Luke's Gospel is Jesus who came to this earth in a human body. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin into a poor carpenter's family. He became a friend to sinners, the sick, and the marginalized. He died on the cross for our sins, but rose from the dead on the third day. “Who of you can be a witness to all these things of mine? Who will testify of the cross and my resurrection?” This is what you are looking for. How would you react? Are you going to pretend you don't care, or will you run out saying, "Lord, the Witnesses are here"?
Be interested in being a witness.
Few of those who go to church are willing to be witnesses of Jesus. The reason is that their interest is in the wrong place. Verse 6 The disciples ask Jesus a question. “Are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel at this time?” But this question had nothing to do with Jesus' concern. In verses 4-5, Jesus said, “Do not leave Jerusalem and wait. Then you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then their next question was, “Is this the time for the restoration of Israel?” In other words, when Korea is under Roman rule, when will it be liberated? that is. Their concern was only with the world, and they had no interest in Jesus, no spiritual interest.
Jesus says, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father has set in his own right.” It's up to the Father to take care of it, and your only concern should be to be witnesses. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (verse 8). is to give. Jesus also promised, “If you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all these things will also be given to us” (Matthew 6:33).
A witness is to live a life as an evangelist.
A witness can be called an evangelist. Jesus' life began with evangelism and ended with evangelism. Jesus said that I had come to evangelize. (Mark 1:38-39) The first words he said at the beginning of his public ministry were “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and the moment he died on the cross, “It is all It has been accomplished.” He proclaimed salvation, and when he ascended to heaven in the resurrection, his final request is to “become my witness.” The reason the Apostle Paul was ready to die and went to Rome was to preach and accomplish the evangelization of Rome.
What are your interests now? Those who are not interested in evangelism are fake Christians. A church that is not interested in missions is a fake church. We must not ignore the Lord's last command, 'You will be my witnesses', who died for us because the Lord shed His blood and died for us.
Where does the strength to live as a witness come from?
I am well aware that the words of verse 8 are burdensome. There are people who can't evangelize because they are interested in the world, but some people know that they have to do evangelism, and there are many people who want to do it, but they can't because they are afraid and nervous. So how do you do it well? Verse 8 has the answer. You will receive the Holy Spirit. Only when the Holy Spirit comes, power (=power) will come.
In verse 14 of the text, the Holy Spirit came upon us as we prayed, “They devoted themselves to prayer together with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the brothers of Jesus.” Amazing powers began to appear in the disciples who received the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the pathway and shortcut to receiving power. Therefore, pray earnestly to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. When powerful words and prayers of power are combined, works like a nuclear explosion appear. We believe that our church will become a powerful church and a good evangelism church when we strive to gather together and pray together.
What will be the judgment of the ascended Jesus when He comes again?
In verses 9-11, the scene of Jesus ascending to heaven is recorded. Jesus, who ascended into heaven in the presence of many people, said that he would come again in the same way he ascended. Jesus will come again as a judge. What will you judge? You will be asked how many times you have lived up to the command you gave when you ascended into heaven, namely, to be a witness.
There are people who live their life of faith and die without being able to serve as a witness to even one person. On the other hand, there are others who have been witnessed by thousands of people and preached and saved Jesus. Keep thousands of hearts in your heart. Hold the ends of the earth in your heart. When you embrace it in your heart, you actually become such a church and such a saint.
Dear brothers and sisters, let's try it now. At this time the Lord commands us to be witnesses. What the Lord has commanded is that it can be done as long as you obey it. Let our church serve as a wonderful witness to all people to the ends of the earth before God. I hope that this time today will be the time of resolution. When we make a decision, the Lord uses it greatly. God blesses the saints and churches who want to obey the will of the Lord. “Lord, here I am. send me New Hope Church is here. Please use our church.” Hallelujah!