Be My Witnesses R904

Welcome to The Encouraging Word, featuring the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton on this study, we began in the book of acts. The doctor will do in Texas right chapter 1 verse one begin to study God's word together but know that while we do so were available for your connecting keyboard keyboard right now online@twonline.org this week with so much interest about the safeguards of our faith is a wonderful resource you can discover more details on our website right now. Take a peek forward to read the study that's online@ewonline.org also know that we're here to pray with Collis and 866-899-WORD the number down 866-899-9673 love to connect with you about today's message be my witnesses with Dr. Don Wilton Bibles to the book of acts and chapter 1, you might say to me, will foster why we going to the book of acts. In chapter 1, because in acts chapter 1, we find recorded what I believe to be among the very lost things that Jesus said, have you ever had someone have a conversation with you. Maybe they all giving you a serious talk about something and you think that by through and I turn around I say well I'm going to be leaving now I get to the door and then they spin around and say just one more thing before I go is something that I need to turn. That is, of course, in addition to everything else.

Well, there is a sensing which in the book of acts. In chapter 1 we have that just one more thing moment because the Lord Jesus Christ and complete obedience has gone to the cross for our sin, obeyed the father he died he said just before he died.

It is finished, and they took him and they buried him in a gray on the third day he rose from the grave and quite justifiably could have gone back immediately to receive the glory the that he had with the father from before the world existed be seated at the right hand of the father in heaven, but he didn't go immediately. Bible tells us that he appeared to over 500 different people and there was a reason for that.

They many many reasons, one of which you read me talk about and will do so again many times that the Lord Jesus wanted to give us the absolute demonstration of what it means to know that we will have life off the day and he did that in himself because he said I am the resurrection and the life. But in the book of acts.

In chapter 1 Jesus said something rather remarkable. It was perhaps the loss recorded earthly words of our Savior.

What I want to speak to you about today be my witnesses. I'm going to pick up and acts chapter 1 verse three Bible says, off to his suffering.

Jesus showed himself to these men. And he gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 14 days and he spoke about the kingdom of God on one of these occasions while he was eating with them he gave them this Kaman bought a suggestion this was a specific instruction. Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you heard me speak about.

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

So when they met together, they Austin Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus said to them, mind your own business. I beg your pardon. He said it is not for you to know the times or dates the father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses here in Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth and all three said the sea was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Do you love me.

Jesus said to Peter, feed my sheep got could you love people, such as these. I mean really because of what Jesus Christ is done. But Jesus said to his disciples, and all believers.

He said you need to be my witnesses. You need to go out in all the world and tell people about me because that's my chosen method I'm choosing here to do that in John chapter 17, just before Jesus went into the garden. He said I'm not only praying for believers, but I'm praying for those who will still come to believe because of the message of the witness of believers that why would he have said that if evidently he had full ordained and predetermined that a whole bunch of people already damned to hell. What point would they be and Jesus standing in the garden saying I want you to know that when I'm in heaven. I am praying for all those who will still come to believe in me through all witness one of God already determined that, what's the point of my witness and not mean for me to do anything. Why did Jesus say to his disciples. I will make you fishers of men. And here in this passage.

It's raw. The remarkable thing. I just want to share with you today. Six. Foundations of being a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ number one. The white it's a you know I have read this so many times in my life.

I have to confess to you, but in verse four. Jesus said do not leave Jerusalem, but wait not this foundation of witnessing cold waiting can very easily be misunderstood, don't you think I tell you what I think of when I think of white.

I think of well unpack your bags kickback get out a piece of chocolate cake and a Diet Coke to make you feel better and do nothing.

I mean that's what white means means holdback Doug Connor do anything well we know contextually here that Jesus had was speaking to his disciples who were cowering for fear of their lives in Jerusalem. They knew they were going to face persecution.

Jesus was about to leave them.

They were growing in their spiritual understanding and we know that in acts chapter 2. This God came down at Pentecost. But why did Jesus say white, I believe, most importantly, folks. He said wait because of the fact of the coming of the Holy Spirit. But he said wait because I want you to know that as a witness. You need white on me follow my instructions because I'm telling you to wait years ago, the Billy Graham team called me and I just love being with them so much and enjoy partnering with the Billy Graham schools of evangelism around the world. On this particular occasion, my telephone rang and and the leader of the team said to me at dawn you know about the tragedy up in Grand Forks, North Dakota. You will remember that terrible disaster when the river flooded and fires broke out and people lost everything I tell you it was unmitigated disaster in Terran and as always is the Billy Graham team did more. They were the first ones on the seat and saw they assembled a team of which I was one, and I remember getting on the plane and going to a place of never been to before. In fact, I flew into Minneapolis and either no way Grand Forks was not drove. I didn't realize going to take me another 10 Days Dr. from Minneapolis to Grand Forks and was in the month of January and it was freezing cold right got up there and boy people would just so broken and and that the Billy Graham team was just so precious and I remember I was invited amongst the other things that I did, I did a seminar one day and is about to get up and start my salmon on the place was packed out with hurting people wonder if they really hurting people worshiping today where there is anyone today that that the flood is coming through your life.

One of these. Anybody who's gathered for the seminar but but some things happen. Maybe you've been pushed away. Maybe falling through the cracks. I be looking for meaning in life.

I was just about to start my salmon on. I looked up and standing there in the doorway.

There was a man there and a grown man fine looking man but I'm telling you folks, he was weeping openly. He was wailing, have have you ever gotten to the point where you married your finances, your life, your children, your health, I mean it's just too much and it didn't matter who was that you just can't control yourself anymore, just everything's coming crashing down. This man was obviously in a very devastated position so I just before I started the seminar laid everything down. I walked up to him and put my arm around him and and he told me brother Donny said no.

He lost his his business and his livelihood and and I mean his life was just in ruins folks he had nothing and he said I just come to your seminar and I said I said well I tell you what I'd like to suggest that you do. He said what I said don't come to my seminar. It's like me saying everybody worshiping with us today would you will just excuse yourself please. I'd like to preach for little while go outside and play in the traffic for a while. I just like to do a little speaking about the Lord will can you can you hear how ridiculous this is and he looked at me and he said what you want me to do. I said I want you to just wait on the Lord. And yes, what I want you to do less and I want you to walk out the door and the first person you come to out in the street. They just walk up to them and Ostrom's question would you like to give your heart to Jesus this man nearly had a heart attack. He said with tears right. He said I've never done that before I sit on our that's fine. I suggest will You know I believe in jugular vein evangelism folks to just go up and and just say would you like to give your heart to Jesus first person you see, he said, but I can't do that. I said yes they that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. Why, because God does for us what we cannot do for us to and he went out then about 35 minutes later he came back in and I told him I sent him let me ask you a question.

Do you know the Lord Jesus. He said yes so I do I say more. What is the absolute worst thing that somebody out there could do to you if you wind up in Austin. If I want to give their heart to Jesus daughter Nora said well I'll tell you that I could pull out a gun and shoot you dead. He said I guess you're right. You Austin you are not your Christian.

I said what seems to be the problem if he shoot your dad. You going straight to heaven. So go and tell somebody about Jesus white on the loan. Well, he came back in about 35 minutes later his face was shining. I went up to him off to the seminar and I said what happen he said. Dawn you'll never believe what happened. He said I walked out there in the first person I saw was a man in a suit with a briefcase.

I swallowed.

I was breaking out in a sweat. I was nervous I didn't know what to do and you told me to wait on the Lord and be a witness said. I walked up to him and in a very weak voice I said skews me but would you like to give your heart to Jesus. He said it was like I close my eyes to wait for the bank and he said that man dropped his briefcase and said how do you know said no.

I don't know that man said, well, I'm from Minneapolis on the businessman of lost everything. My life is at the end. So this morning I got up.

I've made a decision. He said I brought some insurance policies that are put in place and he said I'm on my way to min Winnipeg in the Canadian area. There are organized everything I'm going to go up there take my lap. I'm going to disappear, I'm going to become one of those missing people that people can never find but my family at least is going to be able to get some of the policies that oblate before my life is so wretched I want to get right now I'm ready to take my life and you asking me to give my heart to Jesus. Yes, I give my life to Jesus Christ and right they in that place that man gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ. I really believe that that's what Jesus intended by that statement. Wait, it's a foundational principle number two. The issue that's the second foundational principle, because in verse five Jesus said in John baptized with water, but I want you to know that the Holy Spirit is going to come and baptize you because he is God. You see these people, these disciples that had grown accustomed to what the Old Testament saints came to believing that water purification was part of the ritualistic process by which they would be able to come into the presence of Jehovah.

But Jesus came to establish a new covenant. That's the issue. He came to establish a better way and he said whereas John's baptism was not valid, the validation that I share with you now is the being's and that points to three issues number one and this is very important mind. God, my God. Issue number two, mind, the Holy Spirit and issue number three. Mind your own business you say to me pasta what what you mean by that. Well, these disciples and I understand that because I'm just like them. Jesus had taught them so much and he and Shannon told them about the Holy Spirit and he had explained everything to them.

He explained about the imminence of his kingdom and the restoration of East kingdom. And now he said I bought one more thing for you to do. I want you to mind what I'm telling you. Number two I want you to mind the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit is going to give you the power to be my witnesses, and as to the third one mind your own business because God is still sovereign and there is a point beyond which you will never go there is a point beyond which you can never go and I don't want you as my disciples to get yourselves tied up in unlocked trying to figure out when the world is going in and who's going to, and how this is going to vein these things are not irrelevant. The restoration of the kingdom of God is not irrelevant but you need to mind your own business because God knows these things what you mean to me about is the business that I'm giving you to do which is to be my with forgive the eruption will be back with more than just a moment. Dr. Wilton with the sense of focus that God is speaking through his word and through his teacher. Our pastor Dr. Wilton something that perhaps you have found is challenging you. If so, let's pray with you about how you can indeed be more bold your witness. Our phone numbers 86689866899673. We would love to pray with you and for you about how God could use each of us to be better witnesses for him… You did a study with Dr. Don Wilton. See folks I know a lot of people man and woman will travel across this country to go to conferences and hear famous speakers. We got ladies you will travel from north to south and east to west to going here ladies conferences. We got maybe will travel to promise keepers. They will go to everything you can imagine that will go from there to San Francisco and back to be able to gather together with groups of people who will tell them how spiritual layoff and about the deep things of God but they'll never walk across the street and tell their next-door neighbor about Jesus Christ. That's what Jesus was talking about get on with what I've told you to do be my witnesses.

Well, there was 1/3 foundational matter and that is the power recite Oliver's ID says you will receive power. That's incredible.

By the way, the most powerless. In the history of the church was the time between the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Did you know that nothing happened. I say just tongue-in-cheek. You know I love Peter he's my favorite disciple I'm I'm going to apologize to the rest of them when I see them but Peter just captures my attention. Maybe he reminds me so much of myself in many ways but you know I believe that there is a pre-Pentecost, Peter in a post-Pentecost, Peter and Anton say that quickly it will come out backwards. There is a pre-Pentecost, Peter in a post-Pentecost.

The pre-Pentecost, Peter was a wimp. I mean he all mutant flaps walked on the water took his eyes of Jesus and sank trolley running the affairs talk too much. My granddaughter statements just like me just like all of us. He was just weak. So many times and of course it culminated right at the foot of the cross didn't sign Peter the right thing when someone came up to him and said, you gotta be someone who belongs to this one that were about a crucified he just flat out denied Jesus went folks watching off the Pentecost give you an example right there with him Pentecost. Acts chapter 2 verse 14 the spirit of God came down power came into the house in verse 14, Peter stood up with the 11, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, fellow Jews and all of you live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to listen carefully to what I have to say, by the way you want to translation in the Greek text of the meaning of listen to what I have to say you not of means, pay attention. Also, some about boys and girls grow up.

You know why because you hear that every now and again during the week country you know what it's like when you're sitting in that classroom or your minds over there on the bold funeral that pretty girl that nice boy over there in the you know what you gonna do here and what you gonna do. Then all of a sudden there is the shadow that looms over the desk and the teacher looks at you and says excuse me. Pay attention you missing everything. Folks there was a boldness about Peter off to paint cost.

He stood up he folks listen. This man was about to face the worst kinds of persecution that would culminate in these death upside down on across but he stood up with great boldness power. Well, there's 1/4 foundation. The Jesus speaks of him that is the scope you see Jesus said scope.

The parameter and was limitless and it was in four phases. First of all Jerusalem.

You see Frank Jerusalem was where they were witnessing begins in your own backyard doesn't what Jesus said said, let me tell you it's one thing to travel across the country to go to a conference but it's another thing to walk her over the street in your own backyard and tell somebody about Jesus. That's why I'm so proud of about Jerusalem elects the Newman's Carolina pregnancy St. miracle Hill ministries, Habitat for Humanity and child evangelism about faith ministries, folks, you can go on and that's all Jerusalem. Jesus said that's what you need to witness any spoke about Judea when he went to Judea he was talking about.

This is where they were from. In other words, witnessing takes us many times back to our roots.

I meet so many people over the years I've said what you problem from Charles that your Judea from from union that's your Judea I'm from Landover at your Judea. You see, it takes you back where you from none forget about that and then there's Samaria now what's this folks Samaria. This was way way came from.

This was way but I came from and you see witnessing my friend extends many times the way to a people that will quite frankly we would prefer not to be around to. It's that different face. It's a different culture to different collects different foods a different way of life. It's antagonistic, maybe even hateful that next Samaria and then the fourth one was the ends of the earth. The uttermost parts of the earth, he said, look there.

There are no boundaries. We've we've got people with us this week, folks that are just blessed our hearts lost not in our banquet. Steve was going around interviewing and we got people manning in just places that we we sometimes only dream about. Jesus said listen, this is the scope of being my witnesses, but there was 1/5 pillar and that was the pillar of joy. The pillar of joy you you know I wish I could stand you and tell you what gives me joy.

It gives me joy to be loved and to be able to love you. You know how much I love you how much I thank God for use of people to joy I get joy from a lot of things I get joy from playing golf every now and again I love my family. They they bring me great joy is just the stuff of life is not just a joy to be together.

A lot of things give us joy in life.

Some of them are just real simple things they all get more love than you can shake a stick at.

When we stop at a road start with those senior adults folks they bring out more cookies and junk food you've ever seen in your life so men don't look at me. Go eat your heart out. That's a joy to me to grow in stature and I'm looking forward to monitor you the greatest joy that you will ever have is sharing Jesus with somebody is nothing to be which leads me to the six foundation response response. You might say to me to pasta. How can I respond or can I do about this God speaking to me. I just want to give you three ways you can respond number one you can respond by praying.

That's that is the most powerful thing number two you can respond by giving and I could go on and on.

Folks, it's time it's time we can give.

We can do it do and number three number three go yourself. Go yourself. See I got a little bit of a biased perspective because as you Pakistan. I'm already talking to at least two couples that I know God is speaking to them and sign. I want you to go. We've got a provide the means they go. I may not go away God's calling them to go but two things I can do I can pray for them and I can give so they can that's a privilege that's an honor. What's the Lord asking you to challenge from God's word from God's servant Dr. Don Wilton I pray that as we have been allowing the word of God do its work to cut away the things that need to be dealt with. Maybe to bring the light decisions need to be made. I pray you to open your heart to closing thought from her pastor Dr. Don Wilton are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. If God has moved your heart and you ready to give your life to Jesus Christ. Let us talk with you, 8668 is the phone number that's 866-899-WORD 9673. If you give your life to Jesus and rededicate your life be a wonderful resource we want to put in your hands. But we also want to pray with you, you know, The Encouraging Word has a 24 hour prayer line you can 999-9673 the library praying with the alone The Encouraging Word you are in your supported ministry me really think so much for joining us for today's message from Dr. Don Wilton pray you'll join us again tomorrow. Dr. Wilson's messages ultimate prayer we know about prayer ultimate for your between now and then let's a connected online. 866-899-WORD is the phone number or meet us@gwonline.org