January 13, 2008 pm   Jesus’ Witnesses    Acts 10:34-43

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Information Plus -One of the striking sayings of the late Dr. A. J. Gordon was that the Christian is not to stand in the world and witness to Christ, but to stand in Christ and witness to the world.

One such witness, a few evenings ago, had just alighted from his car to open his garage when he was accosted by a stranger who asked him for direction to a certain locality. The information was quickly given, but ere the stranger could get away the Lord’s messenger added: “Brother, before you go we may never meet again, and I should like to ask you, “Have you a personal interest in the Lord Jesus Christ?”” “No,” replied the stranger, “but I would like to have!”

Here in the semi-darkness of the street of one of our great cities a brief conversation took place, two heads were uncovered, and a soul was introduced to Jesus Christ and definitely accepted Him as his own personal Saviour. Had the brief question not been asked, the individual would have gone on his way, perhaps never to meet the Lord except at judgment. — Alliance Weekly^[1]

^{Acts 10:34} Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ^35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. ^36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel , telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ^37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ^38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

^39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem . They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ^40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ^41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ^42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ^43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” ^[2]

A.  God accepts men from every nation who do two things:  Fear him and do what is right.  The question is do we accept people from everywhere.  Then how do they know.

B.  How do you know that God accepts men from everywhere? 

1.  He made attempts to reach them through us who are the witnesses sent to tell the story.

2.  He died for the sins of the world so that everyone could have the opportunity to be saved. 

3.  He invites all people to come to Him for salvation.   It says:  whosoever will may be saved.

C.  Here is the message that he sent to them:  There is good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all.  This is the message of the angels to the shepherds.  Peace on earth and good will to men.  He is the Prince of Peace.

D.  Do you remember what happened?  What have you witnessed?  What did you see?  What happened to you?  What have you seen from the Lord? 

1. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power. 
2. He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 

E.  We are His witnesses.    They killed him by hanging him on a tree.   God raised him form the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.  He was seen by those who were chosen by him to be his witnesses.  Have you seen him?  Have you eaten and drank with him?  Have you sat at his table? 

Teleperson System     Someone has said that the Gospel in the first century was carried by a good system. It was called the teleperson system, and it truly got results, better than we do today with our telephones, televisions, and so on. The woman of Samaria carried the Gospel after her meeting with Christ by the teleperson system. It is said that “many of the Samaritans … believed on Him for the saying of the woman” (John 4:39). —Mrs. J. Shields^[3]

F.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that his is the one who God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 

G.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.  Do we, have we, and will we?  Are you a prophet? 

Man With Roped Blind Friends     A missionary physician in one of China ’s hospitals cured a man of cataracts. A few weeks later 48 blind men came to the doctor from one of China ’s wilds, all holding on to a rope guided by the man who had been cured. He had led them in this way, walking in chain 250 miles to the hospital. The multitude may appear indifferent to their condition, but let not this discourage us, for many are fumbling blindly after light. It is our happy mission to tenderly and tirelessly seek them.   —S. S. Times^[4]

Relay Games In Corinth

In ancient Corinth there used to be staged the Isthmian Games, the forerunner of the modern Olympics. There were many events, but the one which received the most attention was the relay race. The competitors lined up side by side at the starting line, each bearing a torch. In the distance waited still another line, of men, and still farther on other lines.

When the signal was given, the men started to run, bearing their lighted torches. When a runner reached his partner in the next line he would pass on his light, and so on from man to man until the finish line was reached. With the famous relay race in mind, the Greeks coined a phrase: “Let those who have the light pass it on.”^[5]