The Jesus movement spread all over the Roman Empire in 30 years Acts 18 8 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 ID: 364076
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Slide1
The book of Acts:
The Jesus movement spread all over the Roman Empire in 30 yearsSlide2
Acts 1:8
8
“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
.” (These were Jesus’ words to his followers)Slide3
“Spirit”
It
was by the power of the Holy Spirit working through
people that the Gospel spread so quickly.Slide4
“Witness”
In
Greek:
martus
– One who testifies in court; One who
tells others what he has seen or experienced.
Martus
Martyr – One who loses his life because of his witness.Slide5
Paul was one of Jesus’ witnesses, in the power of the SpiritSlide6
Paul give his testimony twice
Acts 22
Acts 26
Paul’s testimony as his defense before the Jewish extremists
Paul’s testimony as his defense before King Herod AgrippaSlide7
Four stages in Paul’s Life
Paul the Persecutor of Christ
Paul the Convert to Christ
Paul the Witness for
Christ
Paul
the Prisoner for ChristSlide8
I. Paul the Persecutor of ChristSlide9
Acts 26:5
5
“They
have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee
.”Slide10
Acts 26:9-10
9
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10
And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Slide11
Acts 26:11
11
Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities
.”Slide12
Saul – Jewish
name
Paul
–
Greek/Roman name
After his conversion he was called Paul, because God wanted him to reach the Greek and Roman people.Slide13
John 3:16 -
For
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Slide14
II. Paul the Convert to ChristSlide15
Paul experienced the risen Jesus – that transformed his life! He became a witness to Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit
.Slide16
What we learn from these first two stages in Paul’s life, for becoming God’s witnesses in the power of the Spirit
:
First, Paul needed conversion. We
all
need conversion and
transformation
.Slide17
What we learn from these first two stages in Paul’s life, for becoming God’s witnesses in the power of the Spirit
:
Second
, “scars” or
a terrible past
do not disqualify
us. God can
transform
anyone.Slide18
III. Paul the Witness for ChristSlide19
Acts
26:15-16
15
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16
‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. Slide20
Acts 26:17-18
17
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’Slide21
Jesus sent Paul especially to reach the Gentiles (non-Jews
)Slide22
Map of Paul’s Missionary JourneysSlide23
From
the “witness”
stage in Paul’s life we learn:
Jesus wants all of us to be his witnesses.
Some
far away;
Some
close to home.
In
words and in actions.Slide24
Impossible task!
–
We can do
it only in the Holy Spirit’s power
.Slide25
IV. Paul the Prisoner for ChristSlide26
From this Prisoner stage in Paul’s life we learn:
First
, Opposition is normal.
Expect
it. Don’t be
discouraged
by it.Slide27
From this Prisoner stage in Paul’s life we learn:
Second, we need to be faithful and
persevering
. The Holy Spirit will
enable
us to persevere.Slide28
Review what we have learned from Paul’s testimony about being Christ’s witnesses in the power of the Spirit (Let’s read these aloud together
):Slide29
First, we all need
conversion
and transformation
in
order
to
become
Christ’s witnesses. We all
need
to repent,
receive forgiveness
through Jesus’ blood,
and
surrender our lives to him.Slide30
Second, transformation is possible
by
the power of God’s Spirit.
Your
past does not disqualify you,
and
God’s power can change
anyone
.Slide31
Third,
God
wants all of us
to
be his
witnesses
– some
going far
away
, like Paul
did
.
- Some
close
to
home.
We
all have an assignment
from
God
.Slide32
Fourth,
it’s
the power of the Holy
Spirit that
will enable us
to
be his
witnesses
.
We
can’t do it in our
own strength
.Slide33
Fifth, opposition is normal.
Paul
faced it wherever he went.
We
have to expect it,
and
not be discouraged by it.Slide34
And sixth, we have to persevere
through
hardships and suffering
as
Christ’s witnesses.
The
Holy
Spirit
will enable us
to endure and be faithful.Slide35
Do you need prayer
in
one of
these areas
?
Then
come to the front after the
worship
service,
and
a member of
the
prayer team
will
pray
with
you. Slide36
Go, as God’s witnesses in the power of the Spirit!