Witnessing for Jesus by the Power of God’s Holy Spirit

Those who teach children should read study #53 for children.

Prayer: “Dear Lord, help the believers in my flock to use the power that you to give them to witness to their friends and relatives, like Peter and the other apostles did.”

1. Prepare your heart with prayer and God's Word

Read Acts 3:1-22 to find several things that Peter and John did and said to convince many people of the Good News of salvation. [Answers appear after the questions.]

· What did Peter offer to the lame man, that was more valuable than gold? [Verse 6]

· What was the source of the power that healed the lame man when he believed? [Verses 12-13 & 16]

· Of what most important fact were Peter and John witnesses? [Verses 14-15]

· What did the people have to do, so that their sins would be washed away? [Verse 19]

Seven helps to witness with power

1. Eyes. Find in John 4:35-39 what God wants us to see.

2. Lips. Find in Luke 24:46-48 what we are to tell about Jesus.

3. Hands (Bible). Find in 2 Tim. 2:2 what we are to do with God’s Word.
Find in Matt. 28:18-20 what we are to teach disciples to do.

4. Heart. Find in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 what makes our work effective.

Find in Heb. 11:6 what we need for God to work.

Find in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 what we should do all the time.

Find in Acts 1:8 from whom we are to get power and why.

5. Hand (keys). Find in Matt. 16:13-19 what Jesus promised to Peter.

Find in Matt. 18:18 who else received this promise.

Find in John 20:22-23 what God does through us.

6. Feet (shoes). Find in Eph. 6:15 what kind of shoes God provides.

Find in Isaiah 52:7 why feet are poetically called ‘beautiful.’

7. Helper. Find in Acts 11:12 how many helpers Peter had.

Find in Acts 13:2-5 how many helpers Paul had.

Find in Luke 10:1 how many travelled together.

Answers

1. Eyes. Focus on fields that are ready to harvest, that is, people who will repent and believe.

2. Lips. Proclaim Jesus’ death and life-giving resurrection, and forgiveness to all who repent.

3. Hands (Bible). Pass on to others what we have heard, and teach believers to obey Jesus.

4. Heart. Do everything with love, faith and prayer, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Hands (keys). Jesus promised Peter keys to His kingdom, a symbol of power to forgive sins. Jesus promised this same power to His other disciples. Jesus promised this power to forgive sins, to believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus himself used the ‘keys’ to loosen a paralytic’s sins when He saw the faith of that man’s four friends who had lowered him through the roof so that Jesus could heal him (Mark 2:1-12). Because of their faith Jesus forgave his sins.

We, too, can use the ‘keys’ when we believe with the power of the Holy Spirit that someone will receive Jesus and His forgiveness. Another person’s conversion starts when a believer witnesses for Jesus with power. Then, of course, that other person must also exercise their own faith to complete their conversion.

6. Feet. Our feet must be shod with the ‘preparation of the Good News,’ which means that we bring to people a joyful message of peace and joy.

7. Helpers.
a) Peter had six helpers when he went to tell the Gentiles about Jesus.
b) Paul and Barnabas, along with their helper John (Mark) were sent from Antioch to other nations.
c) Christ sent out the seventy in pairs (groups of two). Jesus and His apostles normally worked as a small group, not alone.

Filling of the Holy Spirit

Where Scripture mentions being filled with the Holy Spirit or receiving His power, the purpose is to enable believers to do some very practical work for God. For example, the Holy Spirit came upon Samson and he slew a lion, which began a series of events that led to the freeing of Israel from their enemies. The purpose being filled with the Holy Spirit is never simply to provide people with an unusual emotional experience. The only time in Scripture that worshippers jumped and shouted, God had Elijah slay them (1 Kings 18:25-40).

2. Plan with your co-workers activities to do during the week

· Pray for power to witness the way Jesus said. Then visit people who do not yet know Him.

· Pray for people who are lost without Christ.

· Visit believers and ask them who their friends and relatives are, whom they should tell about Jesus. If they want help in doing so, then offer to accompany them and help them to get started.

3. Plan with your co-workers the upcoming worship time

Tell how Peter and John healed a man and told many about Jesus. Ask the questions (above).

Explain the seven helps to witness with power (above).

Explain the purpose of this power.

Let the children present what they have prepared.

To introduce the Lord's Supper, read John 21:9-14 and explain that Jesus now bids us to eat with him and with each other.

Let believers give reports about how they have recently witnessed for Jesus with power.

Sit in groups of two or three and pray for one another, plan and encourage one another.

Memorize Acts 4:33.