“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have called us to be Your witnesses. Our task is to yield ourselves into Your hands for this is the work of the Holy Spirit to do His powerful work in and through us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
The disciples were entrusted with the task of being witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth. The Lord had told His disciples that they should wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Nations will be judged by Jesus since He has risen from the dead. Nations need to be given an opportunity to repent and receive the forgiveness of sins for there is no other way for man to be reconciled with God.
The key verb/word in Acts 1:8 is ‘be’ His witnesses. Witnessing is about ‘being’ available and allowing the free flow and operation of the Holy Spirit through us. The task is to bring people to faith in Jesus. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit and He leads us with words and actions as we encounter people. As we do so, we will see barriers crumbling, miracles and signs taking place, and people will be healed and released of different bondages and oppressions.
Acts 3:2-8 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; (3) who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. (4) And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” (5) So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. (6) Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Peter and John were instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit. As it happened through Peter and John the same will happen though each of us as we remain yielded to the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to Christ.
What is God doing?, Whom does He heal?, How do miracles take place? Will healing and miracles be instantaneous? These are some of the questions that may spring to mind. Ours is only to be available fully in the hands of the Holy Spirit for God to accomplish His works through us. Our focus is to be His witnesses and bring people to faith in Jesus.
The miracle of the healing of the lame man was the launching platform for witnessing to Christ, by the Apostles.
Acts 3:14-16 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (16) And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Peter and John are being emphatic witnesses to Christ, inviting people to come to faith in Jesus. This witnessing could be possible because of the astounding miracle of the healing of the lame man. Peter and John were not trying to seek glory for themselves because of the miracle but they are directing people to come to faith in Christ.
This was the same pattern of witnessing that took place throughout the narrative that we read in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
There was a great demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit in working miracles, signs, and wonders. We must be careful to keep in mind that it is not miracles that are the objective but for us to be witnesses to Christ and bring people to faith in Christ.
Acts 5:12-16 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (16) Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Powerful miracles and signs do take place but this is only the take-off point for us to be His witnesses, and bring people to faith in Jesus.