Hope Sabbath School Lesson 2 Winsome Witness: The Power Of Personal Testimony

for Hope Sabbath school which God is using to change thousands of [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] welcome to Hope Sabbath school an in-depth interactive study of the word of God I'm glad you joined us today we're continuing a series making friends for God but maybe you're saying darica I need to make friends with God well you'll learn too because we'll see the good news that you can hear that can change your life and then good news to share with someone else today we're talking about the power of a personal testimony or win some witnesses how to be a blessing in the way we share our testimony with others so we're glad you join us and welcome to the team and I'm excited today because Trish Ely is going to be teaching and God has blessed you as a teacher of the Word of God it's great that we can have many teachers around the world who are downloading our outline from hope TV org slash hope SS you're starting an interactive Bible study I know our team teachers are an inspiration to you so Tricia Lee thank you we're glad you're sharing with us today here are a few emails from hope Sabbath school members I'm always happy to hear the might you new Bunyon new Bunyon from Cameroon writes and says we thank God for hope Sabbath school which God is using to change thousands of lives and we pray God with strength of this team even more so that through your deep Bible discussion the secret things of the Lord will be revealed to the world what do you say wow that's beautiful isn't it from Cameroon new Bunyon thank you for writing to us Davy's writes from Zambia we have a lot of hope Sabbath school members in Zambia first I want to thank God for the entire team I love the way you explain and discuss the scriptures you make it easy to follow and understand that's our prayer may God bless you and your family in the name of Jesus Christ amen well thanks for writing to us Davies from Zambia here's a note from a donor in the United States of America state of Michigan greetings hope Savas go members at 90 nine years old hope sabbath-school means so much to me I'm up at six o'clock every morning to watch hope Sabbath school there are some people who are 29 who are not up at six o'clock every morning 99 enclosed is a gift to be used where it's needed most god bless you and a gift for $52 praise God that's one dollar for every week of hope Sabbath school and you know when we partner a mission it makes a difference doesn't it well I'm not gonna read your name but if you're 99 live in Michigan and send a donation of $52 thank you and to all of our donors thank you we're part of a donor supported ministry we're joining the Lord in his harvest work amen melody writes from Canada and says I love the sincerity warmth and joy that the members of Hope Sabbath school class seem to have I love the personal testimonies and the enthusiasm it makes me smile to watch Addison and Jason's enthusiastic approach to singing in the scripture well that is not with us today but Jason you're here God is in control of this beautiful program amen well thank you melody for writing to us from Canada we're glad that you're blessed by the hope service school program and here's one last note from California in the United States anybody from California nope anybody been to California all right a few of you have andrew writes and says i just wanted to let you know that my family and I greatly appreciate hope service school it's a weekly blessing in our home my seven-year-old son Jefferson and I love to sing the scripture songs thank you for spreading the word pass it on to the team that will make my son Jefferson happy well I want you to wave to Jefferson all right he's seven years old and he watches hope zappers go and he sings the songs with us Andrew writes were from San Diego I teach sixth grade at San Diego Adventist Academy my wife stumbled on hope Sabbath school when we were visiting Death Valley in the spring of last year that by the way for those of you from other parts of the world that's one of the hottest places in the United States of America maybe that's why it's called Death Valley we didn't know hope Sabbath school existed but we've been watching it ever since and telling others as well God's blessings to you all we serve a mighty God well I'm sounds like I'm we've got a teacher there that's connected to heaven praise God for Christian teachers amen and Jefferson we're glad that you and your family are watching hope Sabbath school and that you like to sing the scripture songs because we have a new one for this series it's three thousand years old Psalm 105 verses one to five oh give thanks to the lord call upon his name it's a happy song we hope you'll learn it you can download it from our website hope TV org slash hope SS we've got the mp3 file there the sheet music learn it let's sing it together [Music] [Music] [Music] Oh I love this song thank you 3,000 years old but a message for today Trisha Lee thank you for leading us studies today let us pray Heavenly Father thank you so much for your word and thank you for being a friend to us as we study teach us how to be your friend so he can be friends to others in Christ's name we pray amen amen we are continuing an awesome series on how to lead others to be Friends of God how to witness for him and today we're going to talk about the power of our personal testimony but to start out with we are going to read an account of a very unlikely witness we're gonna begin in mark chapter 5 mark chapter 5 and I'm gonna ask Selene if she'd read the first five verses for us an unlikely witness and I'll be reading from the King James Version mark chapter five verses one through five reads and they came over unto the other side of the sea into the country of gadarenes and when he was come out of the ship immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit who had his dwelling among the tombs and no man could bind him no not with change because that he had been often bound with the fetters and chains and the chains had been plucked asunder by him and the faders broke broken into pieces neither could any man tame him and always night and day he was in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones Wow hmm a man with an unclean spirit what are we talking about what does this mean Brittany human possession he's demon-possessed how do we know that we're talking about physical possession and not some other type of metaphor Jonathan well I mean the binding with chains that no one can get I mean like maybe you could say okay lots of adrenaline but yeah it seems like that was a pretty strong change that he's breaking so it sounds like he's some type of superhuman strength something unnatural is happening here he is not in his right mind he is possessed by unclean spirits Chuck would you continue to read for us verse is 6 through 13 sure the new King James Version says when he saw Jesus from afar he ran and worshipped him and he cried out with a loud voice and said what have I to do with you Jesus son of the Most High God I implore you by God that you do not torment me for he said to him come out of the man unclean spirit then he asked him what is your name and he answered saying my name is legion for we are many also he begged him earnestly that he would not send them out of the country now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains so all the demons begged him saying send us into the swine that we may enter them and at once Jesus gave them permission then unclean spirits went out and entered the swine there were about two thousand and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea and drowned in the sea so this man who is possessed by Devils bound in Chains but he break loose sound like a scary individual an impossible situation but when he encounters God he worships so even the powers of Hell the powers of the devil worshipping God there is hope there is hope we continue reading this story for us verses 14 through 17 and I'll be reading from the King James Version and mm-hmm and they that fed the swine fled and told it in the city and in in the country and they went out to see what it was that was done and they came to Jesus and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the Legion sitting and clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid and they that saw it told them how it be felled to him that was possessed with the devil and also concerning the swine and they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts now it's just a response that you would expect from the people why do you think they're responding this so I'd expect them to use my favorite Hebrew word hallelujah but there's something there's something else going on here Brittany I think their focus is on earthly things they're worried about the two thousand swine that they lost and all that money in revenue and that's where their focus is not this guy who was just saved from being tormented of evil they're not worried about him they're just worried about the profit they lost aha Jonathan yeah and I think their focus is on power it's tempting to focus like there is real power here I mean the demons are like look at us we can break chains we can do this and if that's the power you know then you're like you're afraid of it so if you don't know and trust you don't understand what's happening you might just have more fear instead of praise Travis well they didn't understand Jesus motive ah you know and what's going on here so I think if we were to place ourselves in that situation like what demons are cast out and this man who was crazy now he's in his right mind and so they didn't understand the whole picture yet and so and I believe some of it was selfishness but it would be a confusing time certainly hard to put ourselves in their shoes I have never witnessed anything like this in my life it says that the herd of swine ran violently so that must have been a very scary scene as well but it does make you wonder they didn't seem very excited about this man delivering but let's keep reading Jason would you read for us verses 18 through 20 number reading here from the New King James Version mark chapter 5 verses 18 through 20 and when he got into the boat he who had been demon-possessed begged him that he might be with him however Jesus did not permit him but said to him go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had compassion on you and he departed and began to proclaim and Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him and all marvelled so a little bit of a different response there but first why do you think this demon-possessed formerly demon-possessed man was fleeing with Jesus stay with me Trevor we just found the Messiah you encountered Jesus that's everything and all you want to do is cling to him that's right he's exciting you just delivered me absolutely Stephanie he knew the bondage he had been in and he knew that Jesus was protection you know man you want to stay close to your deliverer praise God why do you think Jesus said no you have to go back why man why Kenneth because jesus knows the crying from inside the man that he want to be set free yes oh Jesus I believe Jesus could hear him speaking like from his spirit to God crying out for help that's why you just went because the Bible says Jesus came to save and to seek the Lord so he's one of the laws and Jesus amen I'll ask the question a bit differently this man had a powerful testimony to share yes yes he could have shared this testimony anywhere correct yeah why did Jesus say stay go back to your home and share what good things God has done why is that where Jesus ascending him I think there's two things one because I know Jesus is a loving Savior yes he knows he's safe yeah that he says I'm with you always even to the end of the age he's not sending him back to be harassed by those demons by man those are safe but no one can reach his family and friends like he can is they know what he was like before no and he knows them knows them too this in verse 20 it says that all Marvel so they all witnessed the same miracle and at first were fearful didn't really know how to interpret what they were seeing but something happens now when this formerly demon-possessed man turned missionary evangelist hallelujah right he starts to share with his neighbors and friends now they're marveling maybe they still have questions maybe they're still a bit unsure of what happened but they're no longer afraid maybe they're more willing to hear maybe they're willing to hear Stephanie I think it's also important to note that they didn't want Jesus there and so Jesus had to leave so Jesus witness he did what he went there for yeah and then he left the person who could reach the people that was very important insight Stephanie he recognized that his presence was no longer going to be as effective some folks met Brittany you mentioned about the economic or financial impact of that swanda heard being destroyed but this man still had a powerful witness to share Kenneth yeah I'm contrasting when the man started to proclaim about what Jesus had done for him their reaction of the people with those people who initially came to the scene and saw the man in his right man I realized that in this world today when someone who used to be a part of the world system comes to God the world is not excited it doesn't mean everyone will not be some people to be excited but I can see that this man now when he's speaking there is some group of people who are excited in the world imagine virtually something really important that impacts me here he didn't know that much about the teachings of Jesus some people say it's fake Jonathan mentioned in a previous study that really the message to share is that I was lost and now I'm found I wasn't changed now I'm free you know you can go and meet Jesus or you can go to the Bible and learn more about Jesus but I'm going to tell you what happened in my life a man Chuck so in a way Jesus is saying he is personally less effective witnessing here than he is in the person of the formerly demon-possessed person to America so in some ways jesus has more power in us personally here not always but we can see that clearly this story Wow beautiful insight people but if I try this there's something that caught my attention especially in verse 20 where it says all marveled yes everyone God is intentional about reaching everybody doesn't say that everyone's heart was changed and everyone came to but but they had an opportunity to wisp to witness the power of Jesus that's right again I cannot relate to a situation like this and honestly if I heard that there were someone like this I might want to a stake you keep my distance or I might not view them as very credible what do you know about spiritual things and you are bound but look at what God has done in his life and if what God is doing in our life isn't witness enough right so God can use anyone and especially because this was a man that the whole region was familiar with the whole region was familiar with let's think about some other unlikely witnesses are there any stories in the Bible that you can think of individuals that we would consider maybe less than credit of credible or less than a reputable or well what did they have to really share that the normal standards would probably tell us yeah maybe we really shouldn't pay attention and unlikely witness Brittney I think about Zacchaeus you know he had gone robbing people the taxes and maybe getting a little extra for himself and he knew all these people but in a wrong way they had a negative opinion of him and then he meets Jesus and he goes and starts repaying them what he had taken and there at first they're probably like is this just a trick right what am I gonna do next but then they see the change I could imagine them like should I really take this money to the bank I mean are you gonna come back and take it Travis I think of all of the disciples or at least the eleven of the disciples you know fishermen you wouldn't go to the fish market you know to get witnesses but Jesus chose people you know from from fishermen to tentmakers and it's just like just an amazing right the power of God is amazing he's got Harald yeah think of the young slave girl who ministered to name and an enemy and yet she directed him to Elijah the prophet so that he can be healed or not the source of true healing which is gone I love these stories because they tell us that we can be unlikely witness tonight maybe we have not most likely we have not been possessed by the devil taking over our bodies but there are sins and things in our lives they can be just as powerful as chains people who have addictions drugs alcohol pornography and your family and your neighbors know these things about you and maybe you feel like I don't really have much to share but your witness is powerful your witness as Chuck mentioned God can use that sometimes even more than someone else who might seem more likely let's share a time is there a time when you have heard a remarkable testimony from someone that the world would consider to be an unlikely witness Harold you have your hand oh yes I just heard about this lady called Johnny Erickson she's a quadriplegic quadriplegic because she severed her neck and she has done I believe so much impact because he's able to paint marvelous picture with her mouth but she also shares the gospel she was at a point that she wanted to commit suicide but yes he's reaching those who are trying to commit suicide like go to know God and she has a ministry with her husband and I'm like wow she is the most unlikely person beautiful praise God praise God any other stories to share Chuck sure I have a friend who was a drug runner on the 95 interstate and he would take drugs from down south bring them north and always just trying to stay one step ahead of the law and I got a hold of him the major storm took place somehow his house was spared and he thought God was speaking to him and he started praying and God opened up his heart his mind and now he's a minister for God it's amazing you would never chosen a drug runner to be sharing the gospel the guy gave him something better to rhyme unlikely unlikely powerful testimony one last test year crevo I remember hearing the stories of West Pepper's for the first time he's a confessed her was a confessed atheist and now this man is on many Christian channels just preaching the gospel and sharing his testimony I was an atheist and I found Jesus and look what he's done for me now so to me that was the most powerful transformation ever that I've ever heard from someone that the world where they should be angry at God for their disability to someone who the world would say oh this is just a criminal just someone trying to swindle to someone who wasn't even a believer at all truly God can use all of us the things that maybe we have thought others looked down on are things that God can work through and it turned that around for his glory praise God amen let's continue in our study on unlikely on the power of personal testimony and we're going to look now at proclaiming the risen Christ so there was a time when Jesus he was crucified he was in the tomb and it was very hard for people to believe that he had arisen but truly an important message that all the gospel hinges on that needed to be shared let's look at one unlikely witness we're gonna look in mark chapter 16 verses 9 through 11 I am going to ask Travis if you'd read those verses for us and I'll be reading from the New King James Version no.1 you rose early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven demons so he went and told those who had been with him and they mourned and wept and when they heard that he was alive and had and seen by her they did not believe hmm so another individual who has experienced demon possession but has been delivered what else might make Mary Magdalene's testimony not very credible agriculture she's a woman in in that day and age they did not respect women as having any status Oh Billie and also her past history you know even from the text like it's our name or last name and in the fact her you know she was once possessed by seven demons so I'm guessing some of the disciples would think that well the demons are coming back you know she's lapsing a little bit so I think her experience or past history was also maybe part of the reason why they didn't believe her she still has an important witness to share God is gonna bless her let's continue reading in John chapter 20 verses 11 through 18 she's one of the first women to visit the tomb and because of that she has a very special encounter with God in John chapter 20 verse 11 to 18 Nicole would you read that for us we're looking in John chapter 20 verses 11 through 18 the New International Version says now Mary stood outside the tomb crying as she wept she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus body had been one at the head and the other at the foot they asked her woman why are you crying they have taken my lord away she said and I don't know where they have put him at this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there but she did not realize that it was Jesus he asked her woman why are you crying who is it that you are looking for thinking he was the gardener she said sir if you have carried him away tell him where you tell me where you have put him and I will get him jesus said to her Mary she turned around towards him and cried out in Aramaic rabboni which means teacher jesus said do not hold on to me for I have not yet ascended to the Father go instead to my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my father and your father to my god and your God Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news I have seen the Lord and she told them that he had said these things to her amen amen so we know that Mary was at the tomb some other woman were there early they were there to continue the process of anointing the body so we understand they didn't really fully understand or believe that he was risen but Mary was certainly in the right place at the right time for this encounter and had something to share now the first time she ran and told the disciples did they believe her it says she runs back again and goes and tells them why did she why did she go back to but they didn't believe her the first time why go back why go back any thoughts I'm sorry she knows it's true she's burning inside it's bright I know he's alive yes pastor and Jesus told her to he said go back yes oh it's amazing to me and Brittany alluded to it as well he chooses the most unlikely witness yeah ooh and he appears to her first yes right not to one of the great apostles you know he and I think the answer is because she is ready to hear yeah she's there she's there was a runaway or they're locked in an upper room somewhere or imagine had they known what they'll soon find out they would have been there too hmm but she's there she receives this amazing encounter with the Lord Spurling encounter she is told to go back and share that good news but I I think about our lives when we might share news with someone who's not very receptive that might make us a bit hesitant to go back to those individuals or it might make us feel like you know they already didn't want to hear what I had to say maybe I should just share this with these folks over here I love that this is showing God's persistent man and that he pursues us unlikely witness or not Jesus wanted his people to know that he was risen yes and I feel like this lesson is speaking to us that there might be folks who didn't want to believe us the first time we can continue to share with them through our testimonies through our life through our witness Jonathan yeah I think certainly Christ seems to have chosen her a bit because this said that he validated or her ability to be a witness and but also I think there's a bit worse because she was so passionate she obviously cared about it and was not pertaining attention to fear or anything else somebody by doing that she placed herself in a place where she had something to witness so if we buy it by having that devotion on our own place we will be able to have a witness that much more because we are focused on Christ amen that's beautiful so the group that should have been believers weren't quite believers just yet they needed to be witness to the disciples Jesus core followers needed to be witness to eventually they understand what's happening and they are now ready to take the message of the risen Lord of salvation through faith through Jesus Christ to the world unfortunately there is another circle of believers who still don't quite get it and those are the religious leaders and their religious church of the time so let's look now in the book of Acts so we're gonna see now how the disciples are facing this challenge themselves of being witnesses be witnesses to their own home in their own home beep witnesses in their own community and how they are handling that as powerful witnesses for God we're gonna look in Acts chapter 5 we'll read verses 26 through 29 I'm gonna ask Jason if you'd read those verses for us I'll be reading here from the New King James Version Acts chapter 5 verses 26 through 29 then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence for they feared the people lest they should be stoned and when they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name and look you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us but Peter and the other apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men what important lesson no learn from Peter and John in their response to this Sanhedrin was this a cordial or a friendly encounter no no how do we know it wasn't we keep reading we'll find out what happens Kenneth because they brought them away from the people to let's say in a secure place and then that is why they commanded them didn't did we not tell you not to see anything that tells you it wasn't a friendly encounter so they were trying to silence them but instead we see this powerful bold response from from these disciples why were they so bold that passion Jack in Acts chapter 5 and verse 20 they have been told to go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life they've been told by the angel to go and speak they had a command from God and so there was no need for them to back down from what God it ass Travis so I want to say that they were motivated totally by love because it wasn't too long before this they were all running and hiding in the upper room something changed and that was the death of their Savior they realized the ultimate act of love that Jesus and they had done for them and that changed everything and one other important change they were filled with the holy Savior Acts chapter 1 so so then they go out to tell that Jesus is not that he's alive and and they can't be silenced they can't they say it is better for they ought to obey God rather than men if they were quiet what would that have meant I mean that that good news would not go to everyone who needed it I true I believe it Travis they were motivated by love love for everyone who needed to hear this good news Amon and that could not be stopped Jonathan yeah it just struck me at the point that someone made it they had direct command because sometimes we may have love but there's wisdom and there's times to not say things when you're in a country where you're gonna get thrown in jail or someone else is gonna get really hurt you you be more careful but when you have a direct command from God then okay God knows that whatever gonna happen and you just go forward so it hit home it makes a difference it's certainly easier to share about the Lord when you're among friends or in a friendly environment it's certainly more difficult to do that when you know someone's opposed to you or is even a hostile towards the Word of God can you share a time where you personally or you are aware of someone who has shared or witnessed for God despite hostility or despite opposition Travis I have a friend a friend of mine who I do ministry with in Malawi and that man has faced opposition time and time again being stoned and poisoned and starved and he just keeps going he's the man is such a blessing his name is gold and he's a blessing to me and so just to watch how he interacts with people and and he has that love of Jesus and he just wants to share it so someone could say that that is a stupid witness what makes that a powerful witness and not a silly thing if so if you're facing all this opposition you keep going back you mentioned the power of the Holy Spirit you mentioned love so in a previous study we mentioned that this evangelist in a non-christian environment has raised up scores of churches and you put roofs on 31 of them right so the fruit even though people say don't talk to those non-christian people they don't want to hear when you're a witness filled with the Holy Spirit you see the fruit that witness Jesus is changing lives that's what I think keeps you going yes even in spite of the dystonia or the the opposition you might have at the point when you're experiencing stoning or even a Sanhedrin Council you're not concerned about thought people think about you you are concerned about being faithful to what God has asked faithful to sharing that good news so lives can come and be saved treatment I think sometimes it has an influence on the one that's doing the persecution mmm I am stoning you I am trying to kill you I am trying to poison you and you're still out here preaching here we talk I think sometimes it has an influence on the ones that are hurting you that's a powerful witness praise God all of Tarsus and Steven the deep yes God is working from every single angle and if we are so busy just trying to figure out how does this make me look why I look silly do I look like I'm irrational I keeps preaching about the Word of God but no one's being baptized no one's listening to me they keep running me out of town in fact I've actually had threats on my life if you're worried about that then that's not where the focus needs to be because there are plenty examples of the fruit that we see when the Holy Spirit used this people despite opposition Nicole I'll be careful because we may not see the fruit god says to keep doing spreading his word so I think you shouldn't be discouraged we don't see fruit God's will because the fruit will eventually ripen amen amen let me ask a question so what should our response be to someone who doesn't want to hear about Jesus who does not want to hear about our testimony or our witness how do we respond to them Chuck I think we need to be respectful if someone says you know I just don't want to hear thing else I don't think we benefit by shoving it into their face at the same time we can continue to leave a Christian life be a Christian friend even though they may not respect our words they will eventually respect our lives Oh amen Chuck Kenneth there's a story in the Bible where some friend did everything they could to bring someone who was sick to Jesus and the Bible said because of the effect so sometimes if the person is resistant you need to intercede for that person and go to hoping though that you we have no idea Billy and also I think the person might want to test our motivation for us sharing news so it's all motivation is to get that person in church I think they have a right to say that no like I want a friend I want somebody to care for me and that can be an opportunity I think if we see opposition to continue loving that person that's gonna be a good neighbor to that person so there's a difference between outside forces that are trying to stifle the Word of God being spread yeah we know that there is a great battle that and that the enemy doesn't want the world to know about God's good news and we should obey God and share that news there's a difference between the opposition or a cold heart or a heart that's just not ready and we're told to be respectful look for opportunities continue to be a light and a witness to that person we're not busting down the door to people's hearts and kicking our way in that's right because that's not what Jesus does for us um so praise the Lord for that thank you so much for sharing let's talk about that transformed life because that is a powerful witness when words just can't get through to someone we can be very loud and and and in our lifestyle and what God has done for us let's keep looking in Acts the book of Acts we're going to look in Acts chapter 4 and we're going to look at a testimony that was given about Jesus by Peter and John Acts chapter 4 verses 5 through 13 Harold would you read those verses for us yes and I'll be reading from the New King James Version Acts chapter 4 verses 5 through 13 and it came to pass on the next day that their rulers elders and scribes as well as Anna's the high priest Caiphas John and Alexander and as many as were of the family of the high priests were gathered together at Jerusalem and when they had set them in the myths they asked by what power or by what name have you done this then Peter failed with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers of the people and elders of Israel if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man by what means he has been made well let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead by him this man stands here before you whole this is the stone which was rejected by you builders which has become the chief Cornerstone nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus what made their testimony so powerful Brittany I think it was two things one in the last verse we just read that they realized who they were and they knew who they were previously and now they see how bold they are so they see a transformed life in the disciples but also I think the miracle of the lame man now he's jumping and running so I think it's twofold there's also the working of the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is working through them I love that it says that they realize that they were unlearned I mean it just makes you real they realize that we weren't the ones that that educated these men there is power on when we are witnesses for God we don't have to go to seminary we don't have to study for years and years and years and years or be some great theologian but we can each have a very powerful Holy Spirit inspired testimony for God when we are willing to let him use us and to share Travis they realized where they got their intelligence from yeah they had been with Jesus so if we were to to apply this today if we want to be shares of the gospel spend time with Jesus nothing against those in seminary knows that you want to become deep theologians but if we're not spending time with Jesus that's the key to our power mmm that is the key to our power let's continue reading we're gonna look in Acts chapter 26 Acts chapter 26 and what's amazing is that you'll notice it as the disciples continue to share you see them put in more and more interesting situations the audience is changing they're not just trying to convince their friends and neighbors anymore they're being put into positions to influence and witness to individuals of power individuals of authority let's read in Acts chapter 26 verses 9 through 18 and I will ask Jonathan to read those verses for us alright I'll be reading from the New International Version Act 26:19 I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth Jesus of Nazareth 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 put to death I cast my vote against him many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished I tried to force them to blaspheme I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities one of these journeys on one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests about noon king agrippa king agrippa as I was on the road I saw a light from heaven brighter than the Sun blazing around me and my companions we all fell to the ground I heard a voice saying to me in aramaic Saul Saul why do you persecute me it is hard for you to kick against the goads then I asked who are you lord I am Jesus whom you are persecuting the Lord replied 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 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles I am sending you to them 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 by boldly witnessing for Jesus the Apostles have found themselves working against opposition but now that opposition has led them to King Agrippa and here is this amazing testimony where Paul is sharing his transformed life what's interesting and remarkable about the testimony that Paul gives to King Agrippa Chuck he's really not trying to make himself look all that good he's telling here's how bad I was I did this I did this I punished I is angry I was and he really is not focusing on how the other people in his testimony he's not trying to make them look bad he's saying here's Who I am being honest you've been very honest about his his state before he met who Jesus mm-hmm and also he was not giving glory to the sinful thing he was doing it was I didn't he Jesus at the center of his Testament he's also very concise this he knows why he's there you can imagine if you had an opportunity to meet a ruling leader in your country or in our country there might be things you might want to say to that person but he's staying on message because he realized this is a divine encounter it's not for me to ask the policies of the day or what you plan to do in this region it's for me to share powerfully the witness of Jesus Christ so we've heard the story before though we know that there's a lot more detail to the story I don't see him mentioning his encounter with Ananias he doesn't mention mention three days of blindness there's other things that he doesn't mention in this testimony why do you think that is Brittany I think when we share our testimony and just looking at Paul each time he shared it we tailor it to the people that we're sharing it to so we try to understand where they're coming from and share in a way that they're gonna understand and be receptive to okay so some of the details might not be necessary or if you know that you have a limited time the Holy Spirit can give you this server now what are the important things he needs to know I think it's interesting that in speaking to a king he he goes into detail about having once had authority to do certain things he was to persecute under the authority of others but I broke rank with that because someone with more authority than that took a hold of me so using these words and things that likely the king would be able to understand and it would resonate with him Jonathan yeah I mean I think some of it has to do with like are we power are we focused on being a channel for the Holy Spirit because I'm Paul like you said Paul could have focused on all these other things that it seems like there's there's that that tear between okay are we are we trying to focus on ourselves we whatever but he was just if our hearts are just focused and desired and okay how do I reach this person what do I say what do we he's really need to hear then like you said we will focus on those things certainly the Holy Spirit was guiding him the Holy Spirit led him to that encounter and certainly gave him the right word that would make an impact like Nicole said we might not see their fruit right away but he was faithful in delivering that powerful testimony let's look at first John we're moving quickly here there's so much here let's go to the book of first John chapter 1 and we're gonna look at a different witness so John now is sharing and a different approach than Paul's testimony but nonetheless still very powerful we're in first John chapter 1 verses one through four and I will ask Travis to read those verses for us and I'll be reading from the New King James Version that which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled concerning the word of life the life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the father was manifested to us that which we have seen and heard we declare to you that you also have fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ and these things we write to you that your joy may be full amen there is fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ this is something that people the time would not have known or understood but you can see a very powerful testimony a very powerful witness but a different approach as John is sharing to other members of the faith community other members of a spiritual community that there can be fellowship with heaven I think it's really important Tricia Lee sometimes people might say I've never been a gang member I've never used drugs I've never been in prison you know Saul of Tarsus that that's pretty much a terrorism mm-hmm resume right forcing people to blaspheme casting votes against them John he comes from a different family but they're both talking about how they met Jesus yeah yeah and how their life was changed yes yeah and I think it's beautiful when a person can say I had a godly family he pointed me to Jesus you know I've never been in prison but I came to love Jesus and I want you to know the joy that I found and you can have that beautiful amen exactly traffic and in the context of when this who he's talking to is they're used to coming to a sanctuary you know and the priest is kind of the mediator and now this is being steered now Jesus is the link between the father and they have direct communication through Jesus this means a lot to them and individually we can experience that fellowship man and not just live through cold formal rituals Nicole let's say that our our customers are unique yes and I think that we it reaches you because it's unique and it's it's it's mine but it also makes you realize that God can work with each and every one of us where we are to get us what we need to be right I think that that's what's great about testimony and about being able to share it let's share time now a story of a transformed life that has really impacted or influenced you it might be your own life that's God has transformed or is in the process of transforming or the story of someone that you've heard whose transform transformation has become a very powerful witness for God Billy yeah I can share one time I went to volunteering in Texas in the United States and so when I went there we were responding to the hurricane Harvey that hit that area and one of the guys that you know was witness we were helping he was an atheist and just throughout the time that we were helping him he he was changed you know he was very somber he was mad at at the world but he saw strangers just like no dirty and stuff just scrubbing his floor painting and all that so that transformed him so we didn't have to basically bring a Bible and say let's have a Bible study but just the fact that were just you know loving him just because he's alive and I think that meant a lot and he had cancer he had all the reasons to be mad at the world in a mad at God but at the end while we're leaving he said I want to be around people like that who loved me so but transformed life that over a few weeks leave going back to the mission trip in Peru we actually went door to door and we were knocking on doors and there was raining it wasn't a very nice day and we were bringing bags of rice to the local community and we knocked on this one man's door and it took him a while to get to the door and once he got to the door he was like crying could tell like something had happened and we were like talking to him and were like we brought you these things and he was telling us how his wife just had two babies she just had twins and one of them died like men birth and so he was just explaining this to us and he completely broke down and for us like we were just some kids from from the US that we didn't understand like how much pain he was going through but we asked him if we could pray for him and pray with him and you could just tell like he was like wow it was amazing to see that experience Wow and God brought peace to his life god is so good the power of a transformed life is that if you're on the outside watching someone go through a situation when you look at that you can't help but think if God can do that yes for him or for her what can God do for me let our light so shine before men that they can see God Goods work good works and glorify Him in heaven let's think about making this practical because we know there's power and giving our testimony but there are also some practical elements on how to be a witness or what types of information we want might want to include when we're sharing Britney would you mind sharing what are some of those key elements that we can share whenever we are witnessing for God sure we can find it right in Paul's testimony we see his life before Christ met Christ and now his life after Christ and as he's you know ministering with Christ so those are the three key elements where we were before Christ how we met him and what he's done in our life and and what he can do for you Amen praise God Travis we just can't it's easy for me cuz I said remember that my testimony is really his testimony you know because I didn't do it right God yeah it's about him so it's I am a living example the testimony Harold I don't also add that I believe Nico Harriet also I whenever I gave a testimony testimony I like to make it relevant to that person I do not share the same testimony to everybody and we see the partner ensure everything as you also point it out because there's some stuff that maybe is too sensitive and I rather Sarah to a person who experienced the same thing I experienced because that has happened to me where with a friend he thought I never experienced certain things and I said oh you I never shared this with you but I did he he's like what next and explain my whole life story he's like wow I actually what I experience is nothing compared to what you're experiencing and actually he was very open and actually he is he's actually has like accepted God even more and more because of our interactions together praise God Stephanie how has your attitude about sharing changed as a result of this study I think the biggest thing is is that not to underestimate anyone that is around God has a plan for each person never miss an opportunity to witness praise God thank you so much Stephanie and thank you so much for studying this lesson with me what a great study amen I'm so glad that you were able to be with us each person is precious to God and your testimony matters and and as Harold said the Holy Spirit can help you to customize that testimony just what's needed at the right time and will experience joy as we join the word making friends for God what a blessing it will be you've got a testimony let's pray that God would guide us to share where we were before how we met Jesus and how he's changed our lives in the future let's pray together father in heaven what an encouraging message we've heard today the power of a personal testimony and I pray that you'd help us to see what you've done in our lives that we might by your Holy Spirit not be ashamed to give a testimony to those around us and may lives be blessed we pray in the name of Jesus amen well thanks for joining us for hope service cool we each have a testimony to share we don't need to be ashamed of where God has brought us from how he's changed us go out share that word be a blessing to those around you [Music] [Applause] [Applause]

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

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Length: 58min 28sec (3508 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 05 2020