Keith Moore - True Witness - Pt 8 (The irresistible spirit)

if you would open the Scriptures today with me to Acts the first chapter Acts chapter 1 then we'll go to 2nd Timothy chapter 1 acts 1 2nd Timothy at 1 we've been for some weeks on a subject we're calling true witness true witness and if you haven't been with us for the previous lessons of course we've already covered a lot of ground and you're you're getting in the middle of this with us if you want to catch up you can get those you can go online download and won't cost you anything here in the building you can go back to the word supplied get a CD or a DVD again won't cost you anything and those of you that have been with us would you encourage them that it'd be worth their time to to get into this and feed on this this is very very important in Acts the first chapter and the eighth first acts 1:8 he said but you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost ghost is an old English word that means for spirit after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth two things I want to emphasize here he said Jesus said you'll receive power hallelujah and it's the power of the Holy Spirit upon you and this power the the the fruit and effect and result of this power of the Holy Spirit coming on you is that you shall be witnesses witnesses now the Living Bible says when the Holy Spirit has come upon you you receive power to testify about me with great effect power to testify about me the Wiest translation says you'll receive power of the kind which God has and exerts after the Holy Spirit has come on you and you'll be those who testify of what they have seen and experienced my witnesses hallelujah both in Jerusalem Judea Samaria to the end of the earth so we are to be empowered to testify to be his witnesses and this is something that belongs to every believer not just a few every believer in one of the first messages on this we different between being a preacher and being a witness not the same thing and yet many have have gotten that in their mind that you know that all of us should go witnessing and in their mind what that means is that you should work up a little evangelistic message right and go preach to somebody but the Bible says that not many of you should try to teach is that right James says not many quite and in first Corinthians about are all apostles prophets teachers no the answer's no well then if we're not all teachers and preachers why should we all try to teach or preach it's quiet in here and yet being a witness is not the same thing as preaching somebody a message and so what has happened many people they they don't feel comfortable trying to preach a message into somebody so they don't try and they never do it and they just feel bad because I know I should be witnessing more but what they're calling witnessing in their mind is preaching hmm or then you got other folks that's not called or anointed to preach but they try to preach to everybody all the time and there's no anointing in it right and that's not working good either and then maybe somebody finally does work up the courage and they try to you know get their verses together and and so they go and and then they got them crossed up and and and they were going to try to preach what somebody else brother puts their pastor preached and and it just they just lost their way and and I thought man I'm not doing that again so you got people doing too much you got people doing nothing but it's not what he said he didn't say after the Holy Spirit comes on you receive power and you shall go a preaching you shall what you shall be witnesses what is a witness a witness is one who testifies it's a legal term just like in a court of law one who affirms what they have seen heard or no hmm you can't go tell what you heard somebody saw our new that's hearsay and inadmissible hmm if you're a witness it's got to be what you saw what you heard what you know from firsthand experience and so a witness is also one that goes on record and this record is evidence a reliable true eyewitness is valid proof in courts all over the world and you and I if we're a true witness are proof of God's reality in this earth were proof of his goodness and then you don't have to know a bunch of verses or Greek or Hebrew definitions you don't have and so many people they don't want to hear what you believe they don't want to hear what your church believes hmm they don't want a exposition on doctrine many people I'm told my people that are not here people that you're going to come in contact with hmm many of them they don't want to hear what you believe but in the right circumstance when the Lord prompts you you testifying to what you personally know that God has done for you come on are you listening can be a powerful thing in your life and there's because you were there when you got saved you were there where you're not you were there when the Lord came in in your heart and the burden of you sin was rolled away you were there is that right you were there when you got filled with the spirit you were there when your body got healed when the Lord healed your child when the Lord met your needs help you get your bills paid you were there and you can be a bold true witness of that you can say oh I know this I needed this and I prayed and this happened and the Lord did that I know this he did this for me this is not hearsay this is not theory this is not doctrine this is not you trying to preach this is you being a true witness of what you have seen you have heard what you know that the Lord has done for you somebody said out loud I am a true witness of what the Lord has done for me glory to God hallelujah in 2nd Timothy 1:7 they'll put it on the screen for second Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind and the very next verse he says be not there therefore connecting this with what he just got through saying in verse 7 therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord so when he says God didn't give us a spirit of fear he's talking about in connection with testifying being a witness and you and I do not have to be fearful we do not have to be timid it says the true or it's not right and if it's true why should we be embarrassed to say it's true if he did it for us if it really happened why should we be hesitant why should we be intimidated why should we be fearful to tell what the Lord has done for us and finally in Revelation 12 they'll put it upon the screen for us revelation 12:11 when I say finally I'm talking about my text don't get excited tell you something funny some folks had some visitors come within the church over at Branson some years ago and they had heard that I preached long time I know where they heard that but okay and anyway they came and we're in the beginning of the service and we had the praise and we had the offering you know and I shared and then they they're passing the plates and and the person leaned over to their friends so well I wasn't so bad no that's the offering he had started to miss but but when did we decide that a twenty or thirty minute sermon that was the standard and was supposed to be is that how Jesus did it is that how Paul did it when did that change come on area with no don't misunderstand me you know I'm sure I've continued to go after I was through and many preachers have but until you've done it a lot you might not want to say too much right but so so believe with me and whoever you minister is at the time just right not too short not too long huh just exactly what it needs to be but on the other hand a lot of folks are just too heady and to carnal and they've got time they don't have time for God for anything they don't have five minutes to pray they don't have 15 minutes to spend in their Bible and if you're thinking about leaving church when you walk in the door how quick you can get out of there well why did you come come on listen to me what do you know are you just there to check a box and say I'm religious I went to church today or is it supposed to be something really happening that we come and we minister to him in our praise and our worship and our offerings and it's real and he receives it and he ministers to us he gives us answers he builds a Sun he builds our faith up and we receive it and we leave out of here better than when we came in stronger than when we came in is that right with some light and some direction and some answers and help will friend that be worth staying there all day long easy right hallelujah the Bible said in Revelation 12:11 they overcame him to a month the devil the accuser of the Brethren by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony hallelujah and they loved not their lives unto the death last time we spoke on this we talked about how that this is something they the former believers we read about in the scripture they were willing to die for their testimony their witness something you and I should be willing to die for in other words we would die before we say it isn't so right then what we're saying about what the Lord has has done it's the truth and it doesn't matter if you don't like it you don't want to hear it it's still true right and then we would die before we would recant and say it's not true and that's how they overcame hallelujah by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony now go with me please to the book of Acts let's look in acts 6 and then I believe we'll make our way eventually over to Luke 21 you believe in with me this morning uh pterence is greatly affected by the hearer let's release our faith further in a prayer at now father in Jesus name we are agree together asking for utterance asking for the anointing asking for all of us for eyes that see in ears that hear and hearts and minds that understand discern and perceive show us what we've not seen remind us of anything we've let's live show us how to put it into practice and how to walk it out and we'll give you all the glory and praise and we purpose not to be hearers only or forgetful hearers but to be doers of it in Jesus name Amen thank you lord last time we spoke about Stephen and what a witness he was and the Bible said in acts 6 and verse 8 acts 6 and verse 8 says Stephen was full of faith and power how many think we ought to be full of faith in power he was full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people interesting story here he started out on the food truck our food wagon food cart maybe hmm you remember the story they they they're having issues distributing food and meals to people and he was one of the ones that they tapped to and assigned to do that next thing you know he's full of faith and power and has wonders and miracles how many believe if you're faithful and in what the Lord gives you he'll add more to you he'll advance your promotion and keep reading there there are roles certain of the synagogue which is called the synagogue of The Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and Asia disputing with Stephen they wanted to argue with him and fuss with him and the Bible said verse 10 and they what they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke now we got no reason to think that Stephen is a learned man that he has extensive education no last time we read he's on the food cart right making sure the soup was hot making sure that in spill stuff where it got to where it was going in loading and unloading it and serving it but he's not speaking with force and eloquence because of his great education he's speaking with power by the Holy Spirit who's come upon him and he's become a powerful witness hallelujah by the spirit upon him and now what our text says you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit's come upon you and you shall be my witnesses and these guys are educated these if you back up and read it again verse 9 libertine sirenians Alexandrians in particular were known for their extensive libraries and their knowledge and so these guys are the intellectual Giants of their day in the area and they've gone to discount and disprove what this young food cart guy is saying and doing I'm gonna know something's going on for them to even know he exists right and yet when they get down there and they're going to take this little uneducated guy and they're gonna tie him up in knots and they're gonna show everybody what a fool he is and when they got through they could not they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which the food cart guy spoke and and everybody around that we're watching this and hearing this they were that's right food cart guy you tell him you tell and now I looked at them like okay la Bertie's what you got for that huh Alexandria's what's your comeback and they're like oh because what they didn't know is they weren't just tangling with the food cart guy huh it wasn't that they they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit of Stephen it was the spirit he was speaking by they couldn't handle him they couldn't get around him they couldn't not talk him they couldn't come up with an argument that made him look bad and obviously they did their best and if you read the rest of the story Stephen stood up in front of a murderous crowd and man he gave it them a synopsis of Genesis to Malachi did he I mean bro the Spirit of God gave it to him and and you know they got so mad they didn't know what to do and finally he looked up he said I see Jesus I see I said there he is standing on the right hand a guy man it made him so mad they they went crazy the bottle so they now stoning with their teeth and they killed him the rock said him and killed him why because they they couldn't disprove what he was saying so they killed him can you see this friends now skip down are over I should say to Luke 21 what we're seeing as we go is that our witness is much more important than we knew our witness is the devil's worst nightmare it is it is one of his biggest problems in the earth and if he cannot get you confused or get you to not have faith he wants to get you off the planet hmm why before you tell somebody before you before you go to testify because when you go to testifying and being the witness the one he's really scared of helps you comes on you and empowers you and enables you and that is the devil's worst nightmare because that empowered witness and testimony breaks through the darkness and confusion of the minds of them that are blind come on can you see it and no matter how long he has worked on binding somebody up and keeping them confused in darkness and sin once the light comes in and they hear it and believe it and act on it all the demons in Hell can't hold him back can't hold them back kinda said out loud my witness my testimony is important it's important it's very very important and the thing that makes it powerful is not how knowledgeable you are not how much scripture you can quote not how spiritual you think you are the thing that makes it powerful is the spirit hallelujah by which he spoke the spirit by which we speak isn't this our text all of you shall receive power hallelujah after the holy spirits come on and as a result of that what will happen you'll testify I said you'll testify you'll be his witness you will tell boldly boldly fearlessly unashamedly you will tell what you know he has done for you but you saw what you heard what you experienced and nobody can tell you you're wrong you were there nobody can tell me I didn't get say I was there how about you nobody can tell me the Lord didn't heal me or didn't meet my knees nobody can tell me that Luke 21 Luke 21 Jesus the master is talking about this I can tell already you your warriors shouting closed today you're ready and you you're gonna shout all the more about this he said for Luke 21 12 jesus said before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you did you know that we have not been redeemed from persecution that was three amens and two nights we've been redeemed from the curse of the law we have not been redeemed from being persecuted the Bible says they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution that's New Testament right if you're doing some things right the enemy wants to shut you up he'll try to stir up opposition against you and you shouldn't be discouraged about it you should be encouraged how many think Stephen should have been excited when the lab routines and the Alexandrians and all these important you know hi who do guys come to show up for the food cart guy now it wound up in him getting killed but hey he went out of here in a cloud of glory is that right Jesus standing up to receive him glory to God that's not defeat he didn't lose anybody but you see when the when these guys show up in and they're full of venom to try to attack him and disprove him you should be thinking whoa I must be doing something right right because if not you're not even on the radar you're no problem for the enemy right because you're saying nothing doing nothing he said they will persecute you they will deliver you up to the synagogues and into prisons you'll be brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake man this perfectly describes what's recorded in the book of Acts concerning what happened to Paul doesn't it keep read and it shall turn to you for a testimony when this happens it's going to turn to you for a testimony tell your neighbor tell them how I say it'll turn to you for a testimony what does that mean that means it has come down to you now for you to testify huh you so what I'm not a preacher we tell my preaching hmm has God done something for you then you can tell it it'll turn to you for a testimony now others other scriptures set like this the the new American says it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony this will be your opportunity to bear witness from there are times and some that are particularly significant that you will know it's time for me to speak of it's not every situation every day and you don't feel like you have to say something everywhere you go to everybody you meet but there are times you just know it in your heart it'll come up and it's your turn it has turned to you right eyes are on you what are you gonna say you're not one of them are you yeah you're not one of them are you and what do you say yes Sam yes sir and you you don't blink your eyes when you say it right you don't hesitate you don't believe in all that God stuff huh come on we live in a scientific world we live in you know people have developed in intelligence we don't need the crutch of religion and you know it's turned to me it's time for me to speak up and they can think whatever they like but the truth is the truth right and if anybody should feel bad and feel ashamed it's the person believed in lies and believed in there is no God is believing a lie believing there's no salvation there's no heaven there's no hell it's believing lies they're the ones ought to be embarrassed about what they're believing not us they need to join us it'll it'll be an opportunity for you to bear witness now looking to keep reading verse 14 Luke 24 14 so make up your minds not to prepare beforehand that said defend but the entities the one I like it says not to rehearse ahead of time the near the new English King James put the King James up for us settle it in your heart's not to meditate before what you shall answer this testimony we're talking about is inspired it's annoying it it's not something you sit down you wrote on a piece of paper and you just stand up read to somebody by rote so you don't have to figure out well how am I going to answer this and I'm gonna snow no you just share what God did for you right how many notes do you need you were there right you were there you know what happened this is not theory this is not doctrine this is not you trying to teach a message settle it in your heart's not to meditate before what you shall answer why because you're gonna have help I'll since you're gonna have help verse 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain say nor is this Oh hallelujah most he can't shout about that I don't know what you can shout about Jesus said the head of the church said he's the one who said you'll receive power after the Holy Spirit's come on you that's what this power is for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain safe nor is this in that what happened with Stephen they could not over talk the food cart guy good they they couldn't don't you know that made him feel bad with all their degrees these are their best oratory and to get tied up by the food cart guy had to be very embarrassing for but what they didn't realize is it wasn't just the food cart guy and when he's talking about this this is not for your glory nor my glory to show up somebody how smart I am how much scripture I know how spiritual I am no no it's got nothing to do with me looking good are you looking good are us shutting somebody up this is about the truth coming out and light coming out and truth being confirmed by the spirit of truth the spirit of truth bears witness to the truth when we tell the truth of what God has done in our lives the spirit of truth confirms it bears witness to it to other people that are seeing in here listening to it let me read some other translations of this to you the easy to read says this will give you an opportunity to tell about me decide now not to worry about what you'll say I will give you wisdom to say things that none of your enemies can answer the new living says I'll give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you they won't be able to the new century says I'll give you wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong not be able to gain say nor resist we have the irresistible spirit don't we we have the e.r refutable in disputable spirit go with me to Matthew let's see some examples of this because the reason we're seeing example to this because we're living in the same New Testament we have the same indisputable spirit in US and on us and there are times that this is to happen in our lives there were to experience the Lord giving us things that opponents just have no answer for they have no comeback Matthew 22 and verse 15 Jesus spoke by the spirit by the holy spirit by the irresistible irrefutable indisputable in undefeatable should I go on is he the greater one well if he's the greater one that would explain why they can't beat him hmm who's smarter than the Holy Spirit who's going to come up with something clever that the Holy Spirit can't come back from but I easily would it be for him to say something that you can't come back you're going what do you say to that this is what happened the Pharisees took counsel how they might entangle Jesus in his talk why again to their mind Jesus is the carpenter's son he didn't have a doctorate in theology he's not of the elite in the ministry and but and yet he's got this big following he's got these big crowds they're having miracles so he's become a problem for him so they're gonna go shut him down they're gonna go publicly show everybody how ignorant he is and uneducated they're gonna dazzle the crowd we're not am I reading this right are they gonna try to tie Jesus up what does entangle me they're gonna tie Jesus up they got a picture of them wiling the crowd with their knowledge in their education and Jesus being dumbfounded and not being able to answer back and the crowd going well okay maybe he's not all we thought he was they took counsel about this keep reading we're gonna read several verses here they sent out to him the disciples with the Herodians and they said master we know your true teach the way of God in truth you don't care for any man but you regarding that the person the men the Devils such a liar such a deceiver he'll butter you up right he'll flatter you before he tries to stab you help me no this way does he goes you're such a fine fella you're so great yeah is that right that's exactly how he works every time turn around so I can get this stuff off your back huh you're so smart you so they said what do you think is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not Jesus perceived their wickedness he said why tempt you me you hypocrites I'm gonna read through this several of these show me the tribute money they've brought him a penny he said whose picture is this whose writing is this they said well it's Caesars 21 he surrendered to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God and they're tangle up Jesus plan is really unraveling it's coming apart and when they heard these words they what hmm they marveled and did what well this didn't turn out to where they planned it lefting and went their way they won't have to think some more about this how to tango Jesus if this is not working in the same day this was obviously tank tangle up Jesus day same day Sadducees came and they say there's no resurrection and they were upset about what Jesus was teaching so they asked him they said master Moses said if a man died having no children's brother marry his wife raise up seed to his brother there were with the seven brothers the first married a wife she died had no issue left his wife to his brother second also the third to the seventh last of all the woman died also therefore in the resurrection which they don't even believe in whose wife shall she be of the seven for they all had her hmm see they think they are so smart don't they they think we got him high you gonna answer this one huh have you ever thought about this jesus said you do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God hmm and all the people they were sitting there thinking yeah because Bob said the common people heard Jesus gladly and they knew a lot of that junk that describes in Pharisees and Sadducees were saying we're not right but they didn't know how to answer him but then when Jesus came and said if they said that's right I always knew that I always knew that that's right that's right why cuz Jesus is speaking by the irresistible spirit he's speaking by the spirit that cannot be gainsaid nor is this did he said in the resurrection so there must be one they don't marry and are given in marriage your question because you're so ignorant of scriptures and God your scripture your question is completely irrelevant that's how smart you are if you knew if he knew enough you wouldn't have even asked the question because you would have known it's irrelevant because they don't marry whose wife would she be they don't marry they're like the angels of God in heaven and it's touching the resurrection of the dead because these were people who were big on the Old Testament and Moses have you not read what was spoken to God to you your God saying have you never read the scriptures have you ever read the Bible and so they were so proud of how much their you know the scripture the Bible that you so proud of it says I am the God of Abraham and the god of Isaac and the God of Jacob and God had said that when these men hadn't been on the earth for a long long time he said Gus let the god of the dead but of the living is God said I'm the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and they don't exist anymore huh somebody need to remind god they're dead they don't they're not around anymore no because they still exist and there is a resurrection and when the multitude heard this they were what astonished that is doctrine and I guess the said you sees had to leave and take some more counsel about how to tangle up Jesus because this is not working out but when the Pharisees had heard he put the Sadducees to solids then they said that's our shot we're going to show him how to do it they were gathered together and one of them our lawyer asked him a question tempting him and saying master which is the Great Commandment in the law jesus said you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind this is the first and Great Commandment keep going second is like it you'll love your neighbor as yourself on these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them 10 they weren't prepared for this they're like no no no we're asking you questions today he said no you asked I answered now I got something for you whom what thinking of Christ whose son is he whose son is Christ they said to him well no that son of David son of David he says well how then does David in spirit call him Lord I mean nobody ever imagined a father calling his son Lord especially not in this patriarchal world he said the Lord said to my lord sit thou on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool if David didn't call him Lord how is he his son and yes who got tangled up guess who got to no man was able to answer him a word neither did any man from that day forth ask him any more questions none of them wanted any more of this oh come on can you see this why because he's speaking by the ear resistible spirit the spirit that cannot be gainsaid nor resisting oh hallelujah Oh hallelujah and it is this same spirit whom we've received who comes on us and we receive power he empowers us to do what to do what to testify to be a witness of what we have seen and heard and know that he's done Oh somebody say thank you lord thank you lord thank you lord thank you lord go with me to the book of Acts please 22nd chapter can you take a little more now Paul Paul was the Pharisees golden boy he was trained in two feet of Gamaliel he was a rising star in the fair circle ranks and he was number one enemy of the Church of the Lord Saul of Tarsus right is that right I mean the Bible says that when Stephen was stoned Saul was there and and gave affirmation witness that he was guilty and should have been stoned and held the garments of the people throwing the rocks showing that he's publicly behind this and then after that he just gained steam he went and got authorization from the authorities to go to numerous cities and he by his own admission later he dragged out men and women out of their homes and put them in jail and had had him executed he is one of the biggest enemies the church has at this time and any mad Jesus I said then he met the Lord on the road to Damascus and got gloriously born-again and then got filled with the spirit and the Bible said that you're in acts 22 just stay there in acts 9 when he got saved he said straightway he preached Christ in the synagogue's that he is the son of God and all that heard him were amazed and they said is this not he that destroyed them that were called in his name in Jerusalem and and brought him out to be bound you talk about a turnaround people thought what Saul is preaching Jesus it was shocking and verse 22 says Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt in Damascus proving that this is very Christ is he speaking by the spirit that cannot be gainsaid no resisted so their solution was verse 23 so after many days were fulfilled the Jews took counsel to kill him what do you do when you can't prove that somebody's wrong you know like what they're saying but you can't prove that it's wrong well if you're devilish you want to kill them that's his solution destroy them kill them which which gives us insight into how powerful our testimony is come on can you see this why is it such a big deal why is the devil so so stirred up about this that he immediately tries to kill people and murder people when their testimony becomes powerful why because it we are the light of the world hallelujah through this witness through this testimony those in darkness and blindness are able to see and hear and get free glory to God sometimes people talk about warfare and spiritual warfare this is it this is real spiritual warfare hmm it's not about dressing up in an army gear and shouting real loud did y'all hear me it's about being a light hmm and being unashamed right and being willing to tell the truth about what the Lord has done for you even when it's unpopular even when it may cost you right cost you little or cost you a lot still you haven't been given the spirit of fear and you are bold and unashamed hmm right I believe we're becoming more powerful in this do you can you sense that about this whole group in here we're becoming stronger right we're becoming stronger in this knowing who we are knowing what we have now in acts 22 verse 1 we see Paul and his testimony and when when Saul who became Paul when he got saved the Lord told him that he was to bear his name before the Kings and before Gentiles and that he's to give his testimony and give his witness and you'll see here in acts 22 you'll see it later what in 24 and 26 and you have reason to believe that it happened over and over and over again he kept giving his testimony about when he met the Lord on that road do you know you never need to get tired or weary of giving your testimony in fact well I've heard it 10,000 times yeah but they have it hmm they have it don't get tired of giving your testimony just make sure it's true right nothing fabricated nothing exaggerated the truth absolutely the truth the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God I mean now what you supposed to say before you testify anyway right he said they listened to his testimony because this is anointed and it was selected to be preserved for us throughout the church for all generations listen and get the spirit of what he's doing now he is not in the position of authority he's there as a prisoner taken in custody and then later actually in Chains so he's you know they're looking down on him but he's not intimidated he said men brother and fathers hear you my defense which I make to you when they've heard he's smoking the Hebrew tongue they kept the more silence he said I was I'm a man a Jew born in Tarsus it's Alisa I was brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel taught according to the perfect manner of the love father's house Ella's toward God as you all are this day does this sound like a testimony huh I grew up over here right I did this total truth accurate historical account of what happened and I persecuted this way to the death binding and delivering into prisons both men and women I did some bad things and the high priest bear me witness and all the estate of the elders of whom I received letters and I went to Damascus to bring them which were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished and it came to pass as I made my journey and was come near to Damascus about noon suddenly there shone from heaven a great light about me and I fell to the ground and I heard a voice slam to me Saul Saul why persecutest thou me I answered who are you lord he said I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute and they that were with me saw the light and were afraid but they heard not the voice of him that speak to me and I said what shall I do Lord and the Lord said to me arise and go to Damascus and there it'll be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do now there's a crowd of people standing listening to this is Paul preaching no he's an apostle he can preach he can test them he can't teach God's given him amazing insight into the doctrines of the church but that's not what he's doing I said that's not what he's doing he's not he's not teaching he's not preaching he's not expounding revelation of righteousness or right grace our faith he's given his testimony how many believe it was powerful these people that are hearing this can we really believe that he saw a bright light and heard a voice now people can scoff and Mark all they want to but he was there he saw the light he heard the voice right nobody could tell him and I don't care who you are I don't care if you the King I don't care if you got 9 degrees after your name I'm the one who saw the light I'm the one who heard the voice and I know what happened and I know what it did to me something that did something happen to Saul on that road Saul of Tarsus the mean persecutor of the church passed away is that right all things were passed away and Paul hallelujah the Apostle shaping of the church was born whose effect in our lives to this day he said when I could not see for the glory of that light being led by the hand of them that were with me I came to Damascus one Ananias a devout man according to the law having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there he came to me and he stood and he said to me brother Saul he wouldn't called him brother the day before I've another Lord really had to talk to Ananias because Helen I said Lord I've heard about many about this guy you want me to go see him and the Lord said go he's a chosen vessel of mine so he did he said brother Saul receive your sight and in the same hour I looked it looked up upon him it's Paul testifying then he said I was there when he healed me hmm I was there when he saved me I was there when he healed me I was there and he said the god of Our Fathers has chosen you that you should know his will and see that just one and should hear the voice of his mouth for you shall be you shall be his witness unto all men of what of what you have seen and heard Oh glory to God glory to God keep reading he read and now why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord and it came to pass when I was coming into Jerusalem even while I prayed in the temple I was in a trance and I saw him saying to me make haste get you quickly out of Jerusalem for they will not receive your testimony concerning me and we're going to talk about this some more later but don't be shocked if not everybody receives your testimony now we do need this distinguished so much that I thought I thought the Spirit of God is irresistible he is nobody can refute him or prove him wrong nobody can withstand the truth and clarity and wisdom of the Holy Spirit there is no counsel no wisdom against the Lord that can be successful but that doesn't mean the people have to receive it or believe it that's not the same thing and he's telling him you need to get out of town because these folks will not receive your testimony concerning me keep reading he said Lord they know I imprisoned and beaten every synagogue them that believe don't you and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed and the word martyr is the same word translated witness I was standing by consenting to his death and I kept the raiment of them that slew him they know that and the Lord said depart for I will send you far hence to the Gentiles now you got to remember through all this he's giving his testimony there's this big crowd of people out here and they gave him audience up to that word and then they couldn't stand it anymore they lifted their voices and they said away with such a fellow from the earth it is not fit that he should live well hold on hold on is he wrong prove him wrong show from the scriptures that he's wrong convinced us show us what's the problem they can't the spirit he's speaking by cannot be refuted or disproved right are we stood so what's the devil solution kill him quickly why come on oh we know these are people they they cried out they they cast off their clothes they're tearing off their clothes I don't know when you tear off your clothes he's standing there naked the throwing dust in the air this is crazy this is going nuts why what's what's happening here the war of the act in this way because the devil can't stand to hear another word of this huh he he cain't out talking he can't over talk it he can't disprove it he can't withstand it the only thing they can do is shut you up somehow get you to shut up and the more the devil tries to get you to shut up come on help me out what are you going to do what are you going to do you you don't have the spirit of fear well somebody say glory to God you see the devil through these people they're yielding to him and they couldn't stand to hear it man I mean they're tearing their clothes or throwing dirt in the air they're just going crazy Wow here's the thing friends when an honest man or woman hears the indisputable truth they change they humble themselves they acknowledge that it's the truth and they receive it and they repent but there are many many people on the planet they don't care if it's true they don't care how it ended or how many ways it you will never be able to give them enough evidence they don't want it to be true they don't want to hear it I don't care how many times it's proven to them they refuse to receive it why because they're dishonest they're deceptive in their heart they know it but they won't admit it so what will those folks do well if they're nothing strong enough on the testimony they will scream and tear their clothes and throw dirt in there and want to kill you and that means you're doing something right have you got time for just a little bit more I think I think you need a little bit more in 24 and 26 of the same book of Acts you see Paul doing this again in chapter 24 I won't read all of it but he was able to give his testimony before Felix and in acts 24 25 he's doing the same thing he's going through the whole thing I was born over here everybody knows me I trained under Gamaliel I was a Pharisee of the Pharisees I was their golden poster boy I hurt people I attacked the church but one day I was on the road to Damascus hallelujah how many knows maybe you weren't on the road to Damascus maybe you didn't see a lot to hear a voice but how many note would say there was a day there was a day come on that was a day when I met him hallelujah I heard him in my spirit I saw the truth hallelujah of the good news I saw it I heard it I was there and he saved me he washed my sins away he forgave me he cleansed me he failed me he healed me he thrilled me that nobody can tell me he didn't cuz I was there I was there I was there and as he did this things Felix said go your way verse 25 go your way when I have a convenient season I will call for you what's going on he's got nothing to say he's got no comeback do you know when the when the devil tempted Jesus for those forty days and nights you want to said after that said he left him for a season the devil did what why he's out he has completely run out of anything to say and do he didn't know what to do with Jesus everything he's ever tried they worked on everybody else didn't work on him because he's moving and speaking and operating by this irresistible spirit in the 26th chapter in the 26th chapter he's giving his testimony down about verse 15 or so he's giving his testimony again I won't go through all of it but he said well back up to verse 14 we were all falling to the earth I heard a voice speaking to me saying in the Hebrew tongue Saul Saul why persecutest thou me it's hard for you to kick against the pricks stop here have you heard this before this is not the same chapter we have reason to believe he did this over and over again hmm giving his testimony it sounds just like chapter 24 done and what was it chapter 22 it sounds just like these and these are just the ones that were recorded so he's giving his testimony this time he's doing it in front of King Agrippa right it's coming to pass what the Lord told him on that road right he's testifying in front of Kings now he's wearing handcuffs but if the Lord mentioned that or not but he's doing it and uh verse 15 he said who are you lord he said I'm Jesus whom you persecute keep going rise stand on your feet I've appeared to you for this purpose to make you a minister and what and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of those things in which I will appear to you keep going delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles and to whom now I send you because some people will hear and receive the witness so won't you'll have to be delivered from some of the people he sends you to to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me I know I read it fast I'm thinking we going to spend time on this later but this is in a capsule why your testimony is so powerful back up to that verse again verse 18 this is why you're in my testimony is so powerful because God uses it to open their eyes God uses it to turn people from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God that they can receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified God uses your and my testimony to accomplish this it's why it's so powerful it's why he sent the spirit to an honest to do it it's why the devil hates it so much and it shakes him so bad he breathe whereupon Oh King Agrippa I was not disobedient until the heavenly vision I showed first to them at Damascus and at Jerusalem throughout all the coasts of Judea and did to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance and for these causes the Jews caught me in the temple went about to kill me having for obtained help of God I continued to this day witnessing both to small and great hallelujah he would witness to the guy on a street corner and he witnesses to the king agrippa and he's on his way to witness in Rome is that right he's going to Caesar he's going to preach in Caesars Court I don't know I've maybe didn't use the right right word he's going to give his testimony he's going to witness and give his testimony I continue to this day witnessing both the small and great saying none of the things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come that Christ should suffer he should be the first that should rise from the dead should show light to the people to the Gentiles as he thus spoke for himself Festus said with a loud voice Paul you're beside yourself much learning does make you mad you're crazy he's talking about resurrection he saw a man that everybody knows was executed he met him later on a road he said I'm not mad most noble Festus I speak forth the words of truth and soberness the King knows of these things before whom I speak freely I'm persuaded none of these things are hidden from him this thing was not done in a corner King Agrippa do you believe the prophets I know you believe Agrippa said to Paul almost the persuaders mean to be a Christian is something powerful going on in this room what's Paul doing he's given the same testimony he's given over and over again about how he met the Lord on the road to Damascus isn't it and the Spirit of God is coming on that whole royal court he's owned he'd come on Festus so much they don't know what to say just difference are you crazy but he don't know how to he can't prove him wrong he can't discount it and then Agrippa is different sitting in thinking he's almost ready to answer an altar call Paul said I would to God that not just you but also everybody listening to me they would almost and all together be just like me save sanctified filled with the Holy Ghost just like me except for these handcuffs that was a nice line that they knew you glory to God can you see the power of this anointed testimony of this anointed witness in closing proverbs 20:1 thirty-foot it upon the screen Forest please proverbs 2130 2130 said there is no wisdom or nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord the amplified says there's no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord friend do not get caught in the trap of trying to match wits with somebody that thinks they're smarter than you are more educated than you don't don't don't get entangled with their reasoning and philosophies and try to talk doctrine and you may be not even called to do that come on are y'all with me don't do it don't play their little game by their rules hmm but just be ready I should be ready always ready to give an answer of the hope that's within you and you'll know there'll be times and situations and places and it'll turn to you ha ha for a testimony and people look at you and go what about that and you'll go well I grew up in so-and-so and I was messed up and I thought this and I thought that but glory to God one day hallelujah and you begin to tell how he saved you and he cleans you you're not trying to teach and preach you're telling what you know what you saw what you heard and I'm telling you the Holy Ghost will come in there he'll get involved in that and Isles will be opened and people can come out of Darkness and people can get free Oh somebody say glory to God stand on your feet lift up your hands give thanks to the Lord Oh hallelujah hallelujah

Channel: Free Word of God

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Length: 72min 53sec (4373 seconds)

Published: Thu Aug 14 2014