YE SHALL BE WITNESSES

YE SHALL BE WITNESSES

After the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus spent most of 40 days with His disciples, telling them about the coming Kingdom of God. Some of it was easy for them to understand, but some was not.

At one point in the 40 days, Jesus performed a miracle in their minds and hearts, and it was much easier for them to understand after He did it.

LUK 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, :46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: :47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. :48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Just before He was taken into Heaven, his disciples asked Him if he planned to "restore the kingdom again to Israel at that time (Acts 1:6). Their understanding was still quite faulty. Our understanding of the things of God is also very faulty, even yet today.

He told them plainly that it was not for them to know that yet. But He DID tell them about what was in the IMMEDIATE future for them.

ACS 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (Exousia). :8 But ye shall receive power (Dunamis), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

I had often read that verse, and passed right over something that the Lord evidently wanted me to know. I had often used it to encourage people to witness to others of the Lord's Goodness in their lives. It CAN BE USED in that manner, but I now know that the Apostles knew what Jesus meant, and began to act accordingly.

In the days between the Ascencion of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the people waiting, and said:

ACS 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. :21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, :22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, MUST ONE BE ORDAINED TO BE A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.

There MUST be TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB

REV 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB.

They chose Matthias. I am not sure but what they made a mistake there. It would appear that the Lord already had a man earmarked for the position. But I do not intend to argue the point either way.

The fact remains that the most important message of the early Apostles was centered around the RESURRECTION OF JESUS, COUPLED WITH THE NAME OF JESUS.

That should STILL be the main thrust of our preaching and teaching to the world of today.

Christianity is unique, in that it is the ONLY belief that has an empty tomb and a living leader. The Name of Jesus is the ONLY Name that produces miracles, and changes the lives of people who call upon Him.

ACS 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; :15 And killed the Prince of life, WHOM GOD HATH RAISED FROM THE DEAD; WHEREOF WE ARE WITNESSES. :16 And HIS NAME THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

ACS 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, THAT BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom ye crucified, whom GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

It was by the resurrection that Jesus made fully the SON OF GOD.

ROM 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; :4 And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD:

PSA 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, THOU [ART] MY SON; THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE.

ACS 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, IN THAT HE HATH RAISED UP JESUS AGAIN; as it is also written in the second psalm, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE.

All humans who have put their trust in the ability, and the promise, of Jesus to raise them up at the last day, have a hope that is steadfast and sure. It has stood the test of time.

JOH 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. :40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

JOH 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

JOH 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Bible tells us about a "BETTER RESURRECTION” that many people were aware of, and were attempting to attain to.

HEB 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

PHI 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

PHI 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: :10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; :11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection (Exanastasis--A STANDING OUT FROM AMONG) of the dead.

REV 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. :5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. :6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.