Passionate Evangelism – 3

Subject – The Witness of Peter

by Rick Welborne

Acts 10:34-43 (NLT) 

³⁴  Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 

³⁵  In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 

³⁶  This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

³⁷  You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 

³⁸  And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 

³⁹  “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 

⁴⁰  but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 

⁴¹  not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 

⁴²  And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 

⁴³  He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” 

--This story has so many messages for us but for this series “Passionate Evangelism” we want to concentrate on how Peter was led by the Lord to reach Cornelius and his household.

--You, if you listen to my heart, know that reaching the lost is one of my passions and witnessing for Christ is one of the joys and privileges of my life.

--I pray for opportunities to share Christ every day and God is always so faithful to provide opportunities. Last Tuesday before our Board Meeting I was walking out of my office to go to Bailey Hall.

--There was my opportunity right in front of me…I am sure all of you have seen the gentleman who rides his bicycle all over the county…He always has on his orange vest…I have seen him for 28 years.

--There he was with his bike and his little dog (Terrier I think) and of course his dog’s name was Rikki…I made him laugh about his dog Tricky Rikki and I told him about Screwy Louis…our Beagle.

--I asked him how he was doing and he told me his story…something you must understand about everyone you witness to; they all have a story…we just have to be willing to listen…I listened.

--He shared how he has been battling pancreatic cancer (he is still riding his bike so what is our excuse for not exercising). He told me about doctors and chemo…losing weight and fighting this dread disease.

--Witnessing is largely listening…finally when he paused I said, “Can I pray for you?” His eyes became a fountain…Many are praying for me and I am trying to pray too…He thought I would pray later.

--Witnessing is not missing the opportunity to pray right now! He willingly let me pray…you see when people are hurting or going thru a crisis they are vulnerable to the gospel…don’t miss it. He wept more.

--Of course I invited him to church but I also invited him to stop by the church anytime he wanted prayer and I would take the time to pray for him.

--You see, I believe he was like Cornelius, he was searching…all these years I have seen him riding, I have never seen him in our parking lot…do you suppose he was searching. What about the timing? Perfect!

--I could have just waved and said hello but I made a b-line straight to him hoping for an opportunity and God gave it to me…Please pray for Ralph every day…let’s pray now!

1. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must deal with our prejudice.

Acts 10:28-29 (NKJV) 

²⁸  Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 

²⁹  Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"

--Listen to what Peter said to Cornelius…It is unlawful for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.

--Let me point out here that this is one of God’s Apostles, he is saved by the blood of Jesus, and he is baptized in Holy Spirit, yet he is bound, to some degree by his prejudice.

--He was actually saying that according to his law he could not even talk to or be around Cornelius and his family…how many of you know that we have some of the same laws.

--Oh, they may not be written but they are laws that are written on the hearts of many who claim Christ…we do not speak to certain people because of fear or misconceptions…because of prejudice.

--Several years ago we had a missionary and his wife on a Sunday night and Tricia and noticed that both of them were distraught and upset…we were concerned and asked what was wrong?

--They shared that the pastor they had been with that morning asked them why were they going to Africa to be missionaries…didn’t they know that “those people” do not have souls! We were in shock!

--We definitely encouraged them in the Lord and we have supported them for close to 20 years in Africa where many of ‘those people’ have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Of course, I called that pastor!

--When we look to Jesus’ own words we can say…Enough said about all people.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 

¹⁸  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

2. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must be people of prayer.

Acts 10:9-10 (NKJV) 

⁹  The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 

¹⁰  Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

--I personally am glad for the honesty of the scriptures…Peter goes up on the roof at noon to pray and he fell into a trance…he fell asleep…thank you, Lord, You can speak while we are napping.

--I read several translations and some say trance, some say he had a vision, and some say he fell into a deep sleep…that is my favorite version…how many of you need your nap?

--Hear me, when we earnestly pray we are in a place where God can speak to us either thru dreams or visions!

Know this, if we are really listening to Him He will speak to us about the lost. It is His top priority!

Luke 19:9-10 (NLT) 

⁹  Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 

¹⁰  For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

--These verses are speaking about wee little Zacchaeus…Jesus was praying and looking for him.

--How much do you pray for the prodigals in your life…how much do you pray for opportunities to share Christ with others. As we pray in Holy Spirit God will set up divine appointments. Like Ralph.

--When we truly pray God can break down walls of prejudice, walls of hurt, walls of addiction, walls of bitterness…God specializes in tearing down walls…ask Joshua. 

--Peter has been praying and now God has him in a place where he can be used in a tremendous way to take the gospel to the Gentiles…how many of you are glad that wall was broken down.

 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV) 

¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 

¹⁸  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 

¹⁹  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

²⁰  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

3. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must be people of power.

Acts 10:43-48 (NKJV) 

⁴³  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." 

⁴⁴  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

⁴⁵  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 

⁴⁶  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 

⁴⁷  "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

⁴⁸  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. 

--Maybe you have never thought about it like this before but many times when you are witnessing to people, suddenly they will begin to weep, couldn’t that be Holy Spirit falling on them?

--Sam Jenkins, who is in the hospital now, was in the hospital about 20 years ago and he did not know the Lord. I prayed as I went to see him…when I went into the room He said the presence of God overwhelmed him.

--He has been faithful to God and church ever since then because he had an encounter, not with me, but with Holy Spirit…we must be people of the Spirit…people of power.

--A few years ago I got the call every pastor loves to get…Pastor, mom and I are here in the hospital with dad and he is in bad shape. We won’t you to come and pray for him. Oh, yeah, he hates preachers! I said ok!

--I prayed in Holy Spirit (tongues) the whole way up there…I prayed in the Spirit even walking down the hall way to the room…He hates preachers…oh, joy!

--Everyone say…This was the power of God…within 3 minutes after getting into the room he is already asking me to pray for his healing…he grabs my hand as I pray and you could feel God’s presence!

--As soon as we finish that prayer…I say to him…you really want Jesus in your heart, don’t you! Tears begin to flow and he says yes! You could see the transformation on his countenance. He was born again.

--The wife and daughter are amazed by God…we all rejoice for a while and then I go back to my office. Fifteen minutes later I get a call from the daughter…Pastor, will you do dad’s funeral…of course, when he dies.

--The last thing I had heard was the doctor say to him…we are sending you home for 3 months to get stronger and then we will do surgery…I was in shock…when the power of God shows up people are saved!

--Do you want the power of God? He is available! He is Holy Spirit!