日期﹕ 8/26/2007

經文﹕ 《 使徒行傳 》 14 ﹕ 1-28

題目﹕一位見證人的風範

主旨﹕因基督已透過聖靈賜我們力量 , 所以我們能擁有某些特徵作祂的見證人 .

引言

我們現在來玩一個聯想的遊戲。當我說工程師、 律師、醫師、護士、六零年代 IBM 的員工、牧師、傳教士、 奧斯丁到聖荷西之間的 AA 航班時，你會聯想到什麼？ 。

在我們研讀《使徒行傳》的時候，我們學習到﹕我們所有人，我們每一位基督徒都是他的見證人。對于見證人我們會聯想到什麼？我們或許知道該做怎麼﹕ 向人傳耶穌基督的福音。 但 我們應當擁有哪些特徵 哪？聖經並沒有象《 默 克索引》那樣把一切細節都詳盡的描述出來。但是我們可以從第一世紀門徒和使徒們為基督的見證 人 ，勾畫出他們的具體特征來。

我們今天所讀到的經文記錄了保羅和巴拿巴的第一次宣教旅程。他們去了以哥念、路司得、和特庇三個城。這些記錄，雖然不是特別詳盡，卻能夠使我們洞察出一個見證人的特征。   

I •  一位勇敢的見證人 (1-7)

我們現在來看一看在以哥念所發生的事情 ，一到四節﹕“ 1 保羅和巴拿巴在以哥念照樣進猶太的會堂講道，結果一大群猶太人和希臘人都信了。 2 但不順從的猶太人，煽動外族人，激起他們仇恨的心，來反對弟兄們。 3 兩人卻仍住了很久，靠著主放膽講論，主也藉著他們的手行神蹟奇事，證實他恩惠的道。 4 城裡眾人就分裂了，有的附從猶太人，也有的附從使徒。 ” 他們在 猶太的會堂講道，神也透過他們的手行神蹟奇事。要切記講神的道總是在首位，神蹟奇事是用來證實使徒們所講的道。由于他們講道的事工，許多猶太人和希臘人都信了基督。但同時也有反對力量。無論福音傳到哪里，總會引起分裂。一些人歡迎福音，而另外一些人則拒絕福音。你瞧，你一旦接觸到神的國度，你便不能再站在中立的位置上。我們也學習到他們雖然遇到敵對勢力，他們仍然在那里住了很久。我們不知道具體到底有多久，但是他們繼續在 以哥念講道和做見證。這讓我們了解到他們在惡劣環境中所具有的勇氣和膽量。

五到七節﹕“ 5 當時，外族人、猶太人，和他們的首領，蠢蠢欲動，想要侮辱使徒，用石頭打他們。 6 兩人知道了，就逃往呂高尼的路司得和特庇兩城，以及周圍的地方， 7 在那裡傳福音。 ” 這個城市的敵對力量在擴大，暴力在升級。他們要用 石頭打保羅和巴拿巴，目的是要打死他們。保羅和巴拿巴怎樣回應哪？是的他們很勇敢，但我們讀到他們逃往路司得和特庇。是的，他們很勇敢，但他們也很有智慧。

我依然記得 1967 年我剛到這個國家的時候，有一次我在實驗室和一位同學聊天。當話題轉到耶穌的時候，他立即變得很憤怒並憤憤的說﹕“如果耶穌再來一次的話，我們還會把他釘死。” 我當時完全被他震懾住了。我得承認，從那天開始，我不敢再向他討論耶穌。我當時沒有勇敢和智慧。我在最近聽到中國大陸一座城市發生的一件事﹕一群基督徒在街上發福音單章時被當局逮捕。他們的確很勇敢，但有智慧嗎？不一定。

我也回想到我剛到休士頓之初，我和 吳治平在午餐時間在中國城的一些餐館定期聚會。常常是我一到餐館，便看到他和人交談。他認識這麼多人讓我印象很深。他事後告訴我他認識他們也只是幾分鐘以前的事。他能夠和陌生人在交談中談論耶穌，他 是基督 一位勇敢的見證人。吳弟兄几年前在以色列宣教時殉職。

作勇敢的見證人指的是不要懼怕於基督教信仰相敵對的個人或人群。作勇敢的見證人就是在敵對的環境中，在適當的時間，以適當的方式，放膽講出我們的信仰。

II •  一位謙卑的見證人 (8-18)

保羅和巴拿巴離開以哥念到路司得去。八到十節﹕“ 8 路司得城有一個雙腳無力的人，坐在那裡。他生來就是瘸腿的，從來沒有走過路。 9 他聽保羅講道；保羅注視他，見他有信心，可以治好， 10 就大聲說：“你起來，兩腳站直！”他就跳起來，並且走起路來。 ” 他們醫治了一位 生來就是瘸腿的人。醫治的過程很象《 使徒行傳 》第三章中彼得醫治瘸腿的人的過程。我們再一次注意到保羅首先講道，然後施行醫治。眾人看到醫治，對 保羅和巴拿巴做出熱烈的回應。他們把保羅和巴拿巴當成神明， 要向他們敬拜和獻祭。他們會做出這種回應是因為有歷史上的原因。有一項傳說，講的是宙斯和漢密士訪問 路司得的一個山谷。他們從一家走到另一家，卻沒有一家人請他們到家作客。最後他們來到一位窮苦人的門前，窮人請他們到家中吃飯。第二天早晨， 宙斯和漢密士把窮人和他的妻子帶到山頂上，眾神讓他們看到整個山谷已經被淹沒，所有人都被洪水吞嗤了。但是眾神把這窮人的房屋變成一座宏偉的廟宇，屋頂是閃閃發光的黃金。因此，在這樣的背景下， 路司得 的區民把 保羅和巴拿巴當成 宙斯和漢密士兩位 神明。

兩位使徒在這種情形下是怎樣反應的哪？十四到十八節﹕“ 14 巴拿巴和保羅兩個使徒聽見了，就撕裂衣服，跳進群眾中間，喊著說： 15 “各位，為甚麼這樣作呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣，我們傳福音給你們，正是要你們遠離這些虛妄的事，歸向永活的 神，就是那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的 神。 16 在從前的世代裡，他容忍萬國各行其道， 17 然而卻未嘗不為自己留下明證，就如常常行善事，從天上降下雨來，常常賞賜豐年，使你們吃喝充足，滿心歡樂。” 18 兩人說完了這些話，這才阻止群眾，不向他們獻祭。 ” 他們竭力阻止眾人的舉動，而是把他們指向創造天地的神。我們在這里看到什麼哪？眾人看到使徒的能力就把他們當成神明敬拜，但使徒們知道這種能力不是出于他們，而是來自耶穌基督。他們只不過是基督的見證人，是他的信使。換成他人，他們也許會利用當時的環境，把一些光亮移到自己身上。但是他們清楚的知道，焦點不是在傳送能力的信使身上，因為他們沒有任何能力，而應當是在神的能力上面。正如上次我們提道教會唯一的力量仍是禱告 . 一位忠實的見證人應當是一位謙卑的見證人。

這就好象我們從快遞公司那里收到一個盼望很久的重要包裹。我們當然很高興看到送包裹的卡車和送信人，但是我們更是感謝給我們寄包裹的人。

我常常聽人們說，因為你是牧師，或主任牧師，因此你講的話有份量，所以大家會聽你的吩咐。這當然會使我自尊心大增，但這是不對的，是不是？我們其實沒有任何能力，也不應當有任何能力。作為牧師或主任牧師，我們僅有的能力就是幫助你順服來我們的主耶穌基督的能力。我們的主要責任就是要幫助你順服基督和他的教導。我們從來不要把注意力放在牧師身上，因為我們就象你們一樣，只是神的傳信者，是神的見證人。

我們要切記﹕ 當我們向他人分享基督，當他們來到基督面前的時候，我們不要以為這是我們的功勞。我們只是他的見證人，把他們指向神的能力、仁愛、和恩典。

III •  一位持久的見證人 (19-21)

在以哥念， 保羅和巴拿巴受到一些人的威脅，他們要 用 石頭打他們，因此他們逃離這座城市。十九到二十一節﹕“ 19 但有些猶太人，從安提阿、以哥念來，挑唆群眾，用石頭打保羅，以為他死了，就拖到城外去。 20 門徒正圍著他的時候，他竟然站起來，走進城裡去了。第二天，他跟巴拿巴一同到特庇去。 21 他們在那城裡傳福音，使許多人作了門徒，然後回到路司得、以哥念、安提阿， ” 在路司得，他們的敵對勢力從城外來，教唆群眾，並用石頭打他們。他們以為這兩位使徒被打死了，就離他們而去。但是他們還活著。他們下面作什麼哪？ 他們又回到城里，第二天繼續他們的旅行和事工。在類似的情形下你會做出什麼樣的反應哪？我也許會搭第一班飛機回家。但對于 保羅和巴拿巴來說，他們是持之以恆的見證人。

這使我想到在國內遇到的一位年輕傳道人 . 在我們的談話中 , 他提及他出入監獄已有四 , 五次 . 不算得甚麼 . 這艱苦並沒攔阻他的服事 . 這是一位持久的見證人 。

持之以恆要求我們能夠忍受艱苦的環境，縱是艱難重重，也決不放棄。

IV •  一位關懷的見證人 (21-23)

保羅和巴拿巴在路司得 又停留一天之後，他們前往 特庇城去。他們再一次講道，許多人成為耶穌基督的信徒。然後他們又重新回到他們曾訪問過的城市。我們讀這几節經文的時候，會感受道使徒們關懷的一面。你知道我們很容易到各地宣教然後再到下一站 , 並不再回到原處 。但是我們看到保羅重新回到他已經走過的城市。他在那里作什麼哪？

1 •  堅固信徒的信心 (22)

“堅固門徒的心， …… ” 兩位使徒又回到他們去過的地方，幫助新的信徒在信心里繼續成長。從保羅以後的書信中，我們了解到堅固的過程包括教導他們知道他們所信的內容。也包括在基督的團體里他們相互之間應當怎樣和諧相處。他們都來自一個各家自掃門前雪的社會。但在基督徒的團體里面，在被救贖者的團體里面，我們之間應當和諧相處，相互愛護，相互承擔他人的重擔，和相互接納。我們應該活出被耶穌基督的大能所轉變后的生活。這是一種被聖靈掌管的生活，象耶穌一樣，彰顯出聖靈的果實。

我們當中有許多人在近來幾天、几周、或几月信主。我們也有許多人在幫助這些新的信徒決志的過程中起了關鍵的作用。重要的是要記住我們不單要幫助他人來到耶穌面前，也要幫助他們成長。有時候我們會覺得把人帶信主之後我們便盡了我們的責任。幫人決志和帶新人成長是緊密相連不可分開的。

對于我們當中新的基督徒，我們需要人幫助我們堅固我們在耶穌基督里的信心。我們要利用單獨的時間以及在查經班和主日學和眾人一起學習神的話語。我們應當參加團契或小組，使我們可以學習怎樣在主里相互和睦相處。

2•  鼓勵初信者 (22b)

“勸他們恆守所信的道，又說：“我們進入 神的國，必須經歷許多苦難。”” 保羅不但堅固他們的信心，同時也鼓勵他們。他以自己作為例子，告訴他們作為基督徒並不是一番風順的事情。我們會有許多苦難﹕侮辱、逼迫、和肉體上的損傷。因此保羅告誡他們要堅固他們的信心，不要在遇到困難時半途而廢。

這些話在今天照樣適用，對不對？我們有許多人分享說我們的人生並沒有因為我們在耶穌里的信心而變得更好。有時候我們仍然有工作上的問題。在婚姻和家庭里也有許多困難和挑戰。我們還會象其他人一樣會生病。有人曾問我﹕為什麼我在信主之後在工作上還會有許多問題？ 或者為什麼我信主之後會常常生病？

我們學習到我們的信心不是建立在什麼事會不會發生。我們的信心是建立在信實和至高的神上面。即使在苦難當中，我們依然相信他是良善的，他依然掌控一切。沒有錯，我們跟隨基督后生活中仍然有苦難，但我們的神總會和我們同在，在我們生命中的黑暗時光里和我們同行。這就是我們可以相互安慰的地方。

3 •  組織新教會 ( 23 )

“兩人在各教會為他們指派了長老；禁食祈禱之後，就把他們交託給所信的主。” 我們學習到保羅在這些城市 為他們指派了長老來關懷他們。他幫助他們組織新教會。

V •  一位完成托付的見證人 (26-28)

在訪問並在這些城市建立教會之後，保羅和巴拿巴回到安提阿。在二十六到二十八節﹕“ 26 從那裡坐船往安提阿。從前眾人就是在這地方，把他們交託在　神的恩典中，派他們去工作，現在他們已經完成了。 27 他們到了那裡，就召集了會眾，報告　神跟他們一起所行的一切，並且他為外族人開了信道的門。 28 兩人同門徒住了不少日子。 ” 教會指派 保羅和和巴拿巴進行第一次宣教旅行。現在他們在完成任務之後他們又回到教會。這里有一點，雖然簡單但卻很深刻。他們被賦予一項任務，借著神的恩典他們圓滿完成了任務。他們自始至終都做得很好。保羅不但完成了這項使命，以後他也同樣完成了第二和第三次的宣教旅程 . 並且在他晚年時 , 他說 , 提摩太後書 四章七節﹕“ 那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所持的信仰我已經守住了。 ”

一位弟兄有一次對我說﹕牧師，我很想讓你參觀我的新的地下室，但那里卻有很多我已經開始了但還沒有完成的項目。所以不好意思帶你看 . 同樣 , 開始一個事工比較容易，完成一項事工卻相對困難。是不是我們在事工中在開始的時候我們熱情很高，到了一半的時候，我們的熱情便慢慢消失。或者我們對某個項目只有五分鐘的熱情，五分鐘剛過，便有把注意力轉移到其他項目上面。我們會說 , “ 神帶領我一個新的方向 , 或神給了我一個新的負擔 . ” 當然這都是藉口 . 有時在宣教的工場 , 我會看到半途而廢的事項 , 看見所浪費的錢財 , 很覺難過 .

我們應當善始善終。我們有時對向別人傳福音很熱心，你還記得你探訪和帶人信主的日子，或者你在教會不同事工中很活躍的日子。我們現在在哪里？你開始的很好，不要停下來，也要善始善終。

結論﹕

   當我想起見證人的風範，我自然而然會聯想到 葛 培理 牧師。我第一次聽到他是在一九五零年代。從此以後我便一直關注葛牧師的事工。最近在主要雜誌上有許多關於他的文章。在几大電視上也有有關他的訪問。有一本描寫他的新書，叫做“一位講道者和總統們，”是 Nancy Gibbs 和 Michael Duffy 合寫的。他常常被成為是首位牧師，總統們的牧師，和所有人的一個屬靈禮物。

是的，他承認在他和總統們的許多年的交往之中，對于和一或兩位總統的關係，他沒有處理的很好。在 50 年時代 , 他堅持他的佈道會一定不能有任何種族隔離 . 他勇敢地將福音帶到一些關閉的的國家。他放膽告訴總統們他們要如何才能進天國 . 在他們犯罪之後，他們應當如何的悔改。他非常謙卑。在一次又一次的采訪中，他一再聲明他只是神的一個傳信者，告訴世界神的大愛和人類對神的需要。因此，作為神的傳信者，他從不把人們的注意力放在自己身上，而是把人們引向差他來的神。現在葛牧師的身體狀況不是太好，已經停止了他的所有宣教事工。葛牧師有一個美好的開始，現在也有一個美好的結尾。

我們也許會說我們不是葛培理，更不是使徒保羅。我可能會是第一個講這類話的人。我不可能會成為一個勇敢、有智慧、謙卑、長久、和關懷的人。因為這太不象我了。但是且慢，我們在《使徒行傳》一章八節學的是什麼哪？“ 可是聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必領受能力，並且要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地、撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證人。 ”是聖靈賜予保羅、 巴拿巴、和其他門徒 / 使徒 能力，作基督的見證人。是神的恩典使保羅和 巴拿巴能夠完成他們的使命。同樣，聖靈也會賜予我們力量，使我成為夠 勇敢、有智慧、謙卑、長久、和充滿關懷的見證人，並且使我們能夠完成神賦予我們的使命。

最後，你知道什麼嗎？當我們再一次看一遍這些特質的時候，難道這些特質不是我們對我們的主耶穌基督的描寫嗎？他勇敢、謙卑、持久、並且充滿關懷。當他被釘在十字架上的時候，他大聲喊道﹕成了。耶穌帶著神的使命來到世間，他也圓滿完成了使命。他是神最完美的見證人。我們的安慰和鼓勵就是，聖靈能夠讓我們發展這些特質﹕勇敢、謙卑、關懷、持久。他在幫助我們轉換成基督的樣式。一個見證人豈不是就要反映他所見證的那一位嗎 ?

Date:   08/26/07

Text:   Acts 14:1-28

Title:   The Portrait of A Witness

Theme: : Since Christ has empowered us with the Holy Spirit, we are to witness for Him with distinct characters.

Introduction:

  Let’s play an association game. When I say Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors, Nurse, 1960’s IBM employees, pastors, missionaries, AA flights between Austin and San Jose, you say_______.

  In our study of the Acts, we learned that all of us, every follower of Christ, is to be His witness. What do we associate witness with? We may know what to do—which is to: share with others the good news of Jesus Christ. But how about some distinctive traits? The Scriptures are not like the Merck Index, spelling out all the details. However, from a study of how 1 st century apostles and disciples go about being witnesses for Christ, we can catch a glimpse of their unique distinctives.

In the passage we read today are records of Paul and Barnabas’s 1 st Missionary Journey. They were in the cities of Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. These records, though not in great detail, provide us with very helpful insights about some essential traits of a witness.

I.   A Bold and Wise Witness. 1-7

  Let’s first take a look at what happened at Iconium. 1-4, “ 1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.” They preached the word. And God worked miracles through them. It is good to remember that the preaching of the word always comes first. The miracles are to authenticate what the apostles preached. As a result of their preaching ministry, many Gentiles and Jews came to know Christ. At the same time, there were oppositions. Wherever the gospel goes, it always causes division. Some welcome the message and others reject it. You see, once you’ve encountered the kingdom of God, one cannot remain neutral anymore. We also learn that in spite of the opposition they remained there for a long time. We don’t know how long, but they continued to preach and be witnesses in Iconium. This tells us about their courage and boldness in an unfriendly and hostile environment.

  5-7, “ 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.” Opposition in this city started to expand and violence escalated, They were planning to stone Paul and Barnabas, with the intent to kill. What did Paul and Barnabas do? Yes, they were bold but here we read that they fled to Lystra and Derbe. Yes, they were bold but also wise.

  I still remember when I first came to this country in 1967. One time in the lab, I was talking to a fellow graduate student. When the conversation turned to Jesus, he immediately went into a rage and said, “if this Jesus comes again, we’ll crucify him again.” I had never seen someone so angry at Jesus. I was totally intimidated. I have to admit that from that day on, I dared not talk to him about Jesus. I was neither bold nor wise. Recently I heard of an incident in a city in china. A group of Christians was arrested because they were passing out gospel tracts on the street. Yes, they were bold, but wise? Very doubtful.

  I also think of a time when I first came to Houston. I began to meet regularly with David Wu over lunch at different restaurants in China town. Frequently, by the time I got there, David was talking to someone. I was so impressed that he knew so many people. Then he told me that he had met them just a few minutes prior to my meeting him there.. He was able to strike up a conversation and talk to strangers about Christ. David was a bold witness for Christ. Several years ago, David passed away in Israel while serving as a missionary there.

  To be bold means not to be intimidated by people who are hostile or antagonistic towards the Christian faith. To be bold is to speak out about our faith at the right time, in a right way, even in an unfriendly environment.

II.   A Humble Witness. 8-18

  Paul and Barnabas left Iconium and went to Lystra. 8-10, “ 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.” They healed a person who was born lame. The healing process was very much like Peter’s healing a cripple in Acts 3. Again we notice that Paul preached the gospel message, then there was the healing. The crowd then treated Paul and Barnabas as gods and wanted to worship them with sacrifice. There was a historical reason for this response. There was a story about Zeus and Hermes who once visited a valley near Lystra. They went from door to door but no one invited them in. When they came to a poor man’s house, they were received and treated with a meal. The next morning Zeus and Hermes took this man and his wife up the mountain. The gods showed them that they had flooded the valley and were drowning everyone. However, they had transformed the poor man’s house into a great temple with a glittering gold roof. So with this background, residents in Lystra wanted to treat Paul and Barnabas like the two gods: Zeus and Hermes.

  What did the apostles do? 14-18, “ 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.” They did their best to stop the crowd and then pointed them to the creator God. What do we see here? The crowd saw the apostles’ power and wanted to worship them as gods. However, the apostles knew it was not their power, but that it was the power of Jesus Christ. They were Christ's witnesses; they were his messengers. They could have taken advantage of the situation and make a name for themselves. But they knew that the focus was not on the power of the messengers, for they had none. Instead, it was God's power. A witness is a humble person.

  It’s like when FedEx delivered a long awaited and important package. We are certainly glad to see the truck and the delivery person. But even more so, we are thankful to the sender of the package.

Very often I hear people tell me this, because you’re the pastor, or the senior pastor, therefore what you say carries weight and people will listen to you. This certainly boosts my ego, yet this is wrong, right? We really don’t have and shouldn’t have any power. The only power we, pastors or senior pastors, have is to help you submit to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our primary responsibility is to help you to submit to Christ and his teaching. The attention should never be on pastors, for we are just God's messengers, witnesses just like you.

We are to remember that whenever we share Christ with others, when they come to know Christ, we do not claim credit for ourselves. We are just witnesses, pointing them to the power, love and grace of God.

III.   A Persistent Witness 19-21

  At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were threatened with stoning and thus fled. 19-21, “ 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch .” Here at Lystra, their opponents came from out of town, incited the crowd and actually stoned the two. They thought the two had died and left them alone. But they were still alive. What did they do? They went back to the city and the second day continued the journey and ministry. what would you have done? I may just take the first flight out and come home. But not Paul and Barnabas. They were persistent.

  While in China , I met a young minister in his early 30’s. In one of our conversations, we talked about suffering for Christ. In a very matter of fact way, he said he had been arrested and jailed several times. This hardship did not deter him from serving the lord. This is persistence.

  To be persistent requires us to endure our difficult situations. Even though it is tough, don’t give up.

IV.   A Caring Witness. 21-23

  After staying in Lystra for another day, Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe. Again, they preached the gospel and many became disciples of Jesus Christ. And then they returned to the cities they had visited. Looking at these verses, it shows us the caring side of the apostles. You know sometimes it is easy for us to go to different places to share the gospel and then move on. It's a one- time encounter. But here we see Paul returning to the same cities he had visited. What did he do?

1•  Strengthening the believers’ faith. 22 , “ 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples..” The apostles went back to visit the new believers and help their faith continue to grow. From Paul’s later writings, we know that this strengthening process included teaching them to know what they believed in. There would be instructions on how to live in harmony with each other in a Christian community. They had all come from a society where each was watching out for his/her well being. But in the Christian community, in the community of the redeemed, we are to live in harmony, loving one another, bearing each other’s burdens and accepting each other. And there would be teaching on living a life transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. It is a life that is controlled by the Holy Spirit, manifesting the fruit of the spirit and Christ-likeness.

Some of us have come to faith in recent days, weeks or months. Many of us are also instrumental in helping these new believers coming to Christ. It is important to remember that we not only help others to come to know Christ, but also to help them grow. Sometimes we feel that our responsibility is to bring others to Christ then we have done our part. Bringing someone to Christ and helping the person to grow go hand in hand and cannot be separated.

To those who are new Christians, we need others to help us to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ. We need to study God's word personally and with others in the context of Bible study and SS. We are to be a part of a fellowship or small group so we learn how to live in harmony with each other.

2•  Encourage the new believers. 22b, “ encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God .” Paul not only strengthened their faith but also encouraged them. By his own example, he had shown that it was not easy to be a follower of Christ. There will be plenty of hardships: insults, persecutions and physical harm. So Paul urged them to keep their faith, don’t give up when they face difficulties.

This is still the same today, right? Many have shared that life events have not turned better because of faith in Jesus. At times there are still job problems. All kinds of difficulties and challenges in marriage and family. We still get really sick just like everyone else. Once a person asked me, how come I still have so much problem with finding a job even though I have believed in Jesus. Or why am I sick all the time since knowing Christ?

We learn that we do not put our faith in what will or will not happen. We always put our faith in the faithful and sovereign God. Even in hardships, we believe that he is good and is still in control. Yes, there will be hardships in following Christ, but our God is always there with us, walking with us through those dark times in life. This is how we encourage one another.

3•  Organization. 23, “ 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” We also learned that at those cities, Paul also appointed elders to care for them. He helped the new community or the church to organize.

V.   A Witness who completes his mission. 26-28

  After visiting these cities and establishing churches in them, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch . In vs.26, “ 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch , where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And there remained no little time with the disciples.” The church had sent Paul and Barnabas on this 1 st missionary trip. And now, having completed their mission they returned. There is a very simple and poignant point here. They were given a task and they completed it by the grace of God. They began and finished well. Not only did Paul finish this mission, he completed the 2 nd and the 3 rd Missionary Journeys. Towards the end of his life, he said, 2 Tim 4:7, “ 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ”

A brother once said to me, Pastor, I would like to show you my new basement, but it is full of projects that I have started but not completed. It is embarrassing. It is relatively easy to start a ministry or a task, but finishing it is a different story Isn’t it true we have seen many projects and ministries begun with great enthusiasm, yet half way through, the interest began to fizzle?. Or sometimes we have the 5 minute fever over a project, and then immediately forgot about it ? We would say, “God is leading me to do something else, or I don’t have a burden for it anymore.” I remember seeing some unfinished projects in a certain mission field. I felt sad in the wasted financial resources.

We are to finish well. There was a time many of us were fervent in sharing the gospel with others. You remember the days when you went out to visit and brought others to Christ. Or we were active in serving in various ministries in this church. Where are we now? You have started very well, don’t stop now, finish well too.

Conclusion.

  When I think of the portrait of a witness, Billy Graham inevitably comes to mind. I first heard of him in the 1950’s. and ever since I have been closely following his ministry. Lately there are many articles about him in major magazines, such as Newsweek and Time. There are also several interviews on the national news network. There is a new book called, “The Preacher and the Presidents” by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. He is often called the pastor-in-chief, pastor to the presidents, and the spiritual gift to all.

  Yes, he admitted that he made some mistakes over the years in his relationship with one or two presidents. In the 50’s, he insisted that his crusades would be integrated. He was bold and wise to bring the gospel message to countries that were unfriendly or even closed to the Christian faith. He was bold in telling the presidents what they needed to do to go to heaven and when they sinned. He was humble. In interview after interview, he repeatedly claimed that he was just a messenger, telling the world of God's love and man’s need for him. Therefore, as a messenger, the attention was never on himself but directed to the one who sent him. Now his health is deteriorating and he has stopped all his preaching ministry. He started well, and certainly he is finishing it very well indeed.

We may say that we are not Billy Graham, nor are we Paul. I will be the first to voice this. There is no way I can be bold and wise, humble, persistent and caring. It is so unlike me. But wait a minute, what did we study in Acts 1:8? “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the end of the earth.”" It is the Holy Spirit that empowers Paul and Barnabas and other apostles/disciples to be his Witnesses. It is the grace of God that enabled Paul and Barnabas to complete their mission. Likewise, the same spirit will also empower us to preach the gospel with boldness, humility, persistence, caring and completing the mission entrusted to us.

  And lastly, you know what? As we take a look at these traits again, isn’t this also a portrait of our lord Jesus Christ? He was bold, humble, persistent and caring. When he was on that cross, he cried out, It is finished!!!. He came with a mission and he completed it. He is the Witness par excellence. Our comfort and encouragement is that the Holy Spirit will enable us to develop these traits: boldness, humility, caring and persistence. He is helping us to be transformed into our Christ's likeness. A witness is to reflect the person he is witnessing for.