SOS Ministry Newsletter - July 2008

Witnessing to Judges

Dear Christian Friends,

For the past two months, we have been discussing evangelistic messages in the Acts of the Apostles. (Write me if you didn’t get these newsletters.) In Acts 4 and 5, we have two brief messages by Peter to the Jewish leaders. After the lame man was healed in Acts 3, Peter preached to the crowd that had gathered. While they were doing this, however, the Jewish leaders arrested a number of Christians, including Peter and the lame man.

Peter spoke on behalf of those who had been arrested. He said simply, “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,…does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge…that they had been with Jesus.” Like Jesus, Peter and John spoke with authority. Peter and John had a basic education but didn’t have an advanced rabbinic education. The Jewish leaders thought they had gotten rid of Jesus, but his followers were just like him. They decided to let them go, but commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. They let them go “because of the people.” They did not fear God but they feared the people.

Peter and John responded, “We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” A few months after Jesus’ death, the Sanhedrin made no effort to disprove the basis of Christianity — that Jesus had been raised from the dead. If they had an alternative explanation for the empty tomb, this would have been the ideal time to make their case. However, they had been unable to find his body.

In Acts 5, many sick people were healed in the name of Jesus. The apostles were again arrested, but the angel of the Lord released them. Unable to explain Jesus’ missing body, the Sanhedrin was again confronted with a miracle they could not explain. How did the apostles escape from prison, when nothing in the prison had been disturbed? The apostles were teaching people in the temple, when they were again brought before the high priest and the Sanhedrin. “Did we not command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

Peter and the other apostles responded, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Ghost, which God has given to them that obey him.”

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.” But Gamaliel advised them to leave them alone. If their teaching were not of God, nothing would come of it. If it were of God, they would not be able to stop it. Gamaliel, grandson of the great rabbi Hillel, was the leading teacher of that day. Saul of Tarsus was one of his disciples. His counsel prevailed on this occasion. The apostles were beaten, probably with 39 stripes, and released. In speaking to the Jewish leaders, Peter spoke plainly of Christ’s death and resurrection. He said that the name of Jesus Christ was the only name in which we could be saved. He referred to Old Testament scriptures in Acts 4 (Psa. 118:22) and Acts 5 (Deut. 21:22 and Psa. 110:1). He accused the Jewish leaders of being guilty of his death, as indeed they were. He said that with repentance comes forgiveness of sins.

Jesus had predicted that we would be brought before governors and kings for His sake, but that we were not to think about what we would say. The Holy Spirit would give us the words to say at the moment (Matt. 10: 18-20). The Holy Spirit certainly gave great boldness to Peter, who had denied Christ three times a few weeks earlier. This time, he did not fear the Jewish leaders, but witnessed to them very forcefully.

Jesus’ harshest words were reserved for the religious leaders, who were self-righteous and hypocritical. Like Jesus, Peter pointed out that they had rejected the only One who could save them, and were guilty of killing the Messiah (the One at the right hand of the Father), whom God raised from the dead.

When we speak to self-righteous, religious people, we need to use strong language. We need to point out their sins and call them to repentance. We need to make it clear that they need salvation, which only comes from Jesus Christ. When we are brought into court for our faith in Christ, we need to trust the Holy Spirit to give us the right words to speak at that moment. We must not fear what people can do to us, but fear God and speak His word boldly and clearly as a witness to the authorities.

The apostles were willing to be imprisoned, beaten, and even die in order to obey our Lord’s command to preach the Gospel. In contrast, most Christians today do not preach the Gospel because they are too busy, because they fear rejection, or because of some other excuse. Should we be surprised to see the great moral decline that has occurred in our nation?

ON THE STREETS

In addition to witnessing on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, several members of our evangelism house have been witnessing during the week. Larry DuBois and Richard have been witnessing an additional four days in Oakland (downtown and in the Fruitvale district) and in San Francisco (in the Mission District, at Powell and Market, and at Fisherman’s Wharf.) They often preach using a maximouse amplifier, pass out tracts and talk with people and pray for them. Recently, they witnessed at the Sacramento Jazz Festival. Eric works full-time during the week but preaches at Powell and Market on Sunday afternoons. He has also witnessed at several high schools and in San Jose, Richmond, Palo Alto, Concord and Modesto. This past weekend he went to Utah to witness to Mormons and is planning to witness there again for an entire week in June. He also has witnessed to several Jehovah’s Witnesses and has invited them to our house to study the Bible.

On May 24, we witnessed at UN Plaza. About a dozen people came forward for prayer that afternoon. One of them was Brett, a heroin user who had just been released from jail. Paul Coca shared how two of his brothers had died of heroin overdoses. Larry shared how he had been freed from heroin addiction. Paul asked if he had anywhere to go, and he pulled out a train ticket to Fresno, where his parents live. They prayed for him and gave him a New Testament. Several of us, including myself, witnessed to Felipe, a young man from Brazil. After I preached about anger and forgiveness, Felipe came forward and said he was really angry with his roommate. We ministered to him and prayed with him, and he stayed with us the rest of the afternoon. I believe he sincerely wants to get right with God.

Click on Photos to Enlarge

	Praying at UN Plaza on May 24th
	James Croci band plays at Dolores Park on May 31st
	Eric witnesses to Felipe at UN Plaza on May 24th
	Dennis prays for couple at Powell & Market on May 30

SOS Annual Outreach July 11-19 2008 - Meeting Schedule

All meetings at Park Presidio Bible Church, 10th Ave. & Cabrillo, SF) (Schedule subject to change. Call first to confirm locations. Larry’s cell phone 510-926-3299.)

Fri. July 11 6-7 PM Registration and Orientation. 8-10 PM Outreach

Sat. July 12 8–10 AM Meeting 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Market St. and Embarcadero Outreach 3:30-5:30 PM Union Square (Powell & Geary St)

Sat. July 12 5:30 – 7:30 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 7:30-10 PM Outreach.

Sun. July 13 FREE DAY

Mon. July 14 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch. 8-10 AM Meet for evangelism training. 11:30 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf Outreach 4-6 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 6-9 PM Outreach.

Tues. July 15 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch. 8-10 AM Meeting. Evangelism training. 12-4 PM Berkeley Outreach (Telegraph & Haste St.) 4-6 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 6-9 PM Outreach.

Wed. July 16 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch. 8-10 AM Meeting. Evangelism training. 12-4 PM Haight St. & Masonic outreach. 4-6 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 6-9 PM Outreach.

Thurs. July 17 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch. 8-10 AM Meeting. 11:30 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf Outreach 4-6 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 6-9 PM Outreach.

Fri. July 18 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch. 8-10 AM Meeting. 12-4 PM Berkeley Outreach (Telegraph & Haste St.) 4-6 PM Go to evening outreach location with team, dinner. 6-9 PM Outreach.

Sat. July 19 7-8 AM Breakfast, make lunch 8-10 AM Meeting. 12-5 PM UN Plaza outreach (7th St. and Market) 6 PM church cleanup.

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 213-2584 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Coming Events

Friday July 4 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. July 5 San Francisco Evangelism Outreach. 12-5 PM UN Plaza (7th St. and Market)

July 11-19 SOS-San Francisco. 29th year.

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We need to print some more tracts. We expect the cost to be about $1500.

We have one opening in our Oakland ministry house. We are looking for someone in their 20’s or 30’s who is spiritually strong and committed to evangelism.

The 29th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach is just around the corner—July 11-19. Musician Chuck Girard will be here most of the week. I want to urge you not to miss this important outreach. Not only will San Francisco be changed – YOU WILL BE CHANGED!

Free housing is available at Park Presidio Church. Bring a sleeping bag and foam pad. If you must work, you may join us at night and on weekends. As always, we will waive the SOS registration fee for anyone who cannot afford it. Please call or email me if you have any questions. I hope to see many of you at SOS-San Francisco.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum