Friday  August 2, 9, 16, 30   4 – 7 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Saturday August 3, 10, 17, 31   12 – 4  PM    Fisherman’s Wharf outreach. Powell & Jefferson St.

WITNESSING TO JUDGES

Dear Christian friends,

In the past two newsletters, we began discussing evangelistic messages in the Acts of the Apostles. I want to continue that teaching in this newsletter. My purpose is to learn from these New Testament examples things that will help us preach the gospel more effectively in the present day. 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 Peter and John and held them until the next day.

Peter said simply, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men 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 and there were over 500 eyewitnesses of the resurrection.

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 famous 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 by 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.

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

On Fri. Feb. 16, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Alex ministered to David, 30. He claimed to be a Christian but was smoking marijuana. Alex spoke to him about what it means to be born-again, and also that God has called us to be holy. Alex also witnessed to Ben, 50, who is homeless. Alex prayed for him and gave him the address for Victory Outreach, which has a men’s home. Alex spoke to the manager of an art store that was diagonally across the street from where we were preaching. He was very angry at us. Andy spoke to him about the fact that our nation was established on principles of free speech and religion. The manager said that the American way is all about making money.

Tats spoke with a man who was mocking preachers and said he likes to burn Bibles. Tats asked him why he was bothered by our preaching. He said, “I’m passionate about hating the Bible.” Tats responded, “I’m passionate about reading and obeying the Bible.” The man walked away.

The next day, we witnessed at 4^th and Market. We decided to witness here after we were threatened with arrest by a police lieutenant at Powell and O’Farrell. It didn’t rain hard that day, and it was a good place to minister. I do not think our equipment would have stayed dry if the rain had  been harder. Alex spoke with Alil who said he is a Christian but doesn’t believe that unsaved people go to Hell. Alex shared a number of scriptures with him  about how Hell is a place of eternal torment for those who reject the gospel. Mike witnessed to Lam, 28, who took a tract and read it. He shared the gospel with him and he listened. He also ministered to Michael, 26,  who also took a tract. He said he believed in Jesus. Mike prayed for him and invited him to City Impact. Andy tried to witness to a Vietnamese woman, about 85, but she didn’t understand English. John shared the gospel with her in Vietnamese using Google translate. She listened as he shared the gospel with her.

After the outreach, Tats and John witnessed in Japantown. Tats witnessed to two Catholic high school students, Kyle and Troy. They thought they were saved through their works. Tats shared with them that salvation comes by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by their works. They had never heard that before.

On March 1 and 2, we witnessed at Powell and O’Farrell St. Rain had been forecast for these days, and it rained very hard both days. We and our amplifiers and tracts would have gotten very wet if we had been anywhere else. At the same time, we have been having problems with the owners of the building and the police, and realized there was a chance we could be arrested. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Mike ministered to Degan, 23. He had been in Teen Challenge. He said he believes in Jesus. Mike gave him information about the Richmond Rescue Mission and encouraged him to get Christian fellowship. Mike also witnessed to a 22 year old woman named Princess. He asked her if she had faith in Jesus. She said yes. He asked her what she was smoking, and she said it was crack. Mike gave her contact information for some Christian programs where she could get free from her addiction. John witnessed to Karma, who believed in Eastern religion. John told him that unlike these religions, Christianity is not based on speculation but upon historical events: the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Karma seemed to be receptive to what John was saying.

Mike also witnessed to Paul, who was in a wheelchair. Mike bought him a mocha and a pastry. He had a pipe and some drugs he was about to use. Mike shared the gospel with him and encouraged him to get into a Christian program. He didn’t seem interested in getting into a program. However, he said he felt guilty about his drug use and wanted to quit.

A Final Word

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry.   After having a full house for 4 years, we now have several openings in our ministry house. We are looking for spiritually mature young men with a serious desire to evangelize San Francisco.

I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month or witness in your own community.    

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum