The Gospel News

If we are witnessing FOR Christ then we ought to do it his way, teach his words, his doctrine, his methods. Our motives are to be his motives - not ours ! It is a true observation that the only CHRIST many people may see is YOU ! Jesus wanted to change people, not just educate them. The book of Proverbs, chapter one sets out the process, first knowledge - the facts, then understanding - the logic and reason. Last comes - the wisdom, the sound application of both knowledge and understanding.

"Wisdom is the principle thing - therefore get wisdom". We are wise if we preach his

Gospel, his way, in the manner he would approve of.

If we are witnessing TO Christ then we ought to do it faithfully. Jesus? faithfulness to his God and Father is singular. Christ is termed "The Faithful" in Revelation - so also is John! We may not be sinless like Jesus, but we can be faithful - like John. Faithfulness involves honesty. If Jesus? teaching has become our ?Hero?, then we will seek to honour him - not ourselves. This is not easy, being burdened with the ?weakness of the flesh?, but it is achievable. How ? Why ? We will witness to the forgiving nature of our God that we have received and accepted. We can set our hearts to demonstrate this divine attribute for others.

With Christ, his love of God and his reciprocal love for men and women were total and show us the more excellent way! He - to his God and Father, we - to our God, Father - AND to our beloved Saviour and Lord.

Bro. Francis Kotei Odiko

(Subri, Ghana)

The Acts of the Apostles is the witness of the work continued after the Lord?s death and we read in the first chapter that he addresses one called ?Theophilus?: "The

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former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach"

(Acts 1:1-3). Who Theophilus was we are not certain, but this name means "Friend or Lover of God" and indeed this could be a general title given to all those knowing God?s truth and desiring to walk therein.

After the Lord?s resurrection, he appeared to his disciples and charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to: "Wait for the

promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Acts

1:4-5). As the disciples gathered together with the Lord after his resurrection, they naturally wondered if he was to then establish the Kingdom of God on earth as God?s son, the Messiah. However, he replied:

"... It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth"

(Acts 1:7-8).

The Kingdom was not to be established then, but only in God?s future appointed time. However, prior to this, they were to be given the great work of spreading the gospel message to all peoples throughout the world. We, as Gentiles, have learned of His name and what is required to walk in God?s ways, because of the apostle?s work of witnessing and the precious record they made. The Lord Jesus was with the disciples for forty days after his resurrection after which he was taken to heaven to reside at the right hand of the Father.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, ?Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus