The Believer's Mission

Intro

Sometimes seeing is believing

Show the optical illusions

However, Jesus calls us to have faith in Him

Why? Because there is a great Mission set before believers and only through belief in Jesus can we accomplish this goal.

We are given the Power of Jesus

Jesus comes to the disciples. Although they are scared and shut up in a room, He meets them where they are. He enters the room even though the doors remain locked.

He knew they were scared so He may sure to calm them so they would not panic.

It is true that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead also lives in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just as God gave Jesus a purpose, he also gave us a purpose.

What was Jesus’ purpose? He was meant to restore mankind to a savior God. We are now to join in that purpose. however we do not save anyone we merely allow God to do the work through us by our obedience.

Another important note is the breath. Jesus breathed on them. This should make us think of Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Were they actually given the power to forgive sins and to keep sins on people? No, however they were going in the name of the one who can.

We have to believe in the Mission Giver

Thomas was not among the other disciples when Jesus came to them. Therefore when confronted with this truth He would not believe it until he saw

Truly consider it. How many things in our life do we trust and believe in without seeing.

Jesus does not condemn Thomas’ unbelief rather He meets Him where he is and creates a way for him to believe.

However, belief after sight is not faith in its truest since. It is faith and it is still important.

However, those that have never seen and still believe are blessed according to Jesus.

The Mission is the Gospel of Christ

The disciples again stay in the same theme of not fully understanding Jesus. They wondering it is finally time for Him to restore Israel but it is not that time.

However, Jesus shifts their focus from this to the purpose they now have on Earth. We are not to sit around and wait for Jesus to return but we are to witness to the whole Earth.

The Locations Jesus gives makes it clear the scope by which the Gospel is supposed to go out

For us it would be to Cairo, Georgia, The United States, and even in other countries. We are to take the Gospel to every place we go.

Are you sharing? Are you going? Are you afraid

Jesus knew we would have fears and that we would feel unable to complete this huge goal

We Do Not Complete the Mission Alone

The Holy Spirit came shortly after this and in dwelled those who believed in Jesus.

This indwelling is now the model of how God operates with his people.

Test are sometimes difficult. However, what happens when a teacher says okay you can have an open note test. How much better if they say not only is it open note, but you can have a friend help you.

This is the same way with the Holy Spirit. We tend to feel alone however we never are.

The Holy Spirit goes with us and is working on our behalf

Jesus accomplished His mission and ascended but now it is on us to further this mission but He helps us at every step of the way.