Sent BY Jesus

Recap: Living “sent” — I belong to Jesus, I have been changed by Jesus, and, empowered by the Spirit, I bear witness about Jesus.

Last Week: Living sent is LIVING LIKE JESUS.

Living sent means living to represent Jesus. 

The Church is sent by Jesus...

1) With ASSURANCE

“Peace” — TWICE

Showed them his hands and his side

From FEAR to JOY

Peace comes because of the resurrection.

Because He lives…

Death, cancer, disease, will never have the final word.

Sin, addiction, hurt, etc will never have the final word

The gospel that the church has proclaimed for 2,000 years is that Jesus is alive. The resurrection changes everything. The resurrection changed fear into joy. Maybe you’re fearful of tomorrow…the future. Maybe you’re fearful about your children.

We all saw what happened at our sister church, Cities Church, in Minneapolis last Sunday. You’ve seen the picture of the mom and dad consoling their terrified little child.

2) With POWER

Clarify—again, this event is different from Pentecost (explain)

I want to take you back to a couple of Sundays ago…when you got saved, the Holy Spirit took up residence in your life. You were indwelt by the Spirit.

But, Paul says in Ephesians 5 that we are to be “filled with the Spirit” and that we should “walk by the Spirit.”

You feel inadequate. You feel powerless. Look, I’m not gonna lie…Kristy and I looked at each other the other night and just said, “we’re tired.” Parenting is exhausting and sometimes you just want to throw in the towel. I know my kids are in here but that’s the truth.

POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In Acts chapters 1 & 2, Jesus tells the large group of his followers that are gathered on the Mount of Olives that they are to go back to Jerusalem where they “will receive power” when he sent the Holy Spirit

3) With AUTHORITY

The authority of the Father & the authority of the Son

What does this authority entail?

Jesus has already given them authority over demons (Mark 6:7).

Jesus has already given them authority to heal diseases (Matthew 10)

Jesus has already given them authority in Matthew 18 (explain).

Now, he is giving them to “forgive or withhold forgiveness of sin.”

Ok, so, this immediately makes us go, “Whoa. That doesn’t sound right. I thought only God has the authority to forgive sins.”

Our culture does NOT talk about sin.

AUTHORITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN

This also applies within the church.

AUTHORITY TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE (???)

Luke 24:46–47 “and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

YOU CAN’T REPRESENT CHRIST IF YOU DON’T BELONG TO CHRIST.

YOU CAN’T REPRESENT CHRIST IF YOU DON’T KNOW CHRIST.

YOU CAN’T REPRESENT CHRIST IF YOU AREN’T EQUIPPED.