Power (2)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s and ladies out there.
With so many of us working for home right now, I think we all have an even greater understanding of exactly what all you ladies do for our families and how, without you we are all doomed.
And to my wife Rachel, all I can say is, “I had no clue, at all!” So, this year you can have whatever you want for Mother’s Day, sky’s the limit. I mean really, you want jewelry, a new car, a small island or country, it’s yours.
we’ve officially been in this “lock-down for 55 or so days. That’s almost two months. Just think what has changed in those two months.
Grocery Stores [Slide - 1] have gone from places to catch-up in conversation with your neighbors to an episode of Supermarket Sweep but with face-masks (All you old enough to remember that show know what I’m talking about).
Exercise tracks and gyms, where we normally tried to avoid are places we long to go to!
Conversations - Introverts are longing for conversation
In all seriousness though, In addition to these changes, the way in which we go through our day emotionally has changed. just think about how much our emotions are changing about all of this stuff, they are taking a toll on our emotions.
I’ve talk to many who tell me that one minute they are feeling excited and joyful and another minute they find themselves feeling the exact opposite. Feel like we are living in the movie Inside Out, where it’s all about emotions.
Man, life is totally different.
[Slide]
Question: How can I possibly fulfill my mission to Be One/Make One?
Question: How can I possibly fulfill my mission to Be One/Make One?
Given a Bible?
[Slide]
The Scriptures have the answer
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Context:
Luke - Physician by trade, 2nd generation Christian - follower of Apostle Paul
Book of Luke - Sequel to the Gospel of Luke
Following His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples teaching about
[Slide]
“The kingdom of God” = The reign of God upon the earth, as peoples lives are transformed by the Gospel
We then read next these words:
[Slide]
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Command - “not depart from Jersualem”
Promise - After an un-disclosed period of time, God would send the Holy Spirit
Transition: Thankfully, Luke is going to give us more insight into this command and fulfillment of this promise. [Slide] As we look more into this story, we are going to learn that...
I. Jesus Always Has A Plan For His People
I. Jesus Always Has A Plan For His People
*We pick back up at the end of this 40 day period.
[Slide]
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
A. Disciples Ask Jesus A Question
A. Disciples Ask Jesus A Question
“Restore the kingdom of Israel” = God would save Israel (cf. v. 3 - “Kingdom of God”)
Probably expecting national “salvation” or deliverance; where Jesus would drive-out the Romans, restoring the nation to prominence
They had formulated a plan of what God was going to do next and they wanted to know when it would start
Oh, how we too can find ourselves in the same position. We know what we want God to do, so we are like, “Ok Lord, you promised to meet my need, well, here is a need and here is how I would like you to answer it.”
Transition: What happens next is interesting b/c
B. Jesus Is Going To Remind Them Who Is Really In Control
B. Jesus Is Going To Remind Them Who Is Really In Control
[Slide]
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
The future is not for us to know
God has the ultimate authority in determining the events of history, He is the ultimate writer of our stories
Transition: What’s interesting here is that Jesus is going to correct their question with some instructions.
C. Jesus Promises Them Two Things
C. Jesus Promises Them Two Things
Promise #1 - The Gift of the Holy Spirit
[Slide]
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“But” = Hard contrast
“Power” - dunamis (dynamite)
Not an impersonal force but a person, the 3rd person of the Trinity
Unheard of promise from OT
Debate how active a role the Holy Spirit played in people’s lives prior to this promise being fulfilled
The disciples likely understood this “power” to preach the Gospel effectively and make miracles confirming this message (follow Jesus’ example)
We know the Holy Spirit empowers God’s people to:
Power to preach + share the Gospel (DL Moody’s experience)
Power to have victory over sin/Satan
Power to use spiritual gifts to do God’s Work
Next series starting next week
Transition: These ordinary men would have the ability to do God’s work on earth and that’s exactly what Jesus promises they will do! Because He doesn’t only promise the gift of the Holy Spirit, He also....
Promise #2 - Their Success For Doing God’s Work
[Slide]
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“You will be my witnesses” = Greek word ‘martyr’ where we get the English word ‘martyr”
Disciples = Eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life + works AND can swear to what they have seen
“Witness” = Someone who embodies the example of Jesus , even being willing to die for what they believe about Him (cf. James - faith and works)
D. Jesus Leaves!
D. Jesus Leaves!
[Slide]
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Transition: Let’s take a moment and access their situation:
Jesus is gone
He was their Savior, Teacher, boss (livelihood)
The Romans still occured the land of Israel
The disciples were under a “stay-in-Jerusalem” order for the foreseeable future
All they were left with was the OT Scriptures and Jesus’ teachings and promises
Just think about how they felt:
Excited about the possibilities that lied before them (same Jesus said He’s rise and did is same Jesus 1:8)
Fear of the unknown/uncertain future
*Probably still a little doubt
*Anger for being left alone again
*40 days since Jesus’ resurrection - remember how quickly people are to forget!
Transition: Wow, after all that the disciples went through Jesus gave them his plan but man, there is still a bit of uncertainty, unknown in the plan from our perspective. The good thing is, this is not where the story ends and we see that...
[Slide]
II. Jesus Always Keeps His Promises
II. Jesus Always Keeps His Promises
A. He Gave The Gift Of The Spirit Of Power
A. He Gave The Gift Of The Spirit Of Power
[Slide]
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
“Day of Pentecost” = Jewish festival where thousands from around Israel would have gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate (St. Patty’s Day Parade or Red Sox World Series celebration in Boston)
“Tongues” = There is debate
What we do know is that they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit
If you have accepted Christ, you two have this same Holy Spirit of power within you
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
The very power of God Himself has come to make Himself at home in some degree, in ever increasing effect, in us.
We are His temple, both individually and collectively.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
B. The Disciples Were His Witnesses
B. The Disciples Were His Witnesses
[Slide]
Let’s review that promise:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
That’s exactly what they did:
Acts records this for us:
Jersualem (chs. 1-7)
Judea and Samaria (chs. 8-12)
End of the earth - ministry of Paul and others (chs. 13-28)
Church history has some going as far as Russia, India and Ethiopia
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost to the masses
[Slides]
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Many of these were no doubt the same people who rejected Jesus and His miracles in person.
Yet now, through the preaching of a fisherman, they believe in Jesus!
“Baptism” - Outward sign of their faith in Jesus, crossing that line
“Three thousand souls” repented and believe in Jesus!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
This is the same thing that God has been doing through ordinary people for the past 2,000 years! Through times of plenty and times so famine, in plagues and in peace, by people of great renown and people whose names have been lost to history, the Holy Spirit has been empowering disciples to do God’s work! In every generation, there has been those witnesses, in every generation there have been those whose lives have embodied the example of Jesus, and in every generation there have been those to die for what they believed about Him.
As we read this passage we see that our situation is not so abnormal for the believer. Oh, this is an experience that none of us have lived through anything like it before. Yet, God’s people have always faced times of uncertainty, they have always been asked to follower Him when times are tough or challenging.
The question is not “how can we do God’s work right now?” The answer is clear on that, we can do God’s work by the power of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. That power that is greater than our circumstances, greater than any sickness and disease, greater than the greatest problem sin, death and the devil and throw at us.
The horizon of life before us may be unknown, but God is still is still leading His people and Keeping His Promises. With all of our fear and doubt in tow, by the power of the Spirit of God that’s in us, the question we must ask ourselves and the question I leave with you is:
[Slide]
“How am I fulfilling my mission to Be One/Make One?”
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Next Steps:
How am I fulfilling my mission to Be One / Make One?
www.bethanychurch/hoperising/
Tim’s LIVE class on Tuesday + Pastor Dirk’s class on the Holy Spirit
Let’s leave remembering that God is Good All The Time and All The Time God is Good!