Stick to the game plan

Introduction

This morning I want to talk to you about moving from unbelief to belief. Being captured by the REAL Christ. How do we move from enmity to being a friend of Christ! You see many people know about Christ, see what he can do but still are not followers of Christ.

Acts 1:12–14 AMP

12 Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (three-quarters of a mile) away. 13 And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room where they were [indefinitely] staying—Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [son] of James. 14 All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Introducing the players

Verse 14 spells it out so well...

Acts 1:14 AMP

14 All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The brothers of Jesus was also in the Upper-Room, steadfastly praying. Merriam-Webster defines STEADFAST as:

faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.

This was not always the case with the brothers of Jesus. Scripture describes these guys as non-believers of Jesus…their flesh and blood.

John 7:5 AMP

5 For [even] His brothers did not believe in or adhere to or trust in or rely on Him either.

I think that even Jesus knew that they were not accepting of him:

Matthew 12:48–50 AMP

48 But He replied to the man who told Him, Who is My mother, and who are My brothers? 49 And stretching out His hand toward [not only the twelve disciples but all] His adherents, He said, Here are My mother and My brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!

Probably a good place to pause and make a note. Even when people are in the presence of Jesus, the church, can they be called Christ-followers. Eve when people are exposed to miracles of Christ, would they necessarily be followers of Christ!

They would have been at the wedding in Cana of Galilee…still nothing. They knew his powers but still nothing. So what are these guys doing in the Upper-Room devoted to Christ in prayer.

Luke does not say anything except…they were in the Upper-Room praying! What changes someone from a non-believer to a believer…a devoted one for that matter. It is this...

Acts 1:3 AMP

3 To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God.

Jesus showed himself as being alive!!!

We cannot take this lightly. What does this mean?

He came for you

John 4 speaks about the story of the Samaritan woman. Jesus went through Samaria on his way to Jerusalem. Scholars would tell us that any good Jew would do anything in his power to take the LONG way round Samaria to get to Jerusalem. A Jew would not want to defile himself by going through Samaria. Here is Jesus....going through Samaria…why…because he wanted to meet with this Samaritan woman! When I use to travel quite a bit, after a long and difficult trip, all I wanted to have is my own bed, eat my own food, see my family. Jesus was away from him home now for 33 years…way too long to be away from home? So, crucified, ridiculed, sworn at, threatened, betrayed....my first inclination is to get home…with familiar things, with my dad. NOT Jesus....he comes back…conquering sin and death and on his way home....he stops over in Jerusalem and spends 40 days with his disciples!

You see, I believe that Jesus could have resurrected and could have be the victor....but the resurrection was/is for us....The future as it is right now, is uncertain. Jesus is saying…through the Resurrection, that when you follow me, your future is certain, victory over sin is certain!

Stay focused

I cannot leave without thinking a bit outside of the box…the brothers are with the other Disciples…praying. Don’t go too quickly over this. The Disciples when Saul was converted, had much to say about Saul’s conversion

Acts 9:26 AMP

26 And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple.

So they did not believe he was a follower of Christ! They could have done the same here with the brothers of Christ…I am not sure if there was any talks with the brothers and how they came to realise that they were genuine? But one thing I realise....and Jesus says it this way:

John 21:21–22 AMP

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 22 Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!

I think that many times, we major on the minors....we are concerned as Christians about minor things....is this one genuine…is that one genuine…what about this one Jesus and that one Jesus....and Jesus says: “YOU FOLLOW ME.