What's Next - Week 1
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What’s Next - Go
What’s Next - Go
We are in 2021
One thing we know for sure is, trying to plan out the year is out the door!
It’s been 10 months since everything that we thought was normal or routine has changed.
As a leader… This has been a challenging time.
But.... One thing that the pandemic has taught me is to “Follow the Cloud” - Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit
I believe that one word is goring to help us kick off this series! What’s Next?
After the resurrection, Jesus gives us 2 pronouncements of the “Great Commission”
First....
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 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 are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
This is so powerful… “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…
We have to look at John 20 to get a deeper understanding…
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
This is the same account but Luke tells us that “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”
But John tell us that “He breathed on them and said to them. Receive the Holy Spirt.”
Luke tells us.... That Jesus told them to stay in the city until you are clothed with power form on high!
Two words I would like to deal with. #1 Enlightenment #2 Endowment
According to Columbia University Enlightenment: Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance.
Nonage: the period of immaturity or youth
In order for their understanding to be open (Luke)
They needed the breath (John) of the Holy Spirit
Jesus breathed on his disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit.
John was thinking back to the old story of the creation.
Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
This was the same picture as Ezekiel saw in the valley of dead, dry bones, when he heard God say to the wind: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live’ (Ezekiel 37:9).
The coming of the Holy Spirit is like the wakening of life from the dead.
But they still had to wait to be Endowed (Luke)
Endowment: to be imparted ⇔ be clothed v. — to be or become bestowed or endowed with a quality or condition; understood as being wrapped in a covering. capacity, power, or ability
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
power n. — possession of controlling influence; often understood as manifesting influence over reality in a supernatural manner.
Endowment is a package deal.....
This is why they needed to go and wait…
They had to get to Pentecost....
Old Testament Passover/Pentecost
Jesus new that they had to go to complete the deal.....
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Now I can walk like Him
Talk like Him
Be His hands
Be His feet
His Image…
So whats next......
The second pronouncement
One word.... GO
This is the word for the year.....
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
2021
Goooooo and tell people about our God
(Example)