Acts 21-28 - Living Sent In The Power of the Spirit

Introduction

Acts 1:8 NASB95

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

How many of you have experienced a tornado or hurricane?

Growing up in Oklahoma, I witnessed the power and the destruction of tornados more than I wanted.

I remember the wife and kids and I being chased by a tornado as we tried to out run it to get to shelter at her parents home.

I also remember seeing first hand the power of a tornado in Carpenter a few years back. Not there but friends lived there. The entire town was unrecognizable. Nothing looked the same.

Tornado is what I think of when I read of the mighty gushing wind moving through the room of the disciples.

Not a gentle breeze, that made them feel comforted. But a powerful wind of the HS that moved them.

Moved them from a passive faith

Moved them from fear

Moved them - swept them up to take the Gospel into all the known world in power.

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Normal people swept up by the Spirit of God to GO -

To LIVE SENT in the POWER of the SPIRIT.

Today as we finish the book of Acts I want to share with you

HOW WE ALL CAN LIVE SENT IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!

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Live Provocatively

Let me catch you up - Jerusalem - Arrested by a mob -

Mob lied about Paul starting a political revolt in the temple.

Romans question him and see he has done no wrong

But they don’t know what to do because the Mob and leaders want him dead.

Send him to the regional Gov - Felix

Felix realizes he has done nothing wrong but wants to maintain favor

Locks Paul up for 2 YEARS. Forgets him.

New Gov appointed - Festus

While looking over his new duties he realizes there is this man named Paul locked up for 2 years.

Festus has no idea what to make of this man Paul or why he is still locked up.

Talks to the Jewish leaders who demand Paul be brought back to Jerusalem to face charges.

Festus finally gets to Paul and cannot figure out what Paul had done to stir up so much hatred.

Paul tired of prison appeals to Cesar

Now King Agrippa and his wife arrive to Caesarea to pay respect to the new Gov Festus.

Festus explains to them the situation of Paul.

Acts 25:22 NASB95

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

Agrippa wants to know, why do all these people hate Paul, why is he still in prison?

And here is the point.

People wanted to know what made Paul tick. People were always saying, Paul why are you in this condition? You don’t have to be like this.

Paul’s manner of life provoked questions.

Our Lives should provoke questions.

“I don’t get why you live like you do? Why are you forgiving? Why do you have joy and peace in suffering? Why do you live so generously? “

Peter said it like this.

1 Peter 3:15 NASB95

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Peter is assuming your life will provoke questions.

Does how you work look different?

It should you work for the Lord so you should always work with excellence and integrity.

People should see that your work is different.

How you handle persecution or disappointment.

Any one can be happy when the happenings are good.

But are you full of joy even in the midst of persecution.

Do you count it all JOY - or do we grumble like everyone else?

How you handle persecution, suffering, and disappointment should provoke people to ask why or how.

How you handle sex and money should be different as a Christian.

Does your purity cause others to question you?

Does your handling of money provoke people to question.

Charitable giving : World 2% Church 2.4%

That does not provoke questions

Most people think Christians are just people who try to live moderatley better. Not a people who serve a different King and Kingdom.

A Life Sent in the Power of the Spirit is a Provocative Life!

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Second,

A Sent Life Will Seize Opportunities

At the end of Paul’s speech to Agrippa, he goes on a roll, showing how all the Jewish prophets prophesied about the coming of Jesus.

And then he said -

Acts 26:27–29 NASB95

“King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Paul’s life is on the line yet he thinks, “Hey I have been given an opportunity to proclaim Jesus to the Gov and King.”

Is that how you see your life? Is that how you see your profession?

Maybe God put you into medicine not just to provide for your family but to provide you with a platform to tell people about Jesus.

What if you saw your job as a God given platform to share Jesus.

You HS students - You living your life in the single greatest mission field in America. Do you live to seize that opportunity for Jesus?

Your families, friends, not of that is by chance - it is God’s platform for you to tell others about Jesus.

As Israel was elected to be a blessing to the world - You to have been elected to bless the world through the Good news of Jesus.

A Life Sent in the Power of the Spirit SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES.

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Third

A Sent Life Will EMBRACE SOVEREIGNTY

Festus puts Paul on a boat to Caesar - Rome where the boat gets caught in a major storm and is swept out where they get lost for a month!!!! This guy cannot catch a break.

Acts 27:21–26 NASB95

When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. “But we must run aground on a certain island.”

Paul did not let his circumstance doubt God’s plan.

As a Christian God does not always shield you from the storm. He makes you go through what everyone else is going through, so you can be a witness of his grace and mercy to those who need it most.

Its in the cancer bed where you say my body may be ravaged but my hope and joy is in Jesus.

It is when you are caught in the circumstances of everyone else life but refuse to give into fear, that gives people a true witness of our hope.

It is when you loose all and can still say it is well with my soul that causes people to take notice of our faith.

It is easier to proclaim hope as a fellow traveler, than it is to call to people in a storm from your nice, safe perch.

We must learn to embrace the SOVEREIGNTY of God as see all circumstances as an opportunity to demonstrate our HOPE in JESUS.

A Sent Life Will Embrace SOVEREIGNTY

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FINALLY

A Life Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit will LIVE from the VICTORY of the GOSPEL.

Paul has now arrived in Rome, safe and sound but life is not going to get much easier. He is not under house arrest and he must pay for his own housing. It is like going to prison and paying for your own room.

Acts 28:30–31 NASB95

And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

It would be easy for Paul to give up - His life has been difficult and that difficulty is because of the GOSPEL!

Yet these last verses paint Paul not in a tragedy but in a story of Triumph.

I love how Luke says -

He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and taught Jesus as Lord and Christ for two years in house arrest - in OPENNESS and UNHINDERED.

Victory for Paul and the early church was not about accumulating wealth and comfort.

It was not about worldly success.

For Paul victory was making the Kingdom of God and Jesus the Lord known to the world.!

He was sent -

Picked up by the powerful wind of Acts 2 to spread the victory of God Kingdom over all powers through Jesus.

You and I today know the Gospel because of Paul and those like Paul who were caught up by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We Complain Too Much and Share the Gospel Too Little

Trying to have our best life now, we forget that as believers we have a mission - To GO - TO Live a SENT LIFE.

Sent to our neighbor who sees the world differently

Sent our political enemies with a message of real hope, the message of the only true King Jesus.

Sent to the hurting to join with them in suffering so we can show them the HOPE of JESUS in the middle of the storm.

Sent to our work places, schools, families, circle of friends - TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.

Jesus Said

Matthew 16:18 NASB95

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

We need to stop living in fear and start living from the VICTORY of the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM of GOD.

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Have you been caught up by the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit?

Or are you just living the daily grind with no eternal purpose?

Maybe you at one time, felt the wind of the Spirit carry you but you doubted the Sovereignty of God and the circumstances you find yourself in.

Are you living in the VICTORY of the Gospel or is your life driven by the fear of the world around you?

Are you Seizing the opportunities God has given you to tell others of Jesus?

God desires to fill you with the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit

He desires to give you a SENT LIFE

He DESIRES to use you in every circumstance to bring real hope and change in the lives of people through the message of Jesus.

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5 WAYS I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO LIVE SENT

Sent Life by bringing 2 people to Church (2 new people for each of you and we are building a new building next year).

Sent Life BY HOSTING A LIFE GROUP TO HELP DISCIPLE ONE ANOTHER IN JESUS.

Sent Life in joining Life church in taking the message of Jesus to Mitchell, Floyd, Howard and every rural county in Iowa.

Sent Life by preparing yourself to be carried off to the ends of the earth. (Do not despise Biblical Education and Practice)

Sent life by taking Jesus into your schools and work places.

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Will You Today Allow the Wind of the Spirit to Fill You with Power?

Will You Allow the Wind of the Spirit to Fill Your Sails and Give You A Sent Life?