The Power to share the Gospel

Acts 1:1–11 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Picture this the desciples have walked with Jesus for 3.5 years

been taught by him

seen him die and be ressurected

realized he was messiah

and now he leaves giving two command

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

The Temptations of Waiting

Acts 1:4 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

1st temptation - Getting ahead of God/helping God

2nd temptation - Doubt God did anybody doubt the Holy Spirit coming 10 days

3rd temptation - Getting comfortable waiting takes more time - command go to all the world vs 8 still in Jerusalem until stoning of stephen which may have been as much as a year later and no gentiles for possibly 5 years or more

The Empowerment of The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

Many of us think miraculous power and in the case of the apostles that was necessary but it applies directly here to second part of the sentence where they are to witness to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Roles of the Holy Spirit - Intercessory prayer, teaching, comforter, strengthen us to resist temptation, downpayment on our future inheritance, He the seal of our salvation

Primary role of the Holy Spirit is to bring power to the sharing of the Gospel

Why is this important because it is God who saves not us and we have the Holy Spirit living within us and he is drawing people to salvation through the Gospel. We are not soul winners we are Good news sharers, it is God who wins souls that means the result is his we are to share.

The scope of the Good News

Jerusalem - your home town

Judea - your people

Samaria - those you don’t even like or don’t deserve it

The ends of the earth - every single soul on the planet for all time

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Gospel is simple

God created a perfect world with perfect people

But we disobeyed God -sin and our sin messed up the world

Sin seperated us from God

Jesus came to live a perfect life and die on the cross to pay the price for our sin and restore us to a relationship with God

If we believe and accept this sacrifice we can be saved and ultimately restored in heaven back to a perfect people in a perfect world

Conclusion

Are you sharing the Gospel with Hurley,

with your friends, family, and your coworkers and neighbors,

with those you dont like, and what about national and foriegn missions

Or do you find yourself making excuses to not tell others about Christ

If thats you today i encourage you to repent of your disobedience and rebellion to the commands of God and begin sharing the Gospel with those around you.

Maybe you dont know Christ but you feel God drawing you to him today all you have to do is admit you are a sinner and believe and accept Jesus death on the cross as payment of your sin debt and acknowledge him as Lord- Master and Ruler of your life and you will be saved. If thats you Im gonna ask that you come forward in just a moment when we sing so i can pray with you and encourage you in your descion to follow Christ. Let us pray as the song leader comes forward.