Mission NOT Impossible

Big Idea of the Message: The Holy Spirit empowers God’s people to be witnesses of the good news of Jesus Christ, beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth.

Introduction

Today we are starting a 6 week series covering the Book of Acts;

The Book of Acts was written by Luke, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and was possibly written between A.D. 70 and 80:

Why is the Book of Acts important historically, because the church is established in this letter;

Acts Introduction Outline

Acts is unique among the New Testament writings that deal with the life and mission of the Christian community in the age of the apostles.

In v. 8 Jesus gives both a promise and a purpose to the apostles and us today;

Who is an apostle:

An envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf.

The resurrection of Jesus is the climactic event of human history so far (Ministry Pass).

Power

Power has to come from a source, now that source can come in many forms - fossil, nuclear, solar, wind, or water;

Regardless of the originating source power is the ultimate outcome;

However in order for that source to become power it must be internalized by something, meaning I cannot find a fossil cram it into my gas tank and then drive down the road - there has be a change in the source (the fossil) before there can be power from the source;

Now up until this point Jesus had been the apostle’s physical source of power on earth through His teachings and miracles;

However this was about to change because the physical source, Jesus, is returning to heaven but He promised to send a Spiritual source that will be their power;

In v. 8, which is the key verse to the entire Book of Acts, according to some theologians, Jesus is promising the source (the Holy Spirit) that will be internalized in order give the apostles and us the power we need;

As believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within every one of us (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Yet, as evidenced in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament, there is a difference in having the Holy Spirit in us and being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31; 6:3; 13:52) (Ministry Pass);

Think about this - if I need to mow my lawn but I never but gas into the mower how far will I get, I have the gas, I have the mower why am I not getting any where;

Here’s why just because I have the gas, the source for power, that does not mean I am using the power the source creates if it stays in the container, it has to be internalized to release the power;

The question is this what do we do with the source which is the Holy Spirit?

Purpose

Jesus gave the apostles a purpose, a reason, for their Mission NOT Impossible which was to be His witness;

The church has the same purpose today, the same reason today, which is to be His witness;

Now while the purpose has not changed the techniques to achieve the purpose certainly have;

Jesus told the apostles in v. 8 “you shall be witnesses to Me...” they were to reflect Christ in every way;

There was to be action to their purpose which was to extend beyond the upper room in Jerusalem;

Now Jesus did not just give the a purpose but He gave them the power to accomplish the purpose which is the Holy Spirit;

Acts 3. Christ’s Legacy: The Call to Witness (1:6–8)

The future tense here has an imperatival sense: “you will [must] receive power”; “you will be my witnesses.” Luke stressed this commission from the risen Lord at the close of his Gospel (24:47–49).

Jesus was not leaving them on their own to complete His purpose and He has not left us alone either;

He has given you and I the exact same Holy Spirit that was given to the apostles, the exact same source, to provide the exact power so we can complete our Mission NOT Impossible;

What is the purpose - it is to go beyond ourselves to be His witness and bring people closer to God.

Plan

Now here was their plan - “…in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”;

Jesus’ plan required the apostles to leave their place of security - the upper room - which was filled with grief, confusion, depression, anxiety and yes ever fear;

In order to reach they had to leave the upper room - in order for us to reach we must leave these walls;

Now caught something as I was doing my outline that I had not caught in my prep - Jesus included Samaria in the list of places to go, why is this important, because orthodox Jews despised Samaritans;

Jesus’ plan included going to places we may not like to reach people we might despise;

Acts 3. Christ’s Legacy: The Call to Witness (1:6–8)

The story of Jesus led to Jerusalem; the story of the church led from Jerusalem.

Are you ready to leave Jerusalem?

Application Point: We can confidently and courageously be witnesses of Jesus by understanding the power, purpose, and plan of the mission God has entrusted to each of us.