We Go!

Recap:

The Purpose of Pentecost was to fill us and equip us with POWER to be “proof providers” that Jesus is alive by doing the same things He did when He was on the Earth with the goal of fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to us.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

When we say, Yes to the Great Commission of Jesus, our every interaction changes because our very purpose changes.

The purpose of our life is not to be comfortable and make a good life for us and our family - but those things happen along the way.

We exist to serve, by showing the Way!

It’s not an angle, it’s a purpose.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Power = (Gr.) Dunamis

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 1411. δύναμις

1411. δύναμις dunamis, doo´-nam-is; from 1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself):—

Dunamis is the word from which we derive our English words Dynamite, Dynamo, & Dynamic

It was never intended for us to have pointless and endless debates with people trying to convince them into believing in the reality of Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

We are expected to provide proof of it!

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 NKJV

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Here’s where it gets exciting!

When the Holy Spirit is on us, we should be full of the power of God in EVERY sphere of life that we enter.

John 1:5 AMP

5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].

There is NO SPHERE on Earth where this is not the case.

Light ALWAYS shines in & pushes back the darkness.

Matthew 5:14 NKJV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Isaiah 60:1 NKJV

1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

This is what is so amazing about this verse (Acts 1:8) -

We can & should have power to provide proof of the Resurrection of Jesus even in “our Jerusalem”, our closest, most familiar, and most mundane areas of life.

God has thoroughly equipped us for this supernatural lifestyle (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

But…if WE don’t lay our hands on anyone, we won’t see healing come out of our obedience.

Romans 10:14–15 NKJV

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

YOU are sent to YOUR Jerusalem first - Let’s go!

Practical Suggestions to Go to Your “Jerusalem”:

-Invite a friend/coworker to do a short “Bible Study” to get increased wisdom through Proverbs

-(31 Chapters in Proverbs & what it speaks to them)

- Sometimes I share Proverbs with people and just tell them it’s an ancient Hebrew Proverb

-Gather some classmates & pray for your school and teachers

- tell them you just want your school and teachers to be the very best it can be

-Pray for your community

-Get to know your neighbors and begin to pray for them and their family

-Pray 1x/week with co-workers or friends for the business you work for or own

-Pray for your boss - wisdom, leadership, promotion

-Rally your employees and pray for your company to prosper & for God to move in the lives of your employees & their family’s

-Pray for coworkers’ felt needs (anonymous prayer box/testimony box)

-Offer to pray, on the spot, for those who are sick or injured

-Do you mind if I just put my hand on your shoulder as I pray for you? I believe that hands are for blessing so I’d just like to bless you while we pray.

-Lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Obedience to lay our hands on those who are sick is our part to play - it is God’s jurisdiction to heal them, not ours.

Just One Thing:

Get equipped with dynamite power from God & GO practically into your sphere of life - Don’t wait any longer. GO!

Discussion Questions:

What sport could you play the longest in a televised game, without anyone discovering you aren’t a professional athlete?

Are you filled with the Dynamite Power of the Holy Spirit? If not, please share with your group what hesitations, if any, you have about being filled. If you don’t have hesitations, but aren’t filled, consider asking your group to pray for you to receive the Holy Spirit & His power. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit how have you been working with Him in your sphere?

Please Read: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 & Acts 1:8 and share what these verses mean to you practically and what you might see this looking like as it intersects with the sphere of life you live in.

Please share the thing(s) that encouraged, comforted, and/or challenged you the most from this sermon & how you will respond to it.