Sent by Jesus
Acts 1:6-11
Dale Little
11/1/2016
"Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.""
Acts 1:6-11 NIV
1. Power for the mission
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""
Acts 1:8 NIV
The context of mission is one of trouble and crises:
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:14 NIV
We are to be compassionate witnesses to others in time of crisis.
Missions involves meeting physical and spiritual needs.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2. Plan for the mission
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""
Acts 1:8 NIV
The gospel does not belong to any one culture or place.
The gospel can flourish in any place.
3. People of the mission
Jesus expects His own people to go out and proclaim the gospel.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""
Acts 1:8 NIV
God has chosen His people to reach out to other people.
Application
Do you understand yourself to be a witness?
"And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria."
Acts 8:1 NIV
"Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."
Acts 8:4 NIV
God has scattered His people to fulfill His purposes and mission.
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