Mission

Possible

Acts 1:1-11

Ascension Sunday

Acts 1:9-11

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

QUESTIONS

• Did Jesus leave behind an incomplete mission?• Did Jesus leave behind an impossible mission?

• The mission IS possible• The mission WILL BE complete Because Jesus continues His mission

through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the

believers

Jesus continues His mission

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

• Book 1 (Luke): Jesus began His mission• Book 2 (Acts): Jesus continued His mission

through the power of the Spirit

2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

through the power of the Spirit

2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Baptized by the Holy Spirit?

… not a one-time event, but a continually growing experience

In an ideal journey with God:– We experience God’s grace– We trust God more– We obey Him more – We experience the Holy Spirit– We are filled by the Holy Spirit

Biblical Commandment:– be FILLED with the Holy Spirit– NOT … be BAPTIZED with/by the Holy Spirit

How?– Obedience

Why?– Power to complete Jesus’ mission

After the ascension Jesus continues His mission

through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the believers

and the participation of the believers

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 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.”

and the participation of the believers

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 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 Christ continued His mission in Acts• 2:4 – the Spirit & the 1st disciples• 4:8 – the Spirit & Peter• 4:31 – the Spirit & the disciples• 6:3 – the Spirit & the 1st deacons• 6:10, 7:55 – the Spirit & Stephen• 8:29, 39 – the Spirit & Philip• 9:17 – the Spirit & Paul• 10:19 – the Spirit & Peter• 10:44-45 – the Spirit & 1st Gentile believers• 13:2 – the Spirit & Antioch believers

On and on and on and on … Jesus continues His mission

through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the believers

How do we participate?

• Be filled with the Holy Spirit• Be witnesses for Jesus Christ• Think outside the box• Remember whose mission it is• Remember whose power it is

Following these guidelines, Christ’s mission will be accomplished through the Holy Spirit and through our lives!