You Have A Mission - Acts 1:1-26 - April 23, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – You Have A Mission – April 23, 2006

This is lesson three (3) in our series “You Can Be A Witness.”

Our background scripture is Acts 1:1-26

Our focus scripture is Acts 1:1-14

This has been an awesome journey with JESUS for the last few weeks. Our journey does not end with HIS resurrection but it has only begun. Our mission is to tell others about JESUS.

So how do we tell others about JESUS? How ever the HOLY SPIRIT leads us. The HOLY SPIRIT will equip and empower us to be the right kind of witness. HE will give us the right words to say. In my early walk with JESUS this was a frightening thought.

There will be times you feel like you blew it. Satan will try his best to defeat you in this area of your Christian journey. He wants you to keep your mouth shut. You may never lead a person knowingly to CHRIST but you may plant a seed, do some watering, some weeding, some encouraging or any number of SPIRIT driven things that are important to the plan and purposes of GOD. The key is to be willing to be used by GOD however HE chooses. Leave the results to HIM.

Our testimony is one of the most powerful tools GOD can use when we tell others about JESUS. People can argue the Bible with you but when we say, “Once I was spiritually blind but now I see spiritual things more clearly. Let me tell you how this happened.”

What if you were physically blind and a man called JESUS touched your eyes and you could see for the first time in your life. Would you have a story to tell?

Absolutely!!!!
We find such a story about a young man in the Bible. He was born blind and encountered JESUS in John 9:19-25: Notice verse 25.

19 They asked them, “Is this your son, [the one]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. 21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as • Messiah, he would be banned from the • synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.” 24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God.[4] Give glory to God was a solemn charge to tell the truth; Jos 7:19. We know that this man is a sinner!” 25 He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”

No one could tell this young man that he could not see nor tell him it was anyone else but JESUS WHO had restored his sight.

The Jewish leaders were trying to discredit JESUS by saying HE was a sinner. The testimony of this young man is powerful and irrefutable when he says, “I was blind but now I can see!” and JESUS is the reason I can see.

This is true of all of us. At one time in our life we were spiritually blind but when we encountered JESUS, HE touched our lives, now we can see through spiritual eyes, because of the wonders of being a child of GOD through the miracle of re-birth. Our testimony is our encounter with our SAVIOR and LORD, JESUS CHRIST. No one can tell you that it did not happen because you know first hand that you encountered the living LORD.

Our re-birth is confirmed by THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO dwells within our hearts. This fact is confirmed in Romans 8:14-17 (Note verse 16):
14 All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “• Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing that[13] Or provided that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Remember “Abba” means “daddy”. As children of GOD we have the right and privilege to crawl up in the lap of the CREATOR of the universe, GOD, and call HIM “daddy.” WOW!!!! Awesome!!!

Having direct, intimate access to GOD, our FATHER, our daddy is only possible because of what JESUS has done for us by paying the debt for sin. JESUS’ sacrifice for us is HIS ultimate act of love for us. Think about the unselfish love of CHRIST, just for us.

v HE left HIS home in heaven, came to earth as a baby, lived as a human, walked upon earth in HIS earth suit (human body just like our body), stumped HIS toe, got splinters in HIS hands, was tempted in all ways like we are (but did not sin), beaten, suffered, died a cruel death on the cross where we should have died, was buried; GOD, THE FATHER raised HIM from the dead as proof HE is HIS ONLY SON (proof that HE conquered death so believer’s in HIM will have eternal life), HE remained on earth for 40 days after HIS resurrection, confirming HIS resurrection, commissioned believers to be HIS witnesses, ascended into heaven, sent the HOLY SPIRIT back to dwell within every believer to empower, enlighten them and as a guarantee to every believer that HE is the CHRIST, and the list goes on.
v Through the miracle of re-birth our FATHER is also JESUS’ FATHER because we have been born of THE SPIRIT. We can call GOD “Daddy”.
v We are born into the family of GOD and have all the rights and privileges as children of GOD.
v Being a child of GOD does not mean we will have it easy to serve GOD while we remain upon earth, in our earth suits (human body).
v It does mean we have THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO lives and dwells within our heart to lead, guide, instruct, teach, reveal and empower us for all our days while we are still upon earth in our earth suits.

Let’s read Acts: 1:1-3:
Prologue
1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

As you know for the past few weeks we have been studying Luke’s first book written for Theophilus (thee-AHF-ih-luhs). Theophilus means “lover of GOD” and is likely a Christian who wanted the facts confirmed, in writing, about JESUS. Luke is a physician and was likely commissioned by Theophilus, a high ranking Roman, to write two books regarding the life of JESUS. One theory is that Luke was eager to accept the job offered by Theophilus to fund his journey with Paul.

The Gospel of Luke, Book One (1) focuses on the birth, life, miracles and activities of JESUS’ life, death, resurrection, commissioning and ascension. Acts is book two (2) and begins with the great commission and focuses on activities in carrying out the great commission, the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT, believer’s being empowered and enlightened by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Luke reveals to us, in Acts, that JESUS was very active upon earth for 40 days after HIS resurrection, proving that HE is very much alive in HIS new glorified body. This is the type of body we will have after the second coming of CHRIST. Our re-born spirit will leave our earth suit when we die. Our re-born spirit has the form of a normal body with arms, legs, head, face, etc. Those who have died will be alive in the spirit and active in heaven until their re-born spirit returns with JESUS at HIS second coming. At the moment CHRIST returns to earth, we will follow HIM and we will receive our new glorified body just like JESUS’ resurrected body. Read the scripture about JESUS after HIS resurrection and it gives us a clue what we will be able to do with our glorified bodies. Awesome!!!

JESUS’ remaining on earth for these 40 days was to establish the fact that HE is very much alive in HIS resurrected body, which is completely under HIS control. Verse 3 uses the words “convincing proofs.” “Convincing proofs” is a legal term which would be used in a court of law to prove without any doubt that what is being presented is the truth. JESUS was on earth for 40 days after HIS resurrection proving that HE is WHO HE says HE is. HE is doing what Satan tried to get HIM to do before the start of HIS ministry. Satan tempted JESUS for forty (4) days in the wilderness before HE began HIS ministry. Satan tried to get HIM to take a short cut and yield to his authority and not remain faithful to HIS calling.

JESUS speaks about the Kingdom of GOD. The Kingdom of GOD is the rule of GOD through CHRIST, the MESSIAH-KING. The Kingdom of GOD is the opposite of the kingdom of this world of sin and death.

Colossians 1:13-14 tells us: 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,[7] Other mss add through His blood the forgiveness of sins.

Let’s read Acts 1:4-8:
The Holy Spirit Promised
4 While He was together with them,[1] Or He was eating with them, or He was lodging with them He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” [He said, “is what]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, at this time are You restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends[2] Lit the end of the earth.”

Verse 4 – JESUS commands the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they are baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT.

What is being “Baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT?” When are you baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT?

The word “baptize” means to be fully immersed. To be “baptized” in the HOLY SPIRIT means to be fully immersed in the HOLY SPIRIT. When we ask CHRIST to forgive us of our sins and to come into our life is the moment we are immersed with the HOLY SPIRIT. We have all of the HOLY SPIRIT that we will ever have.

So why do some of us experience what seems to be a second blessing or filling of the HOLY SPIRIT?

This happened to me when I was in my thirties. I had tried to live the Christian life in my own strength. The harder I tried the more I realized I could not live the Christian life. One morning while driving to work I was praying and told the LORD that I had cleaned up 60 or 70 percent of my life but the other 30 or 40 percent was rotten and I could not control it. So I asked the LORD to take my life just as it was, the good and the bad, and for HIM to help me to live the Christian life. Quicker than I could blink, HE took me at my word. It was not the words I spoke but the attitude of my heart. I wanted HIM to take my life and to help me live as HE wanted me to live.

For the first time I could read and understand the Bible and I knew if I died I would go to heaven. It was not because of any good I had done that out weighed the bad I had done. I am going to heaven because I knew CHRIST died for me and my entrance into heaven is based upon HIS credentials and not mine.

At first I thought of this encounter as a second blessing or a special anointing of the HOLY SPIRIT. I accepted CHRIST when I was nine (9) or ten (10) years old. As I have pondered the event, it was not a second blessing so-to-speak or baptism in the SPIRIT but it was me committing my life to the control of the HOLY SPIRIT. I was trying to hang onto the world with one hand and CHRIST with the other hand so-to-speak. When I let go of the world and embraced CHRIST, it was like a first time salvation experience.

I went from self controlling my life to CHRIST controlling my life. When I relinquished self controlling my life to allow the HOLY SPIRIT to control my life, then the HOLY SPIRIT revealed HIMSELF and HIS power to me. Self or the flesh blocks the manifestation of the HOLY SPIRIT in our life. Self is very hard to say no to. And even when we commit our lives to CHRIST, self will war within us to regain control. It is a life long process of dying to self. GOD never removes our right to choose, even when we have committed our lives to CHRIST. JESUS made it clear in Luke 9:23 - 23 Then He said to [them]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. all, “If anyone wants to come with[8] Lit come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily,[9] Other mss omit daily and follow Me.

GOD allows us to choose who rules our lives, even as Christians. When we choose to allow HIM as the LORD of our lives it is a profound experience.

In verse 6 the disciples are still confused about CHRIST and HIS Kingdom. JESUS again attempts to make it clear to them that HIS Kingdom will be fully established when THE FATHER decides. Until that time, no one but no one except the FATHR knows when that will be. The key is to be ready and to serve HIM until we meet HIM through death or until HE returns for the second time.

HE tells them to be witnesses in Jerusalem, where they are located at that moment, then in Judea the next ring of the ever expanding circle of witness, then in Samaria the next ring of witness and then to the ends of the earth, the final area of witness.

Luke has outlined Acts with this format in mind. The disciples are instructed to wait in Jerusalem until they are empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT. Peter preaches in Jerusalem, after the HOLY SPIRIT is sent and comes upon the 120 disciples gathered in the upper room.

The format of Acts is:
Chapters 1-7 – Tells about the early church in Jerusalem.
Chapters 8-9 – Tells about Christians in Judea and Samaria.
Chapters 10-28 – Tells about the spread of gospel to Rome.

We learn from this format. We should first witness to those around us and then expand our witness as led by the HOLY SPIRIT.
Let’s read Acts 1:9-14:
The Ascension
9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”
United in Prayer
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive Grove, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these were continually united in prayer,[3] Other mss add and petition along with the women, including Mary[4] Or prayer, with their wives and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

JESUS ascends into heaven. This is to show HIS disciples HE is leaving earth. This is confirmed by the two (2) angles. HE wants HIS disciples to know that HIS Kingdom is not, at this time, of this world. However when HE does return to establish HIS Kingdom, HE will return just as they have seen HIM ascend.

The disciples return to Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey, which is three-fourths of a mile.

JESUS had instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they are empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT. They are waiting in a large upper room, large enough to hold 120 people. Notice those waiting in the upper room.

The disciples are listed by name, a number of women, including Mary the mother of JESUS and JESUS’ brothers.

Notice that neither Mary the mother of JESUS nor JESUS’ brother’s are mentioned first or given any special honor.

One thing is sure, the resurrection made a huge difference to JESUS’ brothers. They became believers. James became the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem and wrote the Book of James. Jude is another brother and he wrote the Book of Jude.

They had to wait upon the HOLY SPIRIT to be sent. Since then, the moment we ask CHRIST to forgive us of our sins and to come into our lives, the HOLY SPIRIT comes into every believer as a security deposit that our act of faith is not in vain but is true. We are filled, enlightened and empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT. The important question is, “Have you allowed the HOLY SPIRIT to have full control of your life?” If not, then you have not experienced the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. Hold nothing back from our LORD. Do not wait until you think you can hold out. There is no such thing as testing to see if you can hold out to be a Christian. I can tell you now that you cannot. Satan may even entice you to try it for awhile just to see. You will fail because you cannot be a Christian in your own strength. Even when you commit your life to CHRIST, you will stump your toe and sin. CHRIST already knows that. When we do, we confess the sin and ask for forgiveness, HE forgives, cleanses and restores. It is on-the-job-training with GOD as your teacher.

Ask HIM to take your life right now. To take your life just as it is and to make you into the disciple HE wants you to be. That means stop trying to do it yourself and allow HIM, through the HOLY SPIRIT to direct your life. I assure you Satan will place every stumbling block in your path to dissuade you from taking this step of commitment. The choice is yours. What will it be?