Sunday AM Remix – 1.08.12
“Mission Possible”
Acts 1
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)
* Nothing is impossible if we do it God’s Way!
* No One is mission impossible
* QUESTION: Where does it seem impossible for God to be working in your life? Have you ever put God in the “This is Impossible” Box?
*REALITY: Impossible Things become Possible when God’s People, do God’s Work, God’s Way!
THE CHURCH’S MISSION OF BEING A WITNESS TO THE WORLD FOR CHRIST IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE . . .
1. WAIT ON GOD’S TIMING.
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5 (ESV)
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlonghe burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it”; and “Let another take his office.” So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.’ And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:12-26 (ESV)
* Sometimes we get way ahead of God’s timing, because we want it now.
* Being the Church is a together deal. The Holy Spirit moves in greater power when the Church is in Unity.
* TRUTH: God has a plan even when we feel like He doesn’t!!!!
* CONFESSION: In what areas or ways have I had a hard time waiting on God?
4 Kinds of Wrong Waiting:
– Red-Light Waiting.
* Revved up ready to go but everyone including God seems to be in the way.
* Causes us to try to manipulate and control God
– Bruise the Fruit Waiting.
* Waiting impatiently on God to do something in someone else.
– Refuse the Detour Waiting.
* Going around the detour because we think we have a better way.
– Burnt Tongue Waiting.
* If I would have just waited …
“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” Psalms 27:14 (NKJV)
“Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.” Psalms 37:34 (NKJV)
“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
* We must understand that the Journey is not a know Journey, it is a Go Journey.
2. DEPEND ON GOD’S POWER.
* TRUTH: Gods People, with God’s Power, produces God’s Results, for God’s Glory!
“So when they had come together, they asked Him, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:6-11 (ESV)
Cross references:
1. Acts 1:6 : See Luke 17:20
2. Acts 1:6 : [Mic. 4:8; Matt. 17:11; Mark 9:12; Luke 19:11]
3. Acts 1:7 : [Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32]
4. Acts 1:7 : Dan. 2:21; 1 Thess. 5:1
5. Acts 1:8 : ch. 4:33; Luke 24:49; 1 Thess. 1:5; [ch. 10:38; Luke 4:14]
7. Acts 1:8 : [ver. 22]; See Luke 24:48
8. Acts 1:8 : [Isa. 43:12]
9. Acts 1:8 : ch. 8:1, 14; [Matt. 10:5]
10. Acts 1:8 : ch. 13:47; [Mark 16:15; Col. 1:23]
12. Acts 1:9 : See 1 Thess. 4:17
13. Acts 1:10 : [Luke 24:4]
14. Acts 1:10 : Josh. 5:13; Dan. 9:21; 10:5; 12:6, 7; Zech. 1:8-11
15. Acts 1:10 : Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; John 20:12
16. Acts 1:11 : ch. 2:7; 13:31
17. Acts 1:11 : [Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 1:10]; See Matt. 16:27
18. Acts 1:11 : 2 Thess. 1:10
“We give honor to God. He is able to make you strong as I preach from the Holy Writings about Jesus Christ. It was a secret hidden from the beginning of the world. But now it is for us to know. The early preachers wrote about it. God says it is to be preached to all the people of the world so men can put their trust in God and obey Him. May God, Who only is wise, be honored forever through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let it be so.” Romans 16:25-27 (NLT)
* REALITY: More Christians are depending on their own power instead of relying on God’s Power.
* God has demonstrated His Power in Miracles, and does demonstrate His Power in Miracles, but the point is not about the miracle, it’s about His Power for us to be a Witness.
3 Human Substitutes for Holy Spirit Power for Witnessing:
– Obligation
* You go to church and hear teachers/preachers say, “Do your job. Have you told anyone about Jesus? Just do it!! Just get out there and do it!” You say, ‘Ok, ok. I’m under contract and obligation.’
– Guilt
* You know if you really loved the Lord, you’d tell someone. You must not really love Him or you’d say something. You walk out feeling like garbage. So out of guilt you try to share.
– Formula
* If I can just learn this … then I would share Christ more.
* REALITY: Nothing compares to a personal experience!
* The best witness is someone who has had a personal experience with Jesus and tells others from that perspective.
3. FOCUS ON GOD’S PLAN.
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8 (ESV)
– We are to go to our community (Jerusalem), our country (Judea, Samaria) and to the continents (the end of the earth).
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What have been some of your favorite experiences in church? What experiences have been difficult or disappointing?
2. When you talk about your church what do you mention most? Why?
3. Read Ephesians 5:25. How are Christians supposed to love God’s church today? In practical terms, what does that look like for each of us? How are you doing?
4. Where is it most difficult for you to be a witness for Jesus Christ? Why? How is it different from anywhere else?
5. Read Acts 1:1-5. What did Jesus order the disciples to do? Why? What would have happened if they ignored Jesus’ command and moved forward?
6. Do you have difficulty waiting on God? Read Ps. 27:14, 37:34, and Is. 40:31. What are the promises given for those who wait? What is God making you wait on right now in your life?
7. Read Acts 1:6-11. Where was the real power going to come from to turn the world upside down for Christ? How do we receive that same power today? Do you depend on Him to witness to others, or do you tend to trust your own timing, personality, and persuasiveness?
8. Describe your last heart pounding, mind-boggling, pulse quickening encounter with God? How often do you think God wants us to experience these moments with Him? How would frequent experiences like this help you in witnessing?
9. Read Acts 1:8 again. What is God’s plan for the church to reach the world? How do you see our church obeying/disobeying this command? How are you helping right now?
10. What is God’s main message to you today through this study?
MUSICAL WORSHIP SET
When the Water Rise
The Wonderful Cross
Awakening
Healing Is In Your Hands
Blessed Be Your Name
We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here. While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.
As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service on our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.
From the Inside Out by Dan Gould 