Five Works Jesus Left the Church to Do in His Name.
I believe that the supreme task of the Church is the evangelism of all mankind. Not only did Jesus do evangelism, most of His last Words to the Church were to go into the entire world and tell everyone the ’Good News’ of the Gospel. I thank God for every mission work of every local church, for every missionary that has given his live to preach the gospel and every missionary origination. However, the work will not be accomplished until the whole Church works in the tasks Jesus left for us to finish. The gospel must be preached afresh and told in new ways to every generation, since every generation has its own unique questions. The gospel must constantly be forwarded to a new address, because the recipient is repeatedly changing his place of residence.
(Acts 1:1 KJV) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (Acts 1:2 KJV) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (Acts 1:3 KJV) To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:4 KJV) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (Acts 1:5 KJV) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:6 KJV) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:7 KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:9 KJV) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:10 KJV) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (Acts 1:11 KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
He Left The Church A Great Work To Carry On Until He Comes Again.
I. UNTIL HE RETURNS HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNFINSHED TASK!
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
A. How long are we to work at evangelism?
Isaiah 6:Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
A. The task will not be finished until the church is gone.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
1. It is our privilege to have world evangelism as a passion, not our responsibility to have as a burden.
II. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNALTERABLE MESSAGE
A. The Deity of Christ;
B. The Resurrection;
The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gospels. Belief in the Resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith; it is the Christian faith. John S. Whale
C. The Inspiration of Scripture;
1. A Christian is one who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbour. -- Ambrose Bierce
D. The Miracles of Old;
1. Salvation by grace;
2. The Blood of Atonement
III. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US UNLIMITED POWER.
(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Paul Stated - Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
A. Percentage of adults who mostly agree or completely agree with the statement, "Even today, miracles are performed by the power of God": 82 per cent.
IV. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNSHAKEALBE TESTIMONY. and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
John 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Jesus is the foundation of my whole life. He is my strength. If you have Jesus in your life, you know it, you feel it. He’s the solid rock you can stand on every day. There’s no problem you can’t face if you have the love of Jesus to strengthen you. John Cash.
V. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNFAILING PROMISE.
(Acts 1:11 KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
A. Heaven and earth can pass away but His Words will not and He still is the unchanging Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. May we take up our cross and follow Him and do the work He has call all of us to do.
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