Mission Possible
Acts 2:1-8, 12-18 NKJ.
1. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This is what they had been waiting on… They had been seeking and praying
and God chose this precise moment to reveal what had been promised to be delivered.
How many of you know that God's timing is perfect?
It was no coincidence that this was the time that God chose to reveal the Holy Spirit.
If a picture is worth 1000 words… Then how much more value is there to be had by witnessing something first hand?
5. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
Jerm. 29:11 says...for I know the plans I have for you…
Plans to prosper you....plans to give you hope and a future!!
Everyone who was there..God put there at that exact moment for a reason
God was exposing them to be a part of the greatest plan
in the history of the world..
The plan to get the word out...
The plan to share the story of Jesus and the Gospel
The plan to empower them and change the world forever!!!
7. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8. And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
12. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13. Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
I believe the accuser had his cronies there from the very beginning… Trying to put a spin on what was taking place… Because the accuser knew the power that was about to be unleashed
14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
15. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
16. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17. ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18. And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy
The Bible tells us, that they had waited just like the Lord had instructed them.
For 50 days, praying and waiting for what was going to happen,
not really knowing what was going to happen, but knowing if it was from God, it would be nothing short of spectacular.
And disappointment was not on the schedule that day…
It was amazing, so magnificent and indescribable all at the same time.
It was as close to the power of God that any of those men had ever been.
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance..”
What they had received that day...
had been given for one reason, to share with others
That’s why at nine o’clock in the morning, they were taking it to the streets...
It was all part of Gods plan from the beginning
It was history right there in the making...The power of God
was on display like it never had been seen before.
What an awesome display of the power of God it was then...
and still is today, 3,000 souls were added to the church that day..
it was nothing short of amazing!
They didn’t downplay what they were given that day, it was miraculous and still is today.
They were at the start of the “Great Commission”
The greatest quest ever known to mankind...
The gift of the Holy Spirit gave them power to proclaim....
The wonderful works of Jesus, like never before!
Everywhere they went... they thought about one thing
lifting up the name of Jesus and Sharing what had happened to them..
And God.....was in charge of the results,
Jesus told them to go and they went without question...
With the power of the Holy Spirit leading every step of the way.
were they able to cover the whole world?
No...would be the first logical answer to come to mind..
But let me ask you this… In the Calvary, when the order charge is given
does anyone stop pursuing the command until the battle is won
or the trumpet sounds the alarm that signals retreat?
So in essence...The answer is yes they are covering the whole world
still today...one life at a time with each having a part in the victory..
that one day will be declared and each participant will hear the words...
well done thou good and faithful servant's! Amen??
For the message to reach all the world (before the advent of the Internet...)
it had to be shared with all religious sects.
That’s why when it was fully come...it went out
on the day of Pentecost...to every dialect that was there
the message had started to go into all the world at that very moment...
and the results were tremendous...
3,000 souls were added to the church the very first day
the Holy Spirit came on the scene!
The miraculous thing is...God is not a respecter of persons
what He freely gave to the 120..He still gives to all who will ask..
Have you asked him for it…
Because it's still available...just for the asking
T.B.S. He is the same yesterday, today and forever...
No matter what you're talking about those are powerful words
and those are God’s words not mine...
The power that came that day to help with the “Great Commission”
is still available to help with the “Great Commission”
that still exists today...aren't you glad that it is? Praise God!
I like the story of Cornelius that we find in Acts 10:1-6 NKJ
1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2. a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4. And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
Now for God's plan to be carried out… One thing had to happen
And that one thing was The same thing that always has to happen for Gods will to be carried out…obedience…
Cornelius had to be obedient and do what God instructed him to do...
and without question he did exactly what God told him..
Cornelius, was no doubt a religious man who feared God, gave alms to those in need, and prayed regularly to God..
He was found faithful and God clearly had plans for him and his family...
Because God always rewards faithfulness...
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Acts 10:24,30-38,44 NKJ
24. And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Cornelius was excited…
Cornelius was in the seeker mode…
He was ready to receive a word as to what God had in store for him...
30. So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31. and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
32. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33. So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
34. Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37. that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
Lord help us all… To be more like Cornelius and those
who were with him there that day… To not only hear the word
but to receive it as well
There are a lot of Cornelius’s in Gods army...Just like he was
They’ve been going to church all their life...waiting for someone
like Peter to give them a word...
There are a lot of people period....
that are waiting for someone to tell them more about the things of God.
To come and share Jesus story with them.
To not worry about what others might think and downplay what they have,
to let them know that there is so much more to a relationship with Jesus then religion will ever tell them!
God is looking for men and women like Peter, that will be faithful to the calling,
To step out in faith when asked to...
knowing that if God is in it...that's all that matters
and that He will be right there every step of the way helping them...
thru the presence of the Holy Spirit...filling them with the power
and capability to do whatever needs to be done all along the way!
If someone has been a Christian for very long, they know this to be true, TBS. (the bible says) to study to show thyself approved!
We know that we need to be ready to share the word.
Then tell me why there are so many excuses made...
for not sharing what every Christian knows that they should share?
And let me tell you when it comes to excuse books…
Nobody has a bigger book of excuses then God has kept
as to why His people just can't seem to do the one thing
He has asked them to do...
And you know what that is? Share the Gospel....
You see, everybody can tell you all about...
Football..
NASCAR..
Country music singers..
Their favorite soap operas..
Their neighbors..
Their families...
And last but not least..but most of all
them selves...
They can tell you about everything else in great detail…
Except when it comes to telling about the greatest story ever told…
The story of how little child came into this world and introduced
the Amazing Grace message.. God longs for every soul to hear
and understand and be forever changed by it..
You see..
Peter wasn't re-inventing the wheel..
He wasn't teaching rocket science...
He was just telling Cornelius and his household
what he knew about Jesus and His life...
It wasn't a power point presentation..
No flash cards to show them..
No tracks he could give them..
he didn't even have a bible he could point scripture out in..
he was just lifting up the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit moved on all of them.
Peter did the easy part..
God did the hard part..God took care of the results that day,
God always takes care of the results..doesn’t He?
Don't think about the results… Just concentrate on the message
All we have to do is lift up the name of Jesus..
the bible doesn’t say it has to be fancy or eloquent...
it just says to do it..to be willing to tell others about Jesus!!!
I want you to think about something for just a second… What if you
didn't know Jesus in your life…
What if someone would've never told you?
Listen..that right there my friend…
Should be enough motivation
for any of us to tell someone about the Gospel.. Amen??
Did you Know...The whole world is looking for answers, to the life that their living?
We have access to all the answers that their looking for...We just need
to let the world know that they can have the same access that we have!
Which is undeniable access Amen?? Oh come on it's not that hard...
*If their looking for forgiveness, we can point them to the forgiver of sin, because we know Him and what He did for us on a personal level...He forgave us Right??
*If their looking for success...He's the one their looking for Right?
we can point them to the maker of all things..
the greatest creator..
idea generator..
decision maker..
trend setter..
appointment getter and sales closer..
they would ever want to have their team..Right?
*If health is what they need..we can introduce them to the Healer
of every sickness and decease known to all mankind...Right??
*If finances and prosperity is their need is..we can introduce them
to the one who owns all the cattle on a thousand hills..
as well as all the hills and everything in all the hills.. Right??
And as my pastor always said as long as you got steak and potatoes
everything is going to be alright..
TBS. If you must brag, then Brag about your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and everything He can do!!
There is not one thing the world is looking for..
that we cannot point them to where they will find it!
And that my friends...is at the feet of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ..the Risen Son of God!!
Everything and anything that is needed in this world..
is found in the finished work that Jesus completed on the cross
When He willingly laid down His life for whosoever would believe..
At that very moment he became our qualification...
To the good life… To the abundant life that God has prepared for us
and wanted us so much to have...that he was willing to sacrifice
His own Son so we can get what he had prepared for us...
John 3:16 NKJ. Says
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Jesus, already did the hard part, He conquered both sin and death once and for all, the easy part is up to us.
Just tell everyone what we all ready know...JESUS is the Way!! Amen??
Its way past time to get beyond not being able to share the Gospel of Jesus.
If our generation doesn’t do it, who will?
(pause)
I’m talking about all of us who are alive right now..who already know Him.
TBS. in Matthew 9:36-38 NKJ.
36. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The devil has never fought harder than what he is fighting today…
he knows it's close..he doesn't know when it will happen
but he knows that JESUS return is inevitable...and he knows that it's close
We have truly been given the greatest opportunity in the history of the church.
To take as many people with us that we can..
to Heaven one day to live forever with Jesus..what an opportunity!!
But as with all great opportunities, one day it will come to an end.
That’s why we need work for the Lord like we never have before, Jesus has made preparations to accommodate as many as will receive Him,
TBS. He would that none should perish and all are welcome!
2 Peter 3:9 NKJ.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1st Thessalonians 5:1-3 NKJ.
1. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
God is a merciful God, but when the trumpet sounds and the eastern sky is split open,
And the King of All Kings returns for His Bride, (that’s everyone who has accepted Jesus as there Lord and Saviour) They..will go with Jesus to Heaven, to spend eternity.
Those who haven’t accepted Him..Will Not Go
for them it will be to late...
That’s why its so important to tell others about Jesus...
Everything else we have ever done in his life...
will fail in comparison one day as to what we did
for the kingdom of God and to share the story Jesus...
Tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, that God has freely made available to all who ask.
Your going to need it... just like they needed it on the day of Pentecost,
that’s why God provided it and is still providing it today....Amen??
Pray and ask God to give it to you and he will..
Lets pray…
