“It’s Your Move”
Acts 1:1-11
Intro.
· Easter should be the most important day, in the life of a Christian!
· It should remind us of the uniqueness of our faith, and the power of our God!
· It should also be a reminder of our responsibilities as a Christian!
o Christ has done His part in making a way for all mankind
o Now, Christians are called to proclaim the way,
· Life is a Spiritual Contest;
o There are two teams, Satan’s and God’s
o Each team has multiple players
§ Satan’s team has principalities, and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places
§ God’s team has those on milk, meat and strong meat
o Satan’s team is replenished any time a person is born…God’s team is replenished any time a person is born-again!
o There are two fields, the physical realm and the spiritual realm.
o There are two goals, Satan wants to keep the lost, and kill the saved; God wants to win the lost and bless the saved
· As a Christian, when Christ died on the cross, it may have looked like our team was destined to lose. Our Star Player was gone; leaving His followers with little hope!
· Yet, on the third day, with all power in His hand, our Star Player, Jesus Christ, rose again.
· According to Acts 1: 3, He spent the next 40 days preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and preparing His followers to take charge.
· Before He returned to the Father, He gave us a command… that it’s ‘Our Move’
· In order to make our move, we need to remember 3 things:
I. Mind Your Own Business, 6-7
A. This means, some things are only for you, 1-5
i. Because you’ve been chosen, 2
1. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” I Pet. 2:9
2. I Cor. 1:26-29 “God has chosen …”
ii. Because you’ve been convinced, 3 “many infallible proofs”
iii. Because you’ve been commanded, 4-5
1. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”, I Cor. 9:16
2. Ill.: My calling to the ministry:
B. This means, some things are only for God, 6-7
Why does God withhold knowledge?
1. So that we will walk by faith, I John 3:2
2. Because of our human weaknesses, Jn. 16:12
3. Because His plan is Gradual Revelation, Eph. 3:5
C. So, knowing these things, it’s best that we mind our own business
i. Our business of dealing with the man or woman in the mirror
ii. Our business of striving to be more and more like Christ
iii. Our business of leaning and depending on the Lord
iv. Our business of listening and obeying the Holy Spirit
v. Our business of crucifying the flesh
vi. Our business of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God
I. Mind Your Own Business…
II. Use What You’ve Got, 8
A. Use the power You’ve Got, ‘you shall receive power’
i. Notice that this power is in the form of a Promise, ‘ye shall receive power’
ii. Notice that this power is in the form of a Person, ‘the Holy Ghost’
- All Christians have the Spirit, Rom. 8:9
B. Use the calling you’ve got, ‘ye shall be witnesses’
i. To testify of what you know!
ii. To testify wherever you go!
iii. To testify so others may grow!
C. But, what if you’ve done something to lose your power or waste your calling?
i. Ill. The fall of Samson, Jud. 16:1ff
ii. Notice HOW Samson lost his power
1. By placing his heart in the wrong hands, 4
2. By playing with the gift of God, vss. 7, 11, 13
3. By giving in to the pressures of the world, vs. 15-16
· One of the saddest verses in the Bible: Judges 16:20 “…And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”
iii. Ill. The rise of Samson, His Hair Grew Back, 22
1. Although he lost his physical sight, he regained his spiritual power!
2. Although he lost his physical freedom, he regained his spiritual power!
3. Although he lost his physical life, he regained his spiritual power!
D. Learn to use what you’ve got!
i. Stop complaining about what you don’t have, and start using what you’ve got
ii. Stop worrying about what you think you need, and start using what you’ve got
iii. Stop wishing for things to be the way you want them, and start using what you’ve got…
1. We have the Power of God Almighty
2. We’ve got the intercession of the Son of God
3. We’ve got the Presence of the Holy Ghost
4. We can speak those things that are not as if they were
5. We’ve been told that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world
6. We can do all things thru Christ Who strengthens us
7. We’ve been called more than conquerors
8. We’ve been called to be kings and lords
iv. Stop complaining about what you don’t have, and learn to use what you’ got!
I. Mind Your Own Business…
II. Use What You’ve Got…
III. Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds, 9-11
A. Christ expects us to be doers, not watchers, 10-11a
i. The word ‘do’, ‘doing’, ‘doer’ is used nearly 1,400 times in the Bible
1. James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
2. III John 11 “He that doeth good is of God:”
· Christ was a Doers, and He has called His followers to be doers, as well
ii. Every person, whether saved or lost, will be judged according to what they have done
iii. Christians have been called to be the original ‘Mimi-Me’s”,
1. Acts 11:26 “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
2. The word Christian is used only 3 times in scripture
a. Acts 11:26
b. Acts 26:28 ‘almost to be a Christian’
c. I Pet. 4;16 ‘if any man suffers as a Christian’
3. The word literally means ‘anointed follower’
4. Christians are called to be mini versions of Jesus Christ in this present world
a. We’re called to Think Like Christ
b. We’re called to Believe Like Christ
c. We’re called to Pray Like Christ
d. We’re called to Live Like Christ
e. We’re called to Serve Like Christ
f. We’re called to Be Like Christ
g. But, especially in what we do!
5. We are of no earthly good, if we’re only heavenly minded. So get your head out of the clouds
B. Christ will reward us for what we’ve done, not what we’ve watched others do
i. Mt. 9:37-38 “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
ii. There is no lack of Churches, but there is a lack of laborers
iii. There is no lack of worshippers, but there is a lack of laborers
iv. There is no lack of ministers, but there is a lack of laborers
v. There is no lack of watchers, but there is a lack of laborers
C. Christian, Get your head out of the clouds, and get busy for the Lord!
Conc.
· Now, it’s your move!
Ø Jesus has done away with the Law, and brought in the dispensation of Grace!
Ø Jesus has conquered Death and Hell!
Ø Jesus has received all power in heaven and in earth!
Ø Jesus has sent the Comforter, the Holy Ghost to be our Companion!
Ø Jesus has given us our marching orders, ‘Be witness unto Me!’ ‘Preach the gospel of the kingdom!’
Ø Jesus has been seated at the right hand of the Father, and is interceding for us
· All that is left, is for us to “Make Our Move!”
Ø Make Your Move…from being lost to saved
Ø Make Your Move…from being backslidden to on fire for God!
Ø Make Your Move…from half-stepping to high-stepping for the Lord!
Ø Make Your Move…from watching to working!
Ø Make Your Move…from excuse maker to stronghold breaker!
· Jesus has done His part. Now, He’s waiting for you to Make Your Move!
· It’s Your Move!
