* With God, the impossible is fully possible - but it requires a few things from us.
* Before Jesus rose into heaven He gave the disciples the “Great Commission” - marching orders on what to do and how to make an impact.
* This was an impossible thing to accomplish - no technology, phones, planes, translation software, etc.
* *** This would be like God telling us today to go an inhabit the planet Mars. Impossible.
* So how would they be able to do what He called them to do?
* The Holy Spirit - Jesus promised them that His helper would come.
* His Spirit would make it possible.
* *** This would be like God telling my 10 year old daughter Lundi to lead the Lakers to an NBA championship.
* But then if He gave her the spirit of Magic Johnson it would be possible.
* So when God has spoken to us and given us our marching orders, what are we to do?
* The same thing the disciples did. Three things:
* 1) They waited (Acts 1:4) - they didn’t charge off and do the thing.
* They moved at God’s pace, not their own.
* It took 10 days before the Holy Spirit showed up.
* 2) They prayed (Acts 1:13 Passion Version) - God delights in the prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:8).
* 3) They gathered (Acts 2:1) - being together with others knits your hearts together.
* We are made for connection.
* How did God respond?
* Acts 2:2-4 - The Holy Spirit came and they were able to do the impossible.
* EX: we did these three things when we built our company from one office to 100.
Acts 2:1-4 (6/18/20)
God Will Do It
June 18, 2020 • Benham Brothers
Acts 1:4-5 (6/20/19)
June 20, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* Luke wrote acts as a continuation of his gospel. * Acts bridges the gap the gospels and Romans. * It shows how the church sprang up and how the gospel began to spread. * Wiersbe - “The Book of Acts is also the account of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the church. The Gospel of Luke records what Jesus “began both to do and teach” in His human body, and the Book of Acts tells us what Jesus continued to do and teach through His spiritual body, the church.” * Jesus had already given them the charge to go into all the world to make disciples, yet He tells them to wait to do it. * First, they needed to be clothed in power. * They had to stay in Jerusalem in order to get it. * At this point Jerusalem was the most dangerous place on earth for a Christ follower. * They could’ve been killed like Jesus was. * They also could’ve easily said, “Let’s hurry and go fulfill our calling.” * But they waited and showed us a great principle - Power is often a result of pace! * So they had to do two things - wait (move at God’s pace) and resist (the fear of being killed). * Power is the ability to do something. Authority is the right to do it. * Christ had given them authority, now they had to wait on the power. * While they waited, they resisted the enemy (fear).
Acts 1:6-8 (6/5/14)
June 5, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Jesus had now risen from the dead and was giving His last instructions before He ascended to Heaven. The disciples asked if now was the time He would restore the Kingdom back to Israel. They were under Roman bondage and they thought He was going to restore the kingdom. Jesus was going to do that, but He wasn't going to do it from the outside-in, He was going to do it from the inside-out. Observe: 1) Jesus didn't deny the physical restoration of Israel, but He knew that if spiritual restoration took place first then physical restoration would be the natural outpouring of that. He was going to restore the kingdom from the inside-out. Jesus is more interested in changing a person than a persons' behavior because He knows behavior will follow naturally when a person is changed on the inside. 2) Before Jesus made the nation of Israel "right" He needed to make people "right," so He was going to actually come and live "inside" of people to do this. Jesus changed their identities - He "made" them brand new. 3) He gave them their mission - to simply be His witnesses! That's it - just tell the world what He's done and how He lives inside of people. Testimonies are so powerful because they cannot be debated - you can't debate someone's experience. Internal transformation must precede External Transformation. https://dl-http://web.dropbox.com/get/podcasts%20-%202014
Acts 1:15-22 (6/16/16)
June 16, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Can you imagine the conversation amongst the disciples about Judas after Jesus died? • But then Jesus shows up and confirms their deepest hopes of His resurrection. • They weren’t focused on Judas anymore, but Jesus. • Then Christ gives them new marching orders and ascends to Heaven. • These disciples were no longer a band of buddies with no purpose, but now a band of brothers united to honor their king. • But what about Judas’s spot? • Notice how Peter handled the situation - he pointed to Scripture. • He was able to see God at work even in the situation with Judas’ betrayal. • Notice: • 1) There was an obvious situation that need to be dealt with. • 2) Peter went to the Scripture and found a passage. • 3) Peter applied the truth of God’s Word to the situation. • 4) He then made the proper application. • In doing this he kept his emotions from taking the lead. • This is how to properly handle any situation you find yourself in.