Do You Wanna Come Along?

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.  He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
"So when they met together, they asked him, 'Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'
"He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'
"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'"  Acts 1 : 1 - 11


We have spent the earlier part of the semester studying the gospels and seeing how Jesus lived his life and the works he has done.  As we move into a few weeks of studying the book of Acts, we are reminded that the gospels were just the beginning and the story continues even after Jesus is taken to heaven.  Even though we are told this, there are still a lot of questions we have.  What I find so encouraging about this passage is that people that saw Jesus still had questions, and Jesus spent time answering those questions and giving proof!

When looking through the gospel we see Jesus being with people, healing, causing cognitive dissidence, giving purpose, performing miracles.  We should all realize that these things still happen.  God's kingdom has broken through into our world and He is still healing people, still giving purpose to those searching.  And we are invited to partner with God!  We can pray for people, we can ask for spiritual provision, we can ask to see God work.  He wants us to be a part of this!

God does not invite us because he needs help.  He is alive on this earth and bringing his kingdom and He wants us to come along!  He does not invite us to watch him, he invites us to take huge risks and do crazy things.  Jesus has given us power through the Holy Spirit and tell us that we will do greater things that he.

Do we believe that?  I don't know if I've fully understood this.  I want to believe completely that we can do great things, but greater than Jesus??  But I have heard stories, I have experienced a little of his power, and I want more.  It's a scary thing to ask for, but are we willing to do this?

We have been given authority and power from God.  Why don't we start asking God to prove himself to us?  Why don't we start using this power?  God does show up but we need to ask him to!  This makes life with God fun and exciting.  I'm really inspired to start living life like the gospel.  I want our fellowship to be infused with the power of the Holy Spirit and to pray with authority for each other.

Let's be witnesses.  Let's live boldly and step into the things that scare us the most.  Let's be hospitable and love our campus.  Let's not give up.

I'm excited to hear stories.

Are you ready?