MID-STATE  BIBLE INSTITUTE

 

 

 

 

Yet, more and more, Church members and true born again believers are in an emotional flux as to why/when it comes to their relationship with Jesus Christ, they feel nothing and the, so called, joy and excitement which is expectantly relative to the Christian experience is never evident in their own personal Christian life?  The answer is really quite simple.  In order to enjoy something, you must first become involved in it.  Thus, in order to enjoy one's Christian life, then one must first become involved in it.

 

Acts 1:8 breaks itself down into four distinct parts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, look at the verses preceding Acts 1:8.  In Acts 1:6-7, the disciples are asking Jesus concerning Eschatological articles.  Perhaps they understood it, perhaps not, but they were asking Jesus concerning end time prophecy.  They are asking Him about issues which will take place thousands of years in the future.  In response, instead of going to the then and there, Jesus concerns Himself with the here and now.  That is, before the kingdom can ever be restored, there is much to be done.  First, there is a world to evangelize. 

 

First, look at the verses preceding Acts 1:8.  In Acts 1:6-7, the disciples are asking Jesus concerning Eschatological articles.  Perhaps they understood it, perhaps not, but they were asking Jesus concerning end time prophecy.  They are asking Him about issues which will take place thousands of years in the future.  In response, instead of going to the then and there, Jesus concerns Himself with the here and now.  That is, before the kingdom can ever be restored, there is much to be done.  First, there is a world to evangelize. 

 

Notice, that first Jesus makes global evangelism and missions, a very personal thing.  Let us look at the Greek word lambanw/lambano.  This is very personal Greek word.  Jesus is telling the disciples that "you" are going to receive.  And notice that it is personal.  That being, Jesus is telling them that "you" personally will receive.  Not someone else.  "YOU" will.

 

This tells us that our Lord does not place the ministry of global missions and evangelism on the shoulders of nameless faces on prayer cards on a bulletin board in a Church lobby. But that if you are a saved, born again believer in the person of Jesus Christ, then the mandate of global missions and evangelism rest squarely and solely on the "YOUR" shoulders.  This tells us, that Jesus Christ, Himself, has personally selected "YOU," to go evangelize the world.  Not someone else who sits in the other pew of your CHURCH, but He has selected "YOU."

 

Notice that Jesus does not make this power optional.  Jesus says that "YE SHALL" receive this power.  Upon the moment of salvation, Jesus does not ask you if you want it, nor are you interested in it?  Of the numerous things which the new convert receives at the moment of salvation, the powerful ability to singlehandedly evangelize the world is part of the package.  It is not optional nor negotiable.  It cannot be rejected nor sent back.  The believer needs to embrace it, and go with it.

 

At the moment of salvation, the believer receives the power for global evangelism.  The English word power comes from the Greek word dunamiV/dunamis.  This has to do with a sudden and miraculous infusion of a supernatural ability that once was not there.  And this supernatural power is sudden and activates this newly infused power. 

 

The Greek word dunamiV/dunamis is thought to perhaps be the original root word for dynamite.  There could be some truth to this since Chang Heng of China began using these forms of explosives in the year 50 B.C. 

 

Whatever the case, dunamiV/dunamis is a Greek word which has to do with a supernatural infusion of power, talent and ability which was not there before receiving Jesus as one's own personal Lord and Savior.  And that this infusion is precipitated by a divine, all powerful factor. This power would suggest design, purpose and destiny.  It would suggest an intelligent creation by an all intelligent creator with purpose aforethought.  At the moment of salvation, this mandated infusion of global missions and evangelism is introduced into the believer specifically for this predetermined purpose.  It is not placed there for it to sit and not accomplish it's afore determined task.  And that afore determined task is that of global missions and evangelism.

 

As before mentioned, at the moment of salvation, the new convert is going to receive this new and dynamic power.  It is not optional.  It cannot be rejected.  It cannot be returned.  It is not negotiable.   It then becomes incumbent on the new believer to develop this new talent and use it for the cause of JESUS CHRIST in global missions and evangelism. 

 

 

 

1.  At the moment of salvation, we see that Holy Spirit REGENERATES the sinner into a true, saved, born again believer. 

 

John 3:3-7...Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

 

At the moment of salvation, Holy Spirit also Baptizes the new convert into the Body of the Heavenly Father. 

 

Romans 6:3-4... Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Spirit.

 

Galatians 3:27...For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

At the moment of salvation, GOD the HEAVENLY FATHER becomes an inseparable part of the believer and the believer becomes an inseparable part of GOD the HEAVENLY FATHER.

 

At the moment of salvation, GOD the HEAVENLY FATHER indwells the new convert.

 

John 7:37-39...In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

It is the passionate desire of God our Heavenly Father to be one with all of mankind, especially, every born again believer.

 

The next ministry of Holy Spirit in the life of the new believer, is that He seals the new believer.

 

What does it mean to be sealed by Holy Spirit?  The English word sealed comes from the Greek word sfragizw/sphragizo.  It has seven meanings.

First, the seal of Holy Spirit is a mark placed on the heart, soul and life of the believer as an insignia from God the Heavenly Father to tell the forces of Satan that this believer is now the property of God and that this believer is now off limits.

 

The second meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that He is the guarantee from God the Heavenly Father the believer, that at the moment of death the believer will go to Heaven to be with Jesus.

 

The third meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that He guarantees from God the Heavenly Father that should the Rapture of the Church take place before the believer dies, then the believer will instantly go up, to meet Jesus in the air, and be taken immediately to Heaven, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

The fourth, meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that He seals within the believer the assured knowledge that the believer is truly born again.

 

The fifth meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that He strengthens the believer.

 

The sixth meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that he prays for the believer.

 

Then the seventh meaning of being sealed by Holy Spirit is that he opens the Scriptures to the believers.

 

 

There has been much debate over the years as to what will a new convert do at the moment which Holy Spirit takes up His abode in the mind, thinking, heart, soul, body and will of a new convert?  What we need to do, is to look for consistency on the part of Jesus in the Four Gospels.  What does Jesus Himself say on a consistent basis concerning this question?

 

Matthew 4:18-20...And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

 

Mark 16:15...And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature

 

In the teachings of Jesus,  we see a consistent pattern of events.  That being, when Holy Spirit fills a believer, then that believer becomes an active participant in the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ.  An active participant in global missions and evangelism.

 

At the time which JESUS issued the commandment for global missions and evangelism, Jesus and the apostles were on the Mount of Olives.  For the Apostles, Jerusalem would mean for them to start where they were.  The Apostles were not to travel to another region and begin, but to start right were they were at the time.  Start where you are.  Start right now.

 

Judaea would represent expanding out to regions beyond Jerusalem.  It would mean not to limit yourself to just the here and now, but to expand out to other regions.

 

After the return from the captivity, the Jews in Jerusalem refused to allow them to take part with them in rebuilding the temple, and hence, sprang up an open enmity between themselves and the Jews.  They erected a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, which was, however, destroyed by a Jewish king in B.C. 130.  They then built another at Shechem.  The bitter enmity between the Jews and Samaritans continued in the time of our Lord as per Luke 9:52-53 & John 4:9.  Our Lord was in contempt called "a Samaritan" in John 8:48.  Many of the Samaritans early embraced the Gospel as per John 4:5-42; Acts 8:25; 9:31 & 15:3.

 

The Samaritans represent the outcast of society.  Example, prisoners, street people, homeless, chemical dependants, those in homes and hospitals.  Samaritans are those that perhaps society has cast off.

 

The English word uttermost, comes from the Greek word escatoV/eschatos. This is the Greek word which gives us the theological Bible doctrine of Eschatology.  Eschatology has to do with Bible prophecy and end time events.  It has to do with finality, the end or completion.  What Jesus is conveying, is that believers are to not only busy themselves with missions and evangelism in their home area, surrounding areas, or to societies outcast, but to continue on until they either run out of evangelistic opportunities,  or run out of time.  Upon considering how much is yet left to be done globally, before the appearing of our Lord, believers may run out of time, example, The Rapture of the Church, but they will never run out of places that need evangelism.

 

Today, the devil is filling the Church with a false complacency.  That being, why start any new missions or evangelistic endeavors when it is so apparent that the Rapture of the Church is so very near.  And yes, it is so very near.  However, Jesus Himself addressed that very issue in Luke 19:11-13. There He tells everyone... And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 

 

Jesus is telling the disciples then as He is telling the Church of today.  That yes, Eschatological events will take place and are even now are all around us.  But first, there is work to be done.  Jesus wants to see His Church busy when He comes.  Not standing on top of a mountain in white robes waiting for Him.  GET BUSY, BE BUSY, STAY BUSY!

 

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus gives a chronological breakdown of Eschatological events.  Please look carefully at the wording of 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.  Missions and evangelism first, then Eschatological events. 

 

In Revelation chapter 3, there is much misunderstood and an overlooked chain of events.  That being, in chapters 2 & 3, you have the address of Jesus to the Seven Church of Asia.  Then the Rapture of the Church takes place in Revelation 4:1.  However, were many do err, is in Revelation 3:20...Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

This then brings us to the original questions of the disciples in Acts 1:6-7.  That being, if Jesus would restore the kingdom to the nation of Israel at this time?  We see in Luke 19:11 & 24:21 that this very issue is why the people of Israel rejected JESUS at His various trials.  However, when the Greek word escatoV/eschatos is introduced into Acts 1:8, this answers many questions.

 

First, we must consider what are the disciples asking Jesus.  They are asking Him if He is going to at this time, dispatch the Romans out of Israel and restore the Jewish land, to the Jewish people, with a Jewish government?

 

The Roman occupation of Israel began in B.C. 63 and would continue on even through the days of the Book of Acts.  As mentioned before, the primary reason that the general population would reject Jesus in the final end, is that He did not liberate Israel from the Romans. 

 

In response to the critics, Jesus does answer the disciple's question of Acts 1:6-7.  He is going to restore the nation of Israel and the City of Jerusalem back to Israel.  And He has partially done this.  Israel was partially restored back to the Jews in May of 1947 and Jerusalem was partially restored back to Israel in the Six Day War of June 1967.  Therefore, what the disciples are asking in Acts 1:6-7, has been partially done.  And in the future Jesus will give to Israel all of their intended land with Jerusalem belonging totally to the Nation of Israel.  But in answer to their question, what Jesus is saying is this.  Yes, Israel will occupy all of their intended land and glory someday.  But between Acts 1:8 and that day, there is much work to be done.  Namely, global missions and evangelism. 

 

In a Church situation, the Pastor needs to watchful in His congregation for the four levels of missionaries and evangelist.  It is this way in all Church. 

 

First, you have the Jerusalem missionaries.  These are those who are interested in missions directly around the Church area, town or city.  In some circles they would be called local missionaries or home missionaries.  Upon identifying these missionaries, the Pastor needs to embrace these members and encourage and nourish their vision.

 

Second, the Judea missionaries.  They may be interested in state or national missions.  Also, they may be interested in missions to college students or military.  Also, they are the missionaries who would want to go to ball games, stadiums or rock concerts giving out gospel tracts and various Christian literature.  They would be interested in one-on-one evangelism right on the spot.  As before, embrace this and encourage this vision.

 

Third, the Samaritan missionaries.  These are the ones who want to volunteer at the local rescue missions, Salvation Army, half-way houses, jail/prison ministries, the down and depressed, chemical dependants, the mentally/physically challenged etc.  The homeless, the dirty, the aged or those who are dying form horrendous diseases. As before, do all you can to supply these missionaries with all the support and supplies they would need to succeed at this level of missionary vision.

 

Fourth, the international missionaries.  Most Pastors have this level of missionaries in their Churches.  These missionaries have a vision for global evangelism that can come only from the person of Jesus Christ Himself. 

 

These missionaries are constantly looking for geographical locations and civilizations of people who have never heard the name Jesus Christ.  And at this time, well over fifty percent of planet earth has never heard the name Jesus Christ.  And missionaries at this level have a passionate desire to go to these geographical locations and evangelize these people.

 

One quick note here.  In order for a Pastor to effectively service His position in the Church, he himself must have and maintain a global vision of world missions and evangelism. The Pastor himself must maintain a heart at the global level in order to be effective as a missionary/evangelist leader within the Church which he shepherds.

 

In the Church, various missionaries must be careful not to accidently offend each other.  Example, a missionary with a global vision may be approached by a missionary with a local vision and ask why go off to so many foreign countries when there is much to be done here?  And then vise-versa?  Each needs to understand that though each may have a different level of vision, each vision is vitally important in the Church.  Each level of missions needs to respect the missionary levels of the others in the Church. 

 

However, this does not negate the fact, that within each and every born again believer, is the power, ability and resources to singlehandedly launch a global evangelist crusade?   Each born again believer, sitting in our Churches Sunday in and Sunday out, is a global missions and evangelism bomb waiting to explode.

 

John 6:37...All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 

I Timothy 2:3-6...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

Our Precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has given to each individual member of His  Church a definite dynamic talent and ability which proves supernatural in origin.  That being, that each and every born again believer has been given the divine ability to launch a global missions and evangelism endeavor.  Our Heavenly Father has so graciously supplied each believer with every resource necessary in order to not only pursue this, but to succeed. 

 

Sadly, however, there are those Pastors who do not wish to appear militant or radical before their congregations.  They do not wish to appear unintelligent sounding.  Therefore, Pastors will forego missionary and evangelism issues from the pulpit.  These Pastors fail to remember, that missions and evangelism is so important to our Heavenly Father, that He has a special reward for those faithful believers who will go out and tell the world of the infinite, merciful saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

THE CROWN of REJOICING, or