God's Word for Me Today
Saturday, September 22, 2001
Focus: Our Mission With The World
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
A Reminder for Today's Study!
As we open God’s Word for Me Today, we enter a second week of study on the theme: Sharing the new life of Jesus Christ WITH THE WORLD. The Scripture for today and tomorrow is Acts 1:4-11. In this passage Jesus shares his PLAN for reaching the world with His apostles, and through them with us. Remember that Saturday is the day each week when we will start our preparations for a new theme or a continuation of a theme, AND for worshiping together as God’s people. Coming into corporate worship and celebration prepared is a vital part of growing as Jesus’ disciples. Take a few extra moments today to ask God to draw those you know who haven’t yet responded to His offer of a personal relationship with Jesus to join us in worship tomorrow. As God leads, invite one or more of them to join us, and offer to pick them up on Sunday morning. This is one way we can be Jesus’ “witnesses” right where we are!
Dr. Chris E. Marshall, Pastor
One additional note about tomorrow’s Scripture: It may not be the Scripture that Missionary Mark Geppert uses as he preaches. Mark brings to worship leadership a unique combination of abundant joy, deep insight into Scripture and a passionate desire that every man, woman and child on our planet has the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior—in this generation!
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your presence in my life! As I open Your Word today fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Empower me to be Your witness in my words and actions. As I join the people of New Life in focusing on sharing the new life of Jesus with the world in corporate worship tomorrow, in Wednesday Night Live, and in my living each day, empower each of us and all of us together to advance your kingdom. I pray for Pastor Chris Marshall and the rest of our worship team, that they may lead us to worship You in Spirit and in truth tomorrow morning, and that we will be open to Your Spirit’s leading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Acts 1:4-11
4In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The Ascension of Jesus
6When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?”
7“The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. 8But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud. 10As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!”
Questions for Reflection
If you could share an evening with one person from any era of history, with whom would you share it? Why?
What type of power do you desire most in your life? What is your plan for attaining it?
Questions for Exploration
During Jesus’ last meetings with the apostles he gave them several commands. List them. (1:4-8)
What is Jesus’ response to the Apostles’ request to know when He was going to free Israel and our kingdom? (1:6)
What is Jesus’ plan for reaching the world? (1:8) KEY VERSE
What did the two white-robed men explain to the apostles after Jesus rose into heaven? (1:9-11)
Questions for Understanding
Why did Jesus tell the apostles to wait in Jerusalem and for how long?
Jesus plan for reaching the world was for His followers to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” What does that mean in our daily lives? How do we translate that into our lives today?
What was the apostles response to Jesus’ being “taken up into the sky?”
Questions for Application
Before we can be Jesus’ witnesses, we must wait until we receive power. We receive that power by asking Jesus to come into our lives and to baptize us with the Holy Spirit. If you have never done that, ask Him now to do that!
Name three specific ways you can be a witness for Jesus in your daily life. Commit to doing one of them—today!
Jesus’ Plan for Reaching the World!
Jesus PLAN for reaching the world is simple. First, we wait. That’s right, we WAIT. We can’t do anything as Jesus’ followers until we have received His power, the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. So, we wait until we receive His power. We receive the power of the Holy Spirit by asking for it, “We say, Jesus come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Baptize me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Empower me to be Your witness.” If we done that in the past—then we have all we need to carry out the rest of the plan! Once we have the Spirit’s presence we are to GO! If we’re going to reach the world in Jesus’ name, we have to go to the world. We can’t expect the world to come to us. Where do we go? Jesus has a plan! We go to the first person we see who doesn’t know Jesus. That may be a family member, a classmate, a co-worker. That is our “Jerusalem.” Then we go to the region around us: Butler County, and even the state of Pennsylvania. (That’s our Judea). Then we go to the United States (our Samaria), and to the ends of the earth! As we go we share the new life we’ve received from Jesus as “witnesses.” A witness simply tells someone what they have seen, heard and experienced—in this case of God’s presence, power, love and forgiveness.
No one of us can go to all of these places, but since there are two billion Christians in the world, as we work together we can reach all four ministry areas as Jesus witnesses—local, regional, national and international. That’s the PLAN! Now, by God’s grace and power, lets go out and live it!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.