WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.740 Good morning. I feel like I am home. I see a lot of familiar faces and I'm thankful for you. 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:20.039 And I've been gone, but I tell you what, I still love people in Pickens and some of you 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:24.780 are still dear to my heart. It's hard to believe that I'm up here preaching because I remember 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:32.020 sitting in the balcony, not paying attention for years. And I never thought I would stand here and 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:38.280 proclaim the gospel, but the Lord has a sense of humor. Aren't you glad that he just calls and 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:44.120 saves and uses common people like you and me, that we don't have to be anything special. We just need 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:51.320 to be available. And God definitely makes a straight lick out of a crooked stick. I want to thank Fred, 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:56.539 my brother in Christ, who's been faithful. I've been almost here 25 years and meeting 37 years 00:00:56.539 --> 00:01:01.539 ago. I remember in the hallway at East Pickens, brother Don introduced me to you and he went on 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:07.019 to pastor at Utica, but just thank you for your investment. When I was looking at and praying 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:14.359 about planting a church in Clemson, it was, it took faith. I didn't have a lot of it, but the Lord was 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:20.879 gracious to kind of wet the fleece and dry the fleece numerous times to show me what I was supposed to do. 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:26.139 And I remember the first person that I talked to, Fred had come visit my dad who'd broken his hip. 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:32.319 He was in the hospital and Fred came and just ministered to my dad. And I said, Fred, I just 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:37.099 want to ask you a question. I'm thinking about and praying about, I can't get rid of it. It's on my 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:44.119 heart. I think about it 24 seven about planting a church in Clemson. And he says, well, that's what 00:01:44.119 --> 00:01:49.679 you need to do. He said, I've been praying about it. Even Allison Dalton back there had been praying 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:54.680 about it for years. And Fred says, I think you're the man let's move forward. And I want to tell you, 00:01:54.740 --> 00:01:59.900 that was a great boost to my heart. But also there's another man that played a key part here 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:08.439 is Mendel Stewart, who was, um, serving as the, uh, district superintendent of Pickens County. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:13.400 And I called him up and said, Hey, moving down. Uh, my kids are going to be going to school down 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:18.939 there. Our middle son, Caleb's autistic, high function, but special needs, you know, him making 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:23.659 a transition. We're scared to death because that's the worst thing for an autistic kid is to make that 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:28.079 kind of transition. And he says, Hey, we're going to pray. We're going to cover it. And I want to tell 00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:32.879 you, he talked to the appropriate people. And there was a response to our son, Caleb even had a shadow 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:39.439 that he never had an actual when we were there to take care of our son, Caleb. And so even Mendel 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:45.780 praying and serving and being a part of this church plant. So I'm thankful for the investment 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:52.099 because you gave for several years to support us as we got up and got going. And I want to tell you, 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:57.579 it's a miracle. And we're thankful that we planted a church, but that we're a church that plants churches 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:03.800 that we planted a cross point Bluffton. And then later renewal with Steven Watson that many of you 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:09.720 know, in love. And we just sent a guy out last month to plant a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, 00:03:09.720 --> 00:03:15.460 there at UNC Charlotte, or they say now Charlotte, uh, they want to be independent and have their own 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:20.420 university. And so planning a church, they're trying to go to cities that have colleges where we can 00:03:20.420 --> 00:03:25.760 connect and kind of take what we did as a pattern, as a blueprint and try to implement it there. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:31.879 Of course there's differences, but to try to implement that. And so, uh, we're grateful that 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:36.259 that you gave to us and then we've been able to give to others. I'm thankful for the partnership 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:41.500 with many churches in the pillow network that you're a part of, like the church at Cherrydale 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:46.799 with Matt Rogers and Redemption Hill in Boston with Tanner Turley and John Chastain that y'all sent 00:03:46.799 --> 00:03:53.879 teams there to support. It's hard to start a church up North. Not only just the people are cold to the 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:58.639 gospel, but also the cost of living is at Zorban. And so without the support of you, 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:03.180 they could not make it. And the church is flourishing there. The church at Blue Ridge 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:08.979 with Ted Richard, and, uh, again, being a part of Renewal Church in Anderson. So thank you for 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:14.979 your partnership with us and with these churches. And may we continue to do it more and more. 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:22.259 I encourage you to pray. I encourage you to give, but I also encourage you to go and to be faithful 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:29.019 in these church plants. And maybe Lord leads you to plant a church, raise up folks right here and send 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:36.019 them out to start a church somewhere. Peter Wagner, back in 1990, he was the professor of church growth 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:43.159 at Fuller Theological Seminary, said this, the single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:48.380 is planting new churches. That's how we're going to do it. And you think, well, a community has a lot 00:04:48.380 --> 00:04:54.740 of churches in it. Well, are they preaching the gospel? Are they true to the word? Are they outward 00:04:54.740 --> 00:05:01.940 or are they inward? And so church plants are bent to be outward and to be on mission and reaching 00:05:01.940 --> 00:05:07.420 people that others are not reaching. And so that is the way we're moving forward is the North American 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:12.080 Mission Board, planting churches, even International Mission Board. We have three missionaries from our church 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:17.779 that are over in India, up in the mountains in the Himalayas, leading people to Christ, them coming 00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:22.979 to know the Lord, starting a church, training pastors and equipping them. I had the joy of a few months 00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:30.500 ago going to India and teaching 60 pastors who had the influence of 500 churches in India. That was just 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:36.039 humbling to be able to do that and to teach them for three days. And then we loaded up and drove to 10 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:42.580 buck to, I mean, into the boonies. And the only way that I could make it up to 10,000 feet in this valley to 00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:50.960 preach is I had the Lord in my inhaler. Both of those were helpful. And so we need to be on mission. In fact, that's what 00:05:50.960 --> 00:06:01.140 the Holy Spirit is up to. When they were worshiping and fasting in Acts chapter 13, says that the Holy Spirit 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:09.620 said, I want you to set apart Barnabas and who? Paul for what I've called them to do. And as they worshiped 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:17.479 and fasted and prayed, they laid hands on them and sent them out. And over 25 years later, Paul had already 00:06:17.479 --> 00:06:25.459 done three missionary journeys, planting churches, leading people to Christ, appointing elders and churches 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:34.439 growing and reaching their concentric circles. So thank you. But the work is not done. Thank you for giving and praying and 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:45.479 going. But we've got much to do. And so today, really, this title is this, we are Christ empowered witnesses. That acts as the 00:06:45.479 --> 00:06:53.240 continuing work of Christ through his empowered church. So today, we're going back to X's and O's, or as we say around here in 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:59.120 Pickens, cornbread and beans. You know what I mean? We're just going to get back to the basics. And we're just 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:08.660 going to hear fresh and anew the reasons why we are Christ's witnesses. Why we are his empowered witnesses. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:19.300 Rudy Gray, right? I thought I recognized you. Good to see you, my brother. Also pastor at Utica and 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:23.579 heads our Baptist courier. Thank you, brother, for your faithfulness. Glad that you're here. 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:26.840 Write a good article about me. Make up something if you can. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:39.240 So Luke 24, and then our main text will be Acts chapter 1, really verses 3 through 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:48.920 11. But let's look at Luke 24 and Acts go together, right? Luke, the physician wrote the book of Luke, 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:54.420 and he wrote Acts. They really go hand in hand. So Jesus is before the disciples, and this is what he 00:07:54.420 --> 00:08:00.199 says in Luke 24, 45 through 50. And he'll talk about being witnesses, going to the nations, and being 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:07.120 empowered by the Spirit in Luke 24. Then it's repeated in Acts 1. So let's look at it. Then he opened their 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:13.139 minds to understand the scriptures and said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:19.000 the third day rise from the dead. And the repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed in his 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:25.560 name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things, and behold, I am 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:33.139 sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:41.159 high. Now let's go to Acts chapter 1, verse 3. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:50.179 by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:57.939 staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the 00:08:57.939 --> 00:09:05.620 Father, which he said, you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:15.419 Spirit on many days from now. Verse 6. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:23.460 time restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons, but the 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:30.799 Father is fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:37.219 will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth. And when he had 00:09:37.219 --> 00:09:45.019 said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:53.299 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes and said, 00:09:53.299 --> 00:10:01.059 men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into 00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:07.679 heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Lord, thank you for your word. 00:10:08.219 --> 00:10:15.319 We are your disciples. We know by your word we are your empowered witnesses. May we realize that today, 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:21.500 and may we live it out today in the days to come. We pray in Jesus' name. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:30.359 So why or how are we Christ witnesses? There's four reasons that we find it in the text here. 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:36.159 Really simple. If you're taking notes, I encourage you to do that. That we are Christ witnesses, 00:10:36.479 --> 00:10:42.459 empowered witnesses, because Christ has been raised from the dead. That Christ is our risen Savior. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:49.179 The second thing that we will see is that Christ has given us his Holy Spirit. The third reason is that 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:57.599 Christ has ascended to the right hand of the Father, that he has been exalted to a place of authority. 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:03.079 And then finally, we see in the scriptures that we can be Christ-empowered witnesses, 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:10.019 because Christ is coming again. He is our returning King. He's our risen Savior. He's given us the Holy 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:16.859 Spirit. He's our exalted Lord. And he is our soon returning King. So what I'm getting ready to tell you 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:22.460 is historical, what took place 2,000 years ago. It's theological, and even greater than that, 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:29.360 it's Christological. It's dealing with Jesus, who he is, and what he has done, that should motivate us. 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:35.820 That missions begins with the right understanding of who God is, and who Christ Jesus is, 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.360 and then what he's done in our life, and then what he's called us to do. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:45.419 So we're going to look at these wonderful truths, again, just basic foundational truths that will 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:52.300 hopefully motivate us, encourage us to reach people in our concentric circles, and to also pray, 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:59.440 give, and go in supporting church missions, planning, church plants and missions around the world. 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:06.159 So let's look at the first reason. Because Christ is our risen Savior. Look at verse 3. It says, 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:14.120 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering, the passion week, by many proofs, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:20.759 appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. It starts here because 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:27.579 what is being said actually happened. It's factual. It's historical that Jesus Christ was crucified, 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:31.759 that he was buried, and on the third day, God raised him from the dead. And it says, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:39.379 during these 40 days, Jesus revealed himself to them. At least 11 to 12 occurrences of Jesus is 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:45.059 recorded in the Gospels. I don't think all of them, because it says he was with them for 40 days. 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:51.759 And Jesus wanted them to know that he really was resurrected, that he was one who was dead, 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:59.620 but now is alive forevermore, that he conquered sin, death, and the grave. Unquestionable. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:07.940 I love what John says in 1 John 1, verses 1 through 3. He says this, that we have seen him with our eyes. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:14.820 We have touched him and held him with our own hands. We've even heard his voice. And John was 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:22.159 communicating. It's real. He has been resurrected from the grave. It is the truth of the gospel, 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:28.100 that if Jesus has not been raised from the dead, it says in 1 Corinthians 15, that we're a people most 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:32.820 miserable. As I would say around here, why in the same hill we would be here today if Jesus is not 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:42.340 raised from the dead? He is. Amen? He is the resurrected, victorious Savior who came to save us 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:48.639 from our sins. And that is the central point of the message, is the resurrection of Christ. So we're 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:56.960 messengers of this life-giving message. I love what Paul says in Romans chapter 1, verse 16. He says, 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:05.019 that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. What is 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:11.820 the gospel? Euangelion? The word means literally good news. And what's the good news? Christ was 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:16.340 crucified, was buried on the third day. God raised him from the dead, according to 1 Corinthians 15. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:24.080 That's the gospel. So if we're going to be his effective, empowered witnesses, we've got to preach the 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:30.139 right message. We cannot compromise it. We must be specific and we must know what we're talking about. 00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:37.040 You've heard the phrase, hey, preach the gospel with your life and use words if necessary. That's a bad 00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:43.720 statement. It creates a dichotomy between living and speaking. When the Bible says we're to live the 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:50.780 truth and we're to preach the truth. That people need to hear you articulate the gospel. Nobody's going to be 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:56.019 led to the Lord by your moral life. They're going to be led to the Lord by your moral life. Maybe 00:14:56.019 --> 00:15:01.539 God using it to quicken their heart, but God's going to draw them as you share with them because 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:06.819 God uses the gospel and the spirit of God working in you and through you and the spirit of God working 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:13.480 in that person. And so we don't teach moralism that you can be better and Christ can make you better 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:19.259 that you hear so often. It's not even preaching to people, hey, you have a hole in your heart and Jesus 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:24.139 can fill that hole or you need peace and Jesus can give you peace or your life is falling apart. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.799 Jesus can put it together. Well, Jesus can do all that and that can be the effects of the gospel 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:34.639 penetrating our hearts. But the problem is that we're sinners before a holy God. Unless we acknowledge 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:40.080 our sins and repent of our sins, we cannot be saved. We tell people the gospel, the resurrection 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:46.620 power of the gospel, that you're lost and saved and undone and you cannot save yourself, but God can 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:52.139 intervene and save you and make you righteous before his very presence. That's the gospel. That's the 00:15:52.139 --> 00:16:03.539 good news. We have discovered Crosspoint class at Crosspoint. And so the pastors take responsibility. 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:09.100 Mine is to share the gospel, kind of a plan of salvation. And then I talk about the Lord's 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:14.899 Supper and baptism. Talk about the ordinances, those things ordained by Jesus that give us a picture of 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:19.980 the gospel. And baptism and the Lord's Supper gives us a picture of the gospel. So that's my assignment. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:24.360 But when I share the gospel with folks, I don't know if they're saved or not. Most of them are, 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:28.259 they're coming to our church. I've been able to interact with them, but I'm not taking it for 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:33.779 granted. And I am not taking it granted here today that you all know Christ personally as your savior. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:41.220 But I tell them that if you join our church, then you need to have a meeting with the pastors or 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:45.940 elders or some of our ministerial staff, even some of our laity that are trained. And you need to go 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:51.139 through kind of an interview process. And we ask you to share your testimony. How did you come to 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:56.940 Christ? And there's a lot of people that cannot nail down a specific day or time. I can. 8B4 Lever Hall, 00:16:57.779 --> 00:17:05.839 2000, I mean, 1981, I'm thinking 2000. 1981, about February 15th, I came to know Christ. It was dramatic 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:11.480 transformation. But most people can't, but they know that they're saved. And so we ask them to 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.720 share their testimony. And then I say, all right, I'm a lost person. I'm sitting on this side of the 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:22.740 desk. I don't know Jesus. Lead me to Jesus. Tell me the gospel in three minutes. And some people jump 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:29.659 in and just smoke it. I mean, they know the gospel and I get saved all over again. Just kidding. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:35.180 And there's some people look at you and I've already coached them up in the members class 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:43.220 and given a gospel presentation. And they look at you and they can't get it out. I've had 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:47.600 individuals that have been in Baptist churches for 40 and 50 years that could not even communicate 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:54.580 the gospel. What is it? And that might be you today. And God's got you here to say no more. 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:59.460 You cannot plead ignorance and you shouldn't be ignorant of this message. If you believe it, 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:03.360 and it's changed your life, why would you not want to know it and then let it be known to others? 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:13.019 Right? It's so good. And so here it is. I think about it this way. God, man, Christ, and restoration. 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:19.059 God created everything. And I believe that literally in Genesis 1. He created everything. 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:25.039 He created everything perfectly. He created Adam and Eve in his image. They were his image bearers. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:32.240 And they were to worship him and love him and serve God. And God was their king. And he gave oversight. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:37.279 They were to be fruitful and multiply and create little worshipers. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:45.180 But Adam and Eve sinned. They rebelled against God, the king, and said, we're going to come up with our own rules. 00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:49.779 And they disobeyed God and they sinned. And sin entered the world. And guess what else entered the world? 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.759 Death. We call that the fall. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:19:01.579 The reason I'm losing hair and gaining wrinkles is because of the fall. And some of you too. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:13.480 The reason there's cancer, the reason there's death, the reason that there's hurricanes and tornadoes and tsunamis and earthquakes and wars and famine is because of the fall. 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:17.119 That's the only thing that makes sense of this world is that there's been a fall. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:21.379 And we're living in a fallen world. It's because of sin. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:30.279 And so you stop there and go, man, there's no hope. I mean, we sinned against God. We've rebelled against him. He's holy. We're not holy. 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:38.459 Can we change it? No. We can't be good enough. We can't manufacture enough good works because all of our works is as filthy rags before our holy God. 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:42.180 So what does God do in his divine grace and mercy from a heart of love? 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:48.539 He sent Jesus to be incarnate and to live the life that we cannot live, the down on the cross for our sins. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:59.120 He took the just wrath that we deserve and that he took our sins and he gave us his very righteousness so that we could be me right before holy God. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:02.279 That's salvation. That's the gospel. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:06.980 So there's man, there's Christ, there's God, there's man, there's Christ. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:09.940 But then the final part of the gospel is the restoration. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:14.839 Jesus is coming back to restore all things, to make everything new. 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:20.799 And the awesome thing is that he starts with his creation, you and me, and all of us have been born again. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:25.460 We have been made new or being renewed day by day by the Spirit of God. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.740 He's already started that restoration. 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:29.960 Here, I'm one of them and so are you that are in Christ. 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:32.400 And so I just want to communicate that that's the gospel. 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:35.340 Is that the gospel you know, you believe, and you have trusted in? 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:38.180 If it's not that, it's not the gospel. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:40.039 And so that's why it's important. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:44.220 If we are his empowered witnesses, we must have the right message. 00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:49.700 And that's why it starts off that Jesus Christ showed himself and proved himself in their face. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.440 I am the resurrected Lord. 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.160 I am the hope of the world. 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:59.019 So because Christ is our risen Savior, another reason that we are his empowered witnesses 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:01.960 is because Christ has given us his Holy Spirit. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.379 And we see that in verses 4 through 8. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:10.440 The acts, the work of God continues in acts through his church, 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:15.460 that we are empowered by his Holy Spirit to continue what Jesus had started. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.539 But I want us to see three things here. 00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:20.240 First of all, the power for witness is promised. 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.599 You look at verses 4 and 5. 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:25.719 He says, don't depart from Jerusalem. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.899 Don't go in and out like you've been doing. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:31.299 Stay right there because I've promised you that the Spirit of God is going to come. 00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:33.779 And we know on the day of Pentecost it came, right? 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:38.939 And fire and clothing tongues and a great mighty wind that arrested the disciples 00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:40.219 and took charge of them. 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.859 And then Peter preached and 3,000 came to know the Lord. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:49.359 That this promise was given even in Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31 and Joel chapter 2 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:53.399 that the Spirit was going to come and indwell God's people. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:57.899 And he was going to indwell them to empower them to be on mission. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:00.339 See, Jerusalem was not their home. 00:22:00.439 --> 00:22:01.379 These were Galileans. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:06.259 But God says, I want you to stay in Jerusalem because right there where Christ was crucified, 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:10.419 buried and resurrected, I want you to testify to who I am. 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:14.560 And so the promise was given, but also the promise was kept. 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.420 And we see that in the Scriptures. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:21.220 Verse 6 and 7, look at the power for witness is profound. 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:25.140 He says, so when they came together, they asked him, 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:28.380 Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:30.720 So we're just working verse by verse here. 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.580 And then verse 7, he said to them, 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.860 it is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father is fixed by his own authority. 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:41.959 Jesus didn't rebuke them and say that Christ is not coming to restore Israel. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:44.599 He's just not coming to do it at that time. 00:22:45.979 --> 00:22:50.839 And in their patriotic zeal, thinking that the Spirit was going to come, 00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:54.619 immediately they were going to be empowered and Jesus was going to just take over 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:59.079 and Israel would be the center of the universe and there would be this worldwide dominion. 00:22:59.159 --> 00:22:59.959 That's what they desired. 00:23:00.219 --> 00:23:01.019 That's what they wanted. 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.779 They believed. 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:03.319 That's what even the Scripture says. 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.779 And there are hints of that. 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:08.099 When the Spirit comes, there will be this movement of God. 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:12.079 But they said, will you restore Israel? 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:15.619 I think it indicates too small of a vision. 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.480 That their hope is too small. 00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:21.379 They were wanting to go back to the old days of David. 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:23.159 Are you going to restore us back the way we used to be? 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:24.759 And God says, no, I ain't doing that. 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:27.960 I'm going to do something above and beyond and more profound than that. 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:30.819 I'm going to use you to reach the world. 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:40.099 And maybe our vision, maybe our hope, maybe our confidence in God is that we think he can't use us ordinary people 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:43.059 and use First Baptist Church to reach this community in the world. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.059 Oh, yes, he can. 00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:49.619 And it takes faith and it has to be a life that knows the gospel and what God is up to 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:53.200 because the Scripture tells us that we're not to pursue predictions. 00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:56.179 We are to receive power of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:24:02.939 And so Jesus says, hey, that's none of your business, but what I'm getting ready to do is going to be profound. 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:05.799 It's something that you cannot even imagine. 00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:12.120 So as we look at this power that is given to us, it's promised, it's profound, but also verse 8, 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:18.340 which is really kind of the center point of this passage is that the power to witness is purposeful. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:23.259 That this power, the presence, the person of the Holy Spirit in us is for a purpose. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.779 Look at verse 8. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:36.039 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:40.319 That the power of the Holy Spirit came for a specific task. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.279 Listen, that is to empower the church. 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:46.180 The Holy Spirit regenerated you. 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:50.000 The Holy Spirit baptized you into the church. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:55.720 The Holy Spirit lives in you and is producing the fruit of the Spirit as you yield to him. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.480 The Holy Spirit is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ. 00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:08.880 And listen, the Holy Spirit in you will move you if you will yield to him to be on mission every day to your family and friends and those that you know. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:12.400 There's a major paradigm shift. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:22.340 When you read the scripture, especially in Isaiah, it gives us pictures that Israel or Jerusalem, really, the city, that there's one day where the nations are going to come to them. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.120 Read Isaiah. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:26.500 At least four or five times it talks about the nations. 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:28.800 But there's a paradigm shift with Jesus here. 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:32.240 He is saying that there's going to be a shift of direction. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:43.460 Instead of people coming to Jerusalem, what's going to happen here when Pentecost happens, when the Spirit comes upon God's church and creates the church, is that you're not going to be a vacuum cleaner. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.759 You're going to be a blow dryer. 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.859 You're not going to be, come to me. 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:48.279 You're going to be going to them. 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:54.740 In fact, the healthiness of a church is not determined by how many people are coming, but really every day how many people are going. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:26:02.819 And here, Jesus says you will receive power. 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:05.720 And it's a power to go. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:08.519 The Great Commission, go and make disciples. 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.400 That's our mission statement. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:13.460 Make disciples of all people for God's glory. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:24.720 Your mission statement, what calibrates you and keeps you in line of where you want to go, and it's a good one, is that Pickens First Baptist Church exists to be a worshiping, evangelizing, 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:28.640 learning, and loving family of faith to the glory of God. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.740 And today, we're really emphasizing the evangelizing. 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.980 You're learning. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.539 You probably don't need to work on that. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.980 You're loving. 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:37.279 You've been nice to me today. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.799 You're worshiping. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:43.480 We've worshiped the Lord and sang wonderful songs of the gospel. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:52.980 But evangelism, messengers of this good news, that's the purpose. 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:59.140 At least one of the major purposes of the Holy Spirit is dwelling you in me, that the Holy Spirit is missional. 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.880 He's missional. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:05.620 So he's going to lead us to be on mission. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:08.480 But let's break down verse 8, and we'll move on. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:15.019 As we think about, because Christ has given us the Holy Spirit, first of all, we are evangelists. 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.019 We are on mission. 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.839 We're telling the good news. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:23.139 And he mentions the Holy Spirit at least 62 times in the book of Acts. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:29.159 And most of it is dealing with apostles being empowered to preach the gospel. 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:37.619 That this responsibility to share the gospel to the world and even to go to the Himalayan mountains and up in valleys and hollers 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:44.159 where nobody's ever heard the gospel and people to be saved there, that that has to be the power of God. 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:48.319 That what God has called us to do is insurmountable. 00:27:48.979 --> 00:27:51.559 Humanly speaking, there is no way that we can do it. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:56.279 But God has given us Himself, the Holy Spirit, to enable us to do that. 00:27:56.479 --> 00:27:57.799 He says He's given us power. 00:27:58.179 --> 00:28:00.179 Dunamis, where we get the word dynamite. 00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:02.839 Explosive power. 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:09.119 And I love in reading the book of Acts, there's four occasions where they spoke in tongues in the book of Acts, 00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:13.500 which I think proved that God was going from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the other most parts of the earth. 00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:18.039 But there's more times, at least seven times in the book of Acts, that they were filled with the Holy Spirit 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:23.279 and they spoke or spake the word of God with boldness. 00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:31.500 Some of you are timid and backwards and don't like crowds and to talk to somebody and make somebody feel uncomfortable. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.180 That's just not you. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.819 That's made a certain degree. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.680 But the Holy Spirit can make you bold. 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:42.700 And you can say things that you never thought you could say if you'll let the Holy Spirit use you. 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.980 Trust Him to use you. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:47.559 I love what Bill Bright says. 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:54.920 Witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to God. 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:57.119 It's just leaving it up to Him. 00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:59.160 We're just seed sowers. 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:01.500 Here's the good news and encouraging truth. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:06.240 All biblical evangelism is successful evangelism regardless of the results. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:10.480 You can throw the seed out there and it might be on fertile soil and it might be on hard soil 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:12.660 or the birds might come and snatch it away. 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:17.100 But I want to tell you, if you sow the seed and the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results up to God, 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:19.340 you're prayerful about it, God will use it. 00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:24.200 I want to tell you, there was at least five or six people that sowed seed in my heart for several years. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:27.880 And it just bing, bing, just bounced off. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:31.019 But I want to tell you, over time, the Spirit of God cornered me. 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:37.539 And the Spirit of God at 8 before Lever Hall, as I read Genesis, never really read the Bible before, to be honest, 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:40.259 and reading about Noah and the judgment of God. 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:45.599 And with a girlfriend that witnessed to me, with a brother Greg, four years older than me, that's a pastor now, 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:51.480 a witness to me, and with other people from Bob Jones that knocked on my door and shared the gospel with me at Clemson University, 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:56.720 those seeds began to take root and the Spirit of God began to work and soften and regenerate my heart. 00:29:56.819 --> 00:30:03.180 And I, by faith, repented of my sins and put my trust in Christ because I knew I was a sinner. 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:06.880 And so we just share the gospel. 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:13.420 Is there any evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit at Crosspoint Church and here at First Baptist Church? 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.180 Is there evidence? 00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:17.700 Are we doing things right now that we don't need the Lord's help? 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:21.180 That we just know what to do and how to do it? 00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:23.420 Or are we really dependent upon Him? 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:29.299 Here's a quote that I take from a guy that preached at our church almost 12 years ago. 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.019 He just said, 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:34.099 And that just resounded with me. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:38.819 And if we know that people need to be saved and it's a supernatural work of God, 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:42.379 then we must be a people who pray and ask the Lord. 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:51.339 Because evangelism is empowered, will you believe God that He will use your life and your words to lead somebody to Jesus? 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.960 Do you believe He can use you to do that? 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:57.759 You begin to pray about it and claim what you already have, the Spirit of God, 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.879 the missional Spirit within you. 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:03.920 You begin to pray and I guarantee you God will open doors. 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:06.879 But also evangelism is expected here. 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.019 He says, 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.759 And you will be my witnesses. 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:18.819 Jesus expects evangelism of every Christian because the Spirit empowers every Christian to evangelize. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:24.059 All the gospels finished with a great commission were sent out. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.619 And I love it what he says here. 00:31:25.679 --> 00:31:29.279 And this is what stood out to me studying this passage just last week. 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.500 This is not a do-over sermon. 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:32.200 This is fresh out of the bakery. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:32.740 Okay. 00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.599 He says, 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:37.099 And you will be my witnesses. 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.539 This is not an injunction. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.799 It's a description. 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:44.480 Witness is not only what we do. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.740 It's who we are. 00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:45.779 We are. 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.660 The noun. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:49.940 We are a witness. 00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:53.059 And it's a verb. 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:59.539 We are those who witness, who tell people about the resurrection of Christ. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.620 You are a witness. 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:07.460 An empowered witness if you belong to Jesus. 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:10.079 So look at the opportunities around you. 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:13.940 Begin to pray for your neighbors. 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:16.980 Begin to care and then share the gospel. 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:19.000 Prayer, care, and share. 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:23.559 We just had an equipped class on Thursday night about loving your neighbor. 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.519 Jesus says, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.460 Literally, love your neighbor. 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.700 How can we love our neighbors? 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.539 By praying for them. 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.440 By caring for them. 00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:33.080 And the greatest expression of love is to share the gospel with them. 00:32:33.580 --> 00:32:35.920 We had a lady in our neighborhood who's from China. 00:32:36.340 --> 00:32:38.220 Whose son tragically passed away. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:40.759 Who we had ministered to several years earlier. 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:43.080 And got connected with the family through that. 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:44.659 Came to church off and on. 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.139 But then there was a couple of seasons. 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.019 Did not. 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:51.059 And then this tragic thing happened. 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.619 And we reached out to them. 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:57.159 And she just grabbed on to Robin. 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.240 And my wife is a great. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.539 My wife's an evangelist. 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.659 She's a soul winner. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:03.500 And so we just loved on her. 00:33:04.040 --> 00:33:04.840 Cared for her. 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.460 Husbands hardened to the gospel. 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:09.180 And we began to love and care for her. 00:33:09.540 --> 00:33:12.920 And walk through this death in the family. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.640 And her thoughts would be she'd just be mad and angry at God. 00:33:18.820 --> 00:33:20.960 But the Lord began to work through us. 00:33:21.040 --> 00:33:22.980 Just common, ordinary people. 00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:23.560 Neighbors. 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:28.359 And one night while I was not there. 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:30.019 In our small group she started to come. 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:31.639 She prayed to receive Christ. 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.139 And we're seeing fruit. 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.319 Need to continue to disciple. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:36.019 She needs, I think, to join our church. 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.299 But I want to tell you. 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:41.460 The statistic tells us every six months people go through crisis. 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:45.259 I mean it could be your air condition go out and they're $6,000. 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.059 Right? 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:48.000 So you can pray and care for them. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.359 You don't have to give them money. 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:54.219 But you can use that opportunity in a creative way maybe to be able to share the gospel. 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.879 People go through crisis. 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.439 They usually are more open. 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.799 So be sensitive to that. 00:33:58.979 --> 00:34:00.199 How are you doing in the south? 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.019 I'm doing all right. 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.639 No, you ain't. 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:06.519 If we were honest, we'd probably have a lot of conversations, wouldn't we, with people. 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:12.839 And so I just want you to prayer, have prayer, and there be care and sharing with your neighbor. 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.440 Use those crises. 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:17.119 Think about those in your concentric circles. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:19.440 And then evangelism is expansive. 00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:23.440 We see really kind of a table of context in Acts 1-8. 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.699 Jerusalem chapters 1-7. 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:29.179 Judea and Samaria chapters 8-12. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:34.599 And then we have the uttermost parts of the world or the earth, chapter 13-28. 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:41.980 That the gospel went geographically, even racially, Jews and Gentiles and Samaritans and even theologically. 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:47.500 We see from Acts 1-8 that the mission of Jesus is the world. 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:53.740 And I'm so thankful for IMB, for all of our missionaries that we support that are on mission. 00:34:53.739 --> 00:35:04.799 So we are empowered witnesses because Christ is our risen Savior, because Christ has given us the Holy Spirit. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:07.179 And I promise the next two will be quick. 00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:11.099 Because Christ is our exalted Lord. 00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.719 Look at verse 9. 00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:22.879 And when he had said these things as they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:31.339 Recorded in verse 12 of Luke and in Acts here as well, that Jesus ascended, he went into heaven. 00:35:31.439 --> 00:35:32.519 So where is Jesus right now? 00:35:32.939 --> 00:35:34.819 The Bible tells us he's at the right hand of the Father. 00:35:34.899 --> 00:35:37.739 He was welcomed into the Father's presence. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:40.839 He is enthroned as our Lord. 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:42.480 So why is this important? 00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:47.000 Because when we read Acts 1-8, we usually just kind of stop there. 00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:51.059 But the ascension is important to our mission. 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:54.880 It has profound implications for us being witnesses. 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:58.039 So let me give them to you. 00:35:58.680 --> 00:36:00.059 This is just good theology. 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:02.720 This is good Christology of who Christ is and what he's done. 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:06.120 Why is it important that Christ is our exalted Lord? 00:36:06.120 --> 00:36:09.960 First of all, his ascension proved that his sacrifice was accepted. 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:16.880 Hebrews 1-3 says that Jesus made purification for our sins and he sat down at the right hand of the Father. 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.440 It means job done. 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.420 Salvation in no other name. 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:21.800 Jesus. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:25.260 His death is sufficient. 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.679 Salvation is complete. 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:31.420 Now people need to repent and trust in Jesus and his finished work. 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:36.599 Also, Jesus' ascension had to happen for the Holy Spirit to come. 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:40.440 And we see that in Acts 2 and through the scriptures over and over. 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:45.900 Jesus had to go to the Father's sin so that the Holy Spirit would come as we've been talking about. 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:50.019 But here's one that really stands out that affects our mission. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:54.960 That Jesus' ascension means that he was exalted at the right hand of God. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:58.920 Peter, preaching on the day of Pentecost, said, 00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:03.079 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses, 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:06.980 being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:10.179 and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, 00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:16.159 he has poured out on this that you see yourselves and are seeing and hearing today. 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:18.420 He's exalted at the right hand of God. 00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:20.119 It is a place of authority. 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.679 It is a place of power. 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:23.379 It is a place of honor. 00:37:25.399 --> 00:37:31.039 That the fundamental basis of all missionary enterprise is the universal authority of Jesus. 00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:33.779 That's why he said in Matthew 28, 18, 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:39.980 All authority is given to me in, talk to me, heaven and on earth. 00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:41.859 We go, that's great. 00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:43.940 He says, I'll never leave you. 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:45.079 I'll be with you. 00:37:45.899 --> 00:37:47.480 Even in the scriptures there. 00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:48.719 So what does that mean? 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:51.579 It means that Jesus is on the throne. 00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:54.199 And it means that we don't have the ability, 00:37:54.339 --> 00:37:58.399 but that Jesus has the ability to use us for his glory. 00:37:58.659 --> 00:38:02.039 Listen, our ability to carry out the Lord's missionary mandate 00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:06.000 depends on the fact that Jesus is exalted to the right hand of God, 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:08.659 where he possesses all power and authority. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:14.440 Only because all authority on earth belongs to Christ dare we go to the nations. 00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:20.659 And only because of authority in heaven that we have any hope of success. 00:38:20.659 --> 00:38:25.799 So when you're sharing the gospel and we're sending missionaries around the world 00:38:25.799 --> 00:38:29.179 and you're climbing up mountains at the Himalayas in India, 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:36.359 we can know with confidence that God is able to save and that he has worked because he's at the right hand of Father 00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:39.059 who has the authority to give repentance and faith. 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:41.159 He is the one who's given us his spirit. 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:43.099 And so he's in charge. 00:38:43.319 --> 00:38:44.639 The world's not in charge. 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:45.980 Satan's not in charge. 00:38:46.339 --> 00:38:48.079 Jesus is in charge. 00:38:48.299 --> 00:38:49.359 He's the Lord of all. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.940 So we can go with confidence. 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.299 We can go with boldness. 00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:55.179 We can go to the darkest places and know that Christ, 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:57.759 who is the light of the world, can change their lives. 00:38:57.760 --> 00:39:04.560 That's all I got to say about that. 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:11.000 So here, let me rehearse it again in the final one and we'll close out. 00:39:11.120 --> 00:39:13.140 And Fred will close us out. 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:21.160 But we are empowered witnesses for Christ because Christ is our risen Savior. 00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:21.580 Hallelujah. 00:39:22.120 --> 00:39:25.040 Because Christ has given us the Holy Spirit. 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:27.779 Because Christ is our exalted Lord. 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:31.599 But also because Christ is our soon coming King. 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:34.440 See, we live between two advents. 00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:35.579 Jesus has come. 00:39:36.759 --> 00:39:38.539 And Jesus is coming again. 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:42.440 So what do we do between the two appearances of Christ? 00:39:42.699 --> 00:39:43.840 We share the gospel. 00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:46.059 We proclaim Christ. 00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:50.779 That we look back and we celebrate and we know what God has done 00:39:50.779 --> 00:39:54.099 and the work is finished on the cross for the salvation of men. 00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:57.819 But we look ahead knowing that Christ is going to come one day. 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:02.819 We're being pushed and we're being pulled by the gospel, the good news. 00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:05.679 And Jesus says that he's coming back. 00:40:05.759 --> 00:40:08.639 And even Peter said this to Cornelius in Acts 10, 00:40:09.039 --> 00:40:13.559 that Jesus Christ, whom God has exalted, is coming back to judge the living and the dead. 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:18.259 Jesus came the first time to be a Savior, to rescue us from our sins. 00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:21.779 But Jesus coming the second time to judge people of sin. 00:40:21.780 --> 00:40:25.820 He came and born in a manger, but he's coming again in the clouds. 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:27.560 And he's going to bring judgment upon the world. 00:40:27.660 --> 00:40:33.800 So that should move us to people who are under God's judgment to tell them about Jesus. 00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:39.000 That the second coming of Christ is not that we're thinking about predictions. 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:46.440 We're letting it motivate us to be missional right now until Jesus comes or we draw our last breath. 00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:51.639 We are Christ-empowered witnesses. 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:57.360 Father, thank you for your mercy and your love and your grace in our life. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:02.760 We're thankful that you have saved us, that you have called us to yourself. 00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:04.099 You've called us together. 00:41:04.240 --> 00:41:09.360 Ekklesia, a gathered people, even at Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:16.840 And I pray, Lord, I know Fred's heart and his staff and many here is that they would continue to be faithful. 00:41:17.260 --> 00:41:24.180 And even more in praying and giving and going here to cities and abroad. 00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:31.059 And I pray that you would stir them and stir me and stir Crosspoint Church and all of our church plants 00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:35.099 to be even more missional because of who you are and what you've done. 00:41:35.680 --> 00:41:37.160 And we thank you for that. 00:41:37.160 --> 00:41:38.579 In Jesus' name, amen.