The document discusses the assurance of Jesus' continuing mission after his ascension, emphasizing the empowerment of believers through the Holy Spirit. It outlines how Jesus began and continues his mission, demonstrating that it is possible and achievable through the active participation of believers. Key aspects include the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and serving as witnesses of Christ's message.

1. Mission Possible Acts 1:1-11

2. Ascension Sunday

3. Acts 1:9-11 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

4. QUESTIONS Did Jesus leave behind an incomplete mission? Did Jesus leave behind an impossible mission?

5. The mission IS possible The mission WILL BE complete Because Jesus continues His mission through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the believers

6. Jesus continues His mission 1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, Book 1 (Luke): Jesus began His mission Book 2 (Acts): Jesus continued His mission

7. through the power of the Spirit 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

8. through the power of the Spirit 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

9. Baptized by the Holy Spirit? … not a one-time event, but a continually growing experience In an ideal journey with God: We experience God’s grace We trust God more We obey Him more We experience the Holy Spirit We are filled by the Holy Spirit

10. Biblical Commandment: be FILLED with the Holy Spirit NOT … be BAPTIZED with/by the Holy Spirit How? Obedience Why? Power to complete Jesus’ mission

11. After the ascension Jesus continues His mission through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the believers

12. and the participation of the believers 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

13. and the participation of the believers 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

14. How Christ continued His mission in Acts 2:4 – the Spirit & the 1 st disciples 4:8 – the Spirit & Peter 4:31 – the Spirit & the disciples 6:3 – the Spirit & the 1 st deacons 6:10, 7:55 – the Spirit & Stephen 8:29, 39 – the Spirit & Philip 9:17 – the Spirit & Paul 10:19 – the Spirit & Peter 10:44-45 – the Spirit & 1 st Gentile believers 13:2 – the Spirit & Antioch believers

15. On and on and on and on … Jesus continues His mission through the power of the Spirit and the participation of the believers

16. How do we participate? Be filled with the Holy Spirit Be witnesses for Jesus Christ Think outside the box Remember whose mission it is Remember whose power it is Following these guidelines, Christ’s mission will be accomplished through the Holy Spirit and through our lives!