The Story – Chapter 28 – New Beginnings

Acts 1: 1-11 Jesus Is Taken up Into Heaven

Verse 8:  THE GREAT COMMMISSION – Jesus said to his disciples “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.”

Verse 9: “After He said this, He was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.”

Verse 10: “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

Verse 11: 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.”

Can you imagine?! This is where our journey as Christ followers truly began. “THE GREAT COMMISSION” for us all. Right now you are reading this because someone referred you here. Before that, a bible may have been given to that person, who in turn had the message of Jesus offered to them before that. Over time an unbroken chain of people relaying the truth of our God has withstood the test of time going all the way back two thousand years when Jesus was standing on that hillside with his disciples.  How awesome is that! Though there is turmoil in this world, and at times it seems satan is leading the race, that is not so. Our God is an awesome God, and He knows what He is doing, even though we do not.

Verse 8 may be one we should all memorize. Though Jesus was talking with His disciples at that time, the message is obviously for all of us from then until now and beyond. We are part of a continuous succession of believers who are serious about taking our leader’s message to “the ends of the earth.” That may not mean going to the other side of the world for you and I, but it may. It might also be talking with our neighbor, co-worker or cousin about Jesus, or living a life that demonstrates God’s love as the way to peace and hope. We know yourselves and our gifts, as does the Lord. Praying about what He wants of us is the best way to receive just the nudge we need to do what is in God’s plan….and may possibly make an incredible difference in the life of another.  We are commissioned!

Read and Listen to Acts 1: 1-11