You Have a Mission You Can Start Accomplishing Today!

Just a few questions to start with. Do you know your mission? Back to that in a minute. More questions: Can you explain the spin properties of quarks? How about the mass of a neutrino? Can you describe respiration and circulation at the cellular level? Maybe you can. Most people cannot.

Can you tell me what Jesus has done for you?

Jesus gave his disciples – and that means you – a mission.

David Iskander

Jesus’ Last Day on Earth

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 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. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11 – ESV)

The Foundation of Your Mission

Several important realities emerge from this passage of scripture. These realities are directly related to your mission.

The gospels describe everything Jesus did that we need to know. Luke is the former letter referred to here.  What did he do? He healed, demonstrated his power of nature, employed his power over demons and lived a life that was a perfect example of compassion, prayer, patience, faithfulness and perseverance.

The gospels also record everything Jesus taught that we need to know. He taught about the kingdom of God, about God himself and about how we are to live.

Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit being baptized and led by the Spirit.

He proved his resurrection convincingly. His appearances were accompanied by continued ministry, particularly teaching. These appearances proved he was truly alive. He ate with the disciples and allowed them to touch him. It was no apparition. It was not a mass hallucination (there’s no such thing, anyway).

He foretold a unique Holy Spirit baptism. This baptism was to be given to the disciples and accompanied by the power of God.

There was a bodily ascension. In an incredible act of God, Jesus ascended to heaven. His exit from the world was clearly supernatural.

There will be a bodily return of Jesus to the earth. We don’t know where or when. But when he comes everyone will experience it!

The central reality of this passage – a commission to be witnesses

This is perhaps less than a commission than a prophecy. Notice Jesus doesn’t tell them what to do he tells them what will happen. Those disciples witnessed the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

They would share that witness all over the known world.

So it is passed on to you and me!

When the Spirit of God falls on us with power, we will be witnesses.

This is possible when we are fully open to allow it to happen.

We simply witness about what we know, what we’ve seen, what we’ve heard and what we’ve experienced. This is your mission! There is no requirement to be a Bible scholar, an accomplished theologian or have a magnetic personality.

We answer the question already posed: what has Jesus done for you? For every follower of Jesus, there is a personal answer to that question.

Our witness extends beyond any imagined borders. Wherever in the world you live, you can tell people about Jesus. Wherever you read this, you have people around you whose family members may live in another part of the country or the world. When we witness to them, that witness can extend to wherever they have connections.

In a shrinking world, we can truly share what Jesus has done for us with people all around the world. And it starts with your next conversation. When you open your mouth to witness you can be sure that the power of God will come upon you.

Give it a try – and leave a comment or drop me an email to let me know how it goes!