When we are presented with a new project that we have never done before, our first thought is how in the world will we complete what has been given to us.  But, we are built to plan, to take steps of action, to do what is before us.  We will soon realize we need help, so experienced men and women are recruited along with mentors who have done what we are now doing.  Together, wise people map out a plan to do the work. 

I have learned that most plans are too overwhelming and seem unreachable without dividing the goal into smaller steps of action.  Someone once said, “How do you eat an elephant? —One bite at a time!”  Within all of us is the gene to plan.  We can ignore it but soon we will return to knowing that planning gives direction.  Actions steps to achieve our plan give us peace in accomplishing what seems beyond what we think we can do.

God had a Plan from the beginning of time and space to deliver mankind from sin that led to death. God outlined His Plan to prophets who would tell mankind that this plan was unfolding and would soon be accomplished.  God knew us.  God created us. 

God’s Plan had an end goal: to save us and reconcile us to Him who loved us most.  God plan of action culminated with sending His One and Only Son as the once and for all sacrifice for the sins that separated us from God.  Jesus, who was without sin, took our sins upon Himself, and was crucified in our place.  This was the only and best Way to remove our sins completely and reconnect us to God.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16   Jesus is Life who gave us Life!

After Jesus accomplished God’s Plan to save us by defeating death, conquering the enemy of God, providing the Way back to God by the repenting of our sins in His Name, Jesus came back to full life, scars and all!  He appeared to His followers to solidify their faith and hope in their risen Lord.  Does this not remind you of the prophet’s words, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Hope is fulfilled, our future secured in the actions of Jesus! 

Jesus then spent 40 more days to refresh His followers’ memories of all He had taught them in the previous three years as they traveled from town to town.  Jesus’ final instructions to them before going back to our Father in heaven was to wait!  Wait?  Yes, wait.  Power, resurrection power, is coming to help them!  As He promised, God is sending His Holy Spirit to fill their being with power to achieve God’s will in accomplishing the “acts” of building the Kingdom of God—one person, one town, one city, one country at a time. 

“Begin where you are, here in Jerusalem, Jesus tells them, then go to Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”  “Go and teach, baptizing them in my Name, all that I have taught you.” (Matthew 28:20)

We now begin to read and learn how the church began and grew exponentially through the “actions” of Jesus’ apostles and followers—even the women were in on the action!  The power of God’s Holy Spirit will lead them to be and do what is beyond human abilities or understanding—so that others may believe and be saved!

“…as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—”              1 Corinthians 2:9

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Let’s begin…

Acts 1, The Message

To the Ends of the World

^1-5 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”

⁶ When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

^7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

^9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”

Returning to Jerusalem

^12-13 So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place:

Peter,

John,

James,

Andrew,

Philip,

Thomas,

Bartholomew,

Matthew,

James, son of Alphaeus,

Simon the Zealot,

Judas, son of James.

¹⁴ They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is the creator of planning.  Planning that is Holy Spirit-led cannot fail.  So many times, we plan then ask God to “bless our plans.”  That is so backward to accomplishing His will! 

The first step is to ask God what He wants accomplished with how He wants it to be done.  We need God’s wisdom which He loves to give in full measure for what He is leading us to be and then do!  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5

Jesus got alone by Himself often to ask God, what’s next, what do I say, what do I do. Then He did exactly what God told Him to do and said the words God gave Him to say at just the time in the right way.  God will do the same for us!  And who are we to think we are better than Jesus and don’t need to ask God, “What’s next, Father?”  Yikes, think about it! 

Not only do we receive wisdom with a plan of action we receive Power of His Holy Spirit, the measure of power from God that raised Jesus from death to life, to accomplish His will and perfect plan! 

Asking for God’s wisdom requires laying done our will for God’s will.  “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

“They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.”

Wow.  All in agreement. 

Together in prayer to God. 

All in on the “actions” of God’s Holy Spirit in and through them.

Lord,

Thank you for extending your salvation work through these followers who were all in, in Your Name, for Your glory so that others may believe and be saved.  I am one of them.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen