WK 39- JESUS SETS AN AGENDA FOR MISSIONS

JESUS SETS AN AGENDA FOR MISSIONS

KEY VERSE: 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. Acts 1:8.

SCRIPTURE LESSON: ACTS 1:3-11
ACTS 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”.
6So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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.”?
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going. When suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
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.”

For the teacher…
BACKGROUND
The Gospel records end with the instruction given by Jesus to all Christians to carry the Gospel message to all nations. (Mt. 28:18-20) This is commonly referred to as the Great Commission. The Book of Acts gives us an account of how the Early Church carried out this mission. They followed an agenda set by Jesus for the advance of the gospel.

The account given here is the agenda Jesus set for the advance of the Gospel. We can only be effective in our missionary effort if we can understand and follow the agenda set by the Lord himself.

IN DEPTH
ACTS 1:3 The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis for missions. Without these facts, we have no message to tell the world. It is therefore significant that the Book of Acts begins the account of the missionary advance by establishing that Jesus died and rose and gave “convincing proofs that he was alive”.
VERSES 4-5. In Ro. 10:14-15, Paul argues that unless anyone is called and sent, he/she cannot go out and become a missionary. But who calls and sends missionaries? It is the Holy Spirit. At that time Pentecost had not yet taken place so Jesus instructed them to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
VERSE6: The apostles had their own agenda. They still thought of Jesus as the “political Messiah” who would deliver the Israelite nation from Roman bondage, especially as he had demonstrated his power over death.
VERSE 7: The time when all things shall be put under the feet of Jesus is not yet here even though he has overcome all things (see Heb. 2:7-9).
VERSE 8A: Pentecost was to be the birth of the Church. The out pouring of the Holy Spirit was to give the apostles and us the Power for witnessing or missions.
“Power” is defined in many ways by the Advanced Learners Dictionary, but what may suit our context is: “ability – a natural skill or an ability to do something; strength” Any missionary enterprise that is not led and empowered by the Holy Spirit therefore is bound to fail or be ineffective.
VERSE 8B: The Agenda or the schedule for missions is now given by Jesus as follows:-
Jerusalem – (i) The events of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ took place in
Jerusalem. Therefore, their first task was to convince the inhabitants of
Jerusalem of what God had done. (ii) Many of the apostles were Galileans, but
Strategically they could spread the message to a greater cross-section of the
People, in Jerusalem, which was the religious capital, than in their own Galilean
villages. This is confirmed by the fact that, on the Day of Pentecost alone.
“God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven… visitors from Rome, both
Jews and converts to Judaism. Cretans and Arabs” who had come to Jerusalem
all heard “them declaring the wonders of God in their own tongues”. (Ac 2:1-
13). This confirms ethnic groups and different classes of people at the same
time. Urbanization is increasing at a very fast rate. It is therefore important
that we take our urban missions seriously.

Judea - The rest of the Jewish population was also to be reached. Jesus had preached
and taught in synagogues of Judea and they also needed to know that Jesus
had overcome death. This may be likened to rural ministry – the approach
here may be different from that of Jerusalem, so rural mission must be
properly planned for.

Samaria - Anytime Jesus moved form Galilee in the north to Judea in the south, he
Had to go through Samaritan villages (see Jn. 4:3-6). They lived with the Jews
in the same country, but they were a different ethnic group. In Samaria, then,
the disciples would have to embark on cross-cultural missions.

Ends of the world – Missionary work led by the Holy Spirit must go beyond national, racial,
Political, social and other boundaries. Effective missionary outlook must be
Global, as the Early Church did.
VERSE 9: Once Jesus completed defining the task for the apostles, he was taken away. The implementation was left to his followers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
VERSE 10-11. The apostles had enjoyed the company of their resurrected Master, after going through the trauma of his death. Therefore, there was naturally some surprise and disappointment when he was suddenly taken away from them into the skies. The angels were therefore sent to re-assure them that, Jesus will come again. This is the blessed hope and while we wait his appearing we must commit ourselves to carrying out the Great Commission.

THE WORD IN OUR LIVES
The word “mission” has several meanings, but they all revolve around getting something done. The definitions include the following:
· An important job especially a military one, that someone is sent somewhere to do.
· Any work that someone believes it is their duty to do.
· A group of people whose job is to increase what is known about their country, organization or religions in another country or area or the place where such people are based.
· Missionary – a person who has been sent to a foreign country to teach their religion to the people who live there.
· Missionary zeal – extreme enthusiasm.

Our God is a missionary God. He chose Abraham and his descendants and told him, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Ge.12:1-3).

In the Old Testament, Israel is seen as taking up the responsibility of proclaiming to the world that there is only one true God who alone must be worshipped. The Prophet Amos for example, began his prophecy by first addressing God’s word to Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrians.

Jesus’ instructions to the apostles before his departure mean that the New Testament Church must also be a missionary church. It means that we must take our urban, rural, cross-cultural and foreign missions very seriously. We in Africa have benefited in the past from the missionary efforts of the Church in Europe and time for us to seriously embark on our missionary advance to other ethnic groups within our cities, villages, in other parts of Africa and to Europe, America, Asia and other parts of the world?
Remember; “A Great Commitment, to the Great Commission makes a Great church.”

TEST YOURSELF
How many days were there between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ?
(Verse 3)
What did Jesus ask his disciples to do before Pentecost came (verse 4)
Fill in the blanks:- “You will be my _____ in ______. And in all _____and_____ to the ends of the _______” (verse 8b)
What assurance did the angels give to the disciples at the Ascension? (verses 10,11)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What has been your understanding of missions and what do you consider to have been deficient in it?
When the Church at Antioch was praying, it was the Holy Spirit who said; “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have call them” (Ac. 13:2). They were consequently, sent on missions. How does this confirm the leadership of the Holy Spirit in missions and evangelism, which Jesus said the disciples were to wait for?
What do you know about the Division of Evangelism, Missions and evangelism, which (EMR) in the Methodist Church Ghana? What are its programmes and how do these work out in your local congregation.
Recount the missionary work that brought Christianity/Methodism to Ghana and which eventually led to the establishment of your Church.
Discuss and review the missionary strategy of your church/congregation. If there is none, then draw up one and implement it.

BIBLE LESSON APPLICATION
Read Romans 10:11-15. Meditate upon it and see if you feel called to be an evangelist a missionary or an active supporter of these activities in your church. Act on your decision by informing your minister and/or the EMR Division.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Monday Isaiah 43:9-12 you are Chosen to Witness
Tuesday Acts 18:5-8 Paul Witnesses to Gentiles
Wednesday Acts 18:9-17 the Lord Stands by His Witnesses
Thursday Matthew 28:16-20 the Great Commission
Friday Luke 24:45-49 Preach in His Name
Saturday 2 Peter 1:16-21 Witnesses of His Majesty.