Acts 1 Jesus in Action - ever increasing circles

Jesus made sure his disciples understood that it was really him working with them by appearing to them on multiple occasions. We also need a personal certainty that Jesus is alive and with us – or we will never serve him.

Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples again and again so that they understood that he was not an apparition – nor was he just an influence or inspiration – he was bodily and actually alive. He even ate grilled fish! Having ideas about Jesus will never sustain you in your life and work. You need personal experiences of his comfort, rescue, advice and encouragement. You won’t see him in his body, because he has bodily left the world. You don’t want to see him as a ghost because he is not dead. You don’t want to see him imprinted on a pretzel or appearing on the wall of a church, or as a shape in a cloud – that is mere superstition. You need to meet with him in your spirit – his Word needs to persuade your mind and grip your heart that you are living for and serving Jesus Christ and that he is the same person who the apostles saw and testified to and the same one who gives the Holy Spirit so he can work in and through you. 1 John 1

1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that ourjoy may be complete.

Jesus told his disciples not to begin their work without the Holy Spirit – and we also must not set off without power.

The disciples were about to be sent off on their life’s work – and it is the same work given to you:
To be witnesses to Jesus Christ in ever increasing circles. (Like the stone dropped in the middle of the pond). Jerusalem – Judea – Samaria – to the end of the earth! (They didn’t even know about New Zealand – let alone the Fiji Islands, Tonga or Tuvalu!

The impact of Jesus Christ in our lives must have its shockwaves that touch the lives around us – and out into the next generation (I am already thinking about my great-grandchildren and I sometimes pray for them).

You receive the Holy Spirit at new birth, but you need to be flooded with his influence daily. Baptism is flooding – you know that feeling when you dive into a pool – the water envelopes you and for a moment you are floating in a new world. The Holy Spirit produces Christ’s Words and deeds in you. This is how you witness to him.