Prelude to a Revival

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage Acts 1:1-26 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:1-3 (NKJV) What did Jesus come to do? There are at least four very important answers to this question. 1. He came to die on the Cross and thus make atonement for our sins. 2. He came to do many powerful miracles and speak mighty truths - to heal the sick and preach the Word. 3. He came to display to us what a God-surrendered life would look like in terms of character, compassion, and showing the world how to live. 4. He came to train 12 disciples in world mission and thus launch a world-wide movement. We often speak of "being like Jesus." "What would Jesus do." If we consider the four works of Jesus, it is the first one that we can never do. HE DID IT FOR US! And for that we are so thankful. But the other three are ours to carry forward. The key word in Acts 1:1 is BEGAN. In that sense (though it may seem funny to state it this way), the life of Jesus is the "pre-season warm up." It is the launching pad. It is the PRELUDE TO A REVIVAL. By the power of the Spirit, we are called to do the very same works that Jesus did - heal, preach, engage in spiritual warfare. We are called to ACT LIKE JESUS in terms of character and compassion. We are called to make disciples - to do just as Jesus did with the twelve. We help the followers of Jesus to live out this great adventure of living in the Kingdom of God. Jesus BEGAN this work. We carry it forward.