Acts 1:6-11 "When they (HIS disciples) therefore were come together, they asked of HIM, saying, LORD, wilt THOU at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ? And HE said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the FATHER hath put in HIS OWN power. But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth. And when HE had spoken these things, while they beheld, HE was taken up; and a cloud received HIM out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as HE went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven ? this same JESUS, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen HIM go into Heaven."
Forty days after HIS resurrection, the LORD JESUS was about to ascend back to the FATHER in Heaven. The awe of HIS resurrection from the dead was not so startling now for the disciples, and their attention turned to the question of the coming kingdom - would it, at that time, be established for Israel ? Thus, JESUS instructed and assured them that the timing of the coming kingdom was under the FATHER's authority. However, they (the disciples) would receive power from GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT, to be witnesses, testifying of what they knew, telling of the redemption available in CHRIST JESUS, and carrying forth that message to "the uttermost part of the Earth." They were to present a systematic, simultaneous, and sustained proclamation of the truth of the Gospel to all the peoples of the Earth - both Jew and Gentile alike. Mark's record of the LORD JESUS' commission to HIS disciples is particularly compelling: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15 pictured above).
We must not ignore the applicability to our own day of JESUS' command in Mark and HIS WORD's in today's text. We are to seek to be disciple-makers at every given opportunity - "Ye shall receive power. . .Ye shall be witnesses unto ME. . .unto the uttermost part of the Earth" (v.8). What have you done with that charge ? What effort have you made to proclaim the Gospel message (see pictured above) to the unsaved: JESUS died to bring lost sinners who trust in HIM to the FATHER; put your faith in the risen CHRIST alone and become a child of GOD - that is the message we are commissioned to carry to the ends of the Earth. JESUS decreed, "Ye shall be witnesses." Are you fulfilling your task ? JED
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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