Empowered for Mission - Acts 1

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Living Beyond the Natural

This morning, we’re beginning a new message series called “Everyday Supernatural Living.” We’re going to be looking at the book of Acts, which shows us how the followers of Jesus enjoyed everyday supernatural living. Their story is an example for us about how we should live our lives as believers today. The title of today’s message is “Empowered for Mission.”

In order to live everyday supernaturally, we need God’s power working in and through us. Would you like to experience more of God’s supernatural power in your life as you follow Jesus each day? God’s Word in the book of Acts holds the key to that kind of life. Acts is not just a history of what happened 2000 years ago; it provides the blueprint for us to experience the same power of God in our day.

Imagine with me a space launch, where astronauts who are trained and prepared are ready to journey into the unknown. They climb into the rocket on the launch pad and wait for liftoff, knowing that the power of the rocket engines will soon blast them into outer space. That scene is a powerful image for our spiritual journey into the unknown as believers. We too are called to embark on a mission that requires power beyond ourselves.

We are not called to a mission to outer space, but to a mission to rescue people from the powers of darkness. Jesus made this mission clear when He gave His final instructions to His followers. He calls us to go, to engage, and to participate in what God is doing in the world. This mission defines our purpose as believers.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

This command of Jesus was not just for the disciples who heard it the first time. It is not only for pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, but for every believer and every follower of Jesus. These verses, often called the Great Commission, are our mission in life. The first word is to go, not stay, and to go where there are people who are not yet disciples.

You make disciples when people are saved, water baptized, and taught to obey God in everything. At the end of His instructions, Jesus promises to be with us as we go and make disciples. Our mission is not something we carry out alone or in our own strength. Jesus’ presence and power are essential to fulfilling what He has called us to do.

Hebrews 12:1b–2a (ESV) … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, …

Our mission is like a rocket launch, but it is also like a race, a long-distance race that requires endurance. We are called to put off everything that prevents us from running well and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to seek and save the lost, and we have the privilege of carrying on His mission through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the heart of everyday supernatural living.

The Foundation of Our Faith

Acts 1:1–2 (ESV) In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

The book of Acts was written by Luke, a disciple of Jesus who also wrote the Gospel of Luke. Luke refers to his Gospel as the first book, where he recorded what Jesus began to do and teach. The key word here is began, because it tells us that Jesus’ work did not end when He ascended into heaven. The book of Acts shows us how Jesus continued to do and teach through believers who were empowered for mission.

Acts 1:3 (ESV) He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

The foundation of our faith is that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. He showed Himself alive to hundreds of disciples during the forty days after His resurrection. During that time, Jesus taught them about the kingdom of God. These teachings shaped how the early church understood their identity and mission.

Each believer is part of the kingdom of God here and now. The kingdom of God is the domain in which God reigns, and it is a kingdom that will never be destroyed. God’s kingdom will continue to increase until Jesus returns. These truths were the foundation of the faith of the early church, and they remain our foundation today.

When our foundation is secure, then nothing that happens can ultimately destroy us. Attacks may come, challenges may arise, and opposition may increase, but our faith stands firm. A secure foundation gives us confidence and endurance. It prepares us to live with boldness and faith in a changing world.

Standing Firm on an Unshakable Foundation

There are many attacks on our faith today, which is why we need a firm foundation. Our foundation is that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today, ruling and reigning as King. Jesus is the King of the kingdom of God, and His authority has not diminished. The supernatural things that Jesus did in His ministry continue to our day.

We can follow Jesus’ example in what we do and in what we teach. The commands that Jesus gave to His disciples apply to each one of us today. That foundation prepares us for everyday supernatural living and for fulfilling the mission God has given us. When we know what we believe and why we believe it, we are ready to move forward with confidence.

The Power and Promise of the Spirit

Acts 1:4–5 (ESV) And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Despite having Jesus teach them about the kingdom of God for forty days, the disciples were not ready to carry out their mission. They were called to make disciples of all nations, but they lacked something essential. They needed to wait for the promise of the Father before they could move forward. That promise was the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

As we will see throughout the book of Acts, Spirit baptism does not happen automatically when someone is saved. It is something that must be prayed for and sought, just as Jesus instructed. God desired to clothe His people with power from on high. That power would enable them to live and serve in a supernatural way.

Acts 1:6–7 (ESV) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

The mindset of the disciples was still fixed on the kingdoms of the Old Testament. They were thinking of the earthly kingdoms of David and Solomon. Jesus, however, was speaking about a spiritual and supernatural kingdom that supersedes every earthly kingdom. Earthly governments come and go according to God’s plan, but His kingdom remains forever.

Our focus is not meant to be on earthly power or political authority. Our focus must be on the supernatural kingdom of God. Our mission is to extend that kingdom to the ends of the earth, penetrating every earthly kingdom with the gospel. This is only possible through the power God provides.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8 is the key verse of the entire book of Acts. It is also the key command for every believer today. This verse tells us how we can fulfill our mission on earth to make disciples of every nation. It reveals both the source of our power and the scope of our mission.

This promise has two essential parts that cannot be separated. We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we are called to be witnesses for Jesus. A witness simply tells what they have seen and experienced so that others can experience the same salvation and transformation. The power and promise of the Holy Spirit are the key to everyday supernatural living.

Living as Empowered Witnesses

We experience the power and promise of the Spirit through prayer and faith. If you have not yet been baptized in the Spirit, you can pray and ask God for this gift. You will know you have been Spirit baptized because God will give you a prayer language to pray in the Spirit. God desires to empower every believer for effective witness.

We should also pray daily for divine opportunities to be a witness for Jesus. We are witnesses not only by what we say, but by how we live our lives. Inviting someone to church, sharing what God is doing in your life, or offering to pray for someone are all ways to be a witness. Everyday supernatural living begins with prayer and stepping out in obedience.

The Ascension and Our Mission

Acts 1:9 (ESV) And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

The disciples were not expecting Jesus to ascend into heaven at that moment. They thought He would continue to be physically present with them after His resurrection. Instead, Jesus had provided the Holy Spirit to be with them and to empower them. His ascension marked a new phase of God’s work on earth.

Acts 1:10–11 (ESV) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

The disciples were looking into heaven when two angels interrupted them. The angels reminded them that Jesus was no longer with them physically, but that He would return one day. In the meantime, they had a mission to carry out. Jesus was with them through the Holy Spirit, and they were to wait and pray for the promise of the Father.

The mission Jesus came to accomplish, to seek and save the lost, was now entrusted to His disciples. That mission did not end with the early church. It continues today through every believer who is empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is the mission that defines our lives.

Praying and Participating in God’s Mission

That mission to be witnesses to the ends of the earth is our mission today as well. We begin with prayer, not only for the Spirit’s power, but for the people God wants us to reach. We have talked about a Five Friends Focus, identifying five people who need to be saved, healed, set free, or connected to a Spirit-filled church. We are called to pray for them daily and ask God for opportunities to be a witness.

Those opportunities may come through a prayer, a conversation, an invitation, or an act of kindness. If you cannot think of five friends, ask God to bring people to mind, starting with your neighbors. As you pray consistently, God will open doors for you to share His love. This is what everyday supernatural living looks like in real life.

Conclusion: Fueled for the Journey

At the beginning of the message, we talked about the illustration of a rocket ship taking off. If you’ve ever watched a launch, you’ll notice that the takeoff seems slow at first. Over time, the rocket gathers momentum until it is speeding into space. In the same way, we are called on a mission that requires patience, faith, and power.

We need the fuel of the Holy Spirit to impact our world as witnesses for Jesus. Prayer is the key to everyday supernatural living, both for receiving God’s power and for reaching others. As we pray for the Spirit’s power, for our five friends, and for one another, we grow into the mission we were created for. This is what it means to live everyday supernaturally.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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