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Word from Scotland

    by Sandy Shaw

"Are You Convinced?"
Date Posted: October 13, 2003

We are reading and studying these opening verses of the Book of Acts.

It is some six weeks after Passover - forty days after God the Father brought back Jesus Christ from the dead.

These have been traumatic weeks. There have been various meetings with the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ at various times. Jesus has met with His chosen disciples, in Jerusalem, on the Emmaus Road, and by the Lakeside when seven disciples tried to turn the clock back and return to the fishing.

Some had obviously thought, that that was that! Have you ever been in that situation?

Once you have met Jesus Christ, risen and alive, and that is the only way we can know Him - once you know Jesus is alive, and that He has spoken to you and called you, you dare not question that.

These men may have had other questions but they know, and knew that Jesus is alive, and the opening verses of Acts makes that clear.

During this period, Jesus' great theme was The Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the King, and these disciples are to be and become the leaders and teachers and servants in The Kingdom, just as we are called to serve in a similar fashion today.

They were totally convinced. Are you?

On one occasion Jesus spoke quite specifically to them. "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father has promised. You have hard me speak about it. John baptised with water. In a few days, you will be baptised with The Holy Spirit.

Jesus is depending on these men. Do not leave the city. Do not run away. Do not try to do what I have called you to do without the equipment. WAIT!

They listened and paid attention. It is important to give heed to what Jesus has to say. Are you really listening to what God is saying to you?

The Father had promised to empower these disciples with The Holy Spirit. Without that essential power they would not be able to do anything useful or valuable in The Kingdom of God. God is offering to men - power to preach - power to serve - power to heal - power to love with the Love of Jesus Christ.

They are not very sure what all this really means. What does it involve? What will happen? We too have similar questions at times.

They think along political lines. "Are YOU going to give the kingdom back to Israel?"

Israel was under the power of Rome, and they are wondering. Is Jesus about to overthrow Rome, set Israel free from Rome, and make us the political princes and rulers? They got it all wrong.

They were nationalists, and Jesus has to teach them not to be narrow in a nationalistic political way. He corrects them, so that they no longer hold a narrow small limited blinkered view.

God does not mind us getting things wrong, provided we are willing to be corrected.

How open are you to God correcting you and perhaps guiding you in a different direction?

Jesus is teaching these disciples whom He has called and chosen, "Don't just be thinking about your own nation. Have a larger view of what God is doing in the world, and of how HE wants to use you.

Before they became disappointed or even depressed, Jesus reassures them. You will receive power, but not political power to set your country free from Rome.

"You will receive power, when The Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses. The word used is "martyr" which means, to give testimony.

John took people and plunged them in the Jordan River. You are going to be plunged in the River of God. Then you will have the necessary power to convince people about the truth of what you know about me, and produce the proof that I am risen and alive. Witnesses give testimony to what is true, and keep to the facts.

This spontaneous move of God will spread out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Jesus is making it clear that something vital and essential is going to happen to those ordinary disciples. There is nothing special about these men. They are not sure what is about to happen nor what the consequences will be. All they know is that whatever happens will come from God, and He only gives good gifts to His Children. It is going to mean that the news about Jesus Christ will soon be rippling out across the world.

These are the last words Jesus spoke.

A man's final words to those whom He loves are important and significant.

Are you convinced that Jesus Christ is risen and alive?

They were, as was Dr Luke.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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Biography Information:

Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!

Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.

Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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