SERMON TITLE: UNCHARTED TERRITORY!

Text: Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8

Background:

Jesus made it clear that it would be the Holy Spirit living in us that would carry us into the uncharted territory with power and purpose beyond what we could ever do on our own!

The Church is being asked to do something on such a high spiritual level that we would never be able to achieve in our own power and will.

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Introduction:

Things change. Things are different. Any ordinary person can catapult from obscurity to big time.

God will lead us into uncharted territory—this might entail starting a business; building a new relationship; going back to school or any of several pursuits that goes beyond my limited experiences or my comfort zone which challenges me to adapt to new ways of thinking and doing.

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Uncharted Territory

A situation or activity that you have never experienced or tried before; unmapped or unexplored territory.

You will encounter situations in your life where you don’t know exactly what to do. God’s Word is absolute truth; but it will not spell out in black and white how to walk out every nuanced situation you encounter. When a mental model dies, a painful paradigm shift takes place within us. It is disorienting and anxiety making.

Question:

Where has God asked you to (See Abraham, Moses, Joshua)“burn your map” so you can follow Him where you have not been?

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Jesus tells us how we’ll be inspired to navigate and adapt to “uncharted territory!” God is calling us to something greater, higher, and better!!!

WHY?

• Begin with discerning or discovering “Why?” (purpose)
(reveals either the “cause” of an action or the “result” of an action=so)

“And you will be my (Jesus) witnesses…” —Acts 1:8b

Witness: one who sees or experiences an event; evidence or proof

There is nothing in biblical law concerning the qualification of witnesses, but, according to Josephus, the credibility of the witnesses is established by their past life, while neither women nor slaves were allowed to testify (Jos., Ant. 4:219)

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HOW?

• “How?” addresses the means or method to accomplish the “Why?”

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” —Acts 1:8a

Fear and Anxiety about the unknown may paralyze me from trying something new or taking steps toward reaching my goals!!

The Presence of the Holy Spirit empowers me with boldness that overcomes my fears!

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WHAT?

• “What?” is the question of transformation and change!
It is the question of adaptation.

“…when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” —Acts 1:8
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How can I adapt?

Cf. 1 Cor.9:19-23 — “Becoming all things to all people…”

Jesus is my example. He adapts in order to impact lives! Lives are changed!

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