1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Let us pray teach them to observe all things whatsoever 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: I have commanded you, And lo I am with you always, 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew twenty 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: eight twenty. Dear Jesus, when you left the Disciples, you 5 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: promised one of the greatest comforters that will ever be, 6 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: and that is your Holy Spirit. In the same way 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: the Disciples waited in expectation for your Holy Spirit, I 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: too will wait in expectation each and every morning for 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: your Spirit to rest on my mind and heart. With 10 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I know that whatever 11 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: I put my hands to will go from natural to supernatural. 12 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: No matter what I do, I will not move until 13 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: I feel your supernatural hand upon me. I will not 14 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: speak unless my words are empowered by your Holy Spirit. 15 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: Thank you, Jesus, that you haven't left me by myself. 16 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: Thank you that even when you ascended to Heaven, you 17 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: cared enough about our lives to give us the one 18 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: who puts power behind your word, the Holy Spirit. As 19 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: I grow in my faith, Holy Spirit, teach me and 20 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: lead me into all truth in Jesus name. Amen. Listening 21 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue 22 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible in 23 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: a Year, brought to you by Bible in a Year 24 00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: dot com. 25 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: I am with you. In our last story, we have 26 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: learned about Jesus restoring the faith of Thomas and the 27 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 2: failures of Peter. In this story, the ministry of Jesus 28 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: on Earth draws to a close and room is made 29 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 2: for the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit through 30 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: the Apostles. Jesus ascends into the heights of Heaven, leaving 31 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: the disciples eagerly awaiting a move of God's Spirit inspired 32 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: by the Gospels. 33 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 34 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. Thank you so much for joining us. 35 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 3: In our previous episode, we heard how Jesus appeared to 36 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: both Thomas and Peter and gave them exactly what they 37 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 3: needed to experience a renewal of their faith. Neither thomas 38 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 3: doubts or Peter's failures were too great for the risen 39 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 3: Christ to overcome, and as a result, both of these 40 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: men went on to do great things for the Kingdom 41 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 3: of God and to advance the Gospel of Jesus. Christ. 42 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 3: Today will hear as Jesus prepares the disciples for his 43 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 3: return to heaven and the great mission he was giving 44 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: them to go into all the world and proclaim the 45 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 3: good News. He would not leave them alone, however, because 46 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 3: he promised to send them the Holy Spirit, the helper 47 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 3: who would be with them always. So let's listen now 48 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 3: to today's reading. 49 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: Jesus sat with his disciples once again at the Mount 50 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: of Olives. The sun was descending gently over the city 51 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem. The men gazed at the temple below, with 52 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: the breeze dancing around them. The eleven remaining disciples sat 53 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: beside Jesus, listening to him speak on the Kingdom of God. 54 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 2: For forty days, they had been next to him, soaking 55 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: in every word he spoke. Jesus had also revealed himself 56 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: to over five hundred others, and they all followed as well. 57 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: There they all sat, listening to their Lord and watching 58 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: the sunset. Lord, is it time for you to restore 59 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: the kingdom of Israel? 60 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 3: They asked. 61 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 2: Jesus gave his familiar smile, still peering into the distance 62 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: towards the temple. The grass danced around him. It is 63 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: not for you to know the time or season. Jesus answered, 64 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: that is for God alone to know, and for me 65 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 2: to obey. The eleven were disappointed at his answer. Jesus, 66 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: knowing the fear that was in their hearts, reassured them 67 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: trust in me. You will receive power when the Holy 68 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: Spirit has come upon you. Jesus rose to his feet 69 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: and turned towards the sun. The wind picked up, causing 70 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: his robes to flow like dove's wings. All authority that 71 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: has been given to me I give to you. Go 72 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: therefore and make disciples of all nations. Go and baptize 73 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 2: them in the name of the Father, the Son, and 74 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit. Teach them what I have taught you, 75 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 2: and obey what I have commanded. The disciples stood to 76 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: their feet. They watched as Jesus began and to walk 77 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: away from them. Jesus sensed their fear. He turned to 78 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 2: them and said, behold, I am always with you, even 79 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 2: to the end of the age. I am with you. 80 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: And as Jesus said these things, he was enveloped by 81 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: a bright cloud. It rolled gracefully around him, covering him 82 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: from head to toe, and like a vapor, Jesus ascended 83 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: into the heavens. The eleven disciples and five hundred witnesses 84 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: looked up to the skies in wonder. The sun had 85 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 2: turned the skies a deep orange, and the clouds that 86 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: Jesus ascended upon dissolved into the horizon. They were on 87 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 2: their knees in complete awe of what had happened. The 88 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: followers of Jesus had their gaze so fixed on the 89 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 2: skies that they did not see the two men standing 90 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: in white robes beside them. Friends, why do you look 91 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 2: to heaven? He will come again? But you are to go. 92 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: With that command, the followers of Jesuses descended down the 93 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: mountain towards Jerusalem. They had a mission to fulfill, They 94 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 2: had a spirit to meet. The eleven returned to Jerusalem Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, 95 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: the son of Alpheus, Judas the son of James, and Simon. 96 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: They sat in the upper room praying about their next steps. 97 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 2: They devoted themselves to prayer, seeking the knowledge and guidance 98 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 2: of Christ. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there as well, 99 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 2: along with Jesus's brother. Peter stood up from among the group. 100 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: He was nervous. Jesus in many ways had been groomed 101 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: to lead the disciples as they pursued the Holy Spirit. 102 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 2: There were over one hundred twenty people in the room 103 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 2: with them. All of them were wide eyed and hopeful 104 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: for the future, but afraid. He encouraged them with the 105 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: word of God. He spoke from the heart and declared 106 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: the need for a new disciple. Among the twelve, they 107 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: chose a man named Mattias. Together, they sought God. They 108 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: had no plan, they had no strategy. They simply waited 109 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: in that upper room for a move of God's Holy Spirit. 110 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in 111 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: a Year podcast today, But before we get to today's episode, 112 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love 113 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you 114 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment 115 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits 116 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention. 117 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 3: But it's in the midst of all this crush and 118 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and 119 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help 120 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving, 121 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: life changing word by sending you my free daily email 122 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 3: devotional PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign 123 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 3: up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org 124 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. Today's scripture begins on top of 125 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: the Mount of Olives, which is in Jerusalem. This was 126 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 3: the place where Jesus had preached and taught, where he 127 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 3: had prayed the night he was arrested, and now it 128 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 3: would become an even more strategic spot as Jesus prepared 129 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 3: to return to the Father. For forty days after his resurrection, 130 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 3: Jesus had gone about showing himself to people, witnesses who 131 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 3: would attest to his resurrection and spread the words so 132 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 3: that all could believe he was there with the disciples, 133 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 3: teaching and maturing them in the faith. They wanted to 134 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 3: know if he was now ready to restore Israel's kingdom 135 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 3: to them. Jesus was still a messiah, a Jewish savior, 136 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 3: and they expected that God would restore the glory to 137 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 3: his chosen people. Jesus replied that God's timing was not 138 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: their timing. God had a much greater plan, a greater purpose, 139 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 3: and a wonderful promise. Christ's earthly work was finished, but 140 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 3: these men still had a great mission, one that could 141 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 3: not be accomplished alone. So he assured them that they 142 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 3: would receive the Holy Spirit, the power, and the presence 143 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 3: of Christ in them. The message of hope and salvation 144 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 3: in Jesus wasn't meant to stay in just a small 145 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 3: corner of the world, or to be only for the 146 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 3: Jewish people. The Gospel is for all the world. This 147 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 3: wasn't a new plan or a new strategy. It was 148 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 3: God's plan all along. We know it as the Great 149 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 3: Commission is found in Matthew twenty eighth nineteen to twenty, 150 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 3: and these are among the most important verses in the Bible. 151 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 3: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them 152 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 3: in the name of the Father and of the Son 153 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 3: and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 154 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 3: that I have commanded you, And behold, I am with 155 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 3: you always to the end of the age. After delivering 156 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: to the disciples there and our marching orders, these men 157 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 3: watched dumbfounded as Jesus ascended into the sky high above 158 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 3: the clouds, until they could see him no more. This 159 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: is the Ascension of Jesus, one of the most important 160 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 3: events in all of the Bible. The disciples and other 161 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 3: witnesses stood amazed, looking up into the heavens. They couldn't 162 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 3: possibly understand at all, but they knew that Jesus was Lord, 163 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 3: and that he had given them a mission and a promise. 164 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 3: As they stood there, two men appeared beside them. They 165 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: asked the disciples why they were looking into the sky. 166 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 3: Jesus would return, they assured them, but it was not 167 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 3: time to wait. It was time to go. These are 168 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 3: important words for us today. As followers of Jesus. We 169 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 3: live in anticipation and assurance that one Jesus is coming again, 170 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: this time not as a baby and a manger in 171 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 3: a small, unremarkable town, but as King of kings and 172 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 3: Lord of lords, coming in the clouds to reign forever. 173 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 3: It is such a great hope for every Christian. In fact, 174 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 3: the Bible calls it the Blessed Hope. But just as 175 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 3: the disciples had a mission, we have a mission too, 176 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 3: and that is to carry out the great commission and 177 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 3: to tell the world who Jesus is and what he 178 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 3: can do to change every life who will come to him. 179 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: We are to go into all the world and proclaim 180 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: the Gospel. The disciples returned to Jerusalem knowing only that 181 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 3: they had a mission and a promise. Soon they would 182 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 3: receive the Holy Spirit, the same spirit of God who 183 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: was at creation, the one who surrounded and led Israelites 184 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,239 Speaker 3: in the deserts, and the one who spoke to Elijah 185 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 3: in the desert in a still small voice. God's Holy 186 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 3: Spirit would be given to them, just as Jesus promised, 187 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 3: he would be with them always. And it is so 188 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: important to remember that God has given his spirit to 189 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 3: all who trust in Him, every believer. So they waited, 190 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 3: just as Jesus had commanded them to wait, and what 191 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 3: would come next would spark a new movement that would 192 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 3: spread like fire, changing the world forever. And we'll hear 193 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 3: about that in our next episode. Dear God, we thank 194 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 3: you for the truth that Jesus is Lord, that he lived, died, 195 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: rose again, and ascended on high. We also thank you 196 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: for the mission that you've given us, and the commission 197 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 3: to work with your church and your people to take 198 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 3: the Gospel to the world. We're so grateful for the 199 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 3: promise of your soon return, and until then, may we 200 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 3: be busy about the work of your kingdom as we 201 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 3: look forward to seeing you face to face in Jesus' name, Amen, 202 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 203 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas Tech, and before we go, 204 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to 205 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement 206 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 3: every single day. So visit Jaggraham dot org to sign 207 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 3: up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jack Graham dot org.