Week 2 - Mission Possible 08/16/2026

Aug 16, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Firefighters and the Nozzle: Everyone’s Role in the Blaze

When a firefighter grips the nozzle, their trust rests on unseen teammates—the driver pumping water, the crew managing hoses, the medics aiding victims. No single role outshines another. In God’s mission, every act of prayer, giving, or encouragement fuels the fire of revival. The quietest service holds eternal weight. Whether you’re holding the nozzle or directing traffic, your obedience keeps the gospel flowing. [26:42]

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. […] Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12–14, NIV)

Reflection: What “unseen” role has God entrusted to you in His mission? How might your obedience today strengthen someone else’s courage to act?

Day 2: Your Jerusalem: Starting Where Your Feet Are Standing

The mission begins in the streets you drive, the neighbors you greet, the grocery lines where you wait. Henderson’s forgotten corners mirror the world’s need. Jesus didn’t call His disciples to strategize globally first but to love locally. Your Jerusalem—your workplace, family, or struggling friend—is the training ground for reaching nations. Revival starts where your shadow falls. [21:11]

“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, NIV)

Reflection: What brokenness in your daily routine is God asking you to notice? How could one intentional act of love this week mirror His heart for the world?

Day 3: Dynamite Power: When the Spirit Ignites Your Assignment

Dunamis—explosive, divine energy—isn’t reserved for pulpits or overseas missions. It erupts in grocery store conversations, tearful phone calls, and bold prayers over your child. The Holy Spirit doesn’t wait for your readiness; He fuels your obedience. Your trembling “yes” becomes the fuse for miracles. This power isn’t for your comfort but for breaking chains in others. [36:58]

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you hesitated to act, fearing inadequacy? What if today’s awkward step forward is the spark someone needs to encounter Christ?

Day 4: From Ice Cream Buckets to Nations: Small Sacrifices, Eternal Impact

What if skipping one fast-food meal funded a Bible? What if sacrificing streaming time birthed a prayer? God multiplies small surrenders—your $20, your 10-minute intercession, your handwritten note. Missionaries ride bikes bought by your ice cream budget. Heaven’s ledger records every “trivial” gift as eternal investment. Your jar of change shakes nations. [44:39]

“I thank my God every time I remember you. […] all of you share in God’s grace with me. […] whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel.” (Philippians 1:3–7, NIV)

Reflection: What habitual expense or routine could God repurpose for His mission? How might reallocating one resource this week ripple into eternity?

Day 5: Heaven’s Thank You: When Strangers Know Your Name

Imagine a face you’ve never seen—a teacher in Kenya, a teen in Peru—thanking you in eternity. Your monthly gift, your bedtime prayers, your bold conversation paved their path to Christ. Mission partnership isn’t about recognition but legacy. The quietest giver, the faithful intercessor, the neighbor who risked awkwardness—all wear crowns of “well done.” Your obedience writes their story. [46:36]

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23, NIV)

Reflection: Who might approach you in heaven because of your unseen faithfulness? What step today could add another name to that eternal reunion?

Sermon Summary

God’s presence in Henderson sets the table for a bigger burden, because the same Jesus who can touch a little town in North Carolina can touch the whole world. Acts 1:8 answers the impossible sound of that calling with one plain order: power before purpose. Jesus entrusted a small group of ordinary believers with a worldwide mission, not because they had money, status, soldiers, or political pull, but because the Holy Spirit would come upon them.

Acts 1:8 keeps saying “you,” and that word will not let any believer hide behind somebody else. The mission of God is accomplished when the people of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, take the gospel of God to the world God loves. The mission is not for a select few. It is the privilege of every believer to partner with God to change the world.

The mission begins with God’s heart. Missions did not start with a church program, human guilt, or a missionary budget. God has been on a rescue mission from the beginning. Genesis says all the families of the earth shall be blessed, Israel was chosen for the nations, the Psalms say let the nations be glad, Isaiah sees Gentiles coming to the light, and Jesus crosses barriers again and again. Acts 1:8 is not plan B. It is what has always been in the heart of God.

The mission also belongs to every believer. Jesus did not say pastors, missionaries, or professionals would be his witnesses. Jesus said, “you will be my witnesses.” The lie that says “someone else will do it” gets destroyed by Acts. Salvation and calling cannot be pulled apart. The better question is not, “Am I called?” but “Lord, what is my assignment?”

The mission requires the Holy Spirit because a supernatural mission cannot be fulfilled with natural power. The Holy Spirit does more than comfort, bless, or make somebody feel good in a service. The Spirit empowers the church to carry the gospel into the world. The prayer has to shift from “Holy Spirit, bless me” to “Holy Spirit, use me,” even when that costs time, plans, comfort, or money.

The mission starts where feet are standing, and it advances through partnership. Not everybody goes overseas, but everybody can help send. Some pray, some give, some encourage, some go, and some support those training ministers among the nations. Faith commitment becomes more than spare change; it becomes a surrendered question: “Lord, what do you want to accomplish through this life?”

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer must stretch toward nations Prayer shaped by Acts 1:8 cannot stay locked inside one household, one schedule, or one city. God’s heart has always been larger than personal need, even when those needs are real and legitimate. Global prayer trains the soul to care about what God has been pursuing since Genesis: families, nations, and people never met by name. [90:38]
2. Calling comes with salvation The word “you” in Acts 1:8 leaves no room for a believer to outsource obedience. Jesus did not reserve witness for professionals, platforms, or people with missionary biographies. The call is already present wherever salvation is present; the real issue is whether the assignment is being heard and answered. [94:28]
3. Power shows up on assignment The Holy Spirit does not merely give a warm feeling in the room; the Spirit gives power for the work Jesus commands. The power often becomes clear when the believer arrives at the moment of need and has no natural answer ready. God supplies words, courage, sensitivity, and strength right where obedience becomes costly. [96:21]
4. Use me costs more than bless me The prayer “bless me” can keep life centered on comfort, but “use me” places time, plans, money, and convenience under the lordship of Christ. The Spirit’s leading may interrupt a schedule, delay a plan, or send someone toward a person with no hope. Those interruptions may look inconvenient on earth, but heaven will reveal their worth. [98:23]
5. Partnership carries eternal weight Not everyone goes, but everyone can help send, and God counts that partnership as part of the harvest. A meal skipped, a gift given, a missionary supported, or a prayer prayed can reach farther than the giver may ever see down here. Heaven may introduce people whose salvation was tied to hidden sacrifices made in faith. [105:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[75:50] - Thankful for God’s Presence
[76:36] - Mission Possible Begins
[77:09] - Every Believer, Every Nation, Every Opportunity
[78:32] - Power Before Purpose
[80:21] - The Mission of God Through God’s People
[81:11] - The Privilege of Partnering With God
[83:33] - Missions Is Not for Someone Else
[87:28] - The Mission Begins With God’s Heart
[90:38] - Prayer as Large as God’s Heart
[92:29] - The Mission Belongs to Every Believer
[96:21] - The Holy Spirit Empowers the Mission
[99:57] - The Mission Starts Where Feet Stand
[100:21] - Partnership Sends the Gospel Forward
[105:42] - Eternal Fruit From Hidden Sacrifice
[107:24] - Fresh Filling and Faith Commitment
[115:56] - Invitation to Surrender to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.” [01:17:21]

Genesis 12:3
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” [01:29:54]

Psalm 67:4
“May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.” [01:30:06]

Philippians 1:5
“because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,” [01:40:23]

Observation questions

In Acts 1:8, what are the two things Jesus says believers will receive and become, and what places are named in the spread of that witness? [01:19:19]
What repeated word in Acts 1:8 keeps the mission personal and keeps believers from pushing the responsibility onto somebody else? [01:19:28]
What examples are given for how God’s heart for the nations shows up across the Bible before Acts 1:8? [01:30:06]
What are some different ways believers can take part in the mission, even if they never go overseas? [01:41:56]

Interpretation questions

Acts 1:8 puts power before witness. Why does Jesus connect the worldwide mission to the coming of the Holy Spirit instead of to talent, planning, or resources? [01:18:56]
Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 67:4 show that God’s concern has always included all peoples and nations. How does that change the way a person understands missions—as a side ministry or as part of the center of God’s heart? [01:27:44]
Jesus says, “you will be my witnesses.” What does that suggest about the connection between salvation and calling for ordinary believers? [01:35:26]
Philippians 1:5 speaks about partnership in the gospel. How can someone who prays, gives, encourages, or sends genuinely share in the mission, even without standing on the front lines? [01:26:27]

Application questions

Prayer can stay small and centered only on personal needs. What does prayer usually sound like in this season of life, and where might God be inviting it to stretch toward people, cities, or nations beyond the usual circle? [01:30:40]
“Am I called?” is not the main question for a believer; “Lord, what is my assignment?” is closer to it. What assignment may need fresh attention right now—praying, giving, speaking, encouraging, serving, or going? [01:36:02]
“Holy Spirit, bless me” is an easy prayer, but “Holy Spirit, use me” costs more. What part of life would most likely feel the cost if that prayer were answered—time, money, plans, comfort, or reputation? [01:38:51]
The mission begins where a person’s feet are standing. Who in the everyday places of life right now may need encouragement, prayer, or a clear word about Jesus? [01:40:05]
Not everyone goes, but everyone can help send. What is one practical way to become a stronger partner in the gospel this month—supporting a missionary, learning names, setting aside money, fasting, or praying more intentionally? [01:43:43]
God’s leading may interrupt a schedule for the sake of somebody with no hope. When has an interruption turned into a ministry moment, and how can there be better readiness for that this week? [01:48:53]
Families need a bigger vision than “bless us” and move on. What would it look like to bring children, spouse, or close friends into conversations about God’s heart for the world in a real and natural way? [01:50:45]

Sermon Clips

60s

#eternalimpact

“What if you're standing in heaven? Greg Tapson, what if you're standing in heaven and somebody walks up to you you've never met before in your life? And they walk up to you and say thank you. You know what Greg is gonna do? He's gonna look at him and say, thank you for what? And they're gonna say, you don't you don't know it. But because you supported the missionary that came to where I was, when he preached the gospel, I gave my life to Jesus. And Greg, you won't never know him down here, but you'll know him up there. What we do down here makes an eternal difference.”

53s

#missionforallbelievers

“``When your heart begins to pray globally, it begins to resemble god's heart eternally. Second thing so second thing I'm gonna tell you, the mission belongs to every believer. We you will receive power. When the spirit comes on you, you will be my witnesses. Jesus didn't didn't give Acts one and eight to professional ministers. He gave it to you and I, disciples, regular folk. Amen. So look at me. Don't disqualify yourself. qualified you the moment he saved you. If God qualified you, who can disqualify If god before us, come on. Who can be against us? We're more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. All things are possible to him that believes. Yes.”

46s

#answerthecall

“Every believer is invited into the mission. Here's practical application. I'm moving quick. Here's what I want you to do. Stop asking, am I called? Look at your neighbor and say, answer the call. You are called. You cannot be saved and not called. Can I say it again? You cannot be saved and not called. The question is whether you're answering the call or not. And if you can't, if you're not hearing the call, get a different carrier. If Verizon ain't making it right now, get you somebody else. Amen. Because let me tell you something, every believer has a call on their life, and God wants to talk to you about it today.”

45s

#holyspiritpower

“Here's the thought. The mission is impossible without the holy spirit. God never intended foundational truth for us to fulfill a supernatural mission with natural power. The holy spirit doesn't merely comfort the church. Can I say wake up right here? Can I say get an amen from somebody? The holy spirit does more than tickle you and make you feel good. The holy spirit does more than make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The holy spirit is more about listen to me. I'm glad that he will comfort us. I'm glad that he comes alongside of us, but the main thing he wants to do is empower the church to carry the gospel to the world.”

54s

#holyspirituseme

“So the holy spirit fills us far more than personal encouragement he empowers for kingdom application. How do we apply this? Good. Instead of asking holy spirit, bless me. Watch this. Somebody's got transformed the way you've been praying. Lord, just bless me. Lord, bless. We're good with that one. Lord, bless me. Bless me, Lord. Bless me and mine, Lord. Bless me and my foe and no more. Bless me, Lord. We're good with that one. But what would happen if we transition that phrase from lord bless me to holy spirit use me? We're scared of that one because we know that when god starts to use us, it might cost us something. Our time, our resources. It might cost us our schedule.”

49s

#rescuemission

“From the very beginning of missions, this is the heart of God. Every missionary effort is simply joining what God has been doing from the very beginning of time. This can I just tell you, God's on a rescue mission? That's why he sent his only begotten son that whosoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. God's been on a rescue mission from the very beginning. Genesis 12, god tells Abraham, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Israel was never chosen instead of the nations. Israel was chosen for the nations.”

44s

#youarethewitness

“Jesus did not say he, that that pastors will be my witnesses. He doesn't say missionaries will be my witnesses. He said you will be my witnesses. So so in in the spirit of helping you stay awake, look at your neighbor and say, who is you? Who is you? Who is you? Everyone. Every one of us. One of the greatest lies that Satan whispers when it comes to missions is someone else will do it. Somebody else will pray for him. Someone else will give. Someone else will go. Acts destroys that mentality.”

37s

#missionfromdayone

“Notice that. Psalm 67 says, let the nations be glad. Isaiah repeatedly says, the Gentiles coming to God's light. Jesus repeatedly crossed cultural barriers. The great commission simply reveals what has always been in the heart of God. So acts one and eight is not plan b. Listen to me. This is not one afterthought of god. It was the initial thought of god from day one that we were to go into all the world preaching the gospel, teaching the gospel, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Ask a question about this sermon

SHPHC South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church This sermon · AI assistant

What does power before purpose mean?

Who is responsible for carrying the gospel?

How does the Holy Spirit enable mission?