Transformed by the Spirit: Our Commission in Christ

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Acts, we are reminded of the profound transformation that occurs when we are commissioned by Christ. The early church's growth in depth and width was not merely a result of human effort but was deeply rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 is a call to receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses, starting from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. This commission is not a task to be accomplished in our strength but a partnership with God, who goes before us, comes behind us, and dwells within us.

As we delve into Acts 9, we encounter Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, whose life exemplifies the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Saul's impressive outward credentials and zeal for the law were overshadowed by his encounter with Christ, which revealed his spiritual blindness. Through this encounter, Saul's eyes were opened to see the work of God in his life and the lives of those around him. This transformation from Saul to Paul illustrates the journey from self-reliance to reliance on Christ, from a have-to religion to a get-to faith.

The Spirit opens our eyes to see God's work in our lives, leading us to recognize His pursuit and our need for Him. This awakening is not just for personal transformation but also to see others through the lens of the gospel, as Ananias did with Saul. Ananias' willingness to embrace Saul as a brother, despite his past, demonstrates the power of grace and the call to see others as God sees them.

Our commission is not just to proclaim the gospel but to live it out in community, demonstrating grace and calling forth the true identity in Christ in others. This is the essence of being commissioned: to be transformed by the Spirit and to participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

Key Takeaways:

- The commission from Christ is a call to partnership with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be His witnesses in the world. This partnership is not about proving our worth but about relying on His power and presence in our lives. [02:45]

- Saul's transformation into Paul highlights the journey from self-reliance to reliance on Christ. It is through our weaknesses that Christ's power is made perfect, leading us from a have-to religion to a get-to faith. [07:28]

- The Spirit opens our eyes to see God's work in our lives and the lives of those around us. This awakening leads us to recognize His pursuit and our need for Him, transforming our perspective and relationships. [09:29]

- Ananias' embrace of Saul as a brother demonstrates the power of grace and the call to see others through the lens of the gospel. This perspective allows us to participate in God's redemptive work and call forth the true identity in Christ in others. [37:08]

- Our commission is not just to proclaim the gospel but to live it out in community, demonstrating grace and calling forth the true identity in Christ in others. This is the essence of being commissioned: to be transformed by the Spirit and to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. [53:45]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:45] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
- [04:18] - The Glorious Partnership
- [05:19] - Saul's Transformation
- [06:16] - Outward Impressiveness vs. Inward Transformation
- [07:28] - Saul to Paul: Becoming Small
- [08:18] - The Rebirth of Saul
- [09:29] - Seeing God's Work in Our Lives
- [11:20] - Jesus' Identification with the Church
- [15:52] - The Love for Christ's Bride
- [17:14] - Kicking Against the Goads
- [21:04] - Saul's Encounter with Jesus
- [22:06] - The Spirit's Pursuit
- [25:25] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [29:00] - God's Plan Through the Church
- [34:53] - Ananias' Embrace of Saul
- [37:08] - Seeing Others Through the Gospel Lens
- [40:30] - Saul's New Identity in Christ
- [45:14] - Encouraging the New Creation
- [48:19] - Proclaiming Jesus Immediately
- [49:55] - The Proof of a Transformed Life
- [51:35] - From Religion to Gospel

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 1:8
- Acts 9:1-19

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the significance of Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8, and how did it set the stage for the early church's mission? [02:45]

2. How did Saul's outward impressiveness contrast with his spiritual blindness before his encounter with Christ? [06:16]

3. What role did Ananias play in Saul's transformation, and how did he demonstrate grace? [37:08]

4. How did Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus reveal his true spiritual state? [26:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the transformation of Saul to Paul illustrate the journey from self-reliance to reliance on Christ? What does this say about the nature of true faith? [07:28]

2. In what ways does the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see God's work in our lives and the lives of others, as demonstrated in Saul's story? [09:29]

3. How does Ananias' willingness to embrace Saul as a brother challenge our understanding of grace and forgiveness? [37:08]

4. What does it mean to move from a "have-to" religion to a "get-to" faith, and how is this shift evident in Saul's life? [51:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually blind. How did you come to see God's work in your life, and what role did others play in that process? [09:29]

2. Saul's transformation was marked by a shift from self-reliance to reliance on Christ. In what areas of your life are you still relying on your own strength, and how can you begin to trust more in God's power? [07:28]

3. Ananias took a significant risk in embracing Saul. Is there someone in your life whom you need to see through the lens of the gospel, despite their past? How can you extend grace to them this week? [37:08]

4. The early church grew through the power of the Holy Spirit and community. How can you actively participate in your church community to demonstrate grace and call forth the true identity in Christ in others? [53:45]

5. Saul's encounter with Jesus led to a radical transformation. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith is not just a set of rules but a joyful relationship with Christ? [51:35]

6. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit's guidance and transformation in your daily walk with God? [09:29]

7. Saul immediately began proclaiming Jesus after his conversion. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. How can you share your faith with them this week? [48:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Partnership with God through the Holy Spirit
The commission from Christ is a profound invitation to partner with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be His witnesses in the world. This partnership is not about proving our worth or achieving success through our own strength. Instead, it is about relying on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we embrace this partnership, we are reminded that God goes before us, comes behind us, and dwells within us, enabling us to fulfill His mission. This divine collaboration transforms our efforts from mere human endeavors into acts of divine purpose and impact. [02:45]

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."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you trying to prove your worth through your own strength? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in those areas today?


Day 2: Transformation from Self-Reliance to Reliance on Christ
Saul's transformation into Paul is a powerful illustration of the journey from self-reliance to reliance on Christ. Despite Saul's impressive credentials and zeal for the law, his encounter with Christ revealed his spiritual blindness and need for transformation. Through this encounter, Saul's life was radically changed, moving from a have-to religion to a get-to faith. This transformation highlights the truth that it is through our weaknesses that Christ's power is made perfect, leading us to a deeper reliance on Him. [07:28]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: What is one area of weakness in your life where you can invite Christ's power to be made perfect? How can you shift from self-reliance to reliance on Him in that area today?


Day 3: Seeing God's Work in Our Lives
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see God's work in our lives and the lives of those around us. This awakening leads us to recognize His pursuit and our need for Him, transforming our perspective and relationships. As we become more aware of God's presence and activity, we are invited to join Him in His redemptive work, seeing others through the lens of the gospel. This shift in perspective allows us to participate in God's mission with a renewed sense of purpose and compassion. [09:29]

Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: How has God been at work in your life recently? Take a moment to reflect on His presence and activity, and consider how you can join Him in His work today.


Day 4: Embracing Others with Grace
Ananias' willingness to embrace Saul as a brother, despite his past, demonstrates the power of grace and the call to see others through the lens of the gospel. This perspective allows us to participate in God's redemptive work and call forth the true identity in Christ in others. By extending grace and seeing others as God sees them, we become agents of transformation and reconciliation, inviting others into the fullness of their identity in Christ. [37:08]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Who in your life do you need to see through the lens of the gospel? How can you extend grace and embrace them as God sees them today?


Day 5: Living Out the Gospel in Community
Our commission is not just to proclaim the gospel but to live it out in community, demonstrating grace and calling forth the true identity in Christ in others. This is the essence of being commissioned: to be transformed by the Spirit and to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. As we live out the gospel in community, we create spaces where grace abounds, and individuals are encouraged to step into their God-given identity and purpose. [53:45]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your community to demonstrate grace and call forth the true identity in Christ in others? What steps can you take today to live out the gospel in your relationships?

Quotes

I love the book of Acts. I know you guys, every time I start a new series and a new book, you're like, that's his favorite book. Probably because it is, especially in that moment. Because every time I look into these things, I'm like, oh, my God. Like, these things are just absolutely spirit-filled, God-breathed. I mean, as I've studied the book of Acts, I'm genuinely hair blown back by the breath of God. And so I pray that you would experience that, too, as we walk through this. And so we're actually going to pick back up in this series. So we're calling it Commissioned. But this is actually a series we kicked off last year. And we walked through Chapter 8. And so we're going to pick up in Chapter 9. And so for the next eight weeks, we're going to walk through this powerful account of how the church, how the church grew in depth and in width through the early disciples who made disciples. They grew deeper into God's love, and they went wider for God's mission, all for God's glory. But it began with a commission that was directly from Jesus Christ himself in Chapter 1 of Acts 1. [00:00:58] (57 seconds)


And in that power, he sends us. And in Chapter 1 of Acts, the book of Acts, verse 8, he puts it like this. He says, but you will receive power, say power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Now, remember, as he's speaking to the disciples, they're petrified at this point. Right? They're hiding. They're scared. These are the people that denied Christ because they didn't want to be crucified along with him. Now he's been resurrected, and he says, you're going to receive power. I know you don't think you have what it takes. That's because you don't. But I do. [00:02:45] (39 seconds)


And so the commission was clear, but it was also clear that they couldn't do it in their own strength. They needed the Holy Spirit. So Jesus did not just send his disciples out then, nor does he now, to just accomplish some mission in the world in order for them to present themselves as worthy to God. Like they've been sent out, and then it's like report back, and if you don't come back with some disciples, I'm going to be angry. It's not how it works. It's never how it's worked. [00:03:44] (28 seconds)


The egotistical, self-righteous, religiously-loving, lost Pharisee will, by becoming small and devoting his life to magnify Jesus, and the gospel, then becomes arguably the most influential man in the history of the world next to Jesus Christ himself. All because his life was leveraged to point clearly and simply to Jesus Christ and not himself. He commits, he devotes to know nothing. But the resurrection. Saul the impressive became Paul the small. And yet, as we're going to see, it was through his weakness that Christ's power was made perfect. [00:07:33] (46 seconds)


Number one, the Spirit opens our eyes to see how he's been at work in our own lives. He's truly a prophet. start to see that God's been speaking to you your whole life, but the Spirit's now giving you eyes to see it. Number two, the Spirit opens our eyes to see how he's at work in the lives around you. Suddenly you realize it's not all about you, and you start to see things and people the way he does. You start to love others the way he does. [00:08:57] (36 seconds)


It might be a sign of the Spirit of God in you. Number three, the Spirit opens our eyes to take us from a have-to religion to a get-to faith. The Spirit opens our eyes to take us from a have-to religion to a get-to faith. And so here's what I want you to get this morning. If you get nothing else from what we talked about this morning, this is what I want you to get. The Spirit of God opens our eyes to see not only what we've been saved from, but the joyful, say joyful, the joyful commission we've been set apart for. [00:09:41] (37 seconds)


And so the apostle Paul is a prime example of this maturity process even. Like Acts 26, we're given even more insight into what happened here in this encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. And Paul himself says that Jesus appeared to him, and shone around him like the sun shining in full strength. And then verse 14, he says, and when we had all fallen to the ground, so everybody's with him, they're riding their donkeys or the horses or whatever they were on, and they get utterly just sacked. [00:16:43] (32 seconds)


They're all on the ground, every one of them. And Paul though, or Saul, says, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, so he meets him right where he is in a language he can understand, and says, saul saul why are you persecuting me and then he says it is hard for you to kick against the goads now when i was in middle school i thought that meant something completely different than what it means but it always amazes me though that even in saul's depravity and sin jesus shows him so much compassion see goads were these sharp sticks that were used to prod cattle into the right direction so like if you had an ox and the ox wanted to go one way or the other maybe wander off maybe get lazy and lie down you have these sharp sticks that they prod them with and they'd goad them in the right direction and sometimes that ox would get stubborn rebellious even and kick at the goad which would only hurt the ox more so jesus is confronting saul here and he calls him out but more than calling him out he calls him up and he shows him hey i care about you it's hard for you to kick against the goads you're only hurting yourself i'm goading you [00:17:14] (88 seconds)

And he's seen in a vision a man named Ananias. Come and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. Now remember, God has moved powerfully in Saul's life at this point. He's been encountered. He's hungry. He's needy. He's praying. He's at rock bottom. But he hasn't received the Holy Spirit. He hasn't been reborn. He has not received salvation. He's just finally recognized his need for it. This is very important because a lot of people don't move on from this place. A lot of people just wallow in their recognition of their need. [00:28:33] (34 seconds)


God's plan a is and always has been his local church, his people, his spirit filled, grace bought believers, not just the pastor you. Again, the gospel isn't simply about a set of principles or even concepts. The gospel is about relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is why the church isn't just a spider. We talked about this, right? You cut a spider in half, you stomp the head out and the spider is dead. You cut a spider in half, you get two spiders, right? You cut it in four pieces. You get four spiders. I'm sorry. You get four pieces of a dead spider. [00:29:35] (38 seconds)


Multiplication exponential because the spirit filled grace bought gospel witnessing church goes and grows both together and exponentially. Amen. Disciples who make disciples. This church ain't about me. It's about me equipping you. Who was it? It's about you to go out into our city. Amen. All right. So God desires to use human relationships in order to redeem his relationship with the lost. This is the gospel. It's one of the reasons why I say it every week because I want you to get it in you. This is the DNA. [00:30:02] (36 seconds)


And that the enemy wants you to label them by their sin. You're such a doofus. You're such an idiot. You're so stubborn. You're so blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Just curse, curse, curse, curse, curse. How about this? How about this? And I know it's a struggle. I hear you. We're in it together. I'm going to say right now what I want you to say to each other. I'm going to say it to you. That's not who you are. It's not who you are. Who you are, if you are spirit-filled, who you are is the way in which the Holy Spirit uniquely manifests within you. That's who you are. That's your identity. You're a new creation in Christ Jesus. Everything else is passing away. Praise God. [00:45:14] (39 seconds)


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Transcript
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