A Remote Possibility
Simple Strategy
Acts 1:6- 2:47
September 16, 2007
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
Christianity should have never even made it. The leader only lasted for the three years and was killed. There are certain facts that are undeniable but what is hard to explain – is why it happened.
* Study world religions it is easy to trace its beginning- how it got traction.
1. Judaism – started with Abraham, son Isaac, had bunch sons – basically a FAMILY.
You are born Jewish, can be a convert, but basically BORN IN.
2. Islam – This guy Mohammad, he said he heard from God, had some prophecies…
He got traction because he was a good leader and put together an army… he showed up interesting time in history when the Arab states were scattered and they had many gods, but Mohammed said there was ONE god his name Allah.
- He united the Arabs together, by using his leadership & military skills.
- He was around for @20 years.
3. Christianity- it doesn’t make sense…
- He didn’t have the support of a family; he lasted 31/2 yrs.
- He was crucified by the dominate power (Rome)
- He never even claimed to be a prophet…
- He did claim to be the unique Son of God. NO one EVER had made that kind of claim.
* After he died his followers went around telling that he has come back to life.
? Why would that ever make it out of the 1st century?
? How did it ever make it out of that little territory?
- It has NO nationality –
No politicians
No army.
* Yet it has spread ALL over the world- 2000 years & growing.

So today I want to tell you - your STORY – it is amazing!

- How Christianity survived the 1st century… how it made its way out of that tiny little speck.

Acts 1: (explains what Jesus’ followers did after he was crucified)
Note: Acts written by Luke (not a apostle) a doctor- he went around & interviewed all these eyewitness to get the story straight…
Acts 1:6- these events @ a month after Jesus crucified (500 witnesses)
* Here is what Jesus said to his closest followers
1:6- Listen to how strange this sounded to his disciples…
1:6 * Jews thought the Messiah would restore the kingdom like Solomon…
We got by the little bump of the crucifixion- restore the kingdom.
1:7 * Not now BUT (v8)
1:8 * You shall be my witnesses – (eye witnesses to my resurrection)
WITNESSES – not teachers of a philosophy
WITNESSES – not just believers of a faith…
You witnessed something & you are going to TELL it…
This is BIG:
Christianity is not about believing something is TRUE
Christianity is about believing something HAPPENED.
* Jesus tells his disciples that this is NOT about a land grab – but being WITNESSES.
1:8 “Jerusalem… Judea… Samaria… uttermost parts of the earth.”
Jesus was saying that they were going to take the message to the hearts of MEN (kingdom)
(Jesus said this to men that had never traveled more than 25 miles from home)
* This message of taking over men’s hearts not their LAND – spread all over the globe.
Remember they only knew of Rome & Egypt & the Med. Sea – THERE?
* They had NO IDEA of USA, etc
He was saying this is going to be BIG.
* The Fact is 30% of Americans profess to be Christians is huge- it got here because of some WITNESSES! (90,000,000 people)

HOW did this happen?

Acts 2 helps understand- about 1 2/2 weeks after Jesus makes his announcement
2:1-2 Two weeks after – Pentecost (A Jewish celebration – came from all over the known world)
“THEY” – the ones Jesus spoke to about being witnesses)
2:3-4 tongues like as of fire on each (THEY- the witnesses) utterance/languages
2:5 Devout Jews (from everywhere)
2:6 Heard in their own language
2:7 Crowd was amazed
2:8-11a 16 nationalities heard
They all believed in God- devout men (but here is a NEW message)
2:12 “…what meaneth this?”
(v11) their own tongue – the message is for everyone everywhere-
The message of a dead Jew coming back to life. WOW

2:14-24 Then Peter stood up & said…. The Message
At the end of his message 3000 Jews converted to Christianity. WOW!
2:47 every day people were calling on the name of the Lord.
The Jews were converting so fast that the Jewish leaders persecuted the church- spread them back home with the message they had received.
The message that had TOUCHED their hearts.
The message that was now in their home towns…

Christianity was launched in a magnificent & wonderful way – NOT on a philosophy but the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

* In every generation God had raised up witnesses to that Christianity is not about…
* A Nationality
* But a message for the world!
* One day some people got into a boat & came to the America’s because there were people that needed the gospel. Before there was a United States…

As a Christian this is my STORY… your story

As a Christian we have been given the awesome MESSAGE…
- Not about the kingdom of man
- Not about reclaiming land
- Not about a political ideology
* But about reclaiming hearts…
IN every generation God has asked people to TAKE this message to the most remote parts of the world.

Who do you have that needs to hear a witness of the power of God…
Will you become a part of the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.