ENCOUNTERING GOD DAY BY DAY
Part 5 – Encountering God In His Mission
Acts 1:6-11

November 27, 2022
Ender Palencia, Pastor of Missions

Too often, we miss the amazing things God wants to do in and through us because we get distracted by what is in front of us.

One of the greatest ways we can encounter God is by living for His mission.

So, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come the same way you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:6-11 ESV

1. God invites us to encounter Him in a mission greater than anything else we can be a part of.

Acts 1:6-7  So, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

• Our worry about our circumstances and our well-being can rob us of the joy that comes from living for our true mission.

Matthew 6:31-33  Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2. We experience God’s amazing power when we encounter Him in his mission:

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Luke 11:13  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

• To experience God’s amazing power, we must encounter Him in his mission instead of asking Him to join us in ours.  

Luke 8:38-39  The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹ “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

• God has blessed us with talents, resources, and opportunities so we can encounter Him in his mission.

3. We encounter God when we understand the urgency of his mission.

Acts 1:9-11  And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come the same way you saw him go into heaven.”

• We have everything we need to encounter God in His mission and make an eternal impact.

• There are at least three ways we can participate:

PRAY!

GIVE!

GO!