ADVANCING WITH HOPE

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

 

How do we walk into 2021 with Hope and Purpose?

 

1. LOOK UP 

Jesus is alive and He’s coming again!

 Acts 1:3 – To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 

Acts 1:9 – Now when He had spoken these things while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:11 – Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Luke 21:28 – Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.

 

2. PRAY UP

 Acts 1:12 – Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

Acts 1:13 – And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

Acts 1:14 – These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

3. FILL UP

 Acts 1:8 – You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.

John 15:26 – But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Acts 5:32 – And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

 

4. GO OUT

Acts 1:8 – And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Luke 24:46 – Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.’

Luke 24:47 – And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:48 – And you are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:49 – Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you facing 2021 with hope or with discouragement? Why?

2. What steps can you take to draw closer to Jesus Christ in this New Year?

3. What is holding you back from taking those steps?

4. How can you help advance the Kingdom in this New Year?