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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE - Called to...

GO
April 27th, 2025
Paul Halstead


We are called to GO.
From comfortable to courageous… we are called to GO. 


Luke 24:50-53 says this…
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.


Acts 1:1-11 begins this way…
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”


7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.”


9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.


10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”



Jesus gives them some valuable information.
 
First, you don’t have to worry about the time or date of my return… just be ready.
Second, you will have everything you need when the power of the Holy Spirit comes on you. 
 
Third, you will be my witnesses.  Not just here, not just around here, but all over the world. 
 
GO, and live the good news! Be courageous! 



If we as individuals, coming together as families, coming together as a church, if we are to be a church on mission with Jesus Christ, then we have to understand God’s definition of the word GO.


Matthew 28: 18-20 says this…
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 
After Jesus made this statement, there wasn’t anything else to say.  
 
Jesus made His statement of authority, He gave us His command, and He gave us a promise.
 
Let’s look at the elements of this scripture.
 
First thing Jesus does is qualify who He is.   
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”


Jesus is not confused about who He is.  Why did He need to say this? Let’s back up to the two verses before He said this. 
 
16 Then the 11 disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some still had their doubts. 


What does it look like to have a life that has surrendered to the authority of Jesus? 
 
Simply put… we obey.  We do what He asked us to do.  



I did some digging on the Greek translation of this word and it is my understand that the meaning of the word Go in this context is “As you go…”
 
Therefore, as you go, make disciples of all nations…
 
When you look at it from this perspective, the word Go doesn’t come to completion.  It is not a destination.  It is an active command. 


Now it’s time for to make some decisions. 
 
If you’ve never made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, maybe you don’t even know what that means, there are people here ready to talk to you.  Let’s Go. 
 
Maybe you know about Jesus, but it’s time to have a relationship with Jesus.  It’s time to surrender, repent of the past and become a new creation through baptism.  If today is the day, let’s GO. 
 
Maybe you’ve been chasing the world, but the time has come to go all in, obey the command of Christ to make disciples.  
If that’s you, let’s GO. 
 
When God says GO, Let’s GO.
 
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 
Jesus is the RISEN King, He’s told us what to do, He’s promised to go with us. 
 
We are called to GO…
 
LET’S GO.