Continue to pray for Haiti -- another earthquake hit this morning. Check out this link for more. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/20/haiti.earthquake/index.html?hpt=C1

Engagement with spiritual reality happens in many ways in Acts 19. Disciples of John who have never heard of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit are baptized into the name of Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Seven sons of Sceva were amazed by Paul's spiritual power and tried to cast out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus. The evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the evil spirit overpowered these seven men. The riot at Ephesus results from Paul's ministry in Ephesus.

Spiritual transformation happens through speaking the Word, the Holy Spirit's power demonstrated in various ways, and the spoken testimony of the evil spirit before it jumped the seven sons of Sceva.

What might God be teaching us? "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms . . . be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (Eph 6:12, 10). The Holy Spirit empowers and guides us along.

The video below details the upcoming mission trip out of our church to Roatan, Honduras. Let's pray for the power of the Spirit to work through our team to bless the people there with good deeds and good news.

Jesus was absolutely confident that the Great Commission would be achieved. He said in Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." I wonder how soon that wil be?

The Lord also calls us to be absolutely confident He will help us as we carry out the mission. He promised in Matthew 28:20, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." He promises that His authority and power will be with us as we carry out this Great Commission. I suppose that means He will show up as we share the good news of Christ! Do you have a story of how the Lord was with you as you shared the good news?

Lord, I pray that you will send out workers into your harvest. Check out this song by one of my heroes back in the day or video of the need in Africa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHjdRDBS25k  

Charles Spurgeon, the "Prince of Preachers" in the 19th Century, wrote that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) "is the Church's right." Spurgeon evinced boldness when he wrote,

All power is given to Christ . . . What then? Why this. Kings and princes . . . are [you] aware that your thrones have been given away? . . . Do [you] pass decrees forbidding the gospel to be preached? We laugh at you! You have no power to prevent it, for all power is given to Christ . . . [The church] has rights . . . rights in heaven without limit, and rights in earth without bound; for all power is given to her Head  . . . What is that man doing on yonder shore? . . . He is an intruder, banish him at once! Sirs, mind what you do, for surely [you] fight against God. But the man is sent away, he comes back again . . . A severer edict is passed this time, "Let us slay him . . ." But another comes, and another, and another.

What do you think about Spurgeon's zeal? [Check out Psalm 2; Isaiah 50:7]

(http://spiritlessons.com/images/File_PassionMovie_CrossWalk2.jpg)

If you were to change the world how would you do it? Jesus had an amazing plan!

His plan is all about investing in His followers and then unleashing them. During His ministry, He first showed His disciples His power. Then He gave it to them (Luke 9:1ff). And then He sent them into the world to share the good news of the kingdom (Luke 10). Jesus showed them, empowered them, and sent them. That's how He made disciples.

So when He gives the Great Commission it's no different. He says, "All authority . . . has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples . . ." Jesus gives us the authority to be conduits of His authority as we make disciples.

How has the Lord Jesus empowered you to advance His kingdom? (Check out 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Timothy 1:6.)

Yesterday's message focused on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 (click on "Messages" at www.shalombaptist.org).