A New Capacity and Calling | Famous Last Words (Week 1)

Grace Fellowship Church

In this first part of the "Famous Last Words" series, Pastor Rex Keener dives deep into the transformative power of Jesus' final words before His ascension. As we explore Acts 1:4-9, Pastor Keener unpacks the profound significance of Jesus’ promise to His disciples—a promise that offered them a new capacity and a new calling to represent Him well. Pastor Rex begins by reflecting on the intriguing nature of famous last words, sharing memorable examples that range from the humorous to the profound. But none are more impactful than the last words of Jesus Christ. These words, spoken just before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, were not only a farewell but also a commissioning. They provided the disciples with a powerful vision for their future—a future where they would become His witnesses to the ends of the earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Throughout the sermon, Pastor Keener highlights how Jesus’ words offered the disciples a new capacity through the Holy Spirit. This capacity wasn't just about human strength or resolve; it was a divine empowerment—"dunamis"—that gave them the courage and power to carry out the mission Jesus entrusted to them. Pastor Rex explains the different names of the Holy Spirit found in Scripture, each representing a unique aspect of His work in our lives. But here, the focus is on the Spirit of Power, who provides the disciples—and us—with the strength to live out our faith boldly and effectively. However, this empowerment doesn’t come without a cost. Pastor Keener challenges us to consider whether we’ve ever been truly broken before the Lord. It’s in our moments of brokenness, when we despair of our own abilities and recognize our need for God, that we are most open to receiving His power. Just as the disciples had to be broken before they could be empowered, we too must reach the end of our own strength before we can fully rely on God’s. In addition to this new capacity, Pastor Rex speaks on the new calling that Jesus gave His disciples—to be His witnesses. This wasn’t just a task to check off a list but a new identity. As Christ-followers, we are called to represent Him in every aspect of our lives. Pastor Rex illustrates this with a personal story about his early ministry days, where he grappled with how our lives can either attract or repel others from Christ. It’s a powerful reminder that our witness is more about who we are than just what we do. As the sermon draws to a close, Pastor Rex encourages us to reflect on our own lives. Are we living as effective witnesses for Christ? Have we truly embraced the new capacity and calling that comes with being a follower of Jesus? He sets the stage for the next sermon, where he will explore the new custom that Jesus outlined for His disciples—a pattern of ever-expanding influence that begins at home and extends to the ends of the earth. Join us for this inspiring and challenging message as we learn what it means to live with a new capacity and calling, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and committed to representing Jesus well in every aspect of our lives. Don't miss the continuation of this series next week, where we’ll dive into the practical outworking of this mission. We pray this message from August 18, 2024 will bless you!! Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny To give online: gracefellowship.com/give/ To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: gracefellowship.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny Instagram: www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny