“Marching Orders”

In the introduction of the Book of Acts, Luke is telling Theophilus about all the things that Jesus began to do and teach before the Ascension. In verse 2, it says that Jesus gave orders to the apostles.

As I read and re-read verse 2, the words, “given orders”, just started to come to life.  I began to think, what kind of orders where these: was it to go to McDonalds and pick up dinner, was it to go and pick up new Easter clothes, (you know that is just around the corner), and the way Church is today and depending on what type of Church you attend you will either be over-dressed or under-dressed.  Oh my… that starts a whole new order of things.

Anyway,

Then as I kept reading,  I could see that what orders that Jesus was giving was “Marching Orders.”

The apostles were chosen by him to go into battle with the enemy.  A new day was about to dawn. He was about to send them around the world to set the captives free.

 I like the way the NASB version puts it, “even to the remotest parts of the earth.”

But first they needed something that they didn’t have in themselves, Power to fight this enemy. They needed a Power that only GOD could give, the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 8 puts it like this, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be_________?

Great book writers

Great blog posters

Great musicians

Great preachers

Great Church builders

Great worshippers

I don”t think so! Jesus has given us our MARCHING ORDERS:  “you shall be My Witnesses….., even to the remotest part of the earth.”

If you will notice that the “you” is not capitalized (speaking of you and me), however what is capitalized is the “My” (speaking of JESUS).

We must begin to forget about us and our wants, and our likes and dis-likes, and our way, and “their” way, and lift His name high above all things, because He is above all things.

Let us March forth through the remotest parts of the earth with our MARCHING ORDERS and with the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NAME OF OUR CHIEF CAPTAIN AND WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TURNING  OUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

As the old hymn goes:

Marching on, Marching on…

For Christ count everything but loss!

And to crown him King, we’ll toil and sing

Beneath the banner of the cross!