Acts 1:9-26

I Love it when a plan comes together!

Ateam pic

One Giant Leap

Full Dependence on God’s plan

Set the scene

Bethany is where Jesus and his disciples are…

Here where he rested with Disciples, here where he raised Lazurus and said

John 11:25“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”

After the resurrection Jesus appeared to over 500 people

1 Corinthians 15:6 (ESV)

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Jesus just gave the call to start the church.

Mission statement: to be Christ’s Witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Jesus gives them the mission and literally as he is giving it to them ..leaves them

Mic drop

Acts 1:9-11 (ESV)

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus left? How could the church possibly be productive without Christ?

So that we could share the gospel

What did Jesus leave behind on earth?

No wife or child No house No clothes No money No business No writings (directly authored while he was on earth) No hymns No portrait No buildings No cross remnant No confirmed gravesite No body

He only left two things behind

His words

Matthew 24:35 (ESV)

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away

His people

John 17:20-23 (ESV)

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

So why did he leave?

To send the spirit

John 16:7 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you

He accomplished the work

John 17:4 (ESV)

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

To prepare a place

John 14:2-4 (ESV)

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Holy Spirit came

To convict the world

John 16:8-11 (ESV)

. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

The Holy Spirit’s task is to convict people of their sin. It’s not our job to rub people’s noses in their sin. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings that heavenly guilt to a person, a guilt that can only be answered in the Gospel!

Luke 24:51 ESV

51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Jesus followers here the mission Jesus is leaving them and they are just staring… into the heavens..

Two heavenly messengers.. some have said it was Moses and Elijah.. no proof for that?

What is more important is what they said!

Vs..

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

God’s plan.. go witness and be patient

2 Peter 3:10 (ESV)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed

So they worshipped him.

Luke 24:52 (ESV)

52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

Follow the plan

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Obedience

Patience and prayer

Acts 1:12-14 (ESV)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Waited and prayed with a united purpose

First sign of a church

America prays macc edit

“The life of the church is the highest life, and its office is to pray. Its prayer life is the highest life, the most fragrant, the most conspicuous. When God’s house on the earth is a house of prayer, then God’s house in heaven is busy and powerful in its plans and movements. ‘For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people’ (Isaiah 56:7), says our God. Then, His earthly armies are clothed with the triumphs and spoils of victory, and His enemies are defeated on every hand… The very life and prosperity of God’s cause - even its very existence - depend on prayer. And the advance and triumph of His cause depend on one thing: that we ask of Him.”  E. M. Bounds

Colossians 4:2-3 (ESV)

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison

Prayer brought them unity

The word for one accord here is

Homothumadon. Rush along in unison

Praise team dave and singers harmonise.. when those two notes hit just right.. different people different notes but the same purpose in unity…

When Christians coral they are called to come together and remember what Jesus says about that

Matthew 18:19 (ESV)

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Obedience and understanding the plan

Acts 1:15-20 (ESV)

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[b] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,     and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

And “‘Let another take his office.’

Some argument amongst commentators here that Peter should of never done this..that he was wrong to replace Judas.. not sure why..lets look at it this way

Jesus put peter in charge.. Peter..you are my rock and its on you I will build my church.. then peter and all the disciples prayed worshipped and where united then.

Peter recognizing they are short in leadership..looks to the word for understanding on what to do…

Revelation 21:14 (ESV)

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

First, Peter references Psalm 69. David is listing the abuses he endured from those who were trying to destroy him with lies and force him to repay what he did not steal (Psalm 69:4). He says he became a stranger to his brothers (Psalm 69:8), much like Jesus (Mark 3:21, 31), and that his oppressors gave him "sour wine to drink" (Psalm 69:21), which Jesus experienced on the cross (Matthew 27:48).

The quote is from Psalm 69:25. David prayed that the camp of his enemies who wrongly persecuted him would be abandoned. Applied to Judas, this is fulfilled almost poetically, as his estate, the thirty pieces of silver, was used to buy land for a cemetery (Matthew 27:3–10).

The following quote is from Psalm 109, an imprecatory psalm in which David calls for extreme prejudicial judgment against his deceptive accuser. The request for another to "take his office" (Psalm 109:8) is tame compared to some of David's other requests, but it applies to the people sitting in the upper room.

I believe Peter just follows scripture there is no one in the room who argued or never did God or the holy spirit intervene here..

We can learn from the importance of following Gods word and obeying it.. especially after pray, worship and finding unity with our fellow believers…

People who are Ready to Serve

Acts 1:21-26

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Apollo 13.. ken mattingly

Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (EWV)

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We fight on our knees

With our hands praising the Lord

Trusting our every fear that God your plan is the best plan

And with Christ nothing is impossible.

Acts 1:9-26

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[a]

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[b] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,     and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.