Some Things Jesus Left Behind
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The past month and a half had been a whirlwind for the Lord’s disciples. Just forty days earlier they had seen Him die on a cross. On that day all their dreams and hopes came crashing to the ground.
They hid themselves away in fear of suffering the same fate Jesus had experienced. But, three days after Jesus died, He appeared to them alive again. Their Lord has risen from the dead! There was hope. Still they wavered. They were up and they were down.
Then, the Lord took them aside and began to teach them some truths they desperately needed to know, v. 3. He is going away He tells them, and He is leaving His work, His ministry in their hands.
• They needed to know what the Lord expected of them, and He taught them.
• They needed to know what they were to be doing, and the Lord taught them.
• They needed comfort for their troubled hearts, and He gave it to them.
• He spent forty days with His men instructing them, comforting them, and spending time with them.
After spending the forty days with Jesus after His resurrection, the disciples are standing with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. He gives them some final words of instruction, then while they are watching Him, He begins to rise up, ascending into the heavens. Suddenly, He is gone. He is taken from their presence, and they are left in bewilderment on the mountain without him.
In that moment, the disciples are filled with more questions than answers. Their minds are doubtless filled with many confusing thoughts.
While they stand there looking up in to the sky, angels, messengers from God, appear to them and say, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?”
And then, here’s my favorite part of this passage…Look at what they say...
Acts 1:11 (KJV 1900)
11 ...this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus will return just as He left.
· He left physically and will so come in like manner.
· He left visibly and will so come in like manner.
· He left from the Mount of Olives and will so come in like manner.
· He left in the presence of His disciples and will so come in like manner.
· He left blessing His church and will so come in like manner.
I got to thinking about this…Jesus left this world, but He left some things behind...
I want to preach a little while this morning on that very thought…Some Things Jesus Left Behind...
1-A task that was unfinished
1-A task that was unfinished
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus tells them that they were to be His “witnesses” to the world. They were to begin at Jerusalem, then they must take the message to Judaea, then to Samaria, then to “the uttermost part of the earth”. They were tasked with sharing the Gospel with all people in all places.
Their mandate was to “preach the Gospel to every creature”, Mark 16:15. They were to “go and teach all nations”, Matthew 28:19. These men had a message to tell, and the Lord sent them out to tell it.
We are still here, and God has not changed His mind!
Do you know why you are still in this world?
You are here because the Lord isn’t through with you yet.
One reason He leaves us here in this world, with all its sin, its problems, and its pain, is so that we might be witnesses to His saving grace to a world is trapped in sin. He leaves you here so that the world might see Jesus in you, and so that you might tell the lost about the Christ who saves.
He left a task that was unfinished...
2-A message that would never change
2-A message that would never change
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
I’m talking about the Gospel here!
The word gospel means “good news.” The best news ever is that we can be saved from the punishment we deserve from God because of what Jesus did for us.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Gospel delivers sinners from the penalty and power of sin!
This is the greatest need of the human race! If men and women are to be saved, it must be through faith in Jesus Christ as proclaimed in the Gospel!
The Gospel hasn’t changed one bit through the years! I’m thankful that Gospel was the message that saved back then and it’s still the message for today!
3-A power that was unlimited
3-A power that was unlimited
Listen to me this morning…Jesus left behind:
The power to SAVE
The power to SAVE
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
"…to the uttermost," is translated from a Greek word that has the connotation of "completely" or "perfectly," emphasizing the completeness of Jesus' saving power.
This phrase is important because it highlights the superiority of Jesus' salvation over the temporary and incomplete nature of the Old Testament sacrifices.
The power to SERVE
The power to SERVE
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
God has empowered all believers to serve Him and accomplish deeds and tasks far beyond our imagination. We tend to limit God, but His power is limitless and He does that which is impossible..He has left behind the power to SERVE!
The power to SECURE
The power to SECURE
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The word translated “kept” is a military word that means “guarded, shielded.” The tense of the verb reveals that we are constantly being guarded by God, assuring us that we shall safely arrive in heaven.
I’m glad this morning, I’m not kept by my own power, but I’m kept by the power of God!
I’m not kept by my strength, but by His faithfulness!
4-A testimony that could not be shaken
4-A testimony that could not be shaken
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Hey! What a testimony that He left behind! Our Lord Jesus tasted death for EVERY man! He wants ALL men to be saved! He loves ALL the world!
5-A Church that cannot be defeated
5-A Church that cannot be defeated
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Taken together, the promise is wonderful:
· He brings His people together in common: I will build.
· He builds on a firm foundation: Upon this rock I will build.
· He builds something that belongs to Him: My church.
· He builds it into a stronghold: the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The BODY cannot be DISCECTED—Christ is our HEAD.
The BUILDING cannot be DESTROYED—Christ is our FOUNDATION.
The BRIDE cannot be DIVORCED—Christ is our GROOM and listen to me friend; He promised never to leave me nor forsake me hallelujah!
He left behind a Church that can’t be defeated!...
6-A Promise that was unbreakable
6-A Promise that was unbreakable
It’s hard to imagine how the Disciples felt as they watched Jesus ascend to Heaven...
No doubt it was a time of amazement as well as sorrow and uncertainty.
It is likely that they replayed the events of the past few years in their minds.
They probably remembered in detail hearing the Lord’s call to follow Him.
They probably thought of the many miracles that they had witnessed Jesus perform.
Maybe they thought of the humbling experience of the Upper Room and the earnest prayer that was offered in Gethsemane.
It’s likely they recalled the soldiers appearing being led of Judas Iscariot.
Surely they thought of the suffering of Calvary and the questions associated with the Crucifixion.
Their hearts likely went back to the joy they felt as they learned that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but alive and well.
Those days are now in the past and they are facing another situation to which they are unsure.
This was a time of “goodbyes” for the disciples, and Jesus had left them a promise that was unbreakable...
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Now, the Disciples are upset with the notion that Jesus is going away, but He says, “Hey boys, it’s all going to be alright…I’m coming back for ya!”
Thank God this morning, the greatest glory of Heaven will not be golden streets, jasper walls, angelic hosts, crystal rivers, an endless day, or even seeing those who have gone on before.
Even the thought of all these wonders pales when placed alongside that which will thrill our hearts more than anything else. That thing that excites me more than anything else. That one wonder that I most anticipate is the day when I shall at last look upon the face of the One who dies for my sins on Calvary, when I shall at last have the opportunity to bow at His nail riven feet and shout His praises in that Heavenly City on High.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Some Things Jesus Left Behind…I’m thankful today for that promise He’ll return one of these days, and carry us home to be with Him in eternity...