Where Do I Go From Here? #1

Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds

how to go forward

Text: Acts 1:1-14

Introduction

For many unbelievers of the first century the “resurrection” was a “stumbling stone of offense.” To others, it presented a Savior they were willing to fall humbly upon and repent and believe.

That being said, I want to mainly address those who have already sometime in their past and are currently “believing” upon Christ. What does the resurrection mean for you as you wait for the Lord to call you home?

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 28: Acts Theophilus and Us

Luke wanted Theophilus to understand the full story of what Jesus began to do and teach, as well as what He was continuing to do. He desired this “lover of God” to experience the fullness of what God in Christ had done and could do in his life. The same is true for us.

Something the angel said in verse 11 caught my attention: “…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven?…” I couldn’t shake the thought that many Christians today are doing something very similar today. They are simply gazing at their salvation and not moving forward to accomplishing anything with it as they wait upon the Lord’s return.

I want to allow the Holy Spirit to step us all through some very foundational destinations EVERY believer should be reaching if they haven’t already. These will consist of single moment milestones, while others are a daily objective of your Christian life.

Whether you are a church member or visitor, LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY! If the Holy Spirit dwells in you (He does within all believers) He will NEVER LEAD YOU TO REMAIN NEUTRAL! Christianity is a DIRECTION, not a DESTINATION. Once you have been born-again, you never cease to BECOME A CHRISTIAN through Jesus Christ FOR Jesus Christ.

Before we get into to answering the question “Where do I go from here?” we have to spend time understanding HOW we are to go forward.

1) You Go Forward With A Focus On Resurrection

A. The resurrection of Jesus Christ

Romans 1:4 “4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

Jesus left everything pertaining to death, in the tomb.

Every ounce of Himself came out of the tomb.

Priority #1 for Jesus’ resurrection was to be the conqueror over death, hell and the grave your soul desperately needed.

Priority #2 for Jesus’ resurrection was to equip you with the freedom to live an abundant life.

This “new life” has freed you to experience the real joys of life; all things pertaining to eternity.

You are not to wait upon eternity in order to enjoy living.

The “abundant life” is about living “in light” of eternity.

No genuine believer can say, “I just didn’t have the want too.”

No genuine believer can say, “I just didn’t know the how too.”

I think the average believer misses at lease 50% of the abundant life that could be experienced on this side of Heaven!

B. My resurrection to life through Jesus Christ

Romans 6:4–5 “4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

1 Peter 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Acts is a book filled with examples of born-again believers launching out into a new life.

Peter and John actually are getting along and are found strong partners in Gospel ministry.

Saul of Tarsus is converted and flings himself into the opposite direction.

You find this direction prison nor cross was going to stand in their way.

C. Leave behind all things pertaining to death

We should follow Jesus’ example!

Some of you are walking around as if you still have grave clothes on.

The Spirit clothed you with clothing that was threaded with grace and life.

What do I mean when I say “life clothes?”

I mean take the next step the Spirit has made clear to you.

A visitor at some point must see the need of becoming a member of one of God’s New Testament churches.

Members need to come off the sidelines and GET INTO THE DEEP FABRIC of what makes this church function.

Members need to have just as much love for evening worship as they do for morning worship.

2) You Go Forward With A Focus On The Holy Spirit

A. The power of the Spirit

Look at verses 4-5

Notice how unfocused they were on the Spirit (v6)

Jesus refocuses them (v7-8)

He would not only be with them, but He would live in them! The power they would receive would not be something but Someone: Himself. Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Acts, vol. 28, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 27.

The Eternal Word — John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Full of Grace and Truth — John 1:14 “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:15 “15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Christianity is a relationship with the living Christ.

B. The purpose of the Spirit

In substance they were saying, “We appreciate all you did in the Cross and Resurrection, and what you’ve been saying about the kingdom and power is fine, but is it going to move toward our agenda? We became your disciples because we thought you were to restore the kingdom to Israel. Now, we are reluctant to press you, Lord, but are you going to do it or not?” Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Acts, vol. 28, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 36.

Jesus informs them what is and is not their business.

This same failure happens today!

The when and how God was going to accomplish things was to be of no concern to them.

They needed to believe God would do all things perfectly and on time.

Quote: (Oswald Chambers) “We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God can do and that God will not do what we can do.”

Notice verse 8 “you shall be witnesses unto Me…”

Evangelism — Acts 8:29 “29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

Passion — Acts 17:16 “16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”

Confidence — Acts 20:22 “22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:”

New Interests — Romans 8:5 “5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

3) You Go Forward With A focus On Jesus’ Return

A. Don’t be a cloud gazer

They stood there with great love for Jesus

And what did that mean for His followers? They could never disassociate what He had been for them as Friend, Companion, Master, Lord, and crucified and risen Savior. Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Acts, vol. 28, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 41.

I am sure they stood there with some doubts.

They stood in doubt of who they were to become.

They stood in doubt of what they could accomplish.

The angels appear and saw things from earths window.

While Jesus’ followers were standing there asking WHY? The angels appear to ask the same question; WHY?

Why not remember His teachings and make it your course?

Human unbelief, our slowness and dullness to grasp eternal realities, always seems to amaze the angelic visitors to our planet. John Phillips, Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Ac 1:10–11.

The angels left but their MESSAGE REMAINED.

B. The same Jesus is returning

The perfect One

The powerful One

The Conquer of darkness

The One who left the tomb empty

The One who gave you a mission to accomplish

the One whom you will stand before in judgement

He will return on His own decision, time, and way.

Matthew 26:64 “64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Revelation 1:7 “7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Conclusion

Will you continue your Christian life “gazing upon your salvation” with a kind of neutral heart OR will you allow your love for Christ keep His commandments fresh in your heart and keep taking next steps awaiting His return?