Our Story

You Are Witnesses of These Things  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction

I’m a big history buff…
It wasn’t until college that I learned that history isn’t just old facts and stories. It’s something that effects our lives today and helps to form the people we are.
I also learned that history should be personalized.
Meaning, we ought to learn the lessons from the past…
…appreciate the sacrifices that were made…
...and build upon the good work of others…
Within the broader topic of history, there is numerous fascinating times:
American History, European History, Ancient History, Biblical History, the Renaissance, the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the World Wars, the Wild West are all fascinating topics to study. And there are countless more.
For me, the most compelling is Church History.
Tragically, the average church-goer knows very little about church history.
That’s sad because if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then Church History is your history too! It’s our story.
If I was to mention names and topics like: Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian of Carthage, Constantine, the Council of Nicea, the Council of Constantinople, Athanasius of Alexandria, Jerome, Augustine of Hippo, monasticism, Charlemagne, the Crusades, John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, the Anabaptist movement, John Calvin, Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, Queen Elizabeth, the Council of Trent, the Thirty Years’ War, the Puritans, the Westminster Confession, Pietism, Kierkegarrd, the Ecumenical Movement, there would be very few of these that the vast majority of the church would be familiar with, or have even heard of.
And, it is true, you don’t need to know any of these to be saved or to follow Christ as your Lord and Savior.
But, this is our history. Every single person and/or event I mentioned had an impact on the modern church today; for good or for ill.
All of them have lessons to teach us, if we would just take the time to read about them.
I’ve titled this sermon “Our Story” because I want us to not only see the incredible history here of the early church, but more importantly, I’d like us to each embrace the reality that this is our story.
And, if it is our story, we ought to personalize it, because this history isn’t over.
Finally, if it’s our story, then we should ask ourselves: Is the calling of the early church in any way similar to our calling today? And if so, how? And what does that require of me?

Body

Verses 1-3
Luke’s second work…
Key elements of Luke’s Gospel:
What Jesus did and taught…
His atoning death…
His victorious resurrection…
Verses 4-5
Where are they now in the narrative:
The disciples are awaiting the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem
However, it is highly likely that they had no idea what this meant!
Question to Ponder: Do you have enough faith to wait upon the Lord, even when you don’t really know what you are waiting for?
Verses 6-8
We see here that the apostles still struggled with the nature of Christ’s kingdom versus the Jewish expectation of the restoration of the kingdom, as they understood since childhood.
Jewish mindset:
God’s blessing was directly linked to the temple, the Torah, and the land.
The Messianic expectation was tied to the reestablishment of Jewish national sovereignty over the Promised Land, as in the days of King David.
They hadn’t experienced true national sovereignty since the Babylonia captivity (586 BC).
Thus, the disciples believed that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. However, they still didn’t understand that their view of the Messiah was too small…
The kingdom He was establishing would have far greater influence than the kingdom of Israel.
In fact, the phrase “kingdom of God” is found throughout Acts. But, it doesn’t point to the establishment of Jewish sovereignty over the land, but the establishment of Christ Jesus being enthroned in the hearts of His people, resulting in worship of God, godliness within His people and the expansion of His kingdom through the evangelistic efforts.
Essentially, the disciples were called to be a restored Israel themselves, fulfilling the call of Isaiah 49:6
Isaiah 49:6 ESV
he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Jesus response to the disciple’s misunderstanding of the nature of His mission:
First, that’s not for you to concern yourself with.
God’s timing is His own, and it really shouldn’t be a disciple’s concern.
In the same way, a lot of people today get overly fascinated with Jesus second coming…
Second, God will supply you with the power you need to be my witnesses where I send you.
They will be empowered for the mission
They would receive power, which is the word δυναμιν , the same word used for Jesus’ miracles.
The idea here is that the power is from the Spirit, not man.
Thus, Jesus doesn’t send His people on mission without empowering them to fulfill that mission.!
Third, they will be sent to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as Jesus witnesses.
While they could do nothing about God’s timing, they could fulfill their calling.
Christ’s commission of the disciples really made up for Israel’s failure to be Good News bearers to the other nations:
Isaiah 43:10 ESV
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
Isaiah 44:8 ESV
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
Luke not only quotes something important that Jesus says, but he set up how Acts would be laid out.
Acts 1-7 the church’s witness of Christ in Jerusalem
Acts 8-12 the church’s witness of Christ in Judea & Samaria
Acts 13-28 the church’s witness of Christ to the ends of the earth…ending in Rome.
However, a question often arises: Does Luke intend for the reader to understand the ends of the earth as Rome, since the book ends there?
I believe not. In saying this, I believe Jesus is setting out the ministry which would extend to the Jews in Jerusalem, the Jews and the Samaritans, and the Jews and Gentiles is the Diaspora.
In fact, I would argue that chapter 29 of Acts is all of church history from that point to today and beyond, until Christ returns...
Therefore, the calling extends even to us as Christ’s disciples today.
The calling is to be Jesus witnesses.
They will spread the gospel from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and begin the greater mission of bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth.
In essence, they would be witnesses wherever God sent them.
As they were sent out, God would use their testimony to draw others to Himself, who would, in turn, bring that message to others, and so on.
In this, Jesus answers their question about timing.
God’s true and greater kingdom will be finally established at a later time that is beyond our concern. But, we have a part to play in the coming of that kingdom, as we are Holy Spirit empowered witnesses wherever God sends us.

Big Idea: Our calling as a church is to be Spirit-empowered witnesses of Jesus within the places God will bring us.

I’m going to come back to this throughout this series because it’s a calling that runs through the whole of Acts and church history.
Verses 9-11
The Ascension…
After this no more appearance would happen…at least along the lines of these in the 40 days. Remember, he appeared to Stephen (7:56) and Paul (9:5)
Two men in white robes…
Likely angels, but Luke doesn’t seem to care too much about identifying them. Why?
Because the message matters, not the messengers.
Quit looking into the sky…
This is a mountain top experience and the angels need to wake them up, because they have work to do!
Additionally, part of the motivation is that He will return again.
He will come, bodily and visibly, so they needed to get to work in the interim.

So What?

The church’s marching orders are clear: Our calling as a church is to be Spirit-empowered witnesses of Jesus within the places God will bring us.
What does it mean to be Spirit-empowered?
It means the power behind our Christian life and witness is the Holy Spirit, not our own creativity, charisma, or abilities.
God will utilize our creativity, charisma, and abilities, but that’s not the power.
Zechariah 4:6 ESV
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
John 14:26 ESV
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Who does He send?
Everyone who is His.
Here we see the apostles. But, throughout church history it has been more than the apostles. It’s been everyone who was serious about being a follower of Christ.
So, the question is: are you a serious follower of Christ? If so, you are sent as His witness.
What does it mean to be a witness?
To share the Gospel story with those God brings to us...
The Gospel…
Sharing…
Where does He send us?
Our own spheres of influence.
Castle Rock & the surrounding communities.
The Pacific Northwest.
The United States and North America.
The ends of the earth.
What is we have limited spheres of influence?
Start there...
Expand your sphere...
Ask the Lord to expand your sphere...
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