Acts 1:1-11 (The God Who Acts)

Text: Acts 1:1-11

Main point: Jesus is not here, but Jesus is not done.

Intro

-I wonder if you’ve ever experienced a major life transition. One chapter of life ends, and a new chapter begins.

-Maybe something like moving from one home to another; adding a new member to your family, or perhaps, more sadly, losing a member of your family. Changing schools; or switching careers. One thing concludes, and a new thing commences.

-There’s always the complex mix of emotions, isn’t there? All at once, we experience the anticipation of the new, mingled with sadness and nostalgia over the old.

-We tend to look back in reflection on all that has just concluded, and simultaneously we look ahead at what’s about to commence.

-There’s a major transition unfolding in the text we’re looking at this morning. It’s a transition of historical proportions - a new chapter of human history is set to begin. The Lord Jesus has completed His work on earth, and ascends into heaven. Things are about to change in some big ways. Nothing will be the same.

-Luke, who authored the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, shows this transition happening in two movements. The earthly ministry of Jesus is concluding, and so Luke reflects back on it for a moment. That roughly comprises verses 1-5.

-And in the same text, the heavenly ministry of Jesus commences, and so Luke looks ahead in anticipation. That’s roughly verses 6-11.

-Those will be my 2 points as we briefly walk through this text. Jesus’ earthly ministry concludes. Jesus’ heavenly ministry commences.

-Here’s what I believe Luke’s main point is: Jesus is not here, but Jesus is not done.

1. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry Concludes (v.1-5)

-In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up (v.1-2). Luke authored the book of Acts as a sort of ‘second volume’ to the gospel of Luke.

-In that book, Luke meticulously compiled the grounds for the historic Christian faith. The gospel of Luke is an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It contains well-documented events which had been accomplished, eye-witnessed, transmitted among the ancient world, researched & investigated, and finally recorded.

-But coupled with his thoroughly historical approach was Luke’s theological approach. Luke shows us not just Jesus of Nazareth, but Jesus the Christ; Jesus the Savior; Jesus the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy; Jesus the long-awaited Redeemer, Who made payment for sin.

-It’s as though he’s saying Theophilus, that was just the beginning! That was just volume one!

-Well, as Luke pivots into volume two, he tells us exactly what we should expect from it. He sets expectations right out of the gate.

-“I have dealt with all the Jesus began to do and teach“. Think of what this implies: Jesus is not done working or speaking. We should expect Acts to be about all that Jesus is continuing to do and teach.

-And there are at least 3 ways we see that set up in this introduction. There are three strands to the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry. And they all intertwine here in Luke’s introduction.

-First: The Words of Jesus. Second: The presence of the Holy Spirit. Third: The preparation of the disciples.

a) The Words of Jesus

-v.2: after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen - Jesus instructed His disciples in things they would need to do.

-v.3: appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God

-Acts 1:4–5 “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

-Jesus’ earthly ministry concluded with teachings

b) The Presence of the Holy Spirit

-THe Holy Spirit is mentioned twice in these first 5 verses, and again down in verse 8.

-More specifically, the Holy Spirit is the One through Whom Jesus had given commands to his chosen apostles (v.2)

-The Holy Spirit is the One with Whom they would be baptized (v.5)

-And the Holy Spirit is the One Who would come upon them to empower them as His witnesses (v.8)

-So as Jesus’ final moments on earth came to a close, the promise and Presence of the Holy Spirit was center stage! We know that the Holy Spirit shows up in full-blown power and glory in chapter 2, but here in chapter 1 He is promised.

c) The Preparation of the Apostles

-Notice how Luke describes the apostles as those “whom Jesus had chosen” (v.2); those to whom Jesus presented Himself alive after His sufferings by many proofs (v.3); those whom Jesus positioned in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (v.4)

-You might think of this like the mission briefing.

[Illustration]

-Whether you know the Mission Impossible movie franchise or not, there’s a famous phrase that shows up in every movie. There’s a mission briefing scene early on. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”

-In a loose way, you might think of this as that moment for the disciples! Jerusalem is the Church’s starting line and headquarters; the resurrection appearances and proofs give the apostles firm footing - Jesus really is alive!; Jesus’ commands through the Holy Spirit and teachings about the Kingdom of God are the Church’s direction and guidance.

-The baton is being passed. You see, the disciples themselves are about to take up the mantle. All that Jesus began to do and teach will continue through the apostles. They will be the ones to carry on the works of Christ. They will set forward the teachings of Christ all throughout the book of Acts.

-And after their time, that same mantle would be passed down to every follower of Christ throughout history!

-Who could’ve imagined that Redeemer Church would be here some 2,000 years later, as a direct result of what took place here? Who could’ve imagined that the baton would be passed through generation upon generation, to reach us?

-We are living proof - are we not? - that Jesus is not here, but Jesus is not done.

-The curtain closes on Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry Concludes - with the Words of Jesus, The Presence of the Holy Spirit, and the Preparation of the apostles.

-Luke next shows us that Jesus’ Heavenly Ministry Commences.

2. Jesus’ Heavenly Ministry Commences (v.6-11)

-In this section, we learn the master plan of Jesus: to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. Salvation is going to the ends of the earth!

-And notice that these verses divide nicely to show us the Ground View and the Aerial View of Jesus’ plan.

-Look at the Ground View there in verses 6-8 (read). Jesus deploys His disciples across the earth as witnesses. Ambassadors. Gospel preachers. And we get 4 references to geographic location- Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth.

-Now corresponding to those 4 references to geographic location - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the end of the earth - we also get 4 references to Jesus ascending to heaven in the verses that immediately follow (read).

-I like how one Bible commentator states it: “Jesus’ ascension [into heaven] is not His absence or inactivity, but the focus is on the place from which He rules for the rest of the book.” In other words, Jesus is not taking a holiday in heaven. He is not retreating. He is leaving the frontlines for Mission Control; He is assuming heavenly command over His earthly Church. He is leading, governing, overseeing, directing, and driving forward this mission to completion. Jesus’ heavenly ministry is commencing!

-It’s as though Luke is showing us: heaven and earth are shoulder-to-shoulder, teaming up together in this mission.

-The resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, the Righteous Son of David; the Holy One; the hope of the nations. He’s cooperating with His earthly Church.

-Both are responsible and active to proclaim salvation to all nations. Disciples on the ground, Jesus in heaven. One team, one goal.

-The Ground View. And the Aerial View.

-That’s where our text ends. Feet in Jerusalem. Eyes on the end of the earth. Savior in heaven. Holy Spirit inbound. Mission commence.

-Redeemer Church: I wonder what difference it would make in our lives if we believed that Jesus is not here, but Jesus is not done.

-Let’s briefly discuss some applications.

[Application]

+Embrace our identity as Christ’s witness. Notice that the promise is verse 8 is an identity statement: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.

-Jesus is not primarily telling them to do something, although that’s implied. Jesus is inviting them to be something- His witnesses.

-We tend to think of witnessing for Christ as something we must do. And this is right and true and good. But…

-tease this out more

-Redeemer Church, what might it look like for us to embrace our identity as Christ’s witnesses?

-Adults- maybe it’s striking up a conversation and identifying with Christ with that neighbor you always make eye contact with but never get to talk to.

-Families- maybe it’s giving up a night with the family to invite that coworker over for dinner and games, and spiritual conversation.

-Moms and dads- maybe it’s connecting with the other parents at the park as your kids play together.

-Students- maybe it’s simply holding your head up high when your classmates look at you funny for trying to live a life that glorifies God.

-See, the gospel teaches that Christ has saved us, He has given us a new identity, and He has sent us into the world! We’ve been commissioned by God to live where we live, work where we work, have the relationships we have, as Christ’s witness!

-Do we value that identity? Do we live out that identity? Do we prize all that Jesus accomplished in order to give us that most precious identity?

-Keep your eyes on the end of the earth.

-End-of-the-earth ministry must be a priority for the Church!

-One of my favorite parts of my job is working with our fellowship at Gettysburg College. Our Gettysburg fellowship is currently a majority non-white, with a strong international presence from countries like China, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and more.

-Thirty minutes from our doorstep, we have an opportunity to reach, train, and disciple students from more than 10 countries! And if they gain a biblical foundation in Christ during their time here, imagine the global impact our ministry can have!

-More than that, we’re constantly praying, hoping, and exhorting our students to consider ministry after college! What an astounding, global reach we can have as we mobilize more laborers into the harvest!

-The ends of the earth are coming to us! Do we have eyes to see it?

-What end-of-the-earth ministry opportunities exist around us in the Chambersburg area?

-Are there opportunities in your neighborhood to welcome the foreigner, the outcast, the refugee, the widow, or the orphan?

-If this church’s demographic were to rapidly enfold mass amounts of people from different backgrounds, cultures, nations, and languages- would you be willing to let go of your preferred styles and methods of doing things, or begin to mold around the people who find their way here for discipleship?

+Let’s be flexible, and keep our eyes on the ends of the earth.

-Let’s be a church that Goes to work.

-That’s my paraphrase of the angels at the end of the passage- 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. In other words, Get to work! What are you still doing here? He’s coming back! The righteous Judge will return, and people need to be prepared!

-Now get this: The Holy Spirit hadn’t even come yet! But the disciples were supposed to get to work. How much more should we, now that we’ve been empowered by the same Holy Spirit as them!

-Jesus is not here…but the Holy Spirit is, and so are we!

-So where can you get to work in declaring and preaching the gospel? Where have you been tempted to tip-toe around those evangelistic opportunities in your life? Can you fit witnessing for Christ into your overcrowded schedule?

-Let me give you a practical example of how to do this. In the next week, you could approach a friend you have and say to them, “Hey, you know I heard a sermon this past week that got me thinking about how I don’t think I’ve ever explained the gospel to you. You’re free to say no, but would it be ok if I told you the gospel right now, or sometime this week?” And if you’re given the opportunity, go for it!

-Jesus is not here, but Jesus is not done. Having concluded and fulfilled His earthly ministry, He is right now fulfilling His heavenly ministry. Therefore, we ought to embrace our identity as His witnesses. Keep our eyes on the ends of the earth. And get to work.

[Conclusion]

-xxx