Don't Just Stand There: Living Between the Ascension and the Return

Text: Acts 1:6-11

Introduction:

We saw the Crucifixion; we celebrated the Resurrection, now we will witness the Ascension.

Imagine this: You’re standing at an airport, watching your loved one board a plane. You wave goodbye, and as the plane ascends into the sky, you just… keep standing there. Minutes pass. Then an hour. Then two. People start moving around you, flights are announced, life continues—but you're still frozen, looking up.

Eventually, someone taps you on the shoulder and says, “It’s time to go. You’ve got somewhere to be.”

This is the scenario we find in our text. As the disciples witness the ascension of Jesus to Heaven.

READ Acts 1:6–11 “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” 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. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 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.”

Acts 1:6-11

We will continue, with the pattern of how we have been looking at the scripture for the past few Sundays. This is the final session of our Easter Sermon Series. Next month we will dive into a new series on Mental Health Awareness Month titled: “HOPE - Healing Our Peace Every Day”

H: Heal from Anxiety

O: Overcome the Darkness

P: Pursue Community

E: Embrace a Renewed Mind

We have been look at our passages and understanding by dividing it into 3 categories, The Content, The Theology, The Practical.

THE CONTENT:

According to Acts 1:3 “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

Jesus after Resurrection Sunday stayed with His disciples for 40 days. What was He doing with them?

He was teaching them about the Kingdom, rebuilding their spirit (they have scattered and they were in hiding after the arrest of Jesus)

Here in V6 we find the last time that Jesus would meet with His disciples.

Besides this Biblical Account, we saw Jesus appearing to His disciples

Emmaus Road & to the Eleven in Luke 24

We also see in John 20-21, Him appearing to His disciples

And Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:5–7 “and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”

Besides these Biblical Passages, writings by early church, confirm and backs up Biblical account

Irenaus wrote “For after His resurrection He did eat and drink with them as being still possessed of flesh, although He was now become impassible. And He taught the new sacrifice of the new covenant.”

Origen wrote “Jesus showed Himself after His resurrection not to everyone, but to those who were capable of seeing Him and believing. He appeared to them in a form adapted to their capacity.”

Augustine wrote “The Lord Jesus, in the space of forty days, not continuously, but at intervals, presented Himself to the sight of the apostles, not as one needing to be with them, but to strengthen their faith.”

So this is the last time when they would physically fellowship with Jesus, in the Mount of Olives.

The question of the Disciples: “Will you at this time...”

I thought about this questions, part of me thinks “oh after all this time, they still do not get it,” but part of me see and understand and relate to this questions - because they continue to long for freedom.

The disciples are still expecting a political, national restoration of Israel - reflecting the 1st century Jewish hopes that is connected to the OT prophesy.

Like I mentioned I can relate, we can relate, for at times I find myself saying “Lord when will you release from all this problem, when will all this challenges stop.”

The disciples struggle to understand the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom - still expecting an immediate, visible dominion, but God has a purpose.

But yet the disciples will continue to serve, obey, and fulfill the great commission in spite of things that are going on that does not make sense.

God desires and requires for His church to obey even if things does not make sense.

It does not make sense to love my enemies, but we are commanded to do so

It does not make sense to forgive those who scared and hate us, but we are commanded to forgive and keep forgiving.

There is truth to their questions.

V17 - Jesus answers them with a gentle reminder that the restoration of Gods Kingdom here on earth is determined by God, that it will happen one day.

And this restoration that will happen one day will remove all darkness and pain and sufferings and sin of the world.

Jesus is talking about a specific date and time; He answer their questions “When will you restore..” - as mentioned Israel have been devastated and conquered over and over again

This is a type of restoration that the disciples have in mind, but Jesus it was not just for Israel but for the entire world.

The word “time” in the questions and the word “time” in the answer - is the word “Chronos” talking about a chronological time, an actual specific event.

Jesus basically says “Dont worry about the restoration” it has been promised that it will happen because God has appointed the time it will; and what God say will happen.

What they need to focus on is V8 which acts as the central verse for the entire book of Acts.

Some might focus on the “receiving of power” but the main focus here is being “witnesses”

And the Holy Spirit will empower us to be effective witnesses. What is a witness?

It is a person who testifies what they have seen or experienced or heard.

We as a church since we have experienced the saving grace of Jesus; we have experienced the forgiveness of God and we have heard and accepted the truth of Gods word; we have a responsibility to tell others of the same truth that we heard.

It is interesting though that the word witness comes from the Greek word “martuese” where we get the word martyrs “someone who suffered for his faith or belief”

Life of a witness will be involved challenges and difficulties, it is because it is part of life and also it is because people will come to hate God more and more.

Thats why Jesus told them stay first in the city and wait for the Holy Spirit, “he ordered them” two wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promises that He would send

In John 14:16–17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” - this is the time that Jesus has last conversation with the disicples before crucifixtion.

Then in John 16:7 “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.”

The sending of the Spirit is linked to Jesus' ascension. The Spirit continues the presence and ministry of Jesus.

Dont have the time to go through who the Holy Spirit is, but the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and if you have Jesus inside your heart, you have the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of God.

According to our text - the Holy Spirit will give us the power to overcome life challenges, specially when it comes to our Christian Faith.

Like I mentioned as witness of Gods love and His truth; we will face challenges and at times suffering, but the Holy Spirit is in us to give us the power to overcome

Christian life is not a defeated life but a victorious life.

This power is not political might but spiritual enablement - so that God can use us to proclaim the good news, that God is loving and merciful that Jesus was sent to save mankind.

The power we have is to be used to proclaim to all people of what Jesus has done on the cross and third day rose again.

Jerusalem (local)

Judea/Samaria (cross-cultural)

Ends of the Earth (global)

V18 - the ascension, Jesus ascending back to Heaven, this is the enthronement of Christ, the cloud signifies divine presence (we can say icing on the cake)

V10-11 - tells us of two important truth

Jesus will return someday; we dont know when but He will; is our life ready for that?

Second, tells us what we need to do while we wait for His return - to tell (we cannot be distracted but what is going around us)

THE THEOLOGY

First: Christ is Reigning - this Ascension is His royal coronation

He seats above all; and in Isaiah 6 (we see Him seated in the Heavenly throne) - Our Main Take away from our Matthew Series - is Jesus is the True King, and everything we see is His Kingdom

Jesus now reigns over all powers and principalities. He is not waiting to be King—He reigns right now as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Daniel 7:14 echoes this reign: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion…”

If Jesus is the true King then His church and those who follow Him, must worship and obey Him

We live under the authority of a reigning King. Our mission is not random—it flows from the throne of heaven.

Second: The Church is Resourced - the Spirit is our source of power

We do not nor we cannot rely on our strength

The Greek word for power here is dynamis, meaning miraculous strength or ability.

Jesus didn’t call the Church to act in their own strength—He resourced them with divine help.

Every act of witness, every moment of boldness, every word of truth is not human-made—it’s Spirit-powered.

We are not manufacturers of the mission, but channels through whom the Spirit flows.

Third: The Church is Readying - We live between His reign and His return

The Church lives with urgency and expectancy—every day is a step closer to His return, and every step should bring someone else closer to Christ.

This aligns with the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20)—go and make disciples, not just wait for the sky to open.

Theological Recap (3 R’s)

Reigning – Christ is King now.

Resourced – We are Spirit-empowered.

Readying – We live and work in light of His return.

Someone said “Before Christ sent the Church into the world, He sent the Spirit into the Church. The same order must be observed today.”

THE PRACTICAL

Prioritize the Mission Over Predictions

Jesus responds to the disciples’ question about timing (v.7) by essentially saying, “That’s not your concern.”

Many today still get caught up in end-times predictions, dates, political events—but Jesus redirects us to mission.

Stop speculating. Start serving. Prioritize gospel work in your home, your neighborhood, and beyond.

Matthew 24:36 ““But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Proclaim Christ with Power

“You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses” (v.8).

We are not called to be passive observers but powerful proclaimers through the Holy Spirit.

Greek Word: martures – witness, often tied to sacrificial testimony.

Boldly share Christ through your lifestyle, conversations, and choices. Pray for opportunities to witness at work, school, or even at the grocery store.

Prepare for His Return with Purpose

The angels remind the disciples: “This same Jesus… will come back.” (v.11)

We’re called not to stare into the sky but to live ready, active, and faithful lives.

Use your time wisely. Invest in eternal things. Prepare not by passively waiting but by purposefully living for Jesus now.

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Recap of the 3 Ps:

Prioritize the mission over predictions.

Proclaim Christ with power.

Prepare for His return with purpose.