The Promise of the Father
This Way: Missions in Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 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:
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: 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.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
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. 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.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.
Introduction
Introduction
What are you waiting on to obey the Great Commission? In our passage this morning, we see the Ascension of Jesus and what He says and does before it. The disciples are going to be waiting on Someone that we don’t have to wait on today.
The mission of the church is the same mission given to the Eleven during the forty days that Jesus was on earth after His Resurrection. Jesus commissions them to take the good news of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus for all mankind to each and every person. We see throughout the book of Acts that those Eleven, and the others who were part of the church at Jerusalem, went everywhere preaching this gospel. In our series on missions in Acts, we will study several of these chapters to learn about missions in the local church.
Do you give to support missions? Do you have a heart for those here in Virginia, the United States, and the world that have not accepted the free gift of salvation? Evangelism comes from a heart that has been changed by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for sin. Missions comes from that same heart that has caught the command that Jesus has given us, His church.
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. 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.
Together, we need to ask God to gives us, as a church, a desire to send and support those who are going to the lost people around the world just as we go to those here in Virginia. This is the focus of our series on “This Way” in the book of Acts.
Last week, we looked at where we should go with the good news of the Gospel. In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus speaks to the gathered disciples and opens their understanding of the Scriptures. All that the Bible has points to the redemption that is in Jesus and what He would do and did do on the cross for mankind.
This week, we begin the second book of Doctor Luke. Together, they make Luke the writer of more of the New Testament than any other person. Luke is writing to continue the story that he began in Luke and how the good news will spread to the world. Do you know the gospel and has it changed your life? Have you ever accepted the free gift of salvation? This morning, we will see the gospel and the command of Jesus to preach it. One preacher wisely said,
Every Christian needs to move out of Luke’s Gospel into Acts. Knowing about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ is enough for salvation but not for Spirit-empowered service.
Let’s follow that advice today as we begin the book of Acts chapter 1.
Declaration
Declaration
The mission of the church is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to allow His free working in our lives. Today, we need to be witnesses under the Holy Spirit's leading. Two emphases are given in this passage for us to live out today.
1. Focus on the Spirit
1. Focus on the Spirit
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 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: 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: 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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The book of Acts begins in verses 1-3 with a short introduction to the book. This helps us to see how the Gospel of Luke is continued in this book. Theophilus, “lover of God”, is addressed here and there is no clear explanation of who he is. However, the Bible is addressed to us today as we see in the 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Let’s see what what we can learn from this passage.
The first emphasis that Jesus gives in this passage is on the Presence of the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commands them to receive the Spirit. They are to wait on the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no missions. Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no power. Without the Holy Spirit, there was no way that there could be preaching to the world.
We see that Jesus is pointing to something that He Himself patterned in His own ministry on earth. Jesus says gave commandments to His disciples through the Holy Spirit in verse 2. Luke points out, according to some writers, more than the other Gospel writers the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives commands in verse 2 and we see in verse 3 that there were “many infallible proofs” shown by Jesus. The conviction of sin in the unbeliever and the settling of the heart of the believer are possible only through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus used “many infallible proofs” of the truth that He was risen. These were of such a convincing nature that they left no doubt as to the fact that Jesus is alive.
This is what Jesus did in those forty days on earth. However, the emphasis on the Holy Spirit was not just for Jesus when He was here physically on earth. Luke repeats and expands here on a statement by Jesus from Luke 24 as we saw last week.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus says to us this morning, receive the Holy Spirit. Now, it is important to make sure that we understand what this means. There are those who believe that salvation and the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” are separate events. This is called Pentecostalism. That is not what the Bible teaches.
Instead, receiving the Holy Spirit occurs when a believer accepts Jesus as His personal Saviour. At the time that the believer repents of his sin, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. Those who are “saved” or have accepted the salvation offered by Jesus have obeyed this command to receive the Spirit.
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Jesus is speaking to those who have not yet received the Holy Spirit because He would come on the day of Pentecost in ten days. The Eleven were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come before they left Jerusalem. However, we do not have to wait for Him today! He dwells inside each and every believer!
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Believer, you do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit! You have Him working in you today! Will you allow Him to work in you to accomplish His Will as Jesus did? The pattern of Jesus is one that is followed throughout the book of Acts as the early church seeks to preach the good news of the Gospel to the lost world around them.
Jesus uses the connection with John the Baptist in verse 5 to show the sign of the repentance in the heart of the believer. For John, it was baptism. For Jesus, it was the arrival of the Holy Spirit. This is now the time of the Messiah and there is now a new period in human history! Jesus is alive! Do you have the Holy Spirit living inside?
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
If you have never accepted the free of salvation, there is the opportunity this morning! Jesus died on the cross for you to take away your sin. He has paid your debt. Accept the free gift of salvation this morning!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is speaking to those Eleven who are gathered before the Holy Spirit is given at Pentecost. He tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming. We have the Holy Spirit this morning if we are saved. The first emphasis is on the Holy Spirit and His Presence. Believer, are you living filled with the Spirit as God wants us to be?
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
2. Focus on the Mission
2. Focus on the Mission
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 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. 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. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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.
Verse 6 gives an eschatological or “last days” question by the disciples to Jesus. They ask about the coming kingdom for Israel. Jesus answers this question in verses 7-8 to show us the authority of God the Father and His plan for the world.
The disciples expected a physical kingdom under the Resurrected Jesus. Jesus tells them in verse 7 it is not for us to know the Father's authority, “power” in verse 7, but for us to know the Holy Spirit's ability, “power” in verse 8. Spurgeon reminds us about the emphasis of this passage and speculation about the future,
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXIX Witnessing Better than Knowing the Future (No. 2,330)
It is not your work. You are not sent into the world to be prophets; you are sent into the world to be witnesses.
Focusing on prophecy and the future without obeying the commands of Jesus to preach the Gospel has led us to a world more focused on “apocalyptic speculation” than on the need for repentance and forgiveness that is made possible by Jesus Christ. Movies, books, memes, websites are dedicated to a coming “end of the world.” We know the world will end and Jesus will return. Yet, the world still is in need of the gospel message. Will you spend your time giving the good news to those in need of it?
The second emphasis that Jesus makes in this passage is on the mission of the church. The mission of the church and the Presence of the Holy Spirit cannot be separated. The Holy Spirit is God. He exists without the church. The church is the “called out assembly of baptized believers” in a local place. It cannot function effectively without the Holy Spirit.
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.
No one seems to be sure how many churches there are in the world. A Google church gives several different numbers. Some churches, like ours, meet in rented space. Others meet in a physical building built for the purpose of the church. However, if we were to say conservatively there were a hundred thousand churches in the world and the average size of their meeting place is 24’x24’, that would give us 57.6 million square feet of meeting space. If every person who lives in the New York City metropolitan area stood in this area, they would have two square feet around them. Yet, how much of that meeting space is occupied weekly by people without the Presence of the Holy Spirit?
The sad truth is that the answer is most of it. The “church” can exist without the Holy Spirit but it cannot function without the Holy Spirit. Too often, it does just that in this lost and needy world.
Before Jesus left the Upper Room for Gethsemane, He gave this promise to the disciples about the Holy Spirit,
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit will “testify” of Jesus Christ. This is the verb form of the word “witness” in verse 8. The Holy Spirit must be a part of the mission of the church.
The word "power" in verse 7 is authority. The word "power" in verse 8 is ability. As Carson points out, the measure of the power or “dynamis” of the Holy Spirit is the empty tomb. (Carson, Exegetical Fallacies, pg. 34) The power that Holy Spirit supplies is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. We can go to the lost in our local area (Jerusalem), our neighboring regions (Samaria and Judaea), and through missionaries and mission trips to the regions beyond (ends of the earth). Isaiah’s prophecy is now fulfilled in the message of the church,
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
There is not a better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.
Dwight Lyman Moody
In verses 9-11, we see the close the passage with a promise of Jesus' return. Jesus ascends to heaven and the disciples look up into heaven. Two men, likely two angels, tell them that that Jesus will return “in like manner” one day. This is the Second Coming of Zechariah,
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, Which is before Jerusalem on the east, And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, And there shall be a very great valley; And half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, And half of it toward the south.
The preaching of the Gospel is the job of all Christians as witnesses of what Jesus has done. One day Jesus will return. Till then, we must preach the good news to “the ends of the earth.” Verse 11 points forward to the return of Christ at the end of time. Missions is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in willing witnesses till Jesus returns. As one writer says,
The priority for the church until Jesus returns, a mission of which the community must never lose sight, is to witness to Jesus to the end of the earth. The church exists, in major part, to extend the apostolic witness to Jesus everywhere. In fact, the church does not have a mission; it is to be missional and is a mission (A. Robinson and Wall 2006: 43-45).”
- Darrell Bock, Acts pg. 66
Without the Holy Spirit’s presence, we cannot obey the mission that Jesus has given us. Focusing on the mission without the Holy Spirit will accomplish nothing. Today, we must begin with focusing on making sure that the Holy Spirit is able to work freely in us the mission that Jesus has left His church.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The mission of the church is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to allow His free working in our lives. Today, we need to be witnesses under the Holy Spirit's leading.
Where is your focus today? The final words of men and women often reveal their greatest priorities in life. Jesus’ final words are about the participation of the witnesses with the Holy Spirit in the great job of giving the good news to the lost. As one person has rightly said, “His last command ought to be our first priority!”
The disciples were to wait on the arrival of the Holy Spirit. They were to wait to obey the command of Jesus until He had arrived in power. We have the Holy Spirit today as saved people.
The application is simple: Allow the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in and through you. Whatever is preventing this must be removed. Do you have sin in your life you need to confess? Confess it today. Are you choosing to ignore the Holy Spirit when He encourages you to do something on a daily basis? Obey Him.
A missionary is engaged in giving the Gospel to the lost world. Every biblical missionary was called by the Holy Spirit to go where they have gone. Missions is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in willing witnesses till Jesus returns. Are you involved in missions today? Let the Holy Spirit work in you and focus on the mission. Give the gospel to the lost around you and give to missions today to see God do something great! One missionary tells us this truth,
The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become.
Henry Martyn
