Acts 1:6-11 - The Mission-Focused Kingdom

We have around 100 people join us for Thanksgiving.

It’s a massive undertaking.

There’s about 5 generations that get together to celebrate

If I was in charge, everyone would have pizza and we’d probably be missing the drinks.

It’s very similar to if I direct a church lunch.

There’s a blue folder that drives the ship.

There’s recipes, instructions, instructions where to get recipes.

There’s a spreadsheet that not only tells you how much of what ingredient to get, but it tells you WHAT STORE TO GET IT FROM.

Talk about focused.

It’s a whole mission/operation

I try to stay out of command center and mind my own business.

Everyone is focused. It’s a sport.

As we think through what the church ought to be, we need to go back to the original blue folder.

Jesus was standing with His disciples before His ascension and He gave them the marching orders.

He told them what kind of kingdom they are to be.

Big Idea: The Mission-Focused Kingdom

Big idea question: How do we participate in God’s Kingdom?

Context

Luke is writes the book of Acts to a person named Theophilus.

This is the same person he seems to write the Gospel of Luke to.

The book of Acts is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel.

He opens up with the last things Jesus communicates to His disciples after His resurrection before He ascends to heaven.

Stand to read

Acts 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

Explanation

Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples proving that He was truly resurrected, He actually defeated sin and death, and He is the ruling and reigning sovereign King of everything.

Luke says that He spoke about one theme the entire 40 days: The kingdom of God.

If Jesus spoke primarily about one thing between the resurrection/ascension, we should take note of it—It’s probably important.

He spent 40 days proving that He was risen and then prepares them for the mission ahead.

Jesus’s ministry began by commanding “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15)

Now, He is the risen King and His Kingdom stands.

This is not an earthly, geographical kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God as King over His creation.

He is the King of everything.

Everything that God does is directed toward this purpose: He is the glorified king over His people who He has redeemed.

Now He tells His disciples how they are to proceed as His kingdom people

Some hear passages like Acts 1 and says, “Let’s get to work.”

He says, “… Don’t move.”

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

4 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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

I commands them not to spring into action and take on the world, but to wait in Jerusalem!

That seems counter-productive.

“Why would we not go, make disciples like you said?” Cause you’ll mess it up.

They are commanded to stay and wait for further instruction.

Waiting does not mean doing nothing.

Deer hunting looks an awful lot like nothing.

We’re not doing nothing—We’re waiting.

The waiting is the most important part of the hunt

If you move too much, make too much noise, nothing is going to happen.

You have to actively wait for something to happen.

The amount of silence, stillness, slow movement is some of the most intense moments I’ve ever had.

When you go out to the woods, you want to move the fewest amount of muscles as possible, move in as much silence as possible.

The fastest thing that moves his your eyeballs.

But we’re not doing anything—We are waiting with expectancy for intensity.

The amount of silence, stillness, slow movement is some of the most intense moments I’ve ever had.

When the deer finally comes walking up, the only thing you hear is your heartbeat, and you’re trying not to be discovered—It was because you were actively waiting.

Waiting for the Lord does not mean that we sit around navel-gazing.

We must actively pursue the plan of God while we wait on God to move.

Jesus tells His disciples “Don’t do anything, lest you mess it all up. Wait for the promise of the Father—the Holy Spirit”

Wait with expectancy and obedience.

Church,

We wait for the Spirit (vv. 4-5)

We actively wait and watch for our next move.

We want to accomplish the mission of God and be commanded by God.

When we take the mission into our own hands thinking, “I’m going to do God a favor,” we operate out of step with the Spirit.

We don’t operate out of our own strength or understanding.

Jesus says that we would be baptized—Immersed, filled, washed.

A complete immersion into the person of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we have the presence of God indwelling us.

We have the Holy Spirit at all times.

The danger comes when we think we’ve heard the Spirit and it was our own stupidity—Anyone ever been there?

Waiting for the Spirit requires us to walk in step with the Spirit and be sensitive to test the spirits and discern the will of God for our lives.

If we don’t do this—it’s not an act of God.

If we’re going to be the Church and build the Kingdom, we have to wait for the Spirit.

Transitions

This also means that we have to focus.

Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing—We pray, prepare, and watch for what God has for us.

They’re hearing this, so they start asking questions about what all this means.

Acts 1:6 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Their question is rooted in misunderstanding.

They’re thinking of Jesus’s messianic mission militarily and politically.

Their thinking that it will be an immediate completion of God’s divine plan.

They’re asking if He was going to reestablish the political kingdom of Israel as it was during the times of David and the other kings.

They think that Jesus is going to eradicate the Roman government and glorify Israel.

The common Jewish opinion was that the Messiah would reign as a prince and conquerer who would liberate them from Roman oppression.

They spent 40 days under better teaching than any seminary can ever give, and they still don’t get it.

Acts 1:7 ESV

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

“That’s none of your business.”

He doesn’t scold them—He redirects them.

Rather than engaging in useless speculation over the time for the coming of the kingdom, Jesus reminds them that it’s none their business.

Trying to compute the times and dates of the return of Christ is ridiculous.

Dude at the Farmer’s fair drove by and told me the Rapture was going to be in 3.5 weeks.

Drove back by and said 3.5 years.

I just replied, “Let’s keep this between us. It’ll be our little secret. Please don’t tell anyone else that”

They’ll think he’s crazy, because he is.

We don’t need to speculate the completion of the Kingdom, because the Father already has a date set.

This requires us to trust and depend on God and obey because His plan is perfect.

The disciples are in no position to predict the end of time because it doesn’t concern them.

So many Christians look crazy because they’ve totally ignored this verse.

We’re on a need to know basis.

The times and seasons that God has ordained for His plan of redemption = none ya business.

“Let me tell you your business.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 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.”

Jesus commands us to wait for the promised Holy Spirit because that’s where our power and authority comes from.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is a sign that God’s end-time restoration has begun.

John tells us plainly that we live in the last days—but we’ve been living in the last days for two thousand years.

As Christians, we have to live with the tension of knowing that the work of the gospel (seeing more people come to know Jesus) is central to God’s plan of redemption, but we’re never able to calculate it.

So what are we to do?

Jesus told them what their business is…

This same command is for us,

As Jesus’s Kingdom,

We focus on the mission (vv. 6-8)

God has given us a particular mission to do: To be witnesses to the world, starting locally and working our way out.

A witness is someone who sees something and tells other about it.

If you are called to testify as a witness to a crime, some things they want to know from you are what you saw, heard, and felt.

1 John 1:1–2 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

A witness for Jesus Christ is simply someone who tells truth about HIm.

If you’re a Christian, you have experienced the power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

You have encountered the risen Jesus by faith.

This is why Peter says, 1 Peter 1:8 “8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

Gospel Presentation

If you’re not a Christian, this can be your story today.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who lived perfectly according to God’s law, who took your imperfections, rebellions, and sin to the cross and died for it.

Jesus died to pay for and forgive your sins!

His perfect blood atones for everything that keeps you away from God.

Then, He rose again from the dead, conquering our sin and death!

Now, by the power of the Holy Spirit making you alive, you can trust in Jesus and receive a full pardon for your sins AND be brought into God’s family!

Will you trust Jesus?

This Jesus has changed so many stories in this room—He’ll change yours too.

Then, by faith and empowered by the Spirit, you can be a witness to the work of God in your own life.

There are so many people that do not know Jesus, and our mandate is to go, make disciples.

Jesus told them to be witnesses in:

Jerusalem (where they are)

Judea (their region)

Samaria (the neighboring city)

To the ends of the earth.

Since the disciples focused on the mission and were faithful with what they were given to do, the gospel came here. To you.

The mission begins locally, expands regionally, and extends globally.

Now, you must go be His witnesses in Lawrenceburg, and Dearborn County, and Indiana, and to the rest of the world.

Jesus told His disciples their purpose and mission

“Do this, and trust me with the rest.”

Let’s take the next step in trusting Jesus and being faithful with what He has given us to do.

Take the Next Step

Practice active-waiting

How can you practice active-waiting on the Lord?

What has He called you to do?

Where do you need to slow down and listen to the Spirit?

Pray, listen, obey.

Be a witness where you are.

Start where you are.

Live with someone/know someone who doesn’t go to church?

Invite them to come with you

Tell them how Jesus saved you and what He saved you from.

Tell them that Jesus died so that they can be forgiven by faith in Him.

The Kingdom advances through Spirit-empowered people who stay focused on the mission Jesus gave: to be His witnesses from here to the ends of the earth.