05/15/2026

Mid-Week Prayer Service

Sermon Title: “Why You Don’t Get to Know”

Text: Acts 1:9–11 (ESV)

Set the Scene

The disciples are watching Jesus ascend.

Not metaphorically. Not spiritually. Physically.

He’s going up… and they’re just standing there… staring.

You ever been there before? Not watching Jesus float into the clouds—but stuck, staring, waiting on God to explain Himself?

“God, what are You doing?” “God, what’s next?” “God, when is this going to happen?”

And heaven’s response is almost… blunt:

“Why do you stand looking into heaven?”

Big Idea:

God doesn’t reveal everything because He’s calling you to obedience, not speculation.

1. Because Knowledge Isn’t the Mission—Obedience Is

The disciples wanted clarity about the kingdom.

Jesus had already told them in Acts 1:7:

“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

That’s not a rebuke—it’s a redirection.

They’re asking “when?” Jesus answers with “go.”

And then in verse 8:

“You will be my witnesses…”

Don’t miss this:

They wanted a timeline

Jesus gave them a task And we do the exact same thing.

We want:

God’s plan mapped out

God’s timing explained

God’s reasoning justified

But God says: “I didn’t save you to inform you—I saved you to send you.”

Cross-reference:

29:29Deuteronomy “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us… that we may do all the words of this law.”

God withholds some things so you will actually do the things He’s already said.

2. Because Sight Would Replace Faith

If God told you everything:

Every step

Every outcome

Every hardship

Every victory

You wouldn’t need faith.

And Scripture is clear:

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Faith requires partial information.

That’s not God being distant— That’s God being intentional.

If the disciples knew:

exactly when Jesus would return

exactly how everything would unfold

They might stand there even longer… staring… calculating… waiting.

Instead, Jesus ascends—and heaven basically says:

“Stop staring. Start moving.”

3. Because Knowing Too Much Would Distract You From What Matters Most

Let’s be honest—if we knew everything, we wouldn’t handle it well.

Some of us would:

become anxious

try to control outcomes

or worse—delay obedience because we don’t like the plan

The disciples are literally caught in a moment of spiritual distraction:

They’re staring at the sky… while the mission is standing on the earth.

And the angels interrupt them.

Not gently.

Almost like:

“What are you doing?”

This is one of those holy wake-up calls.

Stop obsessing over:

what God hasn’t revealed

when Jesus is coming back

how everything is going to work out

And start doing what He already told you.

4. Because Hope Is Found in His Return—Not Your Understanding

Don’t miss how the angels end:

“This Jesus… will come in the same way…”

That’s not information for speculation. That’s fuel for endurance.

You don’t know when— But you know He is.

And that changes everything.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 Titus 2:13 — “waiting for our blessed hope…”

Your confidence is not in knowing the plan.

Your confidence is in knowing the Person.

Illustration (in your tone)

This is like a kid on a road trip.

“Are we there yet?” “When are we getting there?” “How much longer?”

And the parent says, “Just sit down and trust me.”

Now imagine that kid saying, “Well if you won’t tell me the exact GPS coordinates, I’m not going.”

That’s how we treat God sometimes.

And God says, “I’m not giving you the map—I’m giving you Myself.”

Landing the Plane (Application)

Some of you are stuck right now…

Not because you don’t know what God wants— But because you’re waiting to know more than He’s given.

You’re staring into the sky…

When you’ve already been sent into the world.

So here’s the question:

What has God already made clear… that you’re delaying because you want more clarity?

Share the gospel

Lead your family

Be faithful in your workplace

Repent of sin

Step into obedience

You don’t need more information.

You need to move. You need to abide.

Closing Line

Stop staring at what God hasn’t said…

…and start obeying what He already has.

Prayer Service

Because Acts 1 reminds us of something we don’t always like:

God is in control… and we are not.

The disciples wanted answers. Jesus gave them a mission. They wanted clarity. Jesus called them to trust.

So tonight, we’re going to pray through five movements:

Upward — fixing our eyes on God

Downward — submitting to His will

Inward — asking Him to shape us

Outward — interceding for others

Thanksgiving — remembering His faithfulness

Let’s begin.

1. UPWARD — Adoration (God, You Are Over All)

Before anything else—we look up.

📖 Acts 1:9 (ESV) “He was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

Jesus doesn’t ascend as a victim. He ascends as King.

This is a picture of authority. Of rule. Of reign.

He is seated over:

Your life

Your circumstances

Your unanswered questions

You don’t approach prayer casually when you realize who you’re talking to.

Psalm 103:19 (ESV) “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Lead them:

Let’s begin by lifting our eyes.

Call out who God is:

Sovereign

Holy

Faithful

Righteous

Don’t rush this. Sit in it.

(Pause for prayer)

2. DOWNWARD — Submission (God, Your Will, Not Mine)

Now we move downward—not into shame… but into surrender.

Acts 1:7 (ESV) “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

That’s a hard word.

Because we want to know. We want timelines. We want explanations.

But Jesus says:

“That’s not for you.”

This is where prayer gets real.

Submission is saying:

God, I trust Your timing

God, I release control

God, I don’t have to understand to obey

Luke 22:42 (ESV) “Not my will, but yours, be done.”

That’s the prayer of Jesus.

And if it was His prayer— it must become ours.

Lead them:

Right now, ask the Lord:

Where am I resisting You?

What am I trying to control?

What have I refused to surrender?

And then—release it.

Say it out loud if you need to:

“God, Your will… not mine.”

(Pause for prayer)

3. INWARD — Transformation (God, Change Me to Obey)

Submission isn’t just letting go— it’s being reshaped.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

God doesn’t just command obedience— He empowers it.

You don’t have to manufacture faithfulness. The Spirit produces it in you.

But you’ve got to be willing.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

Lead them:

Ask God:

Change my heart

Align my desires with Yours

Make me willing to obey—even when it’s hard

Not just information… transformation.

(Pause for prayer)

4. OUTWARD — Intercession (God, Use Us as Witnesses)

Now we turn outward.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This is the mission.

Not speculation about the end times— but participation in God’s plan.

People around you:

Need the gospel

Need hope

Need Jesus

And God has chosen to use you.

Lead them:

Pray for:

Specific people who don’t know Christ

Your city

Your church

Opportunities to be bold

Ask God to:

Open doors

Give courage

Draw people to Himself

(Pause for prayer)

5. THANKSGIVING — Trusting His Plan

We end with gratitude.

Because even when we don’t know everything… we know enough.

Acts 1:11 (ESV) “This Jesus… will come in the same way as you saw him go…”

That’s your hope.

You don’t know when— but you know He will.

And that means:

God’s plan is not uncertain

History is not random

Your life is not meaningless

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…”

Lead them:

Thank Him:

For His control

For His patience

For His promises

For the certainty of Christ’s return

Even when you don’t understand—He is faithful.

(Pause for prayer)

Closing Prayer (You Lead Out Loud)

Father,

You are sovereign over all things. You reign in heaven and over every detail of our lives.

And Lord, we confess—we struggle to trust that. We want control. We want answers. We want clarity.

But tonight, we surrender.

Your will—not ours. Your timing—not ours. Your ways—not ours.

Shape us, God. Transform us by Your Spirit. Make us obedient, faithful, and bold.

Use us as Your witnesses—right where we are. In our homes, our workplaces, our city.

And thank You… That even when we don’t know everything— we know You.

And we know that Jesus is coming again.

We trust You. We rest in You. We submit to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.