The Ascension | Acts 1:1-11
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 26:05
0 ratings
· 6 viewsActs Part 1: The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Files
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Open your Bibles to Acts Chapter 1
If you don’t have a bible of your own, please take the bible in front of you in the pews home. It’s our gift to you because we want the powerful, life changing word of God in your life.
Start Recording Cues
sample text
Text
Text
We are starting a new series called what is church, to discover in the book of acts what the church is all about and how we are supposed to be as the church. For those of you who don’t know, the gospel of Luke and the book of acts are actually one big two part work by the same author and read as a seamless story.
So Luke begins part two by recapping part one.
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, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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.
When we begin the book of acts today, we start where the gospel of Luke left off.
In the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus dying on the cross and rising again with victory over sin, death, and the devil for the whole world and all who believe in Him. That’s AMAZING! But have you ever left an easter service and thought to yourself, okay, that happened, now what?
That’s what the disciples were asking themselves as well. Now what?
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.”
Disciples, stay put.
Jesus has a great mission in mind for them, but they can’t carry it out until they become equipped with the necessary power and gifts from God.
Jesus says they will soon receive power when the holy spirit comes to them.
They are going to be baptized. but not in the old way. that was a baptism of human act. that was a baptism where people came to God to repent.
this new baptism is more than an act of repentance, and more than just water.
this Baptism is God coming to them. A baptism with the Holy Spirit.
The same holy Spirit that came to Jesus as He began His ministry.
And the day on which it comes is called pentecost. The birth of the church as God pours out his spirit on his people to do great things.
And we are going to dive into that in a few weeks in our series. But for now, we want to focus on the purpose for giving us that spirit in the first place.
God doesn’t just send the Holy Spirit for the sake of it, but with an incredible purpose. So when the disciples ask after easter “what now” and we ask, “what now”. Here’s what now:
Jesus in his ministry gave his followers a strong command, a great commission.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
And soon they will be doing just that.
Can you imagine hearing this?
In a few days, the spirit and power of God will come to you, and you will carry the good news of salvation to the world. but for now, stay put.
That’s like getting a sports car for Christmas, but having to wait until your 16th birthday in march to drive it.
But the disciples, young and foolish as they are, always steer conversations with Jesus in another way.
They still think Jesus will become an earthly king and they will be His royal court with power and status and authority.
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.
Jesus straightens them out pretty quickly and refocuses them.
First of all, none of your business.
Second, sure you will receiver power. But you’re thinking too small. You still haven’t realized what I’ve done. When the spirit comes, you will receive more power than you could ever imagine. But it will all be for the mission I give you. So I can continue my work through you!
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.”
Map of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, End of the Earth
Take a look at this map. It shows exactly what Jesus is talking about.
They will be His witnesses.
Remember, the difference between an witness and an observer is that the witness tells others about what they see.
Map of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, End of the Earth
And they will do that Locally in the city, then go further into the county, then into the whole nation, then into the whole world to witness. To tell everyone of the free salvation of Jesus through nothing but Faith in Him.
Title Slide
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.”
Now, Jesus is lifted up into heaven. What we immediately imagine is that Jesus starts floating 30,00 feet into the sky.
Why? because many of us still associate heaven with the sky and the clouds.
But what’s important to know is that when a cloud take them out of their sight, it doesn’t have to be that high up. This is likely a special kind of cloud. The cloud of God’s presence of glory.
In the old testament, as God would come to His people, a great cloud would settle over His tent in their camp. This same cloud appeared when Jesus was transfigured and the Father spoke to Confirm Jesus as His Son.
And this same cloud now takes Jesus away, to rule from heaven over all things.
So, it is very likely that Jesus did not blast into the sky like a rocket, because Heaven is not the physical location we assume. It’s something completely different. But this is the best that the Disciples could describe it as.
But as He is taken, the men look into the sky, completely perplexed, two men just appear in their midst.
They are dressed in white. Which sounds a loooooot like the two men who appeared at Jesus empty tomb. These are angels. And they have a message for the disciples.
I’ll paraphrase, “hey, guys! We couldn’t help but notice that Jesus told you to do something, and as soon as he left you guys are just standing and looking. Don’t worry, one day, He’ll come back the same way you saw Him go. But for now, Chop Chop!”
Stop wondering where he went, stop trying to figure out when He’s coming back.
Trust His promise, go back to the city and wait, and you will see everything clearly soon enough.
Application
Application
Jesus is ascended on High and has all authority in heaven and on earth
There is nothing He is not in charge of, there is nothing that does not belong to Him.
From the governments of the world to your air fryer. But especially you! You belong to Jesus, He is Lord over you, and Your life belongs to Him and is for His purpose.
God’s Mission, God’s Spirit, God’s Work
Make disciples of all nations
That great commission that was given to the apostles, that is for all Christians.
We are meant to be witnesses of the salvation, the life, the peace, and the Joy of following Jesus.
To the ends of the earth
At home
Like the disciples, you, by yourself are underpowered and underequipped. But the same Holy spirit that was with Jesus, and these disciples. Holy Spirit will give you the power
Baptism gives you this spirit
God is the one at work through you.
Men of Galilee
End Recording Cues
Reading
Reading
Transition Slowly for the camera
Confession
Confession
