The Ascension
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Last week:
40 days of purpose:
Proved he was crucified
Speaking about the Kingdom of God
What kinds of things was Jesus teaching them?
Kingdom Ingredients by Scott McKnight: 5 Ideas in Play:
King
Reigns: Redeeming people and governing: God is King over his People
People: Old Testament=Israel, New Testament=The Church
Not ethnic or political: People under the Lordship of the King
ORDER: Torah, Life in the Spirit, People living under the King who follow his will
Realm: Old Testament=Israel, New Testament=Universal Promise takes up space within the WHOLE WORLD. Sacred space: Churches, Family, and Work places
Kingdom Confusion:
“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Calvin: “There are as many errors in the question as words.” I. p. 29
Stott:
“Restore”: Political and territorial kingdom
Restore is about looking backwards not looking forwards
“Israel”: National Kingdom
Nationalistic Kingdom
NO COUNTRY IS THE KINGDOM!
The Kingdom of God isn’t a political system created by our own ingenuity.
The Kingdom of God isn’t a geographical border.
It’s not primarily about us and what we’ve created!
“At this time”: Immediate establishment
William Willimon begins his commentary on Acts talking about how Christians were expecting Jesus to come back, like, next week.
Willimon writes: “One does not write church history if one expects the world to end tomorrow.” Luke is writing a history of Jesus because the Church was forced to adapt this belief that Jesus may come back even in their life time!” (19)
And so there’s a whole lot behind this statement “AT THIS TIME” because Christians at THAT time had to reconfig in their minds when Jesus would be coming back.
SECOND Theological Confusion:
The Kingdom HAD ALREADY COME!
The King had already come and conquered sin and death.
Kingdom Clarity
vs. 8: But this is really what you need to know!
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
You want power?
You’ll get it when the Holy Spirit comes upon you
How?
Holy Spirit adopted the Apostles into the Kingdom
Holy Spirit awakened them to the reign of Jesus!
The Power they received is the AWARENESS OF GOD’S Kingdom and how we are tapped into that Kingdom forever!
Holy Spirit plugged them into God’s kingdom grid!
Result?
You will be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria
Why Witnesses?
Because to receive the Holy Spirit is to be adopted as ROYALTY!
NEW KING= NOT REAR VIEW MIRROR DAVID, JESUS
NEW RULE= SALVATION, and LORDSHIP
NEW PEOPLE=CHURCH
NEW ORDER=SPIRIT LIFE!
NEW REALM=WHEREVER GOD’S PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
J.I. Packer: “The task of the church is to make the invisible kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness-bearing. The gospel of Christ is still the gospel of the kingdom, the good news of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit through entering a disciple’s relationship to the living Lord. The church must make its message credible by manifesting the reality of kingdom life.” (Designed to Lead, 79)
Manifesting the reality of the kingdom life=Witness
Vision Confusion
9 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. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
Gaze:
Gaze of affection?
Gaze of Fear?
Gaze of Confusion?
Died and came back, surely he’ll come back after this superman ride
Striking Posture: Vision Confusion
They just asked a ridiculous question, Jesus tells them, don’t worry, you’ll get your power (just not what you think…)
Now they stand with a ridiculous posture
Looking at Jesus yet still be confused as to your purpose
Can you focus on Jesus and still lose your vision?
Gaze at Jesus without guidance...
One can focus on Jesus yet still fuse the very things the apostle’s struggled with:
The rule of a political and territorial kingdom
The Pride of Nationalism
The selfish desire to see immediate results of the kingdom
Do you care about the plight of the politician you’ll be voting for more than the plight of your brothers and sister in Christ who is persecuted around the world?
Like, which Kingdom do seek? And which King do you witness about?
Think about it...
Are you transfixed on preserving the power of this world over the power of the Spirit?
Are you gazing at power being stripped from you, are you gazing at the King who is present with us today and to whom you are called to witness?
Behavior Clarity
Holy Spirit makes Christ’s Reign Present today
Witnesses!
Witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth
Kingdom witness thinks externally!
We need to think externally...
First preached on this text back on October 12th, 2014. First sermon ever...
www.wakeupwakecounty.org:
§ Raleigh’s population is due to DOUBLE in the next two decades.
Witness to One!
Current growth of Wake County: 62 people a day
22 due to birth
40 due to migration
9= International
22= From other states
9= From in state
62
Church the Size of 434/Week
Witness to one How?
King: Proclamation of Preaching
Rules:
- Savior: Ruled by Rescuing People
- Lord: Governing
Live under the rule of the King
People: Identity as Adopted into His Vice Regents
Identity, where you belong
Will:
Follow His Will
Love God, Love Neighbor
Do Kingdom Work!
Fight for justice
Fruit of the Spirit
Only the Kings people can do Kingdom work
Integrated faith. Let your coworkers know you are a person of integrity!
Realm:
Calls them into space!
Scott McKnight: “Concrete incarnational existence”
Hospitality