Acts 1:6-11 "The Power For Progress"

Introduction

When it comes to making disciples in the world it can be an intimidating task.

It doesn’t matter how trained you are there are those that intimidate the most seasoned evangelist.

Then there is the task of world evangelization that can seem overwhelming. The Church as a whole does really have a global mission when it comes to Kingdom expansion in the world.

And the increasing hostility in the world towards Christianity can make it seem that our mission is truly mission impossible.

You may find it surprising to know that those original Apostles were initially having a hard time in prioritizing their mission in light of their understanding of the Kingdom. Look back to your text to verses 6-7:

I. The Priority of the Task (6-7).

Their question regarding the Kingdom was still focused on their perception with Him as Messiah setting up His throne in physical Israel.

They thought that post resurrection that this made a lot of sense to them. I mean they had a resurrected Christ that could be revealed to everyone and surely that would convince everyone that He was who He said He was.

But we know that a resurrected Messiah was not going to be enough to open the eyes of fallen man.

Jesus knew this and He even included such a scenario in His story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-30.

And you may remember that the rich man after his death pleaded with Abraham that he be able to go back and warn his brothers.

Abraham said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead” (31).

Luke, writing in Acts 1 explains that the plan of God takes the priority and the times and the seasons associated with the restoration of the Kingdom are in keeping with His divine authority.

God’s plan is the priority even though it may seem strange to us at times.

But before we want to be highly critical of the disciples of our Lord we may want to remember that at this moment there is something missing from their perception of what they understood as being the Kingdom dynamic. Look back at verse 8 of our text:

II. The Prescription of the Power (8).

Notice that Jesus makes a strong contrast. Instead of trying to figure out the times and seasons associated with Kingdom restoration, they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

The Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out on the Lord’s Apostles. This is why they still lacked understanding in their perception on the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out and provided the power for ministry.

The Holy Spirit’s power is the power to be witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem and in all of Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth.

That term “witnesses” is a plural noun. The Greek term is “martures”. We get our English word “martyr” from this family of words in the original language.

We usually think of a “martyr” as being someone who actually dies for their testimony. The ancient term carried with it not just the idea of a witness but one who could possibly end up dying for such a testimony.

Just like the Apostles did in their ministries.

Christian let us not fall into the trap of thinking that this was specific for them only and there is no application to us.

You can look here and at Matthew 28:18-20 and you can see the global implications of the Great Commission and know that it didn’t end with the Apostles.

They did go to the Roman world but the global implications were not completed during their lifetime and ministry.

There are Nations in our time that are closed to the gospel and there are unreached people groups still that exist in our world today. The Kingdom dynamic is made up of every people group from all over the world.

If you are a true believer then you have the power in you to be witnesses for Christ to the nations of the world.

Christian understand that global missions is not primarily about making the world a better place to live in during this period of time in which we are currently.

Global missions is not primarily about that. That can be a by-product of global missions. The global mission is primarily about gathering in the covenant people of God into His Kingdom through making disciples. Christ in the end will bring that Kingdom to earth in His return. And He will bring the restoration of a new heavens and a new earth globally.

If we do not keep this perspective we can be tempted to loose heart in our mission in the face of all the evil that we see in the world. And sometimes we can see examples of that evil right in our own neighborhoods.

And Christian it is not our task to set back and be idle in our mission waiting for His return. Not even for a moment. The Apostles learned this in our Lord’s Ascension. Look at verses 9-10:

III. The Preview of the Future (9-10).

Jesus Christ will return in the same way He ascended into the heavens on the clouds, He will come again on the clouds.

Though we are in anticipation of His coming again we are not to be passive in our mission.

The two men in white robes make this clear to the Apostles when they ask, “why do you stand looking into heaven?”

He will come again in the same way as you saw Him go. The Scriptures tell us that they headed back from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.

They took care of a few matters of importance and then the Holy Spirit came just as Jesus had told them.

Empowered with the Holy Spirit they turned the known world upside down as the gospel advanced throughout the Roman Empire.

Christian though we look foreward to the Kingdom it should never cause us to disregard our our global mission. We eagerly await His return, and until He does return we still have a job to do. Advancing the Kingdom of our Lord through making disciples in the world.

But Pastor Brett the task is too big. Christian we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

But the hearts of men are hard and cold. Christian we have the power and the message that can open the eyes of the vilest offender.

Story of Roxanne in the jail.

Initial day in the class.

Visiting Day. After reading her Bible John, Romans, Hebrews, Lots of questions.

Conclusion

Unbeliever the gospel is the only thing that is going to make a lasting change in you. I am talking about a change that makes you ready for eternity.

Believer our hope is rooted in Christ and His power is changing us and empowering us for gospel ministry.

Confess and receive. Lets Pray!