What Are We Waiting For?

Lynn Miller Jackson

Living the Resurrection • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Acts 1:1–5

Acts 1:1–11

Patience

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Promises take patience. The power has been granted. What are you waiting for?

Notes

Transcript

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.

“This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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

He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Let us pray.

Looking up

The Book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospel according to Luke. Hence the writer states, “In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”

Acts connects the life of Christ to the life of the church—the community of believers.

After his resurrection, Acts says Jesus spent 40 days with the disciples. This reminds us of the 40 days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai, Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness…these were all periods of preparation for what was to come. Perhaps better called the ‘in-between’ times.

Jesus took the time between his resurrection and ascension to provide more instruction

Luke says “giving instructions through the Holy Spirit”

perhaps this was a 40-day bootcamp of reminders of his teaching over the last three years along with more in-depth counsel through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Isn’t it always the case that we increase the intensity of review or studies for finals or final projects.

In college, we have the study week/periods specifically set aside for finals; time for intense review before moving to the next grade level or graduation! or perhaps its the 6-week training course for a new job; bootcamp for the armed services.

Once the troops were prepped, they gathered on Mount Olive, where the Garden of Gethsemane was located.

Eager to know what was next, they asked Jesus if he was now going to restore the kingdom of Israel.

Despite all Christ’s teaching about the coming kingdom of heaven, the disciples were still fixated on having the kingdom of Israel restored.

This is us today. Asking when will things go back to the way they were when God has been and is showing us a new way forward.

Jesus redirected the dialogue. He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

These last words before his ascension were sharp.

God’s timing is God’s timing. God’s calendar and clock are God’s alone, beyond your capacity, and not your concern.

The absence of a response about the kingdom of Israel speaks loudly. Concern only about your neighborhood or nation is a self-centered, limited view. I have shown you a different way. You have witnessed me love differently - embracing the poor, healing the sick, even touching the leprous; engaging all people from children to charlatans, Pharisees and the tax collectors, and every kind of sinner; all nations and relations of people from Romans and Jews to Samaritans, Syro-Phoenicians and beyond. I have greater plans for you! (Jer 29.11)

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

Power in a sense of confidence and authority to speak truth and share good news with clarity, to love as you are loved!

Power of discernment through the counsel of the Holy Spirit and so much more as needed to be my witnesses not just in Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth!

Imagine some raised brows, big eyes, and shifting discomfort in the disciples as Jesus spoke these words.

Then he ascended! Mic drop!

They had seen him appear out of thin air, now he ascended into a cloud as they stood looking up.

Between his words and his ascension into a cloud, no wonder the Men of Galilee were gazing up. They needed a minute…or a millenium to process what just happened!

Sometimes we have experiences that leave us stunned, speechless, or wondering...

Perhaps the men stood their thinking

What? You mean you’re really entrusting us to do what you’ve been doing…on our own…to the ends of the earth?

Remember, Jesus had sent out the 12 and the 72; he had prepared people and sent them to practice their capacities; to live their faith and use the power and authority granted.

The results were imperfect but such is ministry

It’s not about perfection but pursuing God’s purpose. It’s always a learning process to make progress.

So Christ has entrusted his followers to be his witnesses and promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower them. Then he was taken up!

“...suddenly two men in white robes stood by the disciples asking: Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Perhaps this question was really a prompting to stop staring at the clouds and go do as instructed.

So, process and GET READY TO proceed.

Christ has been lifted up so you can go out.

Sometimes leaders/teachers need to step away or let go to allow others to get their footing and realize their own capacities.

Illustration: Learning to ride a bicycle

When we learn to ride a bike, we have to learn the mechanics of pedals, steering, oh yeah, and stopping! We also have to learn to balance the bike, too. We either have trining wheels or someone holding the bike; sometimes both.

Both the teacher and the learner understand the end goal is a capable cyclist. Both know that someday sooner than later the training wheels will come off or the steadying hand will let go.

When that magic moment happens, there may be a fleeting sense of both fear and freedom when we realize we’ve been let go BUT we can balance, pedal, steer, and keep our eyes open all at the same time. That feeling of exhilaration from recognizing what we can do is the feeling of new life…the joy of ascending to a new level of confidence and capacity that makes out hearts soar!

When Christ ascended, he let go with the confidence that his disciples were equipped and would be empowered to witness to the world. They would find their balance and move forward.

But we must operate the mechanisms, find our balance, move the pedals of their purpose, steer with the handles of humility into the hearts of humanity, even put on the brakes to slow the pace when they needed to linger longer in a place.

It would several days until the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Perhaps this was more ‘in between’ time for them to pray and ponder over what it means to be witnesses for Christ in their community, the surrounding regions, nations, and throughout the world.

What does it mean to be a witness for Christ in Sandy, the Salt Lake Valley, the state of Utah, throughout the US, throughout the world.

I once dreamed I was at the airport enroute to speak in India. I was meeting someone MJ knew in Mumbai. I have no idea of what I was there to do…BUT I was to be a witness for Christ.