Star Gazers or Earth Shakers

Acts 1:6-11

I know this is a sermon based on the series “A Heart for His House.” But how can we effectively have a heart for His house if we do not have a heart for Him and His heart which is His people.

We have been talking about Sent and the time between the resurrection and the ascension. So we pick up the story of the ascension of Jesus here. When Jesus ascended, the apostles kept staring up at the clouds -- even after He was out of sight. Two angels felt it necessary to reprimand them and get them moving toward their true mission, the saving of lost souls. This message will nudge you to that!

HUMOR: A family had a reunion on a Saturday in California. On Sunday they all went to church. During the opening hymn, an earthquake hit. The building shook, the overhead lights swung back & forth. In true California style, they never missed a beat, even though they had to grab the pews in front to steady themselves. Following the service the Pastor came over and introduced himself to the out-of-state relatives. One shook the pastor’s hand and said with a suppressed smile, “I can honestly say this was the most moving service I’ve ever attended!”

Read Acts 1:6-11

Acts 1:6–11 NLT

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

According to verse 9, Christ ascended until He disappeared into a cloud (I’m glad He didn’t vanish). Evidently the disciples continued to stare at the cloud after He had disappeared. The angels were puzzled by their continued staring – Jesus was gone! So why did they continue looking up there?

THEY REMEMBERED ALL THE GOOD TIMES WITH JESUS: Many people see their time with Jesus in the past-tense. They always speak of the “glory-days” of the past. For many of them, Jesus was “back there” but not here today. Really? Jesus hasn’t changed! He’s just as much HERE TODAY as He was on the Sea of Galilee. The problem is, we’re trying to relive the past and not get a fresh, new experience with Jesus!

THEY WERE POSSIBLY THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: They’d heard Jesus say, “I am going away,” and also, “I will come again.” They might have continued staring because they thought He would come back at any moment.

Studying Bible prophecy is good, but if that’s as far as our Christianity goes, however we cannot let our application of it be misguided. Which does God care more about? The identity of the 10 toes in Daniel’s vision or the lost souls in your neighborhood?

So we’re going to look at 3 reasons the angels said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there gazing up into heaven?”

I. WE MUST HAVE HEAVEN’S VISION OF OUR MISSION

A. THE NEED FOR A VISION: The angels, with heavenly vision, knew what was truly important in eternity. They knew there was no time to waste for the Early Church. We also need corrected vision today – to know the mission, the goal, the right direction for the church and for our lives.

Proverbs 29:18 MEV

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish; but happy is he who keeps the teaching.

God’s people move when they get a vision. Why are you here? What’s your mission? Why did God leave you here on this earth?

B. EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS THE GREAT COMMISSION: Five times in his remaining days on earth, Jesus gave some form of the Great Commission (in all 4 Gospels, Acts):

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 NLT

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Luke 24:46–47 NLT

46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

John 20:21 NLT

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He said the same thing 5 DIFFERENT TIMES! Anyone ever went on a trip and when you pulled out of the driveway, we rolled down the window and gave one more reminder, “Whatever you do, don’t forget…” That’s what the Great Commission is – it’s Jesus’ most important instruction!

II. PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED GOD IN THEIR LIVES

A. THIS LIFE FULL OF SADNESS We wrongly assume the lost are happy without Christ. They’re NOT! Job said that our days are “Few…and full of trouble” Job 14:1. Marriages fall apart. Husbands and wives bicker, fight, and are unfaithful. Divorce rates are higher now than ever, and there is very little difference in people who attend church and people who do not. Jobs are lost; loved ones die before their time; there’s never enough money; children go off the deep-end and their lives are hit by a tsunami of problems. People regularly say to me, “I’m so grateful I have Jesus! I don’t know what people do without the Lord!” They don’t do good! We look on the outside of people and they look like they’re ok, but statistics show they’re not. Check out the millions of sedatives and stimulants prescribed. Psychologist’s offices are jammed. Everywhere people are sad, filled with tragedy, addictions and depression.

B. THE GOSPEL IS THE ONLY HOPE. People will never be fulfilled without God in their lives. They’re empty without God. There’s a sense of estrangement from the Creator. The Bible says, “But the [godless] are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest….“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isa. 57:20-21. David said, “My soul finds rest in God alone!” People are hurting and we have the answer. Only Jesus can really improve their lives. We have to tell them! Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” Jn. 14:27.

C. PEOPLE ARE GOD’S FOCUS. ILLUS. A Missionary was waiting in a Pastor’s office. When the Pastor entered, the missionary commented, “You have an impressive library.” Just as the proud young preacher was about to agree, the missionary said, “Too bad it’s all going to burn up some day!”

You know what, the same can be said of your car, furniture, stereo, computer and house and all the money you have in the bank. Your college degree, your contracts, and your accolades. It’s all going to burn up someday, so why do we invest so much in something that which is temporary? I’m not saying that God doesn’t want us to have fun, to save for our future or have some nice things. The question is, is that our primary focus? Our primary focus should be on God and His kingdom – on reaching PEOPLE. Why? Because we can take people to heaven when we go. Because GOD’S focus is on people. Because Jesus died for people. Paul said in

1 Timothy 1:15 NLT

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

Since Jesus so loved people—we also ought to love people.

ILLUS. Years ago in England, there was a shortage of silver. Someone came to Cromwell one day and said, “There is no more silver. We can’t mint any coins until we get some more silver.” It was explained that the only silver that could be found was in the statutes of the saints found in the Churches. Cromwell said, “Well, then, melt down the saints and put them into circulation.” That’s what God wants us to do: put the “Saints” into circulation!

III. WE ALL HAVE A HARVEST FIELD

A. WE ALL HAVE A PLACE OF SERVICE. Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Mt. 9:37-38. “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’” John 4:35. Every one of us has a field we’re supposed to harvest. It’s the people around us who are separated from God/ Jesus by their sins. Jesus’ priority; “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Lk. 19:10. God put you in Liberal, Kansas and this region to witness for Christ! Huntsville is your Mission Field! GOD put you and I here to reach our neighbors, our co-workers, and our friends with the Good News of the Gospel.

B. THERE IS URGENCY IN THIS CALL. “Praying Hyde,” a missionary in India, prayed, “Father, give me these souls, or I die.” Hyde had an insatiable desire to reach people for the kingdom of God. Many Christians are too busy with earthly pursuits and the things of this world to realize the URGENCY of the multitudes of lost people going to Hell without Christ. People are dying and going to Hell: 55 million/ year, 153,000/day, 6,400/hour, 106/minute – an estimated 10-12K will die and go to Hell during this service! Do you care?

C. HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE? I’ll tell you 4 ways you can easily work your Harvest Field in the Liberal area:

Simply invite friends and acquaintances to church.

Another way is to send out a link on Facebook to a church event inviting people to attend.

Third, develop relationships with your neighbors that can open doors of evangelism.

Pray and learn the way to lead someone to Christ. Learn to share your story effectively.

THE CALL

As I was thinking about this message, the Lord laid on me to give YOU again the assignment to witness to 3 people in the next two weeks and possibly share it in church if God leads. How many will raise your hand, saying, “With God’s help, I’ll try to witness to, or invite to church, 3 people in the next two weeks!” Good! Remember, the Lord and me will hold you to your promise. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. If you’ve never begun your walk with God, but want to start this morning, raise your hand. How many of you need a new vision of the Harvest field? Let’s all pray for a burning zeal/urgency to reach our families, co-workers, friends and neighbors before Jesus comes back!

To have a heart for His house, we must have His Heart when we come to His house or we will never fully function as “His House.”