WORSHIP WHILE YOU WAIT - LUKE 24: 50-53

Luke 24:45–53 (CSB): 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered, from on high.”

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS

50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.

BIG IDEA: Greater awaits those who wait in faith!

WE ARE EMBARKING UPON A NEW SERIES FOR OUR NEW SEASON…

WE’VE GOT JESUS IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS OF PREPARATION, PRIOR TO HIS ASCENSION…AHHH, YES, JESUS HAD TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH! AND YES, JESUS HAD TO (RETURN) - TO GO UP FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN….WHY? BECAUSE THIS WAS THE WILL AND PLAN OF THE FATHER…

JESUS CHRIST’S TIME ON EARTH WAS FOR OUR REDEMPTION (YES, HE PURCHASED OUR SIN DEBT WITH HIS SHED BLOOD UPON CALVARY’S CROSS)…AAAAANNNNDDDD HIS TIME ON EARTH WAS TO TEACH US TO ANTICIPATE GREATER! YES, GREATER AWAITS…

JESUS, TURNING WATER INTO WINE - AND YET, HE DECLARED THAT GREATER WAS POSSIBLE!

JESUS, SETTING THOSE FREE WHO WERE BOUND BY SPIRITS AND BY AILMENTS - AND YET, HE DECLARED THAT GREATER WAS POSSIBLE!

JESUS, TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUES, WALKING ON WATER, FEEDING THOUSANDS WITH SACK LUNCHES! AND YET, HE DECLARED THAT GREATER WAS POSSIBLE!

BELOVED, WHEN WE FAIL TO SEE OR EVEN TO BELIEVE THAT GREATER IS POSSIBLE, WE FORFEIT OUR FUTURE…WE QUENCH THE VERY SPIRIT OF GOD! WE LIMIT THE POWER OF GOD IN OUR CHURCHES - IN OUR FAMILIES - IN OUR VERY LIVES!!!

PULL ON YOUR NEIGHBOR AND DECLARE, “GREATER AWAITS!”

I’M NOT TALKING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR TODAY, I’M TALKING TO YOU!

I NEED YOU TO EMBRACE THE FACT THAT GREATER IS POSSIBLE IN YOUR LIFE!

THERE ARE SOME AREAS IN WHICH YOU’VE GIVEN UP. YOU NO LONGER BELIEVE ANYTHING CAN BE CHANGED OR REDEEMED OR MADE BETTER.

YOU’VE ACCEPTED DEFEAT IN THAT RELATIONSHIP - IN THAT CAREER - FOR THAT LOVED ONE…AND I’VE COME HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GREATER IS POSSIBLE!

A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, "Eighteen to nothing--we're behind."

"OH NO," said the MAN, "I'll bet you're discouraged."

"Why should I be discouraged?" replied the little boy. "We haven't even gotten up to bat yet!"

GREATER, I’VE COME HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GREATER AWAITS! IT’S TIME FOR US TO BAT…IT’S TIME FOR US TO PUT SOME POINTS ON THE BOARD FOR THE KINGDOM….IT’S TIME FOR GREATER!!! (SOMEBODY SAY GREATER)….

IT’S PREPARATION TIME IN OUR TEXT…

JESUS CHRIST IN HIS RESURRECTED STATE IS LINGERING AND TEACHING:

Luke 24:45–53 (CSB): 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered, from on high.”

JESUS IS OPENING THEIR MINDS TO REMIND THEM OF THEIR PURPOSE! PARENTHETICALLY, THEIR PURPOSE IS OUR PURPOSE!

JESUS, THE MESSIAH, HAS SUFFERED, DIED, AND BEEN RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY.

HIS DEATH WAS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, TO WHICH WE’RE ALL GUILTY!

THEN HE SAYS:

PREACH JESUS TO ALL THE NATIONS

BEGIN WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL (JERUSALEM)

WAIT FOR THE POWER FROM ON HIGH

JESUS TELLS THEM WHAT TO DO - TO WHOM TO DO IT - AND WHEN TO DO IT...

THEY’RE BEING COMMISSIONED TO BE WITNESSES!

THEY’RE BEING CALLED TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

THEY’RE BEING SENT OUT TO PREACH ABOUT ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR REPENTANCE AND FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS...

CHURCH, DO YOU SEE YOUR ASSIGNMENT?

THEIR PURPOSE IS OUR PURPOSE!

GREATER WAS NEXT FOR THEM...

BUT THEY HAD TO WAIT....

50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.

AS MIRACULOUSLY AS JESUS CHRIST CAME TO EARTH - BY WAY OF A VIRGIN MOTHER - HE WAS LEAVING THE EARTH - BY BEING CARRIED UP INTO THE CLOUDS (ASCENDING) INTO THE HEAVENS…

THIS MONUMENTAL MIRACLE IN OUR TEXT PROVIDES CLOSURE TO THE GREATEST MIRACLE KNOWN TO MANKIND - THE RESURRECTION OF OUR MESSIAH!

CHURCHES DO SO MUCH GOOD...

WE FEED. CLOTHE. TEACH. COMFORT. LOVE. AND SO MUCH MORE...

AND AS JOHNNIE, MY GUIDE IN ISRAEL WOULD OFTEN SAY, “BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THIS!”

CHURCH, IF WE NEVER TELL THEM THAT JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS (FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF HIS GLORY). THAT HE WAS BURIED (ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES). AND THAT ON THE THIRD DAY, HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. (DEMONSTRATING VICTORY OVER DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE). AND AFTER PRESENTING HIMSELF TO HIS DISCIPLES AND OTHERS IN HIS RESURRECTED STATE, HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN - TO BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER! SO THAT IN HIS PERFECT TIMING, HE WILL RETURN AGAIN, THIS TIME, FOR HIS CHURCH!

BELOVED, IF WE NEVER TELL THEM FROM THE GUT-MOST TO THE UTMOST - JESUS SAVES!

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION

50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.

JESUS PRONOUNCED FINAL BLESSINGS UPON HIS CREW...

THE TEXT RECORDS THAT WHILE HE WAS BLESSING…WHILE HE WAS ENCOURAGING…WHILE HIS HANDS WERE LIFTED - HE WAS CARRIED UP!

BELOVED, CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS SCENE?

THIS IS HOW YOU PREPARE FOLKS FOR GREATER...

JESUS PRONOUNCED A BLESSING, AND THEM POSITIONED THEM TO BE A BLESSING!

HE LEFT THEM LOOKING UP!

THE DISCIPLES KNEW (BEYOND ANY DOUBT) THAT GREATER AWAITS...

THEY EXPERIENCED HIS MIRACULOUS LIFE, AND NOW THEY EXPERIENCED HIS MIRACULOUS DEPARTURE...

SO AS I TRANSITION TO A CLOSE, WHAT DO YOU DO WHILE YOU WAIT FOR GREATER?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 14

12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

THE TEXT SAYS, “THEY WORSHIP!”

THEY HONOR HIM.

THEY CONFER GLORY TO HIM.

THEY HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE HIM.

THEY WORSHIP!

WORSHIP IS NOT RECITING LYRICS!

WORSHIP IS AN ACT OF REVERENCE, WHERE THE LORD IS THE RECIPIENT.

TO BOW IN THE SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY...

WORSHIP IS TO KISS THE KING.

ACKNOWLEDGING HIM ABOVE ALL.

JESUS IS ASCENDING.

THE DISCIPLES ARE WORSHIPING!

WHEN WE PURSUE HIM, AND WORSHIP HIM. NOT MERELY TO GET STUFF FROM HIM…WE DISCOVER A LEVEL OF INTIMACY THAT FEW BELIEVERS EVER REACH...

NOT ONLY DO THEY WORSHIP HIM.

THEY ALSO REJOICE IN HIM!

THEY RETURN TO WAIT (IN JERUSALEM), FILLED WITH GREAT JOY!

WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT GREATER AWAITS...

OH BELOVED, IT’S A JOY TO WAIT WHEN YOU TRUST THE ONE YOU’RE WAITING ON...

JOY BASED UPON THE PERSON AND THE PROMISE...

AND THEY WERE CONTINUALLY IN THE TEMPLE PRAISING GOD.

THEY CONTINUALLY PRAISED HIM!

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT CHURCH FOLK OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE, COMMIT VS. 52-53 TO MEMORY!

CHURCH FOLK ARE COMMITTED TO WORSHIP...

CHURCH FOLK HAVE JOY...

CHURCH FOLK KOW HOW TO PRAISE!

WHEN YOU KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT GREATE AWAITS, CAN’T NOBODY KEEP YOU FROM IT!

THE SPIRIT OF GOD REMINDS YOU ABOUT THE PROMISES OF GOD!

YOUR SPIRIT MAN BELIEVES THE REPORT...

AND THEN YOU CAN’T HELP BUT REJOICE OVER WHAT HE HAS DONE, AND WHAT HE’S ABLE TO DO...

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 3)

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE WHO CHOOSES TO BELIEVE GOD!

BELIEVE THAT HE’LL SHOW UP IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES...

BELIEVE THAT HE’LL BLESS US RIGHT ON TIME...

BELIEVE THAT HE’LL BRING US INTO OUR PREFERRED FUTURE...

BELIEVE THAT GREATER AWAITS!!!

AREN’T YOU GLAD, YOU SERVE A GOD WHO IS ABLE...