“God’s Plan: Pentecost, Parousia, and YOU!”
Acts
1:6-11
Introduction: At the outset of a New Year it is
typical for us to consider our goals and plans for the future. Since it is
already January 5th, many of us have already made and broken one or
more New Year’s resolutions! We resolve
to lose weight or to eat better, read through the Bible, or to get organized
(O.K., now you know my resolutions!).
Planning is good, as long as it has right motives and seeks to conform our
actions to God’s plan. (Remember James, “…If
the Lord wills, we will live, and do this or that…”) God has a plan for 2014, and it
includes you! As we turn to the Book of
Acts we are reminded that the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus are linked
inseparably to the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost. God’s plan
continues to unfold exactly as He ordained it. As these disciples were
about to discover, we obviously don’t have the physical presence of Jesus to guide
us on the way. He is, however, present,
in the person of the Holy Spirit, to lead, empower, and to guide us in the
mission He has given.
The Big Idea: Empowered by
the Spirit, believers are called to be witnesses until Jesus returns. Let’s
make it our resolution to embrace that mission more fully!
Context: Acts 1:1-5, for 40 days after the resurrection Jesus
appeared to his disciples and taught them about the kingdom. The scene as it
unfolds addresses three essential questions for us to consider: 1) Why am I
here? 2) What can I do? And, 3) How
can I endure?
I. Why are we here? I don’t mean “why are we here in Maine, in the
winter, when we get some weather like we’ve seen recently!” (When it is below zero outside, under most
circumstances you will find me inside!).
The question is, “Why are we here in the world?” This passage calls us
to refocus our priorities on Mission: We are here for a reason (6,7).
“Therefore,
when they had come together, they asked Him, saying…” (6a). Notice that
Luke begins with the word, “therefore.”
[Remember the maxim of Bible Study, “When you see a ‘therefore’ ask what it is there
for.”]. In the light of Jesus
appearing to them and teaching them over an extended period, in view of the
promise of the Spirit for which they were to wait, they ask a question. It’s not so odd. Jesus had been teaching them
about the kingdom over a period of forty days. They were to wait for a promise
that certainly had eschatological (end time) overtones: the pouring out of the
Spirit. In fact when it happens in Acts 2 and Peter preaches, he begins by
quoting the Old Testament and saying “this is that.” Joel put is like this:
“28 And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour
out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your
old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and
on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days…” (Joel
2:28f).
Peter makes an interesting change in his quotation in Acts 2:17, “…And
it shall come to pass in the last days…” He is interpreting what
Joel said and making it clear that He views the fulfillment of the prophecy on
Pentecost as an end time event, something of supreme importance that is linked
to the initiation of the messianic age and God’s unfolding plan.
And so here,
after He taught about the kingdom and spoke of the pouring out of the Father’s
promise, they ask Him a question: "Lord,
will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (6b). Rabbis
typically engaged their students in a question and answer learning style. He
would ask them questions to provoke their thinking, and they would be free to
ask Him questions in return. If you are trying learn, there is no such thing as
a dumb question. If, however, you’ve been teaching for a while you do
occasionally get a question that just proves the student isn’t paying
attention! I don’t think this is that.
This is after the resurrection. According to Luke, Jesus had opened their minds
that they might understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). So their expectation of a literal end time
kingdom on the earth centered in Jerusalem was not wrong-headed.
By the way, notice that they had what we might see
as a “pre-millennial” expectation, an earthly kingdom, with the King
present. After our reading of Revelation
on Tuesday night at our New Year’s Eve service, someone was asking me about my
view of the millennial issue: a-mil? Pre-mil? Something else? This is one of
the contexts that leads me to the pre-millennial view. Jesus had opened their understanding
at the end of the Gospel of Luke (24:45). He was with them for 40 days,
teaching specifically about the kingdom, and it seems to me this is what they
were expecting. The answer of Jesus in
the next verse does not seem to indicate that they were mistaken in that hope, that
somehow they had completely misinterpreted his port-resurrection teaching, but
rather that when it would happen was not to be their concern.
“And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to
know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority… ‘“ Notice that Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for a
dumb question. He doesn’t ask, “Haven’t you guys been listening?” Rather, He essentially says that when
this is to happen is not for them to know.
When is the Father’s prerogative and His alone. We’ve mentioned
before the harm some preachers have done over the years when they thought that
somehow they had God’s timetable all figured out, and even ventured to predict
a date for the return of Christ. A contemporary example of this was Harold
Camping, who passed away recently. After the failure of his prophecies regarding
1994 he arrogantly recalculated and came up with Saturday, May 21st,
2011. No. Wrong again. To his credit, it seems Camping did finally repent and
admit that his pride had led him to preach what amounts to heresy. Instead of
asking about the timing of God’s end time program, we should concern ourselves
with being faithful in the “here and now” plan that God has entrusted to us: Empowered by the Spirit, believers are called to be
witnesses until Jesus returns.
II. What can I
do? It is important
to recognize God’s Plan for the Mission (Acts 1:8). "But
you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall
be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth." This has been called by many commentators the “key
verse” of the Book of Acts. It provides an outline of the Book as God’s plan is
to unfold geographically and ethnically exactly as Jesus predicted. It also reminds
us of our mission and assures us of the presence and power of the Spirit to
carry out that mission.
First of all, “I” can do nothing in my own
strength, but God can do anything He wants to do through me if I will yield
myself to Him. We are weak, He is strong.
Notice that Jesus didn’t say “You are stronger than you think, go ahead
and get it done!” He said “wait for the promise” in v.5, now He speaks in the
future tense, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
you.” The language here speaks to having the strength, capacity, and ability to
carry out the mission at hand. That power is linked to the coming of the Holy
Spirit (on Pentecost) ten days after the ascension of Christ.
The power
they were to receive is linked to the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Who is this Holy Spirit? Not simply a force, but the third person of
the Trinity. He is the personal “comforter” that Jesus spoke of in the upper room.
The personal presence of God with us
guarantees that God’s will and God’s work will not fail. Think about it, it is God
that is our strength. The Battle is the Lord’s! And since He is the omnipotent
Creator and sustainer of the universe, victory is certain!
“…you shall be witnesses for me…” Listen, I
love Billy Graham. History will surely affirm Him as one of the greatest
evangelists the world has known, ever.
We are not called to be Billy Graham. Most of us don't have the gift of
evangelism (though a few surely do). But we are all called to be the Lord’s
witnesses. A witness is someone who sees or hears or experiences something and testifies
to its occurrence. We are not expected
to be experts. We surely won’t have all the answers. But we can say that God
has made a difference in our lives. People can argue about a lot of things, but
your experience is yours, and you can testify to the fact that God’s grace has
personally impacted your life. Notice by the way, this also is “legal”
language. Earlier it was stated that Jesus appeared to them “by many infallible
proofs” over a 40 day period. Here Jesus says, we are to be witnesses. One
convincing proof we can share with inquirers is the transformed life of the
disciples in the biblical account. How do you explain that cowering bunch that
ran when Jesus was arrested becoming fearless proclaimers of the gospel ready
to die for the truth? That is evidence that demands a verdict! But your transformed life is something those
around you have been watching, and like it or not, that too is evidence that
can either get their attention or leave them unimpressed.
Notice also in verse 8 the geographical
expansion: starting in Jerusalem where they were, outward, finally to the ends
of the earth. That is exactly what
happens in Acts. The church is born on Pentecost, and is first established in
Judea before it reaches outward to Samaria in Acts 8, and ultimately to Asia
and Europe after the conversion of Paul.
One simple application is that we start where we are in the mission that
God has given us, and then we remain willing to go where He directs us. Is Boothbay a mission field? Boothbay Harbor? East Boothbay and Southport
and Edgecomb? Lincoln County? You get the idea. You have been placed by
God exactly where you are, on purpose and for a purpose. To be His witness.
And you are not alone. Empowered by the Spirit, believers are called
to be witnesses until Jesus returns.
III. How can I endure? We
are surrounded by distractions. The weather, the media, people walking down the
aisle. The distractions of life and the
attractions of the world. We need to
remember our purpose, we need to resist the temptation to lose focus: We are here for a season.
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken
up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white
apparel, 11 who also said,
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus,
who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw
Him go into heaven."
Notice the timing – the temporal link
between what Jesus said in v.8 and what happens in these verses: “Now when He had spoken these things, while
they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their
sight. 10 And while they
looked steadfastly toward heaven…” Luke wants to make sure that we as
readers don’t miss the connection between what Jesus said and what happens in
this scene:
·
“When [or “after”] he had spoken these things…” What things? His teaching in verses
7-8. They had heard more about the mission
that they were receiving, its power and its geographical (and ethnic) outworking
according to God’s plan.
·
Then while
they watched Him ascend into heaven, “While
they were looking steadfastly toward heaven…” Two messengers appeared by
them. The message: “Why are you standing here looking upward? Did He not tell you what to do? Didn’t He just explain what needed to happen?
Wait for the Spirit and carry out the mission.”
Remember in John 16:7
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go
away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I
depart, I will send Him to you.” What could be better than Jesus walking in
their midst? How about God, the Holy
Spirit, dwelling in them to empower, guide, and convict?
Notice the final statement: “This same Jesus who you saw go up into
heaven will return in like manner.” Think for a moment about what this
implies. Just as surely as Jesus walked
on this earth. As surely as He was crucified and rose again, He will return.
The context here is dealing with the mission of the church. The implication is that this mission is
our commission until Jesus returns.
One of the take aways of our reading through Revelation again on New Years Eve,
is the encouragement to be ready, and to be faithful.
At times heretical attempts to date the
return of Christ have been accompanied by contradictory ideas about the mission
of the church being finished. Well
friends, the mission continues until His return. You know, it could be 2014. It
could be today. But that doesn’t mean we gather on a hill and look upward. It
means we go out into the world, and as we do we look for every opportunity to
urge people to be reconciled to God. This
seems to tell us to “…be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord…” (I Cor 15:58).
What is God saying to me in this
passage? Empowered by the Spirit,
believers are called to be witnesses until Jesus returns.
What
would God have me to do in response to this passage? As we start a
New Year, have you made resolutions for the future? Planning is good, but we
must always remember to include God in our plans. Have you made discovering and
living out your place in God’s program a part of your planning? You feel inadequate? That’s not a bad thing. You
are, if you are trying to do God’s work in your strength! Paul understood that when he said, “…the life I live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God…” Will you make it a priority this year to look for those
in your sphere of influence for whom you can pray, and to pray and look for
opportunity to point them toward Jesus? A couple of suggestions for 2014…
1. Make your relationship with God a
priority. Our goal every year should be to strive to know Him more
intimately and to love Him more passionately.
To know Him we need time in the Word. We need to make church more than a
one hour spiritual recharge. We need relationships and accountability within
the body. I would love to see every one of us have a small group that we can be
a part of. I also think it is important
that we have at least one close, one-on-one relationship with a mature Christ
follower where we can be transparent, and share our thoughts and struggles.
2. Make God’s mission, your mission. Think about where you are. Think about the
people you interact with on a regular basis. Could it be that God has placed
you in your family, in your workplace or school, in your neighborhood, as His “under
cover missionary”? Will you consider making a list of 4 or 5 people that you
can pray for, and seek to influence for Christ? You might think, “I tried that
before, nothing seemed to happen!” Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking…
God’s timing is always perfect, we can trust Him. Jesus is still building His
church, and until He returns His plan is to empower us by the Spirit to be His
witnesses. Think about that, AMEN.
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