Embark on a profound exploration of faith and purpose with us as we journey through the transformative post-resurrection period of Jesus' disciples. The curtain rises on the narrative with a look at the seismic shift in the disciples' lives, catapulted from witnessing a profound sacrifice to standing on the threshold of a mission that would forever alter the course of history. We recount the priceless legacy of Jesus' teachings and the awe-inspiring emergence of the early church, poised on the brink of the Holy Spirit's imminent arrival.
As we unfold the tale of the ascension, you'll discover the depth of the disciples' questions about the restoration of Israel and be captivated by Jesus' redirecting their gaze to a broader horizon. The Great Commission is not just a historical mandate but a living, breathing call to action that resonates through the centuries. We discuss how this echoes in our modern lives, challenging us to carry the torch of witness from our own doorsteps to the far reaches of the earth, inspired by the early church's narrative in Acts.
In the finale, we draw inspiration from the daring flight of Larry Walters as a metaphor for our spiritual calling. The message is clear: we are urged to rise above complacency, harness the power of the Holy Spirit, and boldly proclaim the Gospel with urgency. We close with a reflection on the disciples' unwavering obedience and their fervent anticipation of what lay ahead—inviting listeners to share in the joy and responsibility of bringing the message of salvation to a world eagerly waiting to hear it.
Embark on a profound exploration of faith and purpose with us as we journey through the transformative post-resurrection period of Jesus' disciples. The curtain rises on the narrative with a look at the seismic shift in the disciples' lives, catapulted from witnessing a profound sacrifice to standing on the threshold of a mission that would forever alter the course of history. We recount the priceless legacy of Jesus' teachings and the awe-inspiring emergence of the early church, poised on the brink of the Holy Spirit's imminent arrival.
As we unfold the tale of the ascension, you'll discover the depth of the disciples' questions about the restoration of Israel and be captivated by Jesus' redirecting their gaze to a broader horizon. The Great Commission is not just a historical mandate but a living, breathing call to action that resonates through the centuries. We discuss how this echoes in our modern lives, challenging us to carry the torch of witness from our own doorsteps to the far reaches of the earth, inspired by the early church's narrative in Acts.
In the finale, we draw inspiration from the daring flight of Larry Walters as a metaphor for our spiritual calling. The message is clear: we are urged to rise above complacency, harness the power of the Holy Spirit, and boldly proclaim the Gospel with urgency. We close with a reflection on the disciples' unwavering obedience and their fervent anticipation of what lay ahead—inviting listeners to share in the joy and responsibility of bringing the message of salvation to a world eagerly waiting to hear it.
Hi and welcome to the FBC El Dorado Sermon Podcast. We hope God will use this week's message to both inspire and challenge you as you seek to walk closer with the Lord. Now join me as we listen in to this week's sermon. Well, it's good to be back with you this morning and thankful for the time of worship we're able to enjoy. Aren't you thankful? Jesus paid it all. I'm so eternally grateful to Him for that. I appreciate the orchestra in leading us in that. I want to invite you, if you would take your Bibles and turn with me to Acts, chapter 1. We're going to be looking in Acts, chapter 1 this morning and we're going to be looking in Acts, chapter 1 this morning and as you make your way there. If you'll allow me to review just for a moment some of the weeks that I've been here, most recently Of course, I know that you all participated in the Lord's Supper last week and I'm thankful that you all had that time together to worship the Lord in that unique way.
Speaker 1:If you'll think back with me, on Palm Sunday we looked at a passage of Scripture well, almost the entirety of Mark, chapter 10. And Mark, chapter 10, verse 15, says whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it. And we focused on that passage of Scripture. Incidentally, if you'll recall, that passage of Scripture takes place as Jesus is making His way up to Jerusalem it was in the region of Jericho as he's making His final trip to Jerusalem, where he would be arrested and crucified that Passion Week and then triumphantly be raised from the dead on Easter Sunday. And so the next Sunday was Easter Sunday. And there we looked in Revelation excuse me, 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 at the resurrection. And in that passage of Scripture Paul focuses on the evidence for the resurrection. And then, with that belief, that logical belief in the resurrection it's not a blind leap in the dark or wishful thinking it's very logical to conclude that Jesus rose from the dead, based on the evidences that have been given, we can have great hope and great faith in God restoring us, saving us and looking to that day in which we also are going to be united with Him forever.
Speaker 1:And then, two weeks ago, we looked at a passage of Scripture in John, chapter 21. Now, if you're in Acts, chapter 1, it may be right there across the page for you, but in John, chapter 21, we looked at this time in which the disciples they found themselves. They knew Jesus had risen from the dead, but they didn't know what to do. And so they went back up to Galilee and they went fishing. If you remember, peter and some of the other disciples went fishing and Jesus appeared to them. And do you remember what Jesus said to Peter and to the disciples? And Jesus appeared to them. And do you remember what Jesus said to Peter and to the disciples? Instead of focusing back on fishing, they were supposed to focus on following Him and stay focused on the original call that God had placed on their lives. And so today, what we do is we, as we flip across the page to Acts, chapter 1, we're going to once again focus on those days immediately following Jesus' resurrection.
Speaker 1:As we look at the events of Acts, chapter 1, chronologically, there are events that happen after what takes place in John, chapter 21. And yet we find here in this passage, the disciples are still figuring things out. Jesus has risen from the dead. They know this to be true, they know he's the triumphant Messiah, but what is it they're supposed to do? And so, with that in mind, let us begin by reading in verse 1 of Acts, chapter 1. It says the former account I made, o Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach until the day in which he was taken up, after he, through the Holy Spirit, had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he had also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Speaker 1:If you'll allow me to stop there for just a moment, I don't know if you are familiar with who wrote the book of Acts, but the book of Acts was written by a man whose name was Luke. Matter of fact, it's the same Luke that wrote the gospel of Luke. If you were to look at the first four verses of the gospel of Luke, you would find a prologue there where he states I have investigated all of the ministry of Jesus and am putting together this account to share with you, this man, theophilus. And then you get to the book of Acts, and the book of Acts is the sequel of what Luke writes about. And so once again he's writing to a man by the name of Theophilus and he is stating that he has put together what has happened here in the early church, and then also, ultimately, what's going to happen in the advancement of the kingdom around the Roman Empire. Now, it's interesting because all of the book of Luke is based on eyewitnesses. Luke didn't see any of what he reported in the gospel of Luke, but not so in the book of Acts, because you come to Acts, chapter 16, we're not going to look there this morning, but in Acts, chapter 16, luke himself enters the story and he bears testimony in a first-hand way, an eyewitness way, to all the things that he reports from chapter 16 to the end of the book, in chapter 28. And so we find here he is laying the groundwork for what is going to be recorded in the book of Acts.
Speaker 1:Now look at verse 4. With me being assembled together with them. He, that is Jesus, commanded them, the disciples, not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said you have heard from Me, for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him saying Lord, will you, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them it is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority, 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 ends of the earth. Now, when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight, and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 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.
Speaker 1:Now, this morning, we're going to look through this passage of Scripture. This is obviously a very rich passage, but as we do so, we're going to continue to see the instructions that Jesus gives to His disciples at such a pivotal time. We think about the events that have happened in the recent weeks leading up to this point and the fact that the disciples were there when Jesus was arrested and several were there when he was crucified, and they have seen Jesus risen from the dead, and now we find that he is coming to the end of His ministry, the culmination of His earthly ministry, and this is a very important and pivotal exchange that Jesus is going to have with His followers. And as we look at this passage, I really feel as though we, as 21st century Christians, are going to be able to understand Jesus' perspective on our purpose as His people in the time while we await His return. And as we look at this passage, I want to again focus your attention on verses 4 and 5, where again it says, being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said you heard from Me, for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
Speaker 1:As we look at these two verses, as this passage of Scripture unfolds, we want to focus our attention for just a moment on Jesus' command to the disciples here in this passage. And what does he say here in verse 4? The commandment, very specifically, is you are to wait, you are to stay in Jerusalem. After Jesus appeared to the disciples shortly after the resurrection, he told them to go to Galilee. And that's exactly what they do, because that's where we find them in John, chapter 21. But in this passage of Scripture he says don't go back to Galilee, that's where most of them were from. Don't go home, don't return to the boat, don't you dare go fishing. You are supposed to stay in Jerusalem and you are supposed to wait.
Speaker 1:Now Jesus here highlights John's baptism, that is, john the Baptist. He came as the forerunner to the Messiah and he preached a baptism of repentance as he prepared the way for the Messiah, who we know to be Jesus. He proclaimed that people were to repent of their sin and, as a demonstration of their repentance, they were supposed to be Jesus. He proclaimed that people were to repent of their sin and, as a demonstration of their repentance, they were supposed to be baptized. Now, in this passage of Scripture, jesus is not doing away with water baptism he affirms that in the Great Commission, in Matthew, chapter 28, but instead he's saying that in a little while, the Holy Spirit is going to baptize you, he's going to come upon you, he is going to empower you.
Speaker 1:Now, if we were to take the time, we could look back in John, chapter 14, 15, 16, and 17. All of those chapters take place on the Thursday evening as Jesus is about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. And in that passage he speaks at length about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the significance of the coming of the Spirit. And so now he says the Holy Spirit's going to come upon you, you're going to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And when does he say this is going to happen? Well, he says not many days from now. Wait in Jerusalem. Not many days from now, the Holy Spirit's going to come upon you. And as far as the timing is concerned, from the time Jesus says these words until the day of Pentecost, it's probably about a week that they're going to end up waiting in Jerusalem and obeying God's command here, as spoken in this passage of Scripture. So we find Jesus' command given to the disciples here as they're trying to discern what they're supposed to do next.
Speaker 1:The second thing we find in this passage of Scripture is the disciples' concern, not just Jesus' command to wait, but we find voiced their concern, and that's in verse 6. It says, therefore, when they'd come together, they asked Jesus saying Lord, will you at this time, lord, will you at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel? Now, put yourself in the shoes of the disciples for just a moment and all that they'd borne witness to these last few months and three years. Really, they'd been following Jesus. Think of all the things they had heard Jesus teach and the authority with which he taught, and the fact that he looked at people and told them definitively your sins are forgiven. Who has the authority to do that, but God alone? And think of all the things they had observed Jesus do. They had even seen Jesus raise people from the dead and they were able to think about all they had observed and they were able to remember that in the Old Testament the Old Testament prophets, they prophesied that there was going to come this ultimate deliverer, this one who was going to be raised up as God's anointed, the Messiah, the ultimate David, if you will. And based on what they've seen in Jesus and what they've heard from Jesus and now here he stands, having been resurrected from a death by crucifixion they know definitively that the one standing in their midst is the Messiah who was promised all those years ago in the Old Testament. In addition to that, they know what the Old Testament prophets had to say In the book of Isaiah.
Speaker 1:God speaks through Isaiah and says Israel is going to be restored. In the book of Jeremiah, god promises Israel is going to be restored, going to be restored. In the book of Jeremiah, god promises Israel's going to be restored. In Ezekiel and in Daniel, god promises the day is going to come when Israel's going to be restored. Matter of fact, it says in Joel, chapter 2, and Peter's ultimately going to reference this on the day of Pentecost. In Joel, chapter 2, it speaks of the Holy Spirit coming upon the people of God. And when that happens, you know what that passage says the day of the Lord is at hand.
Speaker 1:And so these disciples yes, they were fishermen, they hadn't gone to much schooling, but they could put two and two together and the question that they pose on this particular day is a fairly logical one. They're standing in the presence of the Messiah Lord. Is it now when you're going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Is it now that you're going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Is it now that you're going to vanquish the Romans? Is now the time we're going to come back to that one here in just a moment? Is now the time? So we find the command of Jesus to wait.
Speaker 1:We find the disciples' concern about the timing of the kingdom and the coming of the kingdom. Look with me in verse 7. We're going to find the response Jesus gives here. Verse 7, he says it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. Simply put, what is Jesus saying there In response to their question is now the time? Jesus is simply saying don't worry about that. Then he goes on and he gives what we'll refer to this morning as his commission.
Speaker 1:Jesus' commission is mentioned here in verse 8. It says you'll receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. It's now the time. It's not for you to know the time. It is not for you to be focused on the end. It's not for you to be focused on your rescue, but instead there's work to do. That is the message that Jesus is giving here in these two verses of Scripture. That is the message that Jesus is giving here in these two verses of Scripture. He says very clearly that when the Holy Spirit which he had just promised in the preceding verses when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You are going to be empowered, and this empowerment is not going to usher in, in a very literal sense, the restoration of Israel, but instead this empowerment is going to enable you to to move on to the next phase of the coming of the kingdom, which is what? Being witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ, him being the Messiah, him being the, the Savior. And so the Holy Spirit would come, they would receive power, they would begin to witness. They would witness in Jerusalem. They would, empowered by the Spirit, witness in Judea and in Samaria, and then they would ultimately go around the Roman world sharing the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:And I want to say to you this morning that, for the local church living 2,000 years later, this is a great way to look at the task we have of spreading the message of the Lord Jesus Christ. How are we supposed to go about doing that? Well, the Lord gives us a very clear instruction here. It is our responsibility, regardless of where we live. I live up in Benton, you live in Eldorado. Those watching online someone could be living halfway around the world and be watching the service online this morning, wherever we are.
Speaker 1:The mission of the church, the commission that Jesus gave in this passage of Scripture was that we're supposed to be witnesses where we live, in the region we are. We're supposed to be witnesses to the people that are not like us, the Samaritans. We're supposed to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ globally, and that is an important facet of what we do as followers of Jesus. It's not just us coming, it's not just us gathering. We are to be witnesses to Jesus and how he has transformed us around the world. And that's what unfolds in the book of Acts.
Speaker 1:What you find is, starting in chapter 2, they epitacost. We find Jesus is proclaimed and the message is proclaimed in Jerusalem. They are witnesses in Jerusalem. And then we find all the way through chapter 7, we find the message of Jesus is continually proclaimed in Jerusalem. And then you get to chapters 8 and 9, and in chapters 8 and 9, the message of Jesus is proclaimed in Judea and in Samaria. And then you get to chapters 8 and 9, and in chapters 8 and 9, the message of Jesus is proclaimed in Judea and in Samaria. And then you get to chapter 10, and pretty much from chapter 10 to chapter 28, we find the message of the gospel begins to spread around the world, in fulfillment to what Jesus has stated here in Acts, chapter 1, verse 8.
Speaker 1:This is Jesus' commission. These are the last words that he shares with His followers before he departs. So you have Jesus' command. Wait in Jerusalem. Holy Spirit's going to come upon you. The disciples' concern is well, is now when you're bringing a culmination to everything and restoring the kingdom. Jesus' commission is don't focus on that. Instead, you've got work to do. You're supposed to be a witness to Me. And then, finally, we see. The passage concludes with Jesus coming.
Speaker 1:We find in verse 9, it says when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. This is a reference to the ascension of Jesus. You may not think about this a whole lot, but this is not referenced a lot on the pages of the New Testament. Obviously, this is the clearest description of what transpires as he's finished declaring verse 8. He rises up and disappears into the clouds. He ascends into heaven, rises up and disappears into the clouds. He ascends into heaven and the disciples?
Speaker 1:They're standing there looking up into the sky, trying to process exactly what it is they're seeing, and all of a sudden, verse 10 mentions there's a couple of men just standing right there with them and they're dressed in white and they say to them there in verse 11, it says men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? So that's exactly what's. We don't know how long they were looking there, but just imagine this scene Jesus ascends, and what else would you do but to stand there gazing up into the heavens and these angels? They speak and say why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. What a great promise.
Speaker 1:I don't know that verse 11 of Acts, chapter 1, gets a lot of press. It is a great promise. Disciples, why are you looking up into the clouds? There's a promise that the day is going to come when Jesus is going to return in the exact same way that he left. And we don't have time there's so much here that we don't have time to focus on this morning but it is an essential belief among us, as followers of Jesus Christ, that the day is going to come when that verse of Scripture is fulfilled and Jesus will once again triumphantly return. We have great hope in that. But in this moment, on this particular day, jesus is gone. The disciples are looking into the sky Surely, they're looking at each other, wondering exactly what's just happened. They hear the angels and they're left to ask themselves what do we do now? What do they do? What were they supposed to do? They were supposed to wait. It's what Jesus told them to do Stay here in Jerusalem and wait. Isn't it interesting that here we are 20 centuries later, almost exactly 20 centuries later. We're less than 10 years from being exactly two millennia later than the events of Acts, chapter 1.
Speaker 1:And we find ourselves asking very similar questions, don't we? You find yourself peering up into the heavens, ever wondering if today's the day, is now the time. How many of you were alive? Well, you don't have to answer this question if you don't want to. How many of you were alive on May 14, 1948? Well, okay, all right, I see that hand. I appreciate it. Yes, sir, there were a few of you in the room that were.
Speaker 1:Some of y'all know the significance of that day. That was the day that Israel became a nation. Do you know that the last time Israel was an independent nation was in 63 BC, until 1948? Is now the time? Is now the time? You think about the events of this past fall in Israel, you think about the events of this past week and some are left.
Speaker 1:We're left to ask the question is now the time? Matter of fact, just yesterday I was having a conversation with a man and he had no idea I was preaching this passage. I had not referenced it, he didn't know I was preaching anywhere, for that matter, and he, just, in the nature of conversation, he strikes up the events of this past week in the nation of Israel and he points out a passage in Ezekiel. It talks about what he thinks is a description of the events that have recently happened and how that the Old Testament speaks into this. This man, certainly he's asking the question is now the time? Well, as we look at this passage of Scripture, I think it's interesting that, as we understand, the day is going to come. Jesus is going to bring about a culmination of the end, and we can't help but ask ourselves with the disciples is now the time? Obviously not yet, of the end? And we can't help but ask ourselves with the disciples is now the time? Obviously not yet. Jesus has not yet descended from the clouds, as of today, or at least as of this time today. It could be today, but it hasn't happened yet, and so we wait.
Speaker 1:I don't like to wait. I don't think I know of many people that like to wait. I certainly don't want to wait in relation to Jesus' return. You know what I want? I want to be rescued. Anybody else? Find yourself there when you think about Jesus coming back, the fact that he's going to be able to rescue His people. He's going to be able to rescue His people.
Speaker 1:But think about this what if God hadn't waited? God does some of His best work when we're having to wait, when His people are having to wait. What if God hadn't waited to send the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost? His timing was absolutely perfect. There was a huge crowd gathered, there were thousands of people in the city who were from all over the Roman Empire, and it was at that moment that God sent His Holy Spirit on His people. What if Jesus had already returned? What if Jesus had already returned 500 years ago or a thousand years ago? You know what? You wouldn't have A relationship with the God of all of eternity that has provided a way for you to be saved. You ever thought about that. Now you wouldn't know it because you wouldn't exist. But God has waited and in so doing has allowed me to develop a relationship with Him, and that is the source of my strength and my hope and my purpose and my future. And so we wait. God knows exactly what he is doing. His timing is exactly perfect.
Speaker 1:Back in the summer of 1982, there was a man by the name of Larry Walters living in Los Angeles, california. Larry had always dreamt of flying. Matter of fact, he joined the Air Force, but poor eyesight prohibited him from being able to actually fly, and so, having gotten out of the military, he found himself one day dreaming of flying. He lived near Los Angeles International Airport and so he decided he was going to do something about it. He went down to the Army surplus store and bought 43 weather balloons. He came back home and he got out a lawn chair and he tied his lawn chair down to tethered it to the ground and proceeded to fill those 43 weather balloons up with helium and he tied them they were already affixed to the chair and he packed a little lunch bag and some sandwiches and some drinks and called his friends over. He wanted them to bear witness to his flight. And so they gathered together and he gave them the sign and when the time was right, they cut the ropes, tether in the chair to the ground and the plan was to just float over the housetops and just enjoy a little flight and then descend back to the ground. Matter of fact, he'd brought with him a BB gun just to pop the balloons when he wanted to come back down. The problem is, when the friends cut the rope, he did not make a casual ascent.
Speaker 1:Larry Walters ascended into the heavens like he'd been shot out of a cannon, and I don't know if you've ever read about this. You can Google this and see this is true. But he leveled off at 16,000 feet. Now just imagine that for a minute. This man is sitting in a lawn chair three miles above the surface of the earth. He thought about popping some balloons, but realized if he wasn't really wise in where his BBs landed, the chair might tilt and then it would get serious. And so he stayed up there so long that, you know, he started to get cold. Air currents drifted him into the approach corridor of the Los Angeles International Airport, where pilots from Delta and Transworld radioed in and said you're not going to believe this, but there's a man at 16,000 feet sitting in a lawn chair and he's got a gun. Finally, he realized he was going to freeze to death and so he had to start taking his chances. And he he guessed rightly in the chair. And he his body, slowly descended back to the surface of the earth and there the local police department was to greet him. And as they handcuffed him and led him away to the patrol car, some reporters who had picked up on the story and were there on the scene, one of them hollered out and said Larry, what on earth made you do it? To which he simply replied A man can't just sit around.
Speaker 1:I contend to you this morning that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we can't just sit around. Our calling is not to unfold our lawn chair and look to the heavens and wait for Jesus to come back. He is going to come back. It is going to be wonderful, we're going to be with Him forever. That is one of the great hopes of our faith. But while we wait, we can't just sit around. You know what Jesus calls His people to do, not only in the first century, but in the 21st century. Here's the calling he's placed on his people. We are to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and to go out into this world and tell the world just how great Jesus is, how he has transformed our lives and how he can transform their lives as well. That's why the delay.
Speaker 1:Jeffrey, a moment ago read from 1 Peter. Let me read for you from 2 Peter for a moment. It says in 2 Peter, chapter 3,. It says but beloved, do not forget this one thing that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as is one day. So in God's timing, figuratively speaking, it's been two days since Acts, chapter 1. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness or slowness, but is long-suffering or patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That's why the delay.
Speaker 1:And while we wait, we are compelled out into the streets, out into the lives of our friends and our family and our neighbors and our co-workers, and out across the globe into the lives of people that have never heard about Jesus, to bear witness in the power of the Holy Spirit. As the church, we never have to ask what we're supposed to be doing. Jesus makes it perfectly clear in the Great Commission and again here in Acts, chapter 1, verse 8. We're simply to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and to teach other people how to follow Him. That is the calling we have. It doesn't matter if the church has a pastor or doesn't have a pastor. It doesn't matter if it's in the first few days after the establishment of the church in the book of Acts or if it's 2,000 years later. The message still is the same. While we're waiting to be rescued, there are other people who desperately need to be rescued from their sin and enjoy a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us work together for that end.
Speaker 1:Let me invite you, if you would please bow your head and close your eyes, with your heads bowed and your eyes closed this morning. I want to invite you in one of two ways. You may be sitting in the room this morning, you may be watching online today, but if you would be honest with yourself, you would acknowledge today that you are not a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. If that is the case, let me say to you that Scripture teaches that Jesus is going to come like a thief in the night. We don't know when it's going to happen. And I don't specifically say that to scare you, but I do say it to warn you because Jesus teaches it in His Word and you have got to be ready for that day. And the way in which you become ready is by surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, turning from your sin and allowing Him to take over control.
Speaker 1:And if you think that sounds terrible and burdensome and takes all the fun out of life, let me say to you, as someone who's given my life to the Lord Jesus, I cannot imagine going back to what it was like before. Jesus was my Lord and Savior. It is better than you can ever possibly imagine. He's the reason I get up in the morning. He's the reason for the great hope we have in the future. You need to be saved today. In a moment I'm going to be standing down here at the front. Pastor Brian's going to be standing here. We would love to share with you how you can have a relationship with the Lord this day.
Speaker 1:But if you find yourself here this morning as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I know you're looking to that day. I know we look toward the return of Jesus with great anticipation, but acknowledging His word to the disciples. While we wait, we are compelled to be His witnesses and pray today for the Holy Spirit's power. Pray today for the boldness that is needed to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. We, as His people, have a mission to do and it can only be done in His power. Lord, we call on you this morning. Once again. We thank you for the authority of your Word.
Speaker 1:I am so thankful for the fact that those disciples, that day, as they heard the words of Jesus, as they heard the words of the angels, they left the Mount of Olives that day and they obeyed Jesus. They went back into Jerusalem and they waited until the day that the promise was fulfilled, the Holy Spirit came down and they became witnesses to the only one who can save, that is King Jesus. Lord, it is our desire. We want so badly for the people around us who do not know you as their Savior and Lord. We want them to enjoy the life and the freedom and the joy that you can give. Please rescue them from their sin.
Speaker 1:While we wait, I pray, if there's somebody here today, lord, that needs you, that you'd speak into their heart in such a very real way that they would have to say yes to you this morning. Lord, while we wait, give us such a burden for lost people that we long to be empowered by your spirit. We long to have the boldness that is necessary to leave the comfort of our homes and the comfort of our lives and step out in faith into other people's lives. And this day in which we live, we understand, while we don't really suffer persecution, in this day and time, for which we're very thankful, we certainly risk social awkwardness. But, lord, somebody risked social awkwardness to tell me about Jesus. Somebody was willing to be bold enough to tell me about my sin and about my desperate need for a Savior, and that's the calling for the church.
Speaker 1:We gather together to worship. We gather together to encourage each other. We gather together to acknowledge that the mission placed before us is that, while we wait, we must be witnesses to you. So fill us with such a great boldness and burden that we are compelled in the lives of those around us. Thank you for this day, thank you for the influence and the impact and the witness that this church can have in El Dorado and in Union County and in Arkansas, and around the nation and around the world. We want people to know Jesus and the salvation that only he brings. And so, father, today I pray that we'll respond in recognition of your authority and your word, and it's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen. I want to invite you, if you would please stand to your feet. We're going to be standing down here at the front. We would love to share with you how you can know Jesus as your Savior and Lord. As we sing, you come.