WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.160 It's Acts chapter 1. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:29.039 If you found your way to the Gospel of John earlier, it's just the next book after that. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:34.799 If you're unfamiliar with your Bible, if you need help, just look to somebody around you. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:36.560 Someone will help you find it. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:45.920 As we begin a study, probably for about the next 10 to 12 months through the book of Acts. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.679 This morning our text is the first 14 verses. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:58.320 So if you have your Bible, I'll begin reading in Acts chapter 1, verse 1, and I'll continue through verse 14. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:04.560 So we have to remember that this is Luke's second book, right? 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:06.640 Luke is the author of Luke and Acts. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:23.359 And so he says, In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day that he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:35.760 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:52.319 And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, You heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:00.000 So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:08.479 He said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:22.000 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:29.120 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:41.680 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:49.520 This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:57.439 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:02.639 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:12.319 Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas, the son of James. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:24.719 All of these, with one mind or one accord, were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:25.680 Amen. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.080 A couple of elements just as we start here. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:34.800 At the very end, it says that Jesus is leaving, and all of the disciples are going to an upper room. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:38.000 We have the twelve disciples plus more. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:42.560 It may be the 120 disciples that are mentioned in the next verse in verse 15. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:43.360 We don't know. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:49.919 But what's interesting is that very last phrase of verse 14, and his brothers. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:58.639 It seems that at this point, after the 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus' brothers have come to faith in him. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:02.639 Because you remember in the gospel accounts, they didn't believe in him. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.879 So maybe it seems as though they're now a part of the disciples. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:07.840 That's one interesting thing. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:13.919 The other interesting thing is the different person at the beginning of the chapter, Theophilus. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.120 Great name, we don't know who he is. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:25.439 Could be a general name that refers in general to all believers. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.439 It's simply a generic kind of name that means someone who loves God. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:36.720 So some people think that this is a reference to the whole church, so that it's directed to every believer in Christ. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:38.240 I don't take that route. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:50.959 I think that this is Luke's specific supporter, who is actually supporting financially the writings of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:05:00.480 And so Luke is writing, especially at the beginning of his gospel, to grant certainty to his supporter of the things of the faith. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:12.560 But last Sunday, we saw at the end of Luke's gospel that our history as Christ followers is firmly rooted in the empty tomb. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:19.120 Now, most of us know and readily accept that truth. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.800 That's where our faith is rooted. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:32.319 I intentionally didn't speak much about the second event at the end of Luke's gospel. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:35.199 That's the ascension into heaven. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:45.920 That's because Luke shifts his focus primarily from the resurrection now to the ascension in Acts. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:51.600 You can picture it this way, the way that Luke emphasizes these different elements. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:57.920 In the gospel record, he wants to emphasize above all, at the end of his book, the resurrection. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:02.959 Jesus rose from the dead, and so there's proof after proof after proof after proof. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.920 And oh, by the way, he ascended into heaven. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:10.560 In the book of Acts now, that emphasis sort of flips. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.360 Don't forget the resurrection. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:17.519 Now I want you to know all about the ascension. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:24.720 Luke's gospel uses the resurrection sort of to just introduce the ascension. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:37.680 That's reversed in Acts, where the resurrection is now assumed, it's put out there, don't forget about this, because the ascension of Christ is going to become the primary reality. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:46.639 And the narrative of the book of Acts will reveal how important the ascension of Christ is. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:54.800 Not just for the first century church, but for faith evangelical free church in the 21st century. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:01.519 So the book of Acts recounts God's acts. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.920 The acts of the triune God. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.279 God the Father ordains all things. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.040 God the Son reigns and rules. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:18.720 And God the Spirit brings about the results of the Father's plan through the Son's command. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.160 But Jesus is gone. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:25.680 He's ascended into heaven. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:36.800 So Jesus' absence in the book of Acts heightens the importance of understanding this pattern of resurrection, ascension, resurrection, ascension. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.560 Jesus is gone. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.160 He's in heaven. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:50.079 We looked at the end of Matthew several months ago at the Great Commission. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:56.800 And Jesus says there that he has been granted all authority in heaven and on earth. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:09.600 And in that authority, he commissions his disciples to go and to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:28.639 At the end of the Gospel of Luke, we saw that they too, again, were commissioned to proclaim Christ's resurrection from the dead, the good news of his resurrection, of his life, and of forgiveness to be found in faith in him. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:32.799 They were to take that to the ends of the world, Luke wrote. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.840 As long as Jesus is around. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.080 But what about when Jesus leaves? 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.399 He's gone. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:51.120 What happens to his work in his absence? 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:54.879 Well, the book of Acts answers that question. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:56.879 It keeps on going. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.120 It's the ultimate energizer money. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:03.840 You don't have to change the batteries. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:06.559 Just keeps going and going and going. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.639 The work of Christ keeps on going. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.480 Notice that Luke emphasizes this. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:20.080 He says, Hey, Theophilus, don't forget, in the first book, I told you all that Jesus began to do. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.120 He didn't finish it. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:29.200 He's still working until he brings all things, all of his work to completion. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:34.000 Jesus had to go to the Father for the Spirit to be sent. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:41.039 And it's through the Spirit's work that the king's commands are going to be fulfilled. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:46.559 And so these first 14 verses are a summary of all of that. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.000 And now that I've summarized it, let's dig into it a little bit. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:10:03.039 The first unit here, the first five verses or so, introduce for us all the surrounding elements that we need to be reminded of. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:05.759 That Theophilus needed to be reminded of. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:11.840 It picks up where Luke left off and sort of recounts some of the same elements, introduces some new things. 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:15.840 So we need to understand where we're going in this book. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:23.519 How are we going to make our way from the resurrection and the ascension to where we are today? 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:34.159 And so we begin to observe here that Luke shows us that all the acts of God that we are about to encounter in this book are part of his kingdom work. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:41.679 The first few verses naturally remind us of the end of Luke. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:48.480 We have the resurrection and proving the resurrection, just like we saw last Sunday at the end of Luke. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:58.960 Jesus, we're told, stuck around for about 40 days for a purpose that went beyond confirming the resurrection. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:01.200 Yes, he confirmed it. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.840 Luke says, by many proofs. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.639 But it wasn't just that. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:12.080 These details reveal Luke's intentions. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:18.559 First of all, he wants to orient Jesus' work within the storyline of Scripture. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:25.519 And he wants to remind us, secondly, of Jesus' purpose in God's ordained plan. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:32.080 First, the 40 days remind us of their importance in Scripture. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.879 40 days. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:40.000 Jesus rose from the dead and he spent 40 days teaching his disciples. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:47.919 If you think a little bit, you're reminded that 40 days is an important number in Scripture. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.080 Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted for 40 days. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:57.120 Moses was up on Mount Sinai for 40 days. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:03.440 Similarly, Jesus now gives instructions for 40 days. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:17.360 So we're orienting this element, these 40 days, as an important section that falls in line with all of the other patterns that God has had throughout his history. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.879 But secondly, God's in the process of establishing his kingdom. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:28.320 Notice that the book of Acts ends with the exact same theme. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:40.240 In Acts chapter 28 and verses 30 and 31, just the last two verses of the book, it says that Paul is in Rome here, living two whole years at his own expense. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:42.320 He welcomes all who came to him. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:51.840 And then he says he's proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:58.799 Luke wants us to know God's acts are about God's kingdom. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:08.320 From beginning of the book to the very last words, everything that God is doing is about his kingdom. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.279 And here, too, Luke picks up where he left off. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:16.399 Luke's gospel relates what Jesus began to do and teach. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.840 So what did Jesus begin to do and teach? 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.799 The answer is pretty simple if we flip back. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:30.559 Luke chapter 1, verse 33, the angel Gabriel told Mary that there would be no end to Jesus' kingdom. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:36.799 So, right from the very beginning of the announcement of his birth, there's this announcement of his kingdom. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:43.039 Then in Luke chapter 4, verse 43, Jesus said, I proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.840 I was sent for this purpose. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:52.960 Later in Luke 11, verse 20, Jesus was challenged about how he cast out demons. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.960 And they said, You do it by the power of Satan. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.440 And he said, No, no, no, no, no, no, that's not right. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.440 He said, If I do it by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:13.279 God's Acts in the book of Acts are about Jesus completing the work of building his kingdom. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:17.919 Now I believe that we sometimes overthink the kingdom of God. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.159 What is it? 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:21.679 What is it? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.360 How would you define it? 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:31.759 Well, at its core, the kingdom of God is the rule of God over his people. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:40.559 Or as one author put it, it's it's the king's power over the king's people in the king's place. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.559 Pretty simple. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:49.120 Jesus now proclaims the kingdom because the king is present. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:56.240 Matthew says that Jesus' first sermon was repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:56.799 Why? 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:59.759 Because the king is present. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:12.320 As the new and greater Moses, Jesus began his kingdom work by establishing a kind of renewed Israel with twelve Jewish men. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.480 But the promise of God's eternal kingdom wasn't limited to Jewish people. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:28.240 As the new and greater David, this king is going to bless all nations by sending his people to the nations. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:36.080 To bring in all of his kingdom people so that he will rule over them. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:44.320 So the book of Acts represents the continuation of Christ's work of building his kingdom. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:55.200 He's extending his rule over a larger number of faithful subjects that extends further and further from the king's royal city, Jerusalem. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:01.679 That's something that's really important to think about as a local church. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:11.600 Since this is our history, we're reminded that we need to think in terms of kingdom work. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:37.919 Our thoughts and our plans and our intentions should not be concerned with what we hope to have happen or what we desire to accomplish, but with what the Father has already planned to do through his son's rule and reign over his people in his world. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:45.759 You know, churches and promoters make a great deal of a church's vision. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.960 You have to set a vision for your church. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.000 Nobody brought rotten eggs or tomatoes, did you? 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.840 That's a waste of time and effort, folks. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.759 The church's vision is not out there for our determination. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:12.720 We don't have the freedom to choose our vision because it's not our kingdom. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:25.279 We are part of an already existing kingdom, and our king has already determined the end from the beginning, and he's also determined the means to reach the end. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:33.440 Our King, Jesus, has already established the vision for his church. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:44.799 That vision is making and maturing disciples through the proclamation of his death, burial, and resurrection and teaching them to be faithful, loyal subjects. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.920 That's not ours to change. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:18:05.359 Now, if we want to talk about vision, we need to limit our discussion to how we might seek the Lord's enablement to accomplish what He's already decided is going to be done. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:20.079 The kingdom work of both individual Christians and local churches is to faithfully witness to our sovereign king both by what we say and by how we live. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:33.279 Now put that into the context of someone who came to trust in Christ, let's say 50 AD. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:49.839 And think about how Caesar would hear the news of this growing group of people who call this person named Christ Lord. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.640 Caesar is Lord. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:01.359 Caesar demands submission. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:18.640 But Christians are turning from the world's demands to submit to a new Lord, a Lord who has demonstrated his authority and his sovereign rule by rising from the dead and ascending to the throne of God above. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:27.839 We love, we serve, and we follow Christ, and we call on everyone else to do the same. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.319 We don't bow to Caesar or to any other so-called king. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.759 Yet we honor the emperor. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:42.799 We submit to the proper authority of human rulers for our good because God put them there. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:48.319 And so we see that it's a subversive kind of politics. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.759 We don't march against the emperor's palace in Rome. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:11.200 But by speaking and living, we make disciples who trust in Christ, and we turn more and more people away from bowing the knee to Caesar and who instead honor Christ as Lord. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.799 That is Jesus' kingdom work. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:22.319 Now all that kingdom talk confused the disciples. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:34.559 They wondered if Jesus had gathered them together to fulfill God's promises to re-establish a Davidic kingdom and to bring glory back to Jerusalem and to throw off the might and authority of Rome. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:40.319 And Jesus' answer is veiled. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:43.359 It isn't a no. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.319 And it's not a yes. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:49.519 It's sort of both. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:59.680 Jesus doesn't deny their hopes of a glorious rule by a messianic king, but he also doesn't say, yes, now is the time. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.839 Gather up everybody together. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.359 We're going to have a royal coronation. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:05.039 No, he doesn't say that. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:12.799 He says, in essence, the timing is all in the Father's plans. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.599 That's not for the subjects to know. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.920 That's for God to know. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:28.640 The time will come to establish a kingdom on earth and fulfill God's promises to ethnic Israel. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:40.960 But in the meantime, God's plan is to draw in people from all languages and nations and to graft them into a spiritual people to be his house, to be his temple. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:51.599 To accomplish that, God's acts now begin to shift from Jesus to being through empowered disciples. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:57.359 Do you remember when Jesus promised to never leave his disciples? 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.759 In the upper room, the Last Supper. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.759 Before the crucifixion? 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:07.039 He promised to send the Spirit to be with them and in them. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:13.680 And so Jesus is renewing that promise here in verse 8 with two additional notes. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:25.839 Not only is that spirit going to be with them, he's going to empower them, and that empowerment will have a purpose: to empower them to witness. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:32.240 And this verse acts sort of as an outline for the rest of God's acts. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:48.480 The book shows us how the good news of Jesus and this movement goes from Jerusalem and Jewish people outward in stages, from Jerusalem to Samaria to Judea to the rest of the world. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:54.000 But that isn't the primary emphasis of this well-known declaration. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:23:05.359 The emphasis is that what Jesus began to do in his earthly ministry continues through empowered disciples. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:12.880 As the Spirit of God empowers them, the disciples also are empowered by the Spirit to do God's will. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:15.519 God empowered Jesus in his earthly ministry. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.079 You can look at Luke chapter 4 for that. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.759 The Spirit empowers Jesus. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:27.519 Now the Spirit is empowering Jesus' followers to do the will of God so that his kingdom work will be expanded. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:34.079 But we see another critical element of functioning as disciples and churches under the rule of Christ. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.960 We don't determine the work. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:44.160 We don't decide what needs to be done. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:49.119 In fact, we aren't even really the ones doing the work. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:55.519 We merely function as vessels through whom the Lord does his work. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:07.839 We are sanctified, empowered tools that God graciously uses to fulfill his purpose. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:13.920 The Spirit's presence and the Spirit's power are benefits of belonging to Christ. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.519 That's a great thing. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:21.839 He hasn't left us alone, he's given us his spirit to empower us, and he's given us a job to do, to witness. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.119 But that's all secondary. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:28.160 We, in fact, are secondary. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:33.920 We are privileged to be vessels for the King's service. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:48.880 Because he has determined to build his kingdom by drawing in people from all over the world of different ethnicities, different languages, to himself through the message of Christ crucified, buried, risen, and ascended. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.880 And we get to be the ones through whom he does that work. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:25:00.400 And not only that, he gives everything that you need to do that work. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:04.319 All we need is his spirit. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:08.640 You see, that served as an encouragement to the disciples. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:12.319 Yes, Jesus is gone, but that's okay. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.880 He's given us everything we need. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:21.440 Jesus would leave the earth to be at the throne of God, but he would not utterly leave his people. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:26.720 He would send his spirit to be with his people and to empower them to do his will. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.839 So we have to ask, what does that do with our excuses? 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.920 Yeah, I just I don't I'm just not a very good speaker. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.839 I don't I don't know what to say. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.599 I've heard that before. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.640 Moses said it. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.640 Moses said it. 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.559 And you remember what God said to Moses? 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.200 Hey, dude, who made your mouth? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.880 I did. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:00.400 If I made your mouth and I'm telling you to do this, do you think I'm not gonna give you what you need to do it? 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:07.920 Moses came up with excuse after excuse after excuse until he just made God mad and said, Fine, I'm gonna give you Aaron. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.240 That wasn't a good thing, by the way. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.799 God has given you his spirit. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.799 So what does that make of our excuses? 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:28.720 If he's given us himself, his presence, and his empowering nature to do the work of witnessing, what does that make of our excuses? 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.400 You aren't bold enough? 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.119 That's great. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.519 God loves to work through weak vessels. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:37.680 You're scared, wonderful, he empowers. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:40.400 That's what God does. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:43.759 He takes fishermen and he makes them preachers. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:52.480 Jesus rules and works from heaven through the agency of his spirit. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:59.359 Through weak, uncertain, but empowered vessels. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:06.880 Now, with good reason, we we focus on the Holy Spirit when we come to this passage of Scripture. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:14.720 But if we do that, if we focus on the Holy Spirit, we miss an integral component of Luke's account. 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:23.680 Because in full view of the disciples, Jesus suddenly began lifting up into the sky surrounded by clouds. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:29.440 I'm glad we're not one of those churches that tries to replicate that here and lifts me up. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:36.559 Jesus is lifted up, a cloud surrounds him, and he disappears from view. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.759 What is that about? 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.640 What is going on? 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:48.480 Well, what's going on is that it shows us that God acts through a living, reigning Lord. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.200 So first it reminds us that Jesus lives. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:58.640 We know, we've been reminded the tomb cannot hold him. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:02.160 He proved it, Luke says, with many proofs. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.319 Jesus then left no uncertainties about his resurrection life over 40 days. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:16.079 And now the ascension proves that his absence is not because he died. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:21.920 His absence is because he now resides in a different realm. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:26.079 And even there, he lives. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:34.160 Jesus told the apostle John in Revelation chapter 1, fear not, I am the first, and I am the last, and the living one. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:38.319 I died, but behold, I am alive forevermore. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:43.440 He said that from his place in God's throne room. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:51.359 The ascension demonstrates that Jesus is gone, not because he died, but because he's in a different place. 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:57.440 But secondly, the ascension proves that Jesus reigns as Lord of all. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:04.799 Jesus ascended to reign and to rule as Lord of all. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:09.680 So verse 11 reveals to us where Jesus ascended to. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.079 Heaven. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.400 Okay. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.160 What do we do with that? 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:29.680 Well, if you flip over to chapter 2 and verse 32, Anton will be preaching on this in a couple of weeks. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:41.279 Acts chapter 2, verse 32, Peter's preaching, and he says, This Jesus God raised up, and of all of that we are all witnesses. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:47.519 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, now we have a definition of heaven. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:50.240 At the right hand of God. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:59.039 And now having received from the Father the promise of the Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing on the day of Pentecost. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:02.720 Now he explains it by pointing to Scripture. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:15.839 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but David himself says, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:27.759 Jesus has ascended to heaven, defined as the right hand of God, specifically the right hand of God's place of rule and authority. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:38.480 Jesus has risen from the dead, has ascended into heaven in fulfillment of Scripture, seated on the throne of God as the vice regent of the universe. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:45.279 If you doubt that, you can flip over to chapter 7. 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:58.160 Chapter 7, we see this long, long speech by a deacon named Stephen. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:03.279 Stephen's sermon isn't well received. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:14.720 They didn't so much throw rotten eggs and tomatoes, but stones at Stephen, because they were enraged in verse 54 of chapter 7. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:27.200 Then in verse 55 it says, But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:35.519 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:38.559 This is the present reality, friends. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.400 Jesus is alive. 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:41.440 He is not dead. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:50.880 We know the tomb is empty, but more than that, he is very much the living one at the right hand of God today, reigning and ruling over the universe. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:32:00.400 He is the enthroned Son of Man, which is the reality that Daniel saw in his vision in Daniel chapter 7. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:13.359 In Daniel chapter 7, he said, I saw in my night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:18.720 And he came to the ancient of days and presented before him. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:26.079 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:28.640 Sounds like the end of Matthew and the end of Luke. 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.359 Why? 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:34.880 So that all peoples, all nations, and all languages should serve him. 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:42.720 And his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:44.319 Notice the parallels. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:55.759 One coming with the clouds of heaven, a son of man coming to the throne room of God Himself, all authority given to him, all dominion. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:33:00.559 And so the disciples' question in Acts chapter 1 is a good one. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.559 Jesus, is now the time? 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:10.079 But they struggled to understand the entire divine program. 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:17.599 Yes, that the kingdom is now because the king is present. 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:24.160 The kingdom is now in the sense that God is, Jesus is reigning and ruling from heaven. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:34.240 He has redeemed his people, he's drawing them in, but the kingdom is not yet because God's promise is to bring in all from the nations that belong to him. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:43.359 That work to move from Israel beyond to other ethnic groups and to all of the world is still to be done. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:57.200 And so the ascension reveals Jesus' position until he returns to wrap things up, to restore Israel fully. 00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:00.000 He is at the Father's right hand. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:06.319 And because of that, the ascension reveals Jesus' identity. 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:10.159 He's Yahweh incarnated. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:13.920 He is the promised Son of David, who is David's Lord. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:26.079 He rules and reigns from heaven over his expanding kingdom, and neither Caesar nor hell itself will stop his work of building his assembled people over whom he will rule. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:32.960 And that work continues even today because Jesus has not returned. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.239 The rest of Acts reveals how true that is. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:35:01.199 That spirit has all of the authority and the power of Christ Himself. 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:03.679 That Spirit kills and makes alive. 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:08.400 That Spirit opens gates and yet prohibits people from going to certain places. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:13.760 Because Christ rules and reigns, and his agent is his spirit. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:20.320 So that leads to the practical element of the local church today. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:32.880 If Jesus is alive and ruling and reigning and working through his spirit, are we as a local church seeking to know his will? 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:38.000 Or are we just wanting to do our own thing? 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:44.400 Are we seeking his will and his ways, or our will and our ways? 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:47.599 Are we willing to submit to his direction? 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:52.239 Are we seeking to expand our kingdom or his? 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:56.960 Do we attempt our ways or his ways? 00:35:57.199 --> 00:36:01.360 Do we resist him or do we serve him? 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:10.400 These questions point to the final way in which God acts, and that is he acts to fulfill his word. 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:23.280 So we've already seen that there are some Old Testament parallels that meet their fulfilled reality, their ultimate reality in the book of Acts. 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:26.559 So I've touched on some. 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:37.360 In Exodus, recounted in Deuteronomy, Moses ascends to Mount Sinai for 40 days. 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:45.039 During those 40 days, he's receiving God's instruction, God's Torah. 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:55.599 Later on in Numbers chapter 11, we see that Moses prays that God would give his people his Holy Spirit. 00:36:56.800 --> 00:37:05.920 And then before he dies, he promises that there's going to be a greater prophet like him, but a greater prophet, and it's to him you shall listen. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:16.159 And now we have that greater prophet who for 40 days is instructing his disciples, his people, in his Torah, in his law. 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:23.519 We may even have an allusion here to the prophet Elijah. 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:29.920 Elijah was caught up into heaven in a chariot of fire. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:39.360 And upon leaving, a double portion of his spirit, which was God's Spirit, was given to Elijah. 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:44.400 A leaving and a departing and a giving of the Spirit. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:49.039 So the ultimate reality of these ancient parallels is revealed in Jesus. 00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:51.599 God is acting. 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:59.840 Daniel's vision of the Son of Man finds fulfillment, later confirmed by Stephen's vision. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:14.320 So God's promise, long, long ago to Abraham, finds fulfillment in twelve apostles representing the twelve tribes being sent to proclaim the king and his kingdom to all nations. 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:19.840 So that through Abraham all nations will be blessed. 00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:25.119 In a way, this is a new kind of exodus. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:37.440 Christ has redeemed his people by paying for their sins on the cross, bringing them out of slavery, and commissioning and empowering them to take the good news to all people. 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:47.119 That work creates a new kind of Israel, one that isn't based on ethnicity, but on faith in Jesus. 00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:53.440 And so all who receive Christ through faith in him become sons and daughters of Abraham. 00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:58.159 It's a spiritual rebirth into a new kingdom of priests and kings. 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:05.440 Notice what John says in Revelation chapter 1, verses 5 and 6. 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:14.800 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:18.480 Isn't that Exodus language, Passover kind of language? 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:25.760 And made us a kingdom, priest to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:26.719 Amen. 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:34.000 We don't replace ethnic Israel. 00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:36.320 We are grafted into what God is doing. 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:41.360 God will keep his promises, all of them to the very end, to ethnic Israel. 00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:51.519 But along the way, his promise was also to redeem his creation by creating a multi-ethnic people to glorify his name. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:40:02.639 Jesus is fulfilling Scripture in Acts chapter one by establishing that work. 00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:16.800 And his disciples obeyed by remaining in Jerusalem, praying that God would fulfill his promise of sending the Spirit and seeing its fulfillment. 00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:21.119 The Spirit empowers them to be witnesses. 00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:28.559 And you and I, as his kingdom people, are empowered similarly. 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:33.840 Notice that it's not something they asked for. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:39.920 It's not something you have to ask for, to seek for, to ask Jesus to do for you. 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:44.000 It's something that he promised, and he does. 00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:46.400 He fulfills that. 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:57.760 Moses asked for this for Israel, and it's something God promised through the prophets, and we find its fulfillment in these works of God. 00:40:58.320 --> 00:40:58.960 Why? 00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:01.599 Because Jesus is alive. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:11.360 And he uses broken vessels like us who submit to him. 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:20.719 And through his spirit, he strengthens us to be his kingdom people in a lost world. 00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:24.239 It's God's work. 00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:26.800 It's Jesus' work. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:29.760 Will we join him? 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.519 Let's pray. 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:35.039 Lord Jesus, may you continue your work until the end. 00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:43.119 We look forward to that day, Lord Jesus, when, as the scriptures say, that you will return in just the same way that you left. 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:48.880 Direct our eyes to the heavens, Lord, looking for your return. 00:41:48.960 --> 00:42:14.320 But in the meantime, fulfill your work through us, weak and broken vessels who look to you for our ability, for our power, for our words to speak, for the love that we need for others, for all of those things that go into witnessing to the resurrected and ascended Lord. 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:17.599 Lord Jesus, would you be gracious to us? 00:42:17.920 --> 00:42:31.920 Would you be gracious to Faith Evangelical Free Church and enable us to play a part in that work so that all would know here is a place of Christ's people gathered together. 00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:32.880 Amen. 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:38.639 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:45.679 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:50.000 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.