Text: Acts 1:6-11, Title: Preparation for Explosion II, Date/Place: NRBC, 4/22/07, AM
A. Opening illustration: Liken God to preparing for a big party or event, maybe talk about the preparation for Mackenzie’s party
B. Background to passage: After Luke’s introduction, in verse 6 he transitions to the last scene in the NT with Jesus before the ascension. Again, God is still preparing and getting the last few things in place from a cosmic standpoint to launch the early church.
C. Main thought: In our text today we will glean three things from the final interactions between the disciples and the resurrected Jesus.
A. A Proper Focus (v. 6-7)
1. The disciples were displaying their lack of full understanding of the Kingdom teaching that Jesus had just spent 40 days instructing them about. They were operating in a rabbinic/OT mindset looking for the establishment of a political theocracy, throwing off the bondage of pagan nations. It’s possible that the thought was still in their heads of being the CEOs of this political kingdom alongside Jesus. Issues of control, biblical interpretation, and political confusion about what kinds of things are coming next on the calendar of God. Explain about the OT’s lack of differentiation between the coming of the Messiah, and the restoration of the Kingdom of God. Notice also that there were no harsh rebukes, just mild, but major corrections. But Jesus tells them that God is “in the know” and that is good enough. He says be satisfied that God knows the future and you know God. But He is under no obligation to share all details with us.
2. Mark 13:32, Matt 23:23, 25:13
3. Illustration: illustration of the conflict between WMU and WEM, having that experience floating on a raft just off of the beach and waking up a quarter of a mile down the beach—need a marker,
4. There are so many issues that we get sidetracked in—personal aspirations, denominational politics, social and legislative agendas, moral and ethical platforms. But we need to keep our focus where it needs to be. We must live in “the now”, not in the future nor in the past. We need to fix our eyes upon Jesus. Don’t become overly preoccupied with the future, become preoccupied with Jesus. We need to realize that his purposes and agenda are the most important to us. We have need of markers that let us know when we are too far off base. We all have a tendency to settle in, be comfortable and allow our spiritual eyes to grow accustomed to what we see. Pam talking about starting a SS class at the flea market. But what about a worship service? We must remember that this kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, therefore we must have spiritual resources, and our focus must be on things like maturity in Christ, salvation of souls, and being in a living, growing, transforming relationship with Christ. Keep the main thing, the main thing.
B. A Pressing Mission (v. 8)
1. This is the most important verse of the first chapter. Jesus telling them their mission. This is a revised and restated version of the great commission. Jesus points them to the grandness of their mission: to now go out to proclaim the glories of the gospel of Christ and the forgiveness of sin. They are to be martyrus, witnesses. This is an outline for the rest of the book, because they begin to do this. And the promise of the Spirit is reiterated here. And Jesus links it to the ability and capability to performing what He has commanded.
2. Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21,
3. Illustration: This big but contrite man then cried out with a loud voice, "I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?" He turned to this Christian gentleman and pleaded, "Can you show me how to find the Lord?" The believer immediately bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, is this a sign?" "The work of evangelism is never complete until the one evangelized becomes an evangelizer." tell about the astonishment on the lady at the conference about Maine’s spiritual darkness, 95% of Southern Baptists will never lead another person to faith in Christ, 10% of our churches baptize nobody in a year,
4. This is not only the mission of the twelve, but it is the great mission statement of the church today. It is the job of every Christian to be endued with power from the Spirit and to be a witness. Being a witness only involves telling what you know or saw. Paul always wrote, “reminding” his readers of things, and we must be constantly reminded of the incompleteness of the commission. The Great Commission will only be completed effectively by those of you who walk in the power of the Spirit. Next week we will linger a while longer about the furtherance of the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Uttermost Parts of the Earth. Is this the mission of your life?
C. A Propelling Motivation (v. 9-11)
1. As Jesus ascended, the disciples stood there watching the now empty sky, hoping that this was not the last time that they saw Him. But the angels came and clarified that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, as the cloud represents the divine glory of ascension. They probably clarified to the disciples some of the statements that Jesus made about the coming of the Son of Man in His glory. To paraphrase, the angels said, “what are you doing here looking up into the sky, you have work to do. Jesus is coming back, and the Master expects you to be about His business when he returns. And you have a big goal to accomplish: world evangelization.” There is some question as to how literal to take these statements. Will he return 40 days after Easter? That would be May 18th this year. Will He return to the Mt of Olives?
2. Rev 6:16, 1 Cor 3:13,
3. Illustration: "Nope, said the son. "on that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy they nailed to the "plus sign,? I just knew they meant business!’ The years between 999 and 1030 AD were characterized by excessive speculation about Christ’s second coming among Christians, so much so that it led to social chaos as farmers didn’t plant crops for the next year, buildings weren’t repaired, and the details of daily life were neglected because they thought Christ would return in their lifetime.
4. No one particularly likes accountability, but it really is a powerful motivation. And we must be reminded that Jesus is returning, and He will bring judgment and accountability. Jesus will demand that we give account for our support of the commission or lack thereof. He will pour out the wrath of God upon sin and sinners who chose not to do as He asked. I am afraid there will be much weeping on our behalf because we have not lived as though he were coming back at all, let alone soon. We should tremble at the wrath of the Lamb, and the fire that shall try our works. Jesus will not ask how much money we have made, but how much we have given away to the cause of the gospel. Jesus will not ask how big our home was, but how we used it for the advancement of the kingdom and the evangelization of sinners. Jesus will not ask how many sports trophies we have, but how many came to know Him in our sporting endeavors. He will not ask how well our kids married, but how well they contributed to the kingdom goals. Do not be deceived by Satan, and buy into the modern American Christian lie that our priorities are no different from the world’s. We have a huge task still to complete! And every facet of our lives to gain fuel from it, and bear fruit towards its completion. How would Jesus evaluate your life right now?
A. Closing illustration: State employment officials in Tucson, Arizona, posted an interesting sign over a full-length mirror. Directed to all job hunters, it read, “Would you hire this person?” In another office a mirror and sign posed this question: “Are you ready for a job?” "Just remember, God does not judge success the way the world does; His measurement is for eternity.
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
