Scripture Introduction
The Bible contains four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), called together, “The Gospels.” These describe the work of Jesus while he was on earth. Virtually unknown at birth, by the end of his thirty-three years, Jesus assembled a following of men and women who believed in him.
The change from unknown Jew to trusted Messiah was neither simple nor quick. All were at first skeptical (to some degree); and after Jesus is executed, we find the disciples huddled behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews” (John 20.19). Their friend was dead, and hope for the future was crushed with his broken body.
After “The Gospels,” the next book of the Bible is entitled, “The Acts of the Apostles,” or “Acts,” for short. This historical narrative also tells of the work of Jesus, but while he is in heaven through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, in the lives of the Apostles and the churches they pastored. The change in the Apostles (between the end of the Gospels and the beginning of Acts) is dramatic. One Sunday they hide in fear; fifty days later they begin turning the world “upside down.” Something convinced them that they could count on Jesus, and that changed everything. [Read Acts 1.1-11. Pray.]
Introduction
The disciples change from cowering doubters to courageous believers in a few days because of the resurrection and ascension. Christians know the first is important, but we may not see the significance of the second. Yet as John Stott notes, the ascension the watershed event between the earthly and heavenly phases of the ministry of Jesus.
John Stott: “Luke does not think of his two-volume work on the origins of Christianity…as one volume on the story of Jesus Christ from his birth through his sufferings and death to his triumphant resurrection and ascension, and volume two as the story of the church from its birth in Jerusalem through its sufferings by persecution to its triumphant conquest of Rome some thirty years later. The contrasting parallel he draws is between two stages of the ministry of the same Christ…. Thus Jesus’ ministry on earth, exercised personally and publically, was followed by his ministry from heaven, exercised through his Holy Spirit by his apostles. Moreover, the watershed between the two was the ascension. Not only did it conclude Luke’s first book [Luke 24.51] and introduce his second (Acts 1.9), but it terminated Jesus’ earthly ministry and inaugurated his heavenly one.” (The Spirit, the Church and the World, 32).
Most of you know the resurrection is vital to salvation. The Bible explains (in Romans 4) that Jesus “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” The resurrection proves God’s acceptance of Jesus’ work on the cross; it assures forgiveness; it is essential to the faith.
But the work of Christ did not end at the resurrection. It continues now through his reign and rule at the right hand of the Father until he brings every last enemy into submission. Then will be the end and he will return with his reward.
I do not really enjoy traveling out of town on long business trips, and I am glad to do so rarely as a pastor. It is also hard on the family. My travel disrupts their normal schedule and everyone feels the stress. But returning can be so wonderful as to make it almost worthwhile. Helen and the kids make special treats; they sometimes decorate the house; and at the airport, as I walk past the security checkpoints and finally turn the corner to freedom, they await, cheering! My family counts on me to return and counts that as a reward. And, as a result of that confidence, they act a certain way.
It was a bit like that for the disciples. Jesus spends forty days between his resurrection and ascension explaining that he must go away to do his work, but he will return. Then in Acts 1.9, it happens, “as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” They seem to be in shock, feet glued to the ground, mouths gaping open and eyes gazing into the sky. So Jesus sends two angels: “Why are you standing here staring? He is coming back; so get ready for his return.” And with that push, Acts reveals what it looks like when people count on Jesus to return and reward.
Americans still profess to believe the Christian faith. The vast majority, somewhere between 60% and 80% of us, say that we are certain that Jesus rose physically from the dead. The profession remains strong, but the practice wanes. It is as if people “believe” in the resurrection and forgiveness of sins, but assume the story ends there. As if there were no ascension and no confidence that Jesus will return. So what does it look like to truly count on Jesus to return and reward? Acts 1 begins to answer that question.
1. Those Who Count On Jesus to Return Accept New Commands (Acts 1.1-3)
We try to be polite in our home. As parents, we are in charge, but we seek to be kind and compassionate. Sometimes, my efforts to be kind confuse the kids. They suppose my kind request a suggestion which can be refused if they do not feel like obeying. So I must lower my glasses, give the wag of the finger and the evil eye of doom, and say in my most serious voice, “Do you understand exactly what I expect?” My kids have learned that they can break the tension by giving a salute and saying, “Yes, sir, captain sir!”
It is a bit of silliness, but it also makes a point. In the military, there is the giving of orders; and sometimes there must be in the family too.
Jesus also gives orders which he expects to be obeyed. The Greek word is strong — the same one used by God in Genesis 2.16-17: “The LORD commanded the man, saying, ‘Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat….”
Just as God gave commands for life in Eden, Jesus gives commands for the life of his church. We are not free to “make it up,” doing things in any way we will. But examples of failure appear to be increasing every day.
In June, the Seattle Times broke the story of the Reverend Ann Redding who, “Shortly after noon on Fridays…ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group. On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. She does both, she says, because she is Christian and Muslim. Redding’s bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting.”
Those who pretend to believe in Jesus do not care about his commandments, either to have male pastors, or priests who believe in the exclusive claims of Christianity. They do not count on Jesus to return and reward faithfulness. Their actions betray a lack of faith!
Recently I met with a man and woman who profess to be Christians yet live together outside of marriage. Every Christian sins, but like so many Americans, they completely lack interest in the commands of Jesus. They are not counting on Jesus to return and reward, no matter what they profess. Their actions betray a lack of faith!
Other examples abound. Some profess the faith, yet have no regret of regularly skipping Sunday worship. Others claim to follow Christ, yet could not imagine radical generosity toward the work of the kingdom. And many call Jesus, “Lord,” who have no intention of obeying commands like:
• love your enemies,
• take the plank out of your own eye,
• think more highly of others than yourself,
• love your wife sacrificially,
• honor and obey your husband,
• root out bitterness
• confess your sins to one another.
Let us not use this list to judge others, but to examine ourselves, to see if we are truly in the faith (cf. 2Corinthians 13.5). Do we believe? Those who count on Jesus’ return accept his commands.
2. Those Who Count On Jesus to Return Wait On the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.4-5)
There is a difference between this command, directed to these apostles at this time, and all Christians following. We are not all to move to Jerusalem to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. What is the same for all believers, however, is the necessity of waiting on God to empower the work which he calls us to do.
God the Father promised the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on his people so they could preach Jesus, plant churches, and disciple people in the faith. That promise has not changed; nor has the necessity of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work.
It was true in the Old Testament: “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4.6). And it is true in the New Testament: “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6.18). “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all” (John 6.63). “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live…. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8.13,26).
Three practical implications:
• We will not be a faithful church except we are a praying church.
• We must look and labor for revival.
• We must have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not of water, in order to become effective at Christ’s work.
While we were at Presbytery in Indianapolis a few weeks ago, one of our PCA churches asked for prayer for their church as they sought God for his vision and direction for their ministry. What impressed me was their method. Rather than start with a strategy meeting or even a session retreat, the elders called the congregation to prayer and fasting. Each day for a week people were asked to skip a meal (or more) and come in the evening to the church for a season of prayer. Day after day they waited on the Holy Spirit in prayer, trusting him to lead their church in ways as wonderful as they would be unexpected.
They counted on Jesus to return and reward faithfulness, so they waited on the Spirit to empower.
3. Those Who Count On Jesus to Return Witness to His Kingdom (Acts 1.6-8)
John Calvin commented on the disciples’ question (in verse 6): “There are as many errors in this question as words.”
They expected 1) a restoration, making things like they were, a political and territorial kingdom. They expected 2) a restoration to Israel, to the nation that was, a local and state-centered kingdom. And they expected 3) a restoration to Israel at this time, a revolutionary and immediate kingdom. They were wrong on all three accounts.
First, Jesus’ kingdom is spiritual. You cannot place it on a map; it is not about political dominion, reconstructing nations or ideal governments. Neither is it determined by attendance numbers or budget size or ministry location. It is about the character traits we read in the Beatitudes: poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, meekness and humility, hunger for righteousness, showing mercy, making peace, suffering with rejoicing knowing that great is the reward.
Second, Jesus’ kingdom is international. This is another significant difference between the New Testament and the Old. In the Old Covenant, the picture of evangelism and missions is unbelievers streaming to Israel. Jerusalem is the city of God and there you must come to worship and be Jewish. Not so in the New Covenant—believers flood the nations, witnessing to what Jesus has done, until every city becomes a place of worship of the true God. Those who love Christ’s kingdom long for people of every tribe and nation and people and language to worship and work together. May it be so, Lord!
Third, Jesus’ kingdom expands gradually. Errors on both sides of Jesus’ position plague the church. Some Christians can only imagine God’s work being done if there is an extravagant expansion. They despise the slow and steady work of the faithful believers who love God, pray fervently and serve faithfully. They want methods that bring miraculous numbers. But other churches are hindered because everything must be done gradually enough that no expansion can be observed. “We have never done it that way!” is the war-cry of a church which refuses to allow God to accomplish anything. Jesus tells his disciples that the way it has been done will be no longer. “A new broom sweeps clean,” and God is beginning a new work as Jesus mounts his throne in heaven.
Those who count on Jesus’ return relinquish the comfort of stagnation for the sake of his kingdom.
4. Those Who Count On Jesus to Return Work Until He Comes Back (Acts 1.9-11)
It is completely unacceptable to gaze into the sky when Jesus has called us to go the ends of the earth. We are witnesses, not stargazers.
John Stott: “The vision we are to cultivate is not upwards in nostalgia to the heavens which received Jesus, but outwards in compassion to a lost world which needs him” (51).
Could we be in danger of cultivating a nostalgia for heaven? Could we be gazing intently after Jesus, hoping for a heaven on earth which allows us to bypass the messiness of a serving and suffering church?
Two weeks ago the Wall Street Journal had an article about “dumpster diving” in Germany. As prices of good rise, those who we might consider financially secure have taken to collecting others trash to furnish their homes. I thought: “That’s pitiful.”
Then I was reminded of 1Corinthians 15. Paul says, “If the Christian faith is not true, then we are to be pitied more than any other people.” We are wasting our lives, unless the resurrection and return of Jesus is a reality. The work we are doing for the Kingdom of God should cause others to look at us and say, “That’s pitiful. He is wasting time and money and talent and—his life — unless, Jesus is coming back.”
5. Conclusion
A young lady busied herself getting ready for a blind date. He had promised dinner at an exclusive downtown restaurant with live music and dancing. Wanting to make a good first impression she had taken the day off work. She cleaned her apartment; she went out that afternoon to have her hair done and get a manicure. When she got home she put on her best dress and was ready for her date’s arrival. The time came and went, but he did not knock.
After waiting over an hour she realized that she had been stood up. She took off her dress, let down her hair, put on her pajamas, gathered all her favorite junk food and plopped down to watch TV with her dog. Sometime later there was a knock at the door; it was her date.
He looked at her surprised and said, “What! I gave you two extra hours and you’re still not ready to go?”
Jesus has given us a few hours more than we expected, but he is coming. Does your life reveal that you are ready for his return, or is your profession not matched by your practice?
