Scripture Introduction
Today we read the introduction of a letter written by the physician, Luke, to a dear friend. Since at least AD 300, the church has called this book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” because Dr. Luke tells the continuing story of the work of Jesus through his chosen and appointed messengers. But from around the eighteenth century, many pastors suggested that we call it, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The apostles certainly were the instrument through whom God worked, but God was working!
When skeet shooting, you must have a gun; it is essential to the task. But without shotgun shells, the gun is useless. The ammunition is the action, the power, the force within the gun. So it is similar with man and God in the continuing work of the King. People are essential to the work—you are essential—because God has ordered that his kingdom spread through your ambassadorship; you are his representatives. But we are cold steel, dead and useless, unless and until the Holy Spirit fills our chambers and empowers our service. The analogy is imperfect, but the reality is close—we are both essential and useless, “jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2Corinthians 4.7). The power belongs to God, yet he honors us with an extraordinary privilege. With that honor ringing in our ears, let us hear how Jesus appointed the apostles and established the pattern for spreading the grace and truth of his kingdom. [Read Acts 1.1-11. Pray.]
Introduction
At our Sabbath group, I asked each person to share their favorite verse or story from the Bible. Many wonderful passages were remembered, showing us (among other things) that God uses the whole of his word to touch the hearts of his people; he applies each according to his or her needs.
One of my favorites is in 2Corinthians 5: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Those words touch my heart for many reasons; this morning, however, I would draw your attention to the phrase: “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” Wow! If it were not in the Bible, we would think it heresy to give such honor to a human. An ambassador is a direct representative, one who speaks for another.
In the context Paul is discussing the work of the evangelist, so some might suspect that this applies to me (the pastor) but not to you. However, Peter says that God has made all Christians into a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1Peter 2.9).
I agree with Dr. John MacArthur, who comments on that text: “The Greek word translated ‘proclaim’…means ‘to advertise’ or ‘to publish’ and refers to making something known that would otherwise be unknown. ‘Excellencies’ speak of powerful and heroic deeds. You are an ambassador of Christ, having the great privilege of proclaiming what God has done for his people…. It would be an honor to be an ambassador of the United States. But you have an even greater honor—to represent the power and capabilities of the living God…. What greater honor can there be?” (Drawing Near, Crossway, 1993).
This honor especially began to be applied in Acts 1. May we, today, more appreciate what God calls us to do, resulting in greater participation in the work. To get there, first, please realize that:
1. We Must Accept the Nature of the Kingdom (Acts 1.1-7)
The eleven apostles, hand-selected by the Lord, spent three years with him. After the resurrection, Jesus spent another 40 days with them, teaching about the Kingdom and the work of the Holy Spirit. I often feel confused about the ways in which God works; but surely we can expect these men to grasp what is happening. Instead, they ask, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
John Calvin pastored in Geneva during the 1500s. He is important to us because he provided much of the theological firepower for the Presbyterian Church. Commenting on their question, John Calvin wrote: “Luke points out that the apostles were gathered together when this question was posed, to show us that it was not raised through the foolishness of one or two but through the concern of all. Yet their blindness is remarkable, that when they had been so fully and carefully instructed over a period of three years, they betrayed no less ignorance than if they had never heard a word. There are as many errors in this question as words.”
What confused them may also be hard for us to accept.
1.1. The Kingdom is Spiritual, Not Political
The verb, “restore,” reveals the error of expecting a political kingdom. The Kingdom of God, however, cannot be seen on a map. It does not offer the hope of reestablishing a monarchy or of throwing off the yoke of Rome from Israel. You cannot measure the advancement of God’s cause by church membership, or through budgets and offerings. No political party can claim God’s partnership with their cause.
As with all kingdoms, great power is involved; but not like that of the kingdoms of this earth. The Kingdom of God is spread by witnesses, not soldiers; it offers a gospel of peace, not a declaration of war; it changes hearts, not circumstances. (I think this is the hardest part of coming to grips with the spiritual nature of God’s kingdom. I see this characteristically in counseling. A husband and wife come in, each with the same agenda—get the pastor to change the spouse. But I cannot do that; what I can do is help you understand how God wants to change your heart, and how he has purposely brought you to the situation through your spouse which provides the circumstances for you to change. That is unpopular!)
Of course, the Kingdom of God does affect the kingdoms of men. Those whose true citizenship is in heaven will think and act differently as they travel through this world. We will labor for just laws; we will push for the punishment of criminals; we will seek to protect the planet and preserve natural resources; we will vote according to conscience and not simply political expedience or pragmatism. But these are effects of membership in God’s Kingdom, not equating God’s work with our laws.
1.2. The Kingdom is International, Not National
The Old Testament spoke often of Israel’s special place as the people of God. Therefore we sympathize with the expectation of the apostles that the nation would be restored. But the noun is incorrect; the Kingdom is not limited to Israel.
Yes, in the old covenant the advancement of God’s kingdom was pictured as the nations pouring into Zion. That image evoked powerful emotions when Jerusalem was the one place of worship. But “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” (Revelation 11.15). Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth shall hear of the Messiah, bow the knee, and praise his grace and mercy so that men and women “from every tribe and language and people and nation, [will be] made into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5.9-10).
You are more closely related to the lady in China whom you have never met and who knows nothing of the Presbyterian Church in America, but who worships Christ, than you are to your own parents if they do not delight in the word and rule of Jesus. God’s Kingdom transcends national borders.
1.3. The Kingdom Advances Gradually, Not Immediately
The apostles’ verb was incorrect; they wanted something restored. Their noun was wrong; they still connected the nation of Israel to the Kingdom. Additionally, their adverb was mistaken—they wanted Jesus to fix everything “at this time.”
My son loaned me a book about dragons and heroes. In one scene Kale, the heroin, must rescue a friend badly wounded by the enemy. After escape from prison, they are chased by evil dragons who, it appears, will catch and kill them. But at just the right time, the Christ-figure appears and turns away the pursuit with a word of power. Kale is surprised by Paladin’s power, and cries out in frustration, “Why do you not use your power and end it all now? No one needs be hurt again.”
I’m pleased with how well this author describes for children and pastors the anxiety we feel over this issue. I often ask that same question. Jesus could end it all now; he does not. The kingdom does not plop down in full glory, but grows gradually. The Father knows the times and the day will neither hasten nor be slow in its appearing. The hastening that must happen now is our moving out of church and into “Jerusalem” and to the ends of the earth, pleading with people to be reconciled with God before the final day. God’s kingdom is 1) spiritual, 2) international, and 3) gradual. Let us accept the nature of his kingdom.
2. We Must Embrace the Privilege of Witnessing (Acts 1.8-11)
The key word in your ambassadorship is “witness.” First, I would remind you of some things a witness is not.
1) A witness is not a pressure salesman. The Lord will add to our number those whom he appoints for eternal life and those whom he feels confident in entrusting to our care. A witness does not have to close the deal.
2) A witness is not a pietistic sham. There are plenty of “secret believers,” those who claim to be Christians while never risking rejection. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Proclaim the Gospel of Christ to everyone; use words if you must.” There is an element of truth to that; but if such a “spiritual” claim hides our cowardice it is no faithful witness.
3) A witness is not a political activist. While there is a place for political work as a faithful follower of Christ, do not confuse better laws with bringing in the Kingdom. Both Old and New Testament Saints lived godly lives in the midst of wicked cultures and flawed governments. Jesus calls us all to witness to his work; some may also be attorneys and politicians.
What is a witness?
1) A witness observes. The apostles saw the resurrected Jesus and he changed their lives. A witness does not merely know what happened; she was there. One Puritan pastor said, “Never traffic in unfelt truth.” Have you experienced the power of God? The first work of witnessing is not speaking; it is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
2) A witness reflects. Francis correctly recognized that living as a believer comes before being speaking of believing. One of the failures of modern evangelism is precisely here. Lawrence Richards writes: “We have attempted to give words to persons whose lives do not incarnate them, and to hurl them against the world.” Evangelism does not begin with “training believers in a canned talk, and sending them out in teams on specified days to speak to strangers.” Listen to the order in 1Peter 3.15-16: “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” Reflecting Christ comes before speaking; and even then, speaking is a response to a question.
3) A witness reports. Probably everyone of us knows, to our shame, times when we have failed to speak out. In our small group one of the ladies shared a friend who witnessed to her hairdresser. That was a glorious and encouraging thing; but we all knew that God had provided those opportunities for us but we had remained silent for fear. If President Bush gives you a message for Russia and sends you to Moscow, that is a high honor. But you have not witnessed until you tell his message. We must speak of Christ and his work when God provides opportunity.
4) A witness influences. It is so informative, brothers and sisters, that when a woman is in a difficult marriage, one where the husband does not hear the Word of God, the wife can win him by her conduct without a word. Her God-honoring and beautiful life influences. She witnesses to the grace of Jesus. Often we will be prevented from speaking; never will you be prevented from being. Earn the right to be heard with your heart and hands.
5) A witness is a friend. Many Christians are angry and bitter, unfriendly and self-absorbed. If that is you, you have no witness. A friend is patient, kind, gracious, forgiving, merciful. Christ was a friend of sinners; you cannot witness to Jesus unless you are also.
When God makes you a Christian, he honors you with an ambassadorship; will we be good ones or poor?
3. We Must Participate in All the Places of Missions (Acts 1.8)
When the disciples heard Jesus explain where they would witness to him, they heard Jerusalem (their hometown), Judea and Samaria (those similar, yet different), and the ends of the earth (the foreigners). That same paradigm applies to us.
We have a witness in our hometown, among people who are like us. This is our ministry of evangelism at work and school, when getting our haircut or standing in line at the airport. We also have a witness to those whose culture is different from ours, yet not completely so. This is church planting and mercy ministry. Finally there is foreign missions, the effort to take the gospel to unreached peoples.
I hope to return to this topic soon to discuss strategies and ministries for each. But for today, note, please, that participation in each includes a cost.
Laboring in Jerusalem costs us our “life.” We are always being observed; people will not listen to our words until we witness with our lives. Whether we realize it or not, people wonder: how does a Christian respond to being mistreated? A witness takes up his cross daily to follow Jesus.
Laboring in Judea and Samaria costs us our “comfort.” This is what our own brother Luke did this summer. Serving with Habitat for Humanity or ministry in a prison, these are examples of the comforts that we must give up to obey Jesus.
Laboring in the ends of the earth costs us our “money.” Missionaries must be sent to the nations. Here in America there is about one church for every 800 people. In India, one for every 8000. The Holy Spirit wants the world witnessed to for Jesus. We must continue to give generously to see the work done.
4. Conclusion
One of changes that God is making in world missions right now is providing opportunities for more of us to have direct contact with internationals without the high cost. Peter Kemery works in a program called “International Friendship.” He wrote this:
“Lord Jesus, you have told us to take your Gospel to people of all lands. But we find this too hard! We are required to leave families, friends and familiar culture and go to a strange land to tell Your message in a foreign language to an alien people. Most of them already have a religion which is interwoven into their whole culture and lifestyle. Besides, we Americans are not welcome in most of the world, and are forbidden to teach your message (or even to go) to some lands. And the cost! If we really tried to reach the world in this generation, it would bankrupt us all.
“So we propose an alternative plan: You send them to us! Have them come at their own expense—and learn English before they come. Make them hungry for our friendship, anxious to come to our homes, willing to go to church with us. Send the young teachable ones. Send those who are bright and vigorous, who will someday be leaders in their home countries. Arrange for them to stay for several years so we can win a hearing for the Gospel and have time to teach them well after they become believers. Especially send many from places where missionaries are forbidden to go, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and China. How many Lord? Oh, about 300,000 perhaps, well spread out around the country so that lots of churches and individual Christians can take part.
“Now, if You will do this, then we promise to make the evangelizing of these people one of our highest priorities. We will get to know them, win a hearing through the extending of friendship and try to learn how to explain the Gospel to them clearly. We will work and pray. It may sound like a lot to ask, but You can do it, can’t You?”
I first heard that from Al LaCour, the Coordinator, RUF-International, the Campus Ministry for Internationals at Georgia Tech. I received a note from him today about that “prayer.” Al said: “Glenn, A P.S. The prayer is that God would send about 300,000 internationals to the U.S. Currently, the actual number is over 650,000!”
Will you not rise up, people of God, accept the ambassadorship offered you, and witness to the wonders of Christ, in every place he will enable?
