Until Then- Wake Up! Acts 1:9-11, 2:1-8NKJ
J. B. Phillips writes in the preface to The Young Church in Action, that one cannot spend several months in close study of this book, “without being profoundly stirred and, to be honest, disturbed. The reader is stirred,” he says, “because he is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history…Here we are seeing the Church in its first youth, valiant and unspoiled…a body of ordinary men and women joined in an unconquerable fellowship never before seen on earth.” But the reader is also disturbed, “for surely,” he adds, this “is the Church as it was meant to be. It is vigorous and flexible, for these are the days before it ever became fat and short of breath through prosperity, or muscle-bound by over organization. These men did not make acts of faith, they believed; they did not say their prayers, they prayed. They did not hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine, they simply healed the sick. By modern standards they may have been naïve, but perhaps because of their very simplicity, perhaps because of their readiness simply to believe, to obey, to give, to suffer, and, if necessary, to die, the Spirit of God found that he could work in them and through them, and so they turned the world upside down! (1)
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 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.”
(Judas’ demise, and the choosing of another disciple)
1. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
A young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale. As he talked with his sales manager he lamented, "I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." The manager replied, "Son, take my advice: your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty."
So it is with evangelism. Our lives should be so filled with Christ that the lost create a thirst for the Gospel.
About Acts 1: 9-11, Doctor Luke was a careful historian who verified his evidence. He and the other gospel writers recorded the bodily appearances of the risen Lord to men for 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension. These are based on solid historical evidence. These bodily appearances of Jesus came to an end when Christ ascended into heaven and resumed His position.
Hebrews 8:1NLT Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.
The Ascension is Christ's exaltation and glory after His saving work on earth had been accomplished. It is the proof of His victory!
Ephesians 4:8NLT That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people. He is now in the position of honor in heaven at the right hand of His Father.
To better understand Ephesians 4:8, Listen to Psalms 110:1AMPC The Lord (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool.
Heaven is Jesus’ permanent place of power. (2)
Jesus has full saving power; He’s given a paid-in-full ticket for eternity to everyone who believes. He came to buy you back, to shed His blood in exchange for the devils hostages. He gives complete spiritual peace, He offers love and joy. He performs miracles, and sometimes He allows us to be a point of contact for a miracle! He offers life now and forever!
Going back to two weeks ago for a minute, Acts 1:8 says, Jesus has given us power to witness…
“So why are most people afraid to be His witness?” P.H.
. “I am afraid of rejection.”
• "I am afraid I might do more harm than good."
• "I don't know what to say."
• "I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions."
• "I may seem bigoted."
• "I may invade someone's privacy."
• "I am afraid I might fail."
• "I am afraid I might be a hypocrite."
The question is, “Are you a missionary or a mission field?”
Acts 1:9NLT After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.
Gravity lose its hold on Jesus. His disciple were watching, without understanding.
“Sometimes just watching brings greater mystery.” P.H.
Acts 1:10NLT As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
These white robbed men were angels; They were Messengers sent from the Lord, their job was to bring surety of Jesus’ exit, and His return.
Acts 1:11NLT “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
The Angels said, “You have now lost the sight of him in the clouds and in the air; and whither he is gone you cannot follow him now, but later you shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.’
The Messenger speaks, “Men of Galilee, There’s work to be done, and faith to believe for yourself, as well as for others.”
Remember this, “Work and faith go hand n hand. One without the other is useless.” P.H.
“Faith is on one side of the boat with a peddle in hand; Works is on the other side with a ore in his hand. It takes both to go forward.” P.H.
The second part of the text this morning brings more excitement. Acts 2:1NLT On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.
Pentecost means 50, but in its celebration Pentecost is called the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost also represents first-fruits. First-fruits meaning, that God would give His church His first-fruits- Jesus Christ!
Jesus gave His Church a voice, plus authority, might, and of course, power to witness. First in Jerusalem… We begin our mission in Calhoun, Ga!
Acts 2:2NLT Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Testimony: “I’ve never been in a tornado, but I’ve personally seen one land, and witnessed its results. The first church I pastored took a direct hit from one. I’ll never forget seeing brown and green pine nettles shot through the roof of that church like high powered bullets.” P.H.
Verse 2 again, This sound from heaven, would be used to attract the multitudes to the small gathering of apostles. (Jews from everywhere were in Jerusalem, because of the harvest celebration.)
Acts 2:3NLT Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
After God brought this sound, He showed everyone a visual manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and often in the Bible fire indicates the presence of God.
The Lord reminded me, “Do you realize you’re God’s visual manifestation?” P.H.
Hear this again, Tongues of fire appeared and settled…
Acts 2:4NLT And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
The whole church- everyone- no exclusions, everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit.
They begin speaking in other languages.
Acts 2:5NLT At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
Devout Jews meaning, Keepers of the laws of God.
Acts 2:6NLT When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
This was a sign from heaven, a supernatural event. The awakening of a new movement, a movement with new sounds, power and authority! (Everything changed that day!)
When God gave us the Spirit, amazing things still happen:
barriers are broken,
communities are formed,
opposites are reconciled,
unity is established,
disease is cured,
addiction is broken,
cities are renewed,
races are reconciled,
hope is established,
people are blessed, and church happens.
Today the Spirit of God is present and we’re gonna‚ have church. So be ready, get ready...God is up to something...
discouraged folks cheer up,
dishonest folks ’fess up,
sour folks sweeten up,
closed folk, open up,
gossipers shut up,
conflicted folks make up,
sleeping folks wake up,
lukewarm folk, fire up,
dry bones shake up,
and pew potatoes stand up!
But most of all, Christ the Savior of all the world is lifted up! (3)
Acts 2:7-8NLT They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
In the beginning of Creation all people spoke the same language. The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God.
Remember this, “Pentecost is not a Denomination. It is an encounter that every blood bought child of God should receive."
These were simple men, men that had one thing in common- They loved Jesus Christ!
So how do I receive what these disciples received?
Ask
Believe.
Receive
Love.
Benediction.
1. J. B. Phillips Writes In The Preface To The ...
(11) Text Illustration shared by Duane Smith, First Baptist Church
July 2005
2. http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/acts1v9.html Acts 1:9-11
3. Rick Kirchoff, Germantown United Methodist Church, Opening remarks to the Memphis Annual Conference. Citation: Tim Zingale in Pentecost Sunday on www.sermoncentral.com.
