Acts 1:6-14 “Ascension Calls Us”
1. Ascension Calls us “Don’t Give Up”
• The days prior to Jesus' murder had been brutal for them.
• They had scattered and hid out they had much confusion
• Perhaps thought the last three years was a mess or was it
• One thought they had What are we to do? He was arrested, beaten, crucified, but He was also resurrected
• We know the resurrection changed everything. The disciples' mission was on again. The opening question of the Acts text makes perfect sense: "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
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2. Ascension calls us To say “this thing is on us”
• What thing, this witness thing "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (v. 8).
• Jesus had told them before to witness. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inA the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
• This Mission thing is on us how will we respond? How can we avoid the mission? How can I do this mission? Jesus calls us to ministry and service? Perhaps we think "I haven't been a Christian long enough," or "I'm not trained or haven't been to seminary," or "Someone might ask a question I can't answer" or "I don't have enough time because of the job, the family, the fill-in-the-blank."
• Let us not forget that it’s the imperfect people Jesus calls to share the gospel
3. Ascension Calls us to Be in Partnership with Jesus
• How will we pardoner with Jesus in life and Faith?
• The Disciples went where he went, prayed where he prayed, they were pardoners family
4. Ascension Calls us to Know its “Now Time”
• 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
• Its now time to because he’s coming soon Jesus is coming back the same way he left.
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5. Ascension calls us to be Constant in Prayer
• Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of* James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
6. Finally, Ascension Calls Us to have Faith that works
• Faith that works is faith that “does not Give UP”
• Faith that works is faith that believes “This Is On Us” to be in mission
• Faith that works is faith that “Pardoners with Jesus” were going with you Jesus
• Faith that works is faith that says and does “Now Is the Time”
• Faith that works is faith that “is “Constant in prayer”
• Faith that works is faith that makes an impact, that transforms life,
• Ascension calls us. Not to stare at the sky and simply hang out
Ascension Day asks us "Am I advancing or abandoning my calling?"
