PROMISES, PROMISES, THE PROMISES
Acts 1:4-11
INTRODUCTION:
A. Promises
1. They flow so easily
a. But how soon we forget - Parents, how may of us can remember when we promised our children something, of which we did not follow through on, just to hear them say – “But dad, you promised!”
b. Quit an indictment, don’t you think?
2. May promises are made today but it seems to few are kept.
- I think we can look at the 50% divorce rate and see that many are not keeping their promises
3. That word “promise” has become “cheep” in may people’s vocabulary.
4. So much so that often when one hears another make a promise they just shake their heads and mumble: Promises, Promises, Promises!
B. However, this is not true when it comes to God!
1. For instance, God made a promises that a Savior would come in Genesis 3 and we see the fulfillment of that promise in Luke 2 – that is just one example, I know
2. But God has made plenty more of them, in fact Peter has told us that we have been given exceeding great and precious promises:… 2 Peter 1:4
3. God has always made good on His promises and He always will
C. Here in our text for this morning we see three of those precious promises.
1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit To Be Sent
2. The Promise of Power To Be Had
3. The Promise of Jesus’ Return
D. May we learn to trust God, believing in His promises and stand to sing with the hymnist Kelso Carter
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Throu’ eternal ages let His praises ring
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God
PRAY
As I read the text before us this morning I cannot but be amazed at the love of our Savior who has given us so many precious promises, one of which is
I. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE SENT, Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
A. This is not the first time the disciples had heard about this precious promise
1. In John 14 the Apostle John records some words of Jesus – the first ones are of another precious promise – the promise of heaven
2. But that is a different story, what needs our attention this morning is found in John 14:16-17 where Jesus states, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
a. Here Jesus is promising to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the disciples
b. He could promise the Spirit because it was the same Spirit that was with them in Himself!
3. Again we read in John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
a. Jesus was speaking about how the world hated Him and how it would hate them, but he did not want them to worry becasue He was going to provide for them
b. The Holy Spirit would be sent to them, but first He must go to the cross!
4. God sealed His promise of the Spirit with the death, resurrection, and ascension of His only begotten Son!
B. Now to Our Text
1. Jesus as been raise from the dead and is about to ascend back to His Father and He repeats the promise with a command.
2. The promise was that they would be baptized with the Holy spirit
a. An interesting choice of words – baptized – to be immersed into
b. The giving of His Holy Spirit would be total and complete.
3. The command – go to Jerusalem and wait for it!
a. No explanation of how they would know
b. Seems it would be self evident of His coming
4. Notice the Holy Ghost is capitalized – this is a proper noun, a person, not a force, a state of being, or “it”. He is God!
C. We see the promise fulfilled in Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…
1. God always fulfills His promises
2. They are in His timing not ours and in His ways, maybe not the way we would expect!
3. The Holy Spirit has been given into the world and is given to each believer when they come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Promise #1 the giving of the Holy Spirit. This brings us to promise # 2.
II. THE PROMISE OF POWER TO BE HAD, Acts 1:6-8 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Here I want us to consider 3 things:
A. The Amazement of the Disciples
1. The disciples had been with Jesus for about 3.5 yrs +/- a few months
2. In those months they had seen some amazing things
3. Besides the zeal and tenacity of the Lord in the face of growing opposition, and even hatred towards Him they had seen miracles
a. Miracles in the realm of nature: Luke records 3 of the 9 miracles found in the gospels
1) Feeding of the 5000
2) Stilling of the storm
3) First catch of fish
b. Miracles of healing: Luke records 17 of the 26 found in the gospels; 4 of which are particular to His gospel
1) Raising the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7: 11ff)
2) Restoring a crippled woman (Luke 13:10ff)
3) Healing a man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6
4) Healing ten men with leprosy (Luke 17:11ff)
B. The Assessment of the Disciples
1. Jesus claimed to be God’s Son – the Messiah
2. Jesus had been doing great acts in their midst, proof of who He said He was
3. Jesus had spoken to them about doing great things as well, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12
4. So Jesus must be going to set up His kingdom soon, they thought, so they asked when?
5. To which Jesus said, that’s none of you business, but…
C. The application to the Disciples
1. You shall receive power…
2. Of course it would be power to do the work of the kingdom in the absence of Jesus Christ for He said it would be power that would enable them to be witnesses of their Lord to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.
3. In Acts 2:14 we read, Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:…
a. Peter received power to proclaim the gospel and so have millions since.
b. Each believer in Christ receives the Holy Spirit and then has the power to be a witness of and for Him.
4. The Promise was given and God is still fulfilling that promise today!
a. It is a present reality!
b. Each of us who know the Lord have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and it is He who gives us the power to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
c. Hebrews 13:5-6 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
What a great God we serve. He always fulfills His promises: He always has and always will that is why we can we can believe in
III. THE PROMISE OF JESUS’ RETURN, Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. [10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; [11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
A. Having promised the disciples the Holy Spirit and Power from on high, Jesus left this world
1. As the disciples were standing there on the hill the Scriptures say that he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
2. Image the awe and awfulness of it all.
a. The Awe – watching the Lord of Creation in His resurrected body rise into the clouds, ascending back to His throne in heaven!
b. The awfulness of watching your friend, teacher and Savior taken from you.
3. Two men in white apparel (angels) then speak to them in their bewilderment, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
B. Here We Have The promise of His return
1. But this was not the first time they have heard this promise
2. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
3. It was a promise that they never forgot – they were looking for Jesus’ return everyday – it was the hope that was with in them.
4. The syncs and unbelievers may say, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Peter 3:4
5. But Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9-10, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
C. This promise has not been fulfilled yet, but it will most assuredly be accomplished – as sure as every other promise God has made in the past!
CONCLUSION: As I close
A. What Does This Mean to You and Me Today?
1. The Holy Spirit is alive and well, and everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior receives the Holy Spirit within them – God mad a promise and He keeps His promises
2. Everyone who receives the Holy Spirit receives power to be a witness for Him – that means you and me
- Be assured YOU CAN be a witness for the Lord, and you can be one with power!
3. And remember this, JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!
a. Live your life like you know Jesus is coming today, because He could!
b. Don’t let down your guard – pursue your Lord passionately and rejoice in the marvelous glory of His second coming!
B. This morning if you need to repent of sin and come back to your Lord why don’t you do it now.
C. If you know that you are a sinner and need to come to the Lord for the first time – do it now!
REMEMBER: PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES:
THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE PROMISE OF POWER
THE PROMISE 0F THE LORD COMING AGAIN!
