We Are Witnesses

We Are Witnesses

Acts Chapter 1:6-11

Kelly and I were on a little weekend get-away last week; dear friends of ours gave us a two night stay at a bed and breakfast on Kelley’s Island.

We had a wonderful time, being able to clear off the schedule, drop our children off at the grandparents, and spend some incredible time together – just the two of us.

Over the weekend, I was really searching for the missing ingredient in modern day Christianity.

What did the early church have that we appear to lack today?

Why were they so effective in bringing God glory?

How were they so incredibly strong and utilized by God?

I went back to the beginning – even a little before the beginning in the Book of Acts, and I would like to preach a message this morning from the book of Acts, chapter 1.

Introduction to the book:

Acts 1:1-11 1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4And, 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. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. {He told them that He was getting ready to do something Incredible / Supernatural by the power of His Spirit!}

Our Passage:

6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And 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. 8But 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. 9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which 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.

1) THE INQUIRY

Jesus is getting ready to do something amazing with these twelve men – Pentecost is right around the corner, the Holy Spirit of God is getting ready to make His debut, kicking off the church age that has existed for almost the last two centuries! And the Disciples have a question:

Hey Jesus, you know that Kingdom you told us about? Getting ready restore that back to Israel?

Jesus told them of His earthly Kingdom to come:

Matthew 19:28-30 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Remember, there was even one mother’s request concerning who would be sitting on His right and left hand:

Matthew 20:20-21 20Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

This is where we find these disciples – concerned about the physical, tangible, earthly status; rather than the supernatural, spiritual things of God!

Just like most Christians today – their minds were on the physical rather than the spiritual.

There are many godly men today who are much more concerned about the tangible, physical realm that we live in than they are the non-tangible, spiritual realm.

There are many pastors, preachers, and teachers who are consumed with God building their worldly kingdoms where they will reign supreme at the right hand of Christ.