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02 Acts 1:1-11 - Unstoppable... God
Title: Unstoppable Church God
Text: Acts 1:1-11
FCF: We often struggle submitting to the sovereignty of God in His redemptive plan.
Prop: Because God exercises sovereign control over the growth of His church, we must only witness in God’s power.
Scripture Intro:
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 1.
What an amazing day. We have heard much of what the Lord is doing in Scotland through the faithful witness of the Landons.
Today we will look at how all this began. Why do you and I confess Christ? Why are the Landons in Scotland preaching Christ? From the book of Acts today, we will get a taste of where it all started. Ground Zero as it were.
I am in Acts 1. I’ll begin reading in verse 1 from the NET, which you can follow in the pew bible on page 1229 or in whatever version you have in front of you.
Transition:
Realistically, we probably won’t be out today by noon. But I hope with Mark’s words about serving the Lord and with the words of Luke recorded here, that you will leave spiritually full even if your bellies are growling. So let’s work together to stay engaged as we open the text of Acts this morning.
I.) Jesus as the Son of God possesses all power and authority to teach and shape His church, so we must only witness in God’s power. (1-5)
a. [Slide 2] 1-2a – I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven,
i. From last week we can easily conclude that the former account Luke mentions is his gospel.
ii. Especially when he describes the content of that former account.
iii. The content is summarized here as “all that Jesus began to do and teach until he was taken up into heaven.”
iv. [Slide 3] Turning back to Luke 24:50-53, we can see just that.
1. 50 Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. 51 Now during the blessing He departed and was taken up into heaven. 52 So they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.
2. Luke concludes his gospel with an abbreviated account of what he relays to Theophilus in more detail here in the book of Acts.
v. [Slide 4] One final thing we should note here is that the gospel of Luke recorded all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach. This implies heavily that the book of Acts is a continuation of what Jesus will do and teach through His apostles.
b. [Slide 5] 2a-3a - After he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 To the same apostles also, after His suffering, he presented Himself alive with many convincing proofs.
i. Now Luke wishes to dive into these events in greater detail, working backward from the ascension.
ii. First, he reveals that before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave final marching orders to the apostles.
iii. The remaining 11 disciples is no doubt what Luke means by “the apostles he had chosen.”
iv. Now to these 11 men, Jesus appeared after his suffering and death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
v. Not only did he appear before them but there was no other way to account for Him sitting with, conversing with, and eating with them than to recognize that He that was once dead was now raised. Just as He said.
vi. Just as no other sign so fully and finally settles the matter of Jesus’ humanity as His death, so also no other sign so fully and finally settles the matter of Jesus’ divinity than His resurrection from the dead.
c. [Slide 6] 3b - He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the Kingdom of God.
i. In John’s gospel we know that there were times when Jesus was absent from the disciples.
ii. So, Christ was not physically present with them for the entire 40 day period.
iii. What is significantly more important than the amount of time He spent with His disciples, is the teaching he gave them.
iv. He taught them about the Kingdom of God. He taught them the gospel. He taught them the redemptive plan. He taught them to preach as He had.
v. What is significant about this?
vi. Quite simply it is Jesus acting out what He said of Himself. That all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.
vii. Therefore, He, as the Son of God, has the power and the authority to continue to teach and to shape His church.
viii. And He plans to do it by means of delegation. He is passing on the mantle.
d. [Slide 7] 4-5 – While He was with them, He declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about form me. 5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
i. Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God is sharpened to a final lesson from the Messiah to His apostles.
ii. This message encompasses themes that will continue to be expounded in our text today.
iii. First, Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
1. This is significant because John records for us that the apostles at some point did go back to Galilee after Christ’s death.
2. This is the instance where the resurrected Christ appears and restores Peter.
3. They have since returned to Jerusalem, probably to celebrate Pentecost.
4. In essence, Jesus’ final lesson to them was, do not despair and go back home after I leave you again. Stay here and wait.
iv. Jesus references The Baptist’s prophesy when he preached in the wilderness. That he baptizes with water but the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
v. This draws up a question for us. One we’ll have to continually weigh out as we go through the book of Acts.
vi. Does this baptism of the Spirit here refer to being supernaturally enabled by the Spirit of God – or does this mean the indwelling of the Spirit of God?
vii. If we say it means indwelling, we immediately have a problem. Our problem is two-fold.
1. This language of spirit-baptism or the pouring out of the Spirit comes from Old Testament references to a unique event signaling the Lord’s restoration of His people. In a quote from Joel 2 (which Peter will reference in Acts 2 for his first sermon on the day of Pentecost) Joel predicts that God will pour out His Spirit upon a wide variety of people. And what will happen? They will prophesy and do mighty deeds. All this seems to indicate a “supernatural empowering” and not an “indwelling.”
2. Our second problem is that in John 20, only a few pages from where we are now, Jesus actually breathes on His disciples and tells them to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Much like Adam’s body received the breath of life from God – so also Jesus’ disciples received the Spirit of God by the breath of Jesus. This seems much more likely the event of their Spirit indwelling.
viii. So we can probably conclude that this Spirit-Baptism is being empowered for a special purpose rather than being indwelled by the Spirit of God.
e. [Slide 8] Passage Truth: So, in this prologue, this opening introduction, Luke very clearly tells Theophilus that Jesus proved Himself to be the Son of God through the resurrection. As the Son of God He is the only authority and power of the church being its head. As such, He delivers the marching orders for His apostles.
f. Passage Application: And what were the orders to the apostles? To wait on the Lord’s Power. This application is not just for the apostles. This application is for Theophilus too. He must realize that his power alone is insufficient to carry on the work of Christ. That if he is to be a representative of God’s Kingdom, he must wait for the Lord’s power, and act and teach only in His power.
g. [Slide 9] Broader Biblical Truth: But is this truth attested in all of scripture? My friends, Jesus Himself, the master expositor, on the road to Emmaus, taught all things from the scriptures concerning Himself and His work. What we are to surmise from this is that all of scripture points to the coming of the Son who not only Redeems His bride from sin’s slavery and death’s sentence but also exercises spiritual headship over her, washing her with the water of the word and empowering her to be all that God has purposed her to be. Jesus is not only the Lord of all, but He is the head of the church. His orders are binding commands of the utmost importance. He has freedom to command His church.
h. Broader Biblical Application: And what is His command CBC? Knowing all we know of Acts, it is surprising. We’d expect, perhaps, Go gettem guys! For the Kingdom! To the Harvest! No. What does He command? Wait. Be patient. Wait for the Power of the Lord. Putting this into our context this cannot mean to passively wait for some supernatural power of tongues or miracles before going to the lost. But it does require us to not set out to seek and save the lost in our own strength. By our own cunning. With our own methods. In our own program. Charles Finney of the Second Great awakening who provided the theological groundwork for the easy-believism gospel once said with certainty that revival is not a work of supernatural power nor of Spirit empowering but rather a work of well planned and executed means and works of men. It seems Mr. Finney claims himself better equipped than the apostles to preach the gospel in that he needs nothing of spiritual power or divine intervention to revive the souls of men. Either this is true, or Charles Finney is dead wrong. Since our Lord told His disciples to wait on the power of the Spirit and to go in that power to fulfill their mission – I’d say that he is wrong. As ministers of the gospel, we have no power if we do not have the Spirit of God empowering us. This is why Paul said in I Corinthians 2 that he came in weakness and trembling. His message was not wise or persuasive. Rather in demonstration of the power of the Spirit of God, they saw that their faith rested on God’s power and not human wisdom. My friends – if we are to bear witness to Christ and His Kingdom… we need God’s guidance and His Spirit’s power.
Transition:
[Slide 10] The apostles must wait for the Spirit’s baptism. But what does that mean for Jesus? What is His place in the future of the church?
II.) The Father’s authority and the Spirit’s Power will bring about God’s plan, so we must only witness in God’s power. (6-8)
a. [Slide 11] 6 – So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
i. Some early commentators find a foolish question here. I don’t see that.
ii. What I do see is that based on the quote from The Baptist which includes a baptism in fire, they expected the great outpouring of God’s spirit of redemption and the purification of the world to take place and they assumed that would be the reestablishment of a holy Israelite Kingdom.
iii. Why wouldn’t they assume this? Doesn’t the Old Testament seem to indicate this?
iv. Even in our limited study in Foundations, we’ve seen how these two events seem to go together.
v. We could even argue that this was the primary thing they expected to come with the coming of the Messiah.
vi. No, the question of the disciples is not surprising at all. Nor do I find any fault with it. And neither, it seems, did Jesus.
vii. That doesn’t make Jesus’ response any less jarring though…
b. [Slide 12] 7 – He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.
i. There are just all kinds of layers to this response. Let me start with surface level and we’ll drill down deeper as we go.
ii. First, the answer is essentially – you don’t get to know. Remember it is the glory of the Lord to conceal a matter. Consider God glorified! Even the apostles were not given the right to know when the Kingdom of Israel would be restored.
iii. Second, notice the Godhead at work here. In verse 1-5 Jesus is the proven Son of God through the resurrection and He gives commands to His church. And He commands them to wait on the Spirit of God and His power which the Father had promised to given them. Here the Son is asked when He will restore Israel. And the Son states that the authority of the Father is what sets the times and periods of existence. Clearly, we serve One God – but He is in 3 distinct persons.
iv. Third, notice that Jesus did not say that the restoration of Israel would not come about. He did not say that the church will replace or become the new Israel. Jesus doesn’t actually tell them they are wrong to believe that Israel will be restored. Instead, he simply says they don’t get to know God’s timing for His plans.
v. Jesus isn’t done responding though. He continues…
c. [Slide 13] 8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
i. This is the clearest evidence that the baptism of the Spirit spoken of by the Baptist, and referenced by Jesus in Acts 1, is a supernatural empowering to perform a specific calling.
ii. Therefore, to be baptized in the Spirit, at least here, does not equate with the indwelling of the Spirit of the moment of salvation.
iii. Instead, it is a supernatural gifting to go and do a task.
iv. And what is that task given to the apostles?
v. To be witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.
vi. Has this happened yet? Yes, it has.
vii. Now that is not to dampen our missionary fervor. Are there still unreached people groups? Of course, there are.
viii. But what did Luke mean when he transmitted Jesus’ words here? Did he mean every single language? Did he mean every single people group in the world? Every culture?
ix. What is clear is that this is an outline for the book of Acts. Luke will record for us that through the power of the Spirit, the apostles took the gospel and bore witness to Christ in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.
x. Is there still work to do and places for the gospel to go? Of course. But that doesn’t mean that the apostles failed. Because they didn’t.
xi. The book of Acts ending in Rome shows that the gospel mission was successful, even if it was not complete.
xii. A final point worthy to be unearthed here – is that Jesus and His ministry began in the same way that He predicts the apostles’ ministry would. Jesus waited until he was 30 years old to begin His ministry. The power of the Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove after arising out of water baptism. So also, the apostles must wait, only a few days, to have the Holy Spirit come upon them in the form of tongues of fire. Then they can begin this mission He has laid before them.
xiii. Truly the student is not greater than the master. And Jesus is clearly passing on the mantle to His apostles here.
d. [Slide 14] Passage Truth: So, the second point of truth or doctrine that Luke gives to Theophilus in this introductory retelling of what he has already written, is simply that God the Triune is at work to bring about the success of the mission through the apostles. The mission was not simply the revitalization of Israel – but a worldwide mission bearing witness to Christ to the farthest parts of the earth. And God the Father’s authority determines the timing of these events and God the Spirit’s Power produces the effect of these events.
e. Passage Application: So to Theophilus as to the apostles, Luke demands that he wait on the Spirit’s Power and God’s timing in preaching the gospel of Christ.
f. [Slide 15] Broader Biblical Truth: Does this truth bear out in all the Scriptures? My friends – of course it does! Have we not seen time and time again the Sovereignty of God? The gospel of Luke bears witness. The Proverbs bear witness. The letters, the psalms, the Pentateuch, indeed all the scriptures speak to the absolute sovereign control of God over His creation. Should we be surprised then that the success of the gospel and the timing of the coming of the New Kingdom is not in our hands? Do you want to know the true teaching of the book of Acts? Shall I summarize it briefly? It is Christ’s Kingdom spreading far and wide in the timing of the Father and by the Power of the Spirit. It is God’s Sovereign work to advance the His Kingdom. To the extent that to call this book “The Acts of the Apostles” to me is bordering on blasphemy. Certainly, the apostles were used by God to accomplish great things. But wouldn’t it be silly to say when beholding a fine sculpture, “What beautiful craftsmanship! Surely the work of a sturdy hammer and a fine chisel!” Would we not instead praise the sculptor? So, this book is not the Acts of the Apostles but rather the Power of a Sovereign God.
g. Broader Biblical Application: So CBC, we must understand our place in this grand purpose for us to bear witness to Christ. We are not permitted to know the timing of the coming Kingdom – be it short or long. Nor are we able to expand the gospel to our own children let alone the world unless we have the Power of the Spirit going with us and working in those to whom we preach. Therefore, we must be instruments in the hands of the master craftsman. We must be hammers and chisels used to carve out of sin the children of God.
Transition:
[Slide 16] Jesus is the head of His church, continuing to teach and shape it through the passing on of the mantle. God is sovereignly in control of the advancement of His Kingdom in which we are simply tools used for His purposes. These are two powerful truths. But what else does Luke wish to convey regarding the advancement of the kingdom?
III.) The Son was received into heaven and will come again just as He left, so we must only witness in God’s power. (9-11)
a. [Slide 17] 9 – After He had said this, while they were watching, He was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
i. After making these bold predictions about them receiving the Holy Spirit and bearing witness to Him unto the uttermost parts of the earth, Jesus is taken up into heaven.
ii. They watch him until a cloud comes between their vision and his physical body.
iii. Jesus didn’t melt away or disappear. He ascended.
iv. From what we know of Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology this a strong affirmation of His divinity.
v. Mankind’s last attempt to reach the heavens and join the realm of the gods and even breech the throne of the heavens was at the tower of Babel. United together they attempted to ascend to the realm of the gods. They were going to make their own mountain to get there.
vi. Jesus… simply… goes. In fact this is passive. He was lifted. He did nothing to ascend to Heaven. He was lifted to Heaven.
vii. He floats up – slow enough for them to see him ascend… until they cannot see Him any longer.
viii. The similarity to Christ’s ascension and Elijah and Elisha is readily apparent
1. Elijah after completing His work, is accepted by God and brought to Him by a chariot of fire. He casts down his mantle to Elisha so he can go in his spirit and continue his work.
2. Christ also is accepted by God, exalted to His right hand, and His power, His mantle that came upon Him, The Spirit of God, would come down upon the disciples.
b. [Slide 18] 10-11a – As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky?
i. The apostles stand there watching, even after He has disappeared from their sight.
ii. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing are standing next to them all. Angels from heaven, deprived of rejoicing at the return of the Lord of Glory because they were given a task to explain and prophesy to His bride. The first born shall indeed serve the younger.
iii. What is said, is meant as a rebuke.
iv. Jesus just got done telling them their mission. He tells them what they are going to do and by what power they are going to do it… and then He floats up to heaven and disappears.
v. As soon as He was gone – they should have set out immediately to the work.
vi. But perhaps they linger, hoping to see Him descend again? Perhaps they are struck with fear at being alone on the earth, with a daunting mission and still no promised Spirit. Perhaps because he was no longer seen, they began to despair.
vii. The angels say… What are you still looking up for? Are you afraid He is gone forever? NO!
c. [Slide 19] 11b – This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
i. The exact same Jesus – not another – not a spiritual one – the exact same one will come back.
ii. And he will come back in the same way he went. What does that mean?
iii. We don’t have to guess. John reports to us from a vision that the trump shall resound and Jesus, the Lamb of God, The Son of Man, the Commander of Heaven’s armies, will return as the Lion of Judah riding a white horse, riding on the clouds.
iv. This is both to their comfort and edification.
v. They are to be comforted to know that Jesus will not forever leave them physically. But they should also not sit around and wait for Him. Watch for Him? Sure! Be ready for His return? Of course. But not idly!
vi. They must wait on the Spirit to baptize them… and then they must get to work!
vii. From Luke’s gospel we know that they went away worshipping Jesus and praising God in the temple courts. From the time of His ascension to the time of their Spirit baptism, the apostles believed all that Jesus had said and eagerly awaited the fulfillment of the angels’ prophesy.
viii. Just as we today believe all that Jesus said, and eagerly await the return of the King of Glory.
d. [Slide 20] Passage Truth: Luke’s final point to Theophilus in this opening introduction is to show him that the King of glory will return. That He has gone into the highest heavens. He has taken His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. But He will return. Even though he has left them physically, He has not left them fully. And one day, He will come back to them again.
e. Passage Application: So Theophilus must as the apostles did, trust in the ongoing presence and power of God the Triune to fulfill the mission of the gospel – to bear witness of Christ to the farthest places of the earth.
f. [Slide 21] Broader Biblical Truth: Do the scriptures testify to this truth? The promises of God to Abraham and to David are of a physical kingdom and a physical King. Certainly, this could be fulfilled in spiritual ways – but no matter what system of Eschatology you ascribe to – if you are truly a Christian – you confess that Jesus is coming again. Jesus spoke of this plainly in the gospel of John. He tells us that if He departs it is to prepare a place for us to dwell with Him. But He will return to bring us unto Himself. John also wrote Revelation and despite all its difficulties one thing is sure. The Kingdom of God includes Christ’s returning and God dwelling, forever, among His people.
g. Broader Biblical Application: So CBC, we labor on in this life, bearing witness to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah of God. But we do not labor on without hope. One day we know He will return. And though we may be absent of His physical presence among us – we have been given the Spirit of God to go with us in our mission. Therefore, we must wait on and depend on the power of God to fulfill our mission.
Conclusion:
[Slide 22] So CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live?
First, we saw how Jesus inescapably proved His divinity in His resurrection from the dead. Therefore, He alone has the authority and power to continue to teach and shape His church. Next, we saw that the Father has the authority to determine the timings of all the events of not only His redemption plan but even the events of History itself. And the Spirit of God was given to the apostles to accomplish their mission to go to the farthest parts of the earth. And finally, we saw that although the Lord Jesus will depart from us physically for a time, He will return to consummate His Kingdom. He will return at the Father’s appointed time.
[Slide 23] To summarize all these points into one, it would be to recognize that God the Triune is sovereignly working to bring about the salvation of His people, that by the appointed time of the Father, and by the Power of the Spirit, He will advance the Kingdom of His dear Son.
What does all this mean for us?
[Slide 24] It means we must follow our Lord’s command, though given to His apostles first, it still holds true for us. We must depend on the Spirit’s power in bearing witness of Christ.
But let’s take some time this morning to understand the implications of what that means for us practically.
I see two comforts we can take from this command and also two rebukes.
[Slide 25] To our comfort we can see that we are not alone in the mission that our Lord has given us. He did not leave us out to sea fighting against the forces of darkness, alone and afraid. Indeed, we need not fear bearing witness of Christ to any we come in contact with because He is with us and His Spirit is in us.
[Slide 26] Another comfort we may draw from this command is that from beginning to end, the mission of the gospel going forth does not depend on us. God is not waiting for us to complete our mission to bring the Kingdom. God is not depending on our power and intelligence to get the mission done. God has sovereignly provided to His church all that is required in their part to serve Him and complete this mission. While the passage in Ezekiel that CJ preached on 2 weeks ago is true – that to be a watchman and not warn others about their coming doom is to bear some responsibility for their judgment – it is also true as is mentioned in that same passage, that if we are faithful, we bear no shame for their judgment and simultaneously we receive no glory for those who repent.
But also, from this command to wait on the Lord we receive two rebukes. Two corrections. Two instructions.
[Slide 27] To wait on the Spirit’s power does not include passive inactivity. The disciples rejoiced and worshipped the Lord in the temple courts. They publicly worshipped Jesus as the Messiah of God at the heart of Judaism. They went back to where they were staying in Jerusalem and prayed asking the Lord to send the Spirit among them. They were not idle as they waited. Neither should we be idle. We should instead be lifting up prayers to God, worshipping Him, publicly speaking of Him but all while depending on Him to empower us to preach His truth. To wait then, is to depend on or rely on the power of God. We cannot hope to see any come to Christ without the power of the Spirit working through us and in them. We must prayerfully and faithfully bear witness to Christ.
[Slide 28] Our final implication and final rebuke about this command to wait on the Lord’s strength is simply this. To wait on His strength does not mean to program, commercialize, intellectualize, or repackage His gospel.
By programing the gospel, I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s strength when we create extrabiblical methods and means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are all kinds of manmade schemes full of 3 to 12 step programs for sharing our faith with others. A series of questions, a series of emotional pleas, a series of verses to point people to. My friends – as we walk through Acts we will see various means, various methods, various programs for preaching the gospel. And if there are various of these – then we can in no way pick one as the right one or the best one. Instead, we must trust in the Power of the Spirit not the pragmatism of a program. Simply bear witness to Christ, His death and resurrection.
By commercializing I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we carve out events specifically designed to bring people to the gospel. When we put up tents, when we inundate them with food and fun all in an effort to slip in the gospel of Jesus Christ – this is not relying on the power of the Spirit of God. This is relying on the craftiness of men.
By intellectualizing the gospel, I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we outthink and out argue every nay sayer and scoffer to conclusively prove to them beyond shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Lord of Glory. It is not by cunning words and wonderful arguments that men’s hearts are won but always and only by the power of the Spirit of God at the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
Finally, by repackaging the gospel I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we omit or add to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we say Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life – should we be surprised that they agree? This evangelism thing is easy right? When we say Jesus has paid for all your sin but you must work to keep yourself in a state of His grace lest you fall away… is there power in this gospel? Is that power from God or men? It is only when we preach the raw, unfiltered, and unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners, raised and coming again that we rely on the power of God. For such a message is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews.
[Slide 29] Depending on the power of the Spirit of God as we bear witness to Christ, is eliminating our own performance, intelligence, strengths, and charisma from the whole and prayerfully and expectantly anticipating God to work in the hearts of those to whom we preach.
May we be comforted and rebuked this morning. May we bear witness to Christ without fear – not because we are trusting in something of men… but because we go with the power of the Spirit of the Living God.
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By Christopher FreemanTitle: Unstoppable Church God
Text: Acts 1:1-11
FCF: We often struggle submitting to the sovereignty of God in His redemptive plan.
Prop: Because God exercises sovereign control over the growth of His church, we must only witness in God’s power.
Scripture Intro:
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 1.
What an amazing day. We have heard much of what the Lord is doing in Scotland through the faithful witness of the Landons.
Today we will look at how all this began. Why do you and I confess Christ? Why are the Landons in Scotland preaching Christ? From the book of Acts today, we will get a taste of where it all started. Ground Zero as it were.
I am in Acts 1. I’ll begin reading in verse 1 from the NET, which you can follow in the pew bible on page 1229 or in whatever version you have in front of you.
Transition:
Realistically, we probably won’t be out today by noon. But I hope with Mark’s words about serving the Lord and with the words of Luke recorded here, that you will leave spiritually full even if your bellies are growling. So let’s work together to stay engaged as we open the text of Acts this morning.
I.) Jesus as the Son of God possesses all power and authority to teach and shape His church, so we must only witness in God’s power. (1-5)
a. [Slide 2] 1-2a – I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven,
i. From last week we can easily conclude that the former account Luke mentions is his gospel.
ii. Especially when he describes the content of that former account.
iii. The content is summarized here as “all that Jesus began to do and teach until he was taken up into heaven.”
iv. [Slide 3] Turning back to Luke 24:50-53, we can see just that.
1. 50 Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. 51 Now during the blessing He departed and was taken up into heaven. 52 So they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.
2. Luke concludes his gospel with an abbreviated account of what he relays to Theophilus in more detail here in the book of Acts.
v. [Slide 4] One final thing we should note here is that the gospel of Luke recorded all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach. This implies heavily that the book of Acts is a continuation of what Jesus will do and teach through His apostles.
b. [Slide 5] 2a-3a - After he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 To the same apostles also, after His suffering, he presented Himself alive with many convincing proofs.
i. Now Luke wishes to dive into these events in greater detail, working backward from the ascension.
ii. First, he reveals that before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave final marching orders to the apostles.
iii. The remaining 11 disciples is no doubt what Luke means by “the apostles he had chosen.”
iv. Now to these 11 men, Jesus appeared after his suffering and death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
v. Not only did he appear before them but there was no other way to account for Him sitting with, conversing with, and eating with them than to recognize that He that was once dead was now raised. Just as He said.
vi. Just as no other sign so fully and finally settles the matter of Jesus’ humanity as His death, so also no other sign so fully and finally settles the matter of Jesus’ divinity than His resurrection from the dead.
c. [Slide 6] 3b - He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the Kingdom of God.
i. In John’s gospel we know that there were times when Jesus was absent from the disciples.
ii. So, Christ was not physically present with them for the entire 40 day period.
iii. What is significantly more important than the amount of time He spent with His disciples, is the teaching he gave them.
iv. He taught them about the Kingdom of God. He taught them the gospel. He taught them the redemptive plan. He taught them to preach as He had.
v. What is significant about this?
vi. Quite simply it is Jesus acting out what He said of Himself. That all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.
vii. Therefore, He, as the Son of God, has the power and the authority to continue to teach and to shape His church.
viii. And He plans to do it by means of delegation. He is passing on the mantle.
d. [Slide 7] 4-5 – While He was with them, He declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about form me. 5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
i. Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God is sharpened to a final lesson from the Messiah to His apostles.
ii. This message encompasses themes that will continue to be expounded in our text today.
iii. First, Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
1. This is significant because John records for us that the apostles at some point did go back to Galilee after Christ’s death.
2. This is the instance where the resurrected Christ appears and restores Peter.
3. They have since returned to Jerusalem, probably to celebrate Pentecost.
4. In essence, Jesus’ final lesson to them was, do not despair and go back home after I leave you again. Stay here and wait.
iv. Jesus references The Baptist’s prophesy when he preached in the wilderness. That he baptizes with water but the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
v. This draws up a question for us. One we’ll have to continually weigh out as we go through the book of Acts.
vi. Does this baptism of the Spirit here refer to being supernaturally enabled by the Spirit of God – or does this mean the indwelling of the Spirit of God?
vii. If we say it means indwelling, we immediately have a problem. Our problem is two-fold.
1. This language of spirit-baptism or the pouring out of the Spirit comes from Old Testament references to a unique event signaling the Lord’s restoration of His people. In a quote from Joel 2 (which Peter will reference in Acts 2 for his first sermon on the day of Pentecost) Joel predicts that God will pour out His Spirit upon a wide variety of people. And what will happen? They will prophesy and do mighty deeds. All this seems to indicate a “supernatural empowering” and not an “indwelling.”
2. Our second problem is that in John 20, only a few pages from where we are now, Jesus actually breathes on His disciples and tells them to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Much like Adam’s body received the breath of life from God – so also Jesus’ disciples received the Spirit of God by the breath of Jesus. This seems much more likely the event of their Spirit indwelling.
viii. So we can probably conclude that this Spirit-Baptism is being empowered for a special purpose rather than being indwelled by the Spirit of God.
e. [Slide 8] Passage Truth: So, in this prologue, this opening introduction, Luke very clearly tells Theophilus that Jesus proved Himself to be the Son of God through the resurrection. As the Son of God He is the only authority and power of the church being its head. As such, He delivers the marching orders for His apostles.
f. Passage Application: And what were the orders to the apostles? To wait on the Lord’s Power. This application is not just for the apostles. This application is for Theophilus too. He must realize that his power alone is insufficient to carry on the work of Christ. That if he is to be a representative of God’s Kingdom, he must wait for the Lord’s power, and act and teach only in His power.
g. [Slide 9] Broader Biblical Truth: But is this truth attested in all of scripture? My friends, Jesus Himself, the master expositor, on the road to Emmaus, taught all things from the scriptures concerning Himself and His work. What we are to surmise from this is that all of scripture points to the coming of the Son who not only Redeems His bride from sin’s slavery and death’s sentence but also exercises spiritual headship over her, washing her with the water of the word and empowering her to be all that God has purposed her to be. Jesus is not only the Lord of all, but He is the head of the church. His orders are binding commands of the utmost importance. He has freedom to command His church.
h. Broader Biblical Application: And what is His command CBC? Knowing all we know of Acts, it is surprising. We’d expect, perhaps, Go gettem guys! For the Kingdom! To the Harvest! No. What does He command? Wait. Be patient. Wait for the Power of the Lord. Putting this into our context this cannot mean to passively wait for some supernatural power of tongues or miracles before going to the lost. But it does require us to not set out to seek and save the lost in our own strength. By our own cunning. With our own methods. In our own program. Charles Finney of the Second Great awakening who provided the theological groundwork for the easy-believism gospel once said with certainty that revival is not a work of supernatural power nor of Spirit empowering but rather a work of well planned and executed means and works of men. It seems Mr. Finney claims himself better equipped than the apostles to preach the gospel in that he needs nothing of spiritual power or divine intervention to revive the souls of men. Either this is true, or Charles Finney is dead wrong. Since our Lord told His disciples to wait on the power of the Spirit and to go in that power to fulfill their mission – I’d say that he is wrong. As ministers of the gospel, we have no power if we do not have the Spirit of God empowering us. This is why Paul said in I Corinthians 2 that he came in weakness and trembling. His message was not wise or persuasive. Rather in demonstration of the power of the Spirit of God, they saw that their faith rested on God’s power and not human wisdom. My friends – if we are to bear witness to Christ and His Kingdom… we need God’s guidance and His Spirit’s power.
Transition:
[Slide 10] The apostles must wait for the Spirit’s baptism. But what does that mean for Jesus? What is His place in the future of the church?
II.) The Father’s authority and the Spirit’s Power will bring about God’s plan, so we must only witness in God’s power. (6-8)
a. [Slide 11] 6 – So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
i. Some early commentators find a foolish question here. I don’t see that.
ii. What I do see is that based on the quote from The Baptist which includes a baptism in fire, they expected the great outpouring of God’s spirit of redemption and the purification of the world to take place and they assumed that would be the reestablishment of a holy Israelite Kingdom.
iii. Why wouldn’t they assume this? Doesn’t the Old Testament seem to indicate this?
iv. Even in our limited study in Foundations, we’ve seen how these two events seem to go together.
v. We could even argue that this was the primary thing they expected to come with the coming of the Messiah.
vi. No, the question of the disciples is not surprising at all. Nor do I find any fault with it. And neither, it seems, did Jesus.
vii. That doesn’t make Jesus’ response any less jarring though…
b. [Slide 12] 7 – He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.
i. There are just all kinds of layers to this response. Let me start with surface level and we’ll drill down deeper as we go.
ii. First, the answer is essentially – you don’t get to know. Remember it is the glory of the Lord to conceal a matter. Consider God glorified! Even the apostles were not given the right to know when the Kingdom of Israel would be restored.
iii. Second, notice the Godhead at work here. In verse 1-5 Jesus is the proven Son of God through the resurrection and He gives commands to His church. And He commands them to wait on the Spirit of God and His power which the Father had promised to given them. Here the Son is asked when He will restore Israel. And the Son states that the authority of the Father is what sets the times and periods of existence. Clearly, we serve One God – but He is in 3 distinct persons.
iv. Third, notice that Jesus did not say that the restoration of Israel would not come about. He did not say that the church will replace or become the new Israel. Jesus doesn’t actually tell them they are wrong to believe that Israel will be restored. Instead, he simply says they don’t get to know God’s timing for His plans.
v. Jesus isn’t done responding though. He continues…
c. [Slide 13] 8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
i. This is the clearest evidence that the baptism of the Spirit spoken of by the Baptist, and referenced by Jesus in Acts 1, is a supernatural empowering to perform a specific calling.
ii. Therefore, to be baptized in the Spirit, at least here, does not equate with the indwelling of the Spirit of the moment of salvation.
iii. Instead, it is a supernatural gifting to go and do a task.
iv. And what is that task given to the apostles?
v. To be witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.
vi. Has this happened yet? Yes, it has.
vii. Now that is not to dampen our missionary fervor. Are there still unreached people groups? Of course, there are.
viii. But what did Luke mean when he transmitted Jesus’ words here? Did he mean every single language? Did he mean every single people group in the world? Every culture?
ix. What is clear is that this is an outline for the book of Acts. Luke will record for us that through the power of the Spirit, the apostles took the gospel and bore witness to Christ in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.
x. Is there still work to do and places for the gospel to go? Of course. But that doesn’t mean that the apostles failed. Because they didn’t.
xi. The book of Acts ending in Rome shows that the gospel mission was successful, even if it was not complete.
xii. A final point worthy to be unearthed here – is that Jesus and His ministry began in the same way that He predicts the apostles’ ministry would. Jesus waited until he was 30 years old to begin His ministry. The power of the Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove after arising out of water baptism. So also, the apostles must wait, only a few days, to have the Holy Spirit come upon them in the form of tongues of fire. Then they can begin this mission He has laid before them.
xiii. Truly the student is not greater than the master. And Jesus is clearly passing on the mantle to His apostles here.
d. [Slide 14] Passage Truth: So, the second point of truth or doctrine that Luke gives to Theophilus in this introductory retelling of what he has already written, is simply that God the Triune is at work to bring about the success of the mission through the apostles. The mission was not simply the revitalization of Israel – but a worldwide mission bearing witness to Christ to the farthest parts of the earth. And God the Father’s authority determines the timing of these events and God the Spirit’s Power produces the effect of these events.
e. Passage Application: So to Theophilus as to the apostles, Luke demands that he wait on the Spirit’s Power and God’s timing in preaching the gospel of Christ.
f. [Slide 15] Broader Biblical Truth: Does this truth bear out in all the Scriptures? My friends – of course it does! Have we not seen time and time again the Sovereignty of God? The gospel of Luke bears witness. The Proverbs bear witness. The letters, the psalms, the Pentateuch, indeed all the scriptures speak to the absolute sovereign control of God over His creation. Should we be surprised then that the success of the gospel and the timing of the coming of the New Kingdom is not in our hands? Do you want to know the true teaching of the book of Acts? Shall I summarize it briefly? It is Christ’s Kingdom spreading far and wide in the timing of the Father and by the Power of the Spirit. It is God’s Sovereign work to advance the His Kingdom. To the extent that to call this book “The Acts of the Apostles” to me is bordering on blasphemy. Certainly, the apostles were used by God to accomplish great things. But wouldn’t it be silly to say when beholding a fine sculpture, “What beautiful craftsmanship! Surely the work of a sturdy hammer and a fine chisel!” Would we not instead praise the sculptor? So, this book is not the Acts of the Apostles but rather the Power of a Sovereign God.
g. Broader Biblical Application: So CBC, we must understand our place in this grand purpose for us to bear witness to Christ. We are not permitted to know the timing of the coming Kingdom – be it short or long. Nor are we able to expand the gospel to our own children let alone the world unless we have the Power of the Spirit going with us and working in those to whom we preach. Therefore, we must be instruments in the hands of the master craftsman. We must be hammers and chisels used to carve out of sin the children of God.
Transition:
[Slide 16] Jesus is the head of His church, continuing to teach and shape it through the passing on of the mantle. God is sovereignly in control of the advancement of His Kingdom in which we are simply tools used for His purposes. These are two powerful truths. But what else does Luke wish to convey regarding the advancement of the kingdom?
III.) The Son was received into heaven and will come again just as He left, so we must only witness in God’s power. (9-11)
a. [Slide 17] 9 – After He had said this, while they were watching, He was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
i. After making these bold predictions about them receiving the Holy Spirit and bearing witness to Him unto the uttermost parts of the earth, Jesus is taken up into heaven.
ii. They watch him until a cloud comes between their vision and his physical body.
iii. Jesus didn’t melt away or disappear. He ascended.
iv. From what we know of Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology this a strong affirmation of His divinity.
v. Mankind’s last attempt to reach the heavens and join the realm of the gods and even breech the throne of the heavens was at the tower of Babel. United together they attempted to ascend to the realm of the gods. They were going to make their own mountain to get there.
vi. Jesus… simply… goes. In fact this is passive. He was lifted. He did nothing to ascend to Heaven. He was lifted to Heaven.
vii. He floats up – slow enough for them to see him ascend… until they cannot see Him any longer.
viii. The similarity to Christ’s ascension and Elijah and Elisha is readily apparent
1. Elijah after completing His work, is accepted by God and brought to Him by a chariot of fire. He casts down his mantle to Elisha so he can go in his spirit and continue his work.
2. Christ also is accepted by God, exalted to His right hand, and His power, His mantle that came upon Him, The Spirit of God, would come down upon the disciples.
b. [Slide 18] 10-11a – As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky?
i. The apostles stand there watching, even after He has disappeared from their sight.
ii. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing are standing next to them all. Angels from heaven, deprived of rejoicing at the return of the Lord of Glory because they were given a task to explain and prophesy to His bride. The first born shall indeed serve the younger.
iii. What is said, is meant as a rebuke.
iv. Jesus just got done telling them their mission. He tells them what they are going to do and by what power they are going to do it… and then He floats up to heaven and disappears.
v. As soon as He was gone – they should have set out immediately to the work.
vi. But perhaps they linger, hoping to see Him descend again? Perhaps they are struck with fear at being alone on the earth, with a daunting mission and still no promised Spirit. Perhaps because he was no longer seen, they began to despair.
vii. The angels say… What are you still looking up for? Are you afraid He is gone forever? NO!
c. [Slide 19] 11b – This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
i. The exact same Jesus – not another – not a spiritual one – the exact same one will come back.
ii. And he will come back in the same way he went. What does that mean?
iii. We don’t have to guess. John reports to us from a vision that the trump shall resound and Jesus, the Lamb of God, The Son of Man, the Commander of Heaven’s armies, will return as the Lion of Judah riding a white horse, riding on the clouds.
iv. This is both to their comfort and edification.
v. They are to be comforted to know that Jesus will not forever leave them physically. But they should also not sit around and wait for Him. Watch for Him? Sure! Be ready for His return? Of course. But not idly!
vi. They must wait on the Spirit to baptize them… and then they must get to work!
vii. From Luke’s gospel we know that they went away worshipping Jesus and praising God in the temple courts. From the time of His ascension to the time of their Spirit baptism, the apostles believed all that Jesus had said and eagerly awaited the fulfillment of the angels’ prophesy.
viii. Just as we today believe all that Jesus said, and eagerly await the return of the King of Glory.
d. [Slide 20] Passage Truth: Luke’s final point to Theophilus in this opening introduction is to show him that the King of glory will return. That He has gone into the highest heavens. He has taken His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. But He will return. Even though he has left them physically, He has not left them fully. And one day, He will come back to them again.
e. Passage Application: So Theophilus must as the apostles did, trust in the ongoing presence and power of God the Triune to fulfill the mission of the gospel – to bear witness of Christ to the farthest places of the earth.
f. [Slide 21] Broader Biblical Truth: Do the scriptures testify to this truth? The promises of God to Abraham and to David are of a physical kingdom and a physical King. Certainly, this could be fulfilled in spiritual ways – but no matter what system of Eschatology you ascribe to – if you are truly a Christian – you confess that Jesus is coming again. Jesus spoke of this plainly in the gospel of John. He tells us that if He departs it is to prepare a place for us to dwell with Him. But He will return to bring us unto Himself. John also wrote Revelation and despite all its difficulties one thing is sure. The Kingdom of God includes Christ’s returning and God dwelling, forever, among His people.
g. Broader Biblical Application: So CBC, we labor on in this life, bearing witness to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah of God. But we do not labor on without hope. One day we know He will return. And though we may be absent of His physical presence among us – we have been given the Spirit of God to go with us in our mission. Therefore, we must wait on and depend on the power of God to fulfill our mission.
Conclusion:
[Slide 22] So CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live?
First, we saw how Jesus inescapably proved His divinity in His resurrection from the dead. Therefore, He alone has the authority and power to continue to teach and shape His church. Next, we saw that the Father has the authority to determine the timings of all the events of not only His redemption plan but even the events of History itself. And the Spirit of God was given to the apostles to accomplish their mission to go to the farthest parts of the earth. And finally, we saw that although the Lord Jesus will depart from us physically for a time, He will return to consummate His Kingdom. He will return at the Father’s appointed time.
[Slide 23] To summarize all these points into one, it would be to recognize that God the Triune is sovereignly working to bring about the salvation of His people, that by the appointed time of the Father, and by the Power of the Spirit, He will advance the Kingdom of His dear Son.
What does all this mean for us?
[Slide 24] It means we must follow our Lord’s command, though given to His apostles first, it still holds true for us. We must depend on the Spirit’s power in bearing witness of Christ.
But let’s take some time this morning to understand the implications of what that means for us practically.
I see two comforts we can take from this command and also two rebukes.
[Slide 25] To our comfort we can see that we are not alone in the mission that our Lord has given us. He did not leave us out to sea fighting against the forces of darkness, alone and afraid. Indeed, we need not fear bearing witness of Christ to any we come in contact with because He is with us and His Spirit is in us.
[Slide 26] Another comfort we may draw from this command is that from beginning to end, the mission of the gospel going forth does not depend on us. God is not waiting for us to complete our mission to bring the Kingdom. God is not depending on our power and intelligence to get the mission done. God has sovereignly provided to His church all that is required in their part to serve Him and complete this mission. While the passage in Ezekiel that CJ preached on 2 weeks ago is true – that to be a watchman and not warn others about their coming doom is to bear some responsibility for their judgment – it is also true as is mentioned in that same passage, that if we are faithful, we bear no shame for their judgment and simultaneously we receive no glory for those who repent.
But also, from this command to wait on the Lord we receive two rebukes. Two corrections. Two instructions.
[Slide 27] To wait on the Spirit’s power does not include passive inactivity. The disciples rejoiced and worshipped the Lord in the temple courts. They publicly worshipped Jesus as the Messiah of God at the heart of Judaism. They went back to where they were staying in Jerusalem and prayed asking the Lord to send the Spirit among them. They were not idle as they waited. Neither should we be idle. We should instead be lifting up prayers to God, worshipping Him, publicly speaking of Him but all while depending on Him to empower us to preach His truth. To wait then, is to depend on or rely on the power of God. We cannot hope to see any come to Christ without the power of the Spirit working through us and in them. We must prayerfully and faithfully bear witness to Christ.
[Slide 28] Our final implication and final rebuke about this command to wait on the Lord’s strength is simply this. To wait on His strength does not mean to program, commercialize, intellectualize, or repackage His gospel.
By programing the gospel, I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s strength when we create extrabiblical methods and means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are all kinds of manmade schemes full of 3 to 12 step programs for sharing our faith with others. A series of questions, a series of emotional pleas, a series of verses to point people to. My friends – as we walk through Acts we will see various means, various methods, various programs for preaching the gospel. And if there are various of these – then we can in no way pick one as the right one or the best one. Instead, we must trust in the Power of the Spirit not the pragmatism of a program. Simply bear witness to Christ, His death and resurrection.
By commercializing I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we carve out events specifically designed to bring people to the gospel. When we put up tents, when we inundate them with food and fun all in an effort to slip in the gospel of Jesus Christ – this is not relying on the power of the Spirit of God. This is relying on the craftiness of men.
By intellectualizing the gospel, I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we outthink and out argue every nay sayer and scoffer to conclusively prove to them beyond shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Lord of Glory. It is not by cunning words and wonderful arguments that men’s hearts are won but always and only by the power of the Spirit of God at the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
Finally, by repackaging the gospel I mean that it is not waiting on the Lord’s power when we omit or add to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we say Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life – should we be surprised that they agree? This evangelism thing is easy right? When we say Jesus has paid for all your sin but you must work to keep yourself in a state of His grace lest you fall away… is there power in this gospel? Is that power from God or men? It is only when we preach the raw, unfiltered, and unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners, raised and coming again that we rely on the power of God. For such a message is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews.
[Slide 29] Depending on the power of the Spirit of God as we bear witness to Christ, is eliminating our own performance, intelligence, strengths, and charisma from the whole and prayerfully and expectantly anticipating God to work in the hearts of those to whom we preach.
May we be comforted and rebuked this morning. May we bear witness to Christ without fear – not because we are trusting in something of men… but because we go with the power of the Spirit of the Living God.