We begin with a conversation about the deepest question of all: why are we here? what’s the meaning of our lives?
Nothing enduringly great has ever been achieved without asking that question. For us, as Christians, we have answered the question through the lenses of ONE indisputable Truth – God became man in the form of Jesus Christ to save us from a meaningless existence of the pursuit of our desires and needs to join with Him in the Missio Dei (The mission of God) The mission of God is to redeem all of creation from its own self destruction. From this point, we must then ask ourselves a second question: what role are we willing to play in the drama being acted out before us? Because its a cosmic drama of good versus evil with all of mankind standing in the middle waiting, wondering and trying to make a choice to between two teams. I’m not talking about the Bears or the Packers. I’m referring to a greater battle for your soul and the souls of everyone we know. It’s at this point in the conversation many people express a sense of doubt about themselves and their faith. To which, I suggest they pick up the bible and read the book of Acts or as I jokingly refer to it as: Luke Part Two. Its an incredible history lesson of the early church but it's also a reminder of how God uses the simple and the sinner to spark a revolution.
If you have a bible, I’d ask that you open it to Acts 1 verse one. As you do and before I go a little old school with you, let me give you the background of the book we will be walking through over the next few weeks. The book of Acts was originally called the Acts of the Apostles because of all the amazing sign acts which took place in the early church. The book was written by a doctor who was also a great story teller by the name of Luke. The same Luke who wrote the gospel which bears his name. The book itself is dated between 63-70 AD. It explains the amazing growth of the church and the issues that developed but didn’t destroy It. The book is a history lesson of colliding relationships (the new Christians, the Jews and the Gentiles) which would challenge the new movement of God. Let's begin.
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven,
v.1 – 2a Luke is letting us know, he is writing this book because Theophilus funded the writing of this account. The name itself means “ Friend of God.” He is probably an important and wealthy Roman official who became a believer who wanted the world to know all that had transpired. He had the means, understood God had provided those means and wanted to make sure the story never disappeared.
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
2b – 3 The first 40 days of the church must have been absolutely wild. Jesus kept popping into situations and people’s lives as proof of what was being spread about him. He was systematically making sure the disciples all knew the truth. God had indeed come to earth and was returning to heaven. He would console, teach and guide them for those first few days. They had no idea when he would appear but when he did he would stress the “kingdom of God” as primary. A message which continues to be a core of who we are supposed to be today. We have no idea when he will come again but we must be ready.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
4 – 5 The words seem so harmless to us today. Yet, verse 4 talks of his humanity and his divinity. He was God because he predicted his death and resurrection a number of times and then proved it. He was a man because he ate with them after the resurrection. Jesus was not some Spirit but a living and breathing human who had risen from the dead. He was with them physically and was instructing them on what to do next. Jesus once again tells them what is about to come. He doesn’t mince his words. He tells them where to go and what will happen. He now had some street credibility so while they couldn't fathom what was about to happen . They did trust Him. I think this a key point for us today. We have been brought here. To this church for a time such as this. We’re all being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a term used to describe an anointing by the Holy Spirit on ones life. It’s an undeniable sign of spiritual change within a person, a group of people and even a community. It’s the only way the church will grow and it will bring monumental change. A change that can be frightening for some. Let's go back to the text
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
6-7 These two verses remind us of how clueless the disciples remained even after the resurrection. They were still being the 12 knuckleheads. Imagine for a moment a good friend predicts his death and then dies, you or another trusted friend witnesses the horrific death as well as the funeral, and he reappears before you, you’re only concern is about your role in the world! How much more proof does somebody need? Easy to say some 2000 years after the fact but aren’t many of us are wondering, what our role should be? “What am I going to get” still seems to be the mantra of so many. If you came here expecting to find an answer, fill a hole in your soul or repent of a poor choice, the entire next verse is a promise from God through Jesus for all who are seeking.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
8a. You and I receive the power of God through his Holy Spirit when we repent of our past lives, invite Jesus into our heart, begin to follow his footsteps. All power in the church comes through the Holy Spirit. It is an absolute necessity for any ministry to take place. We’re all being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist announced the future baptism of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16) and Proverbs 14:25 tells us “a true witness delivers souls.” The two together clearly define what an anointed individual will do and produce.
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
8b. The word witness is used some 29 times as either a verb or a noun in the Book of Acts. Our English word Martyr comes from the Greek word translated as witness. Many a person has laid down their life to be a witness to their believe in God. Have you ever thought about what your life witnesses to? Is it to hard work, integrity, love, charity, respect….the list goes on and on. I ask this because every one of our lives are a witness to what we value most. In many ways, our idols are showing by how we behave. It’s only after we have fully given ourselves over to the power of the Holy Spirit we begin to accomplish what God has truly created us to be. We’re all being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is the power which drives us to those who don’t know the message. It is the power that moves us from thinking we could never share our faith or witness to another to saying “oh. okay.” It’s the power to allow ourselves to obey the small still voice when the rest of the world says Noooooooo! It’s the words I think I hear when the disciples experience this next line.
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
9. I love the movies for moments like this in scripture. It’s the second reported account of someone being beamed up. The first was when Elijah left on the chariot of fire. This time it's Jesus floating up and saying, “up, up and away!” Okay he didn’t say that but Superman did. Can you see the jaws of the disciples on the ground? How do you explain that to your friends? “Really Guys it's true. It’s really true. He just floated up and away like a beautiful balloon. What’s a balloon?”
This moment is often called the ascension of Jesus. It’s important because had He not ascended, he could never have sent his Spirit to anyone willing to accept it. It also means that in the heavenly realms Jesus is still interceding on our behalf as the high priest providing us grace and mercy in this life. He is our advocate before the father. He is there to help us achieve his will in the hear and now. It might be one of the reasons the angels appear.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
10. I love the word –“Suddenly. The disciples are startled and then they're chided by the angels. What are you looking at? He’s going to come back. I would add, “Now get to work. You won’t miss his return. It’s going to big and dramatic. He’s coming back. Remember, we’re all being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.” To which the disciples respond by heading back Jerusalem. They end up back in the upper room. Listen to what happens when they return.
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
V14.They get down to business. What was first….Prayer. No long conversation by the water cooler about the flying Jesus. They walk in and pray because they know: We’re all being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. John Bunyan the author of pilgrim’s progress said, “prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a scourge to Satan.” The disciples prayed often and the church needs to pray often. It then needs to do the work of leading. In this case, it was restoring the leadership of the team. They had lost a disciple in Judas but they had other good men around. So it was decided that either It was either Justus or Matthias. They prayed again and then literally rolled the dice. Jews had long believed that God used events of seemingly random chance to reveal his will since he controls all of life (ex. 28:30). So they used sticks, marked pebbles Urim and Thummin. God did not condemn this practice (Lev16:8; Prov. 18:18) but encouraged it. However, this was the last recorded occasion in the New Testament. Matthias won the roll. I think he was yelling as the dice left Peter’s hands, “daddy needs a new pair of sandals!” And followed it up with the first touch down dance. Not really.
However, the event always makes me about what happened to Justus. Maybe I've been on too many losing teams but we never hear about Justus again. What happened? Did he wrestle with not getting the job or position? Did he live his life in quite desperation? Did he keep the faith? Or was he the true lesson in this drama. He knew he was being prepared to be witnesses through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He lived a life of humility, serving the cause of Christ, volunteering for the next generation, raising a family in the faith, praying with the widows and orphans as well as sharing his faith in the world in which he lived, to whomever would listen.
For most of us, life will never be about 15 minutes of fame but it will be about all the minutes we have on this planet. The only review will be how you lived, served and shared your love of God and others. Are you prepared? anointed? Ready to live a life as a witness anointed by God through the power of Holy Spirit! This morning I'd like to invite us all to to commit or recommit your willingness to receive the Holy Spirit. We will do so together with our heads down: Please repeat the words or a facsimile thereof to yourself right where you are.
Lord I repent of my sins. I repent of living this life solely for myself. I repent of ….
I now Invite your Spirit, present here into my heart, to prepare me to do the work you have given me to do on your behalf. I now wish you would have all of me to mold me, change me, and make me a witness to your will. I do so this morning in your Name, Your Son's Jesus name and with your Spirit. And God's people say, AMEN!
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