STAR GAZERS OR EARTH SHAKERS?
Acts 1:6-11
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
A family had a reunion on a Saturday in California. On Sunday they all went to church. During the opening hymn, an earthquake hit. The building shook, the overhead lights swung back & forth. In true California style, they never missed a beat, even though they had to grab the pews in front to steady themselves. Following the service the Pastor came over and introduced himself to the out-of-state relatives. One shook the pastor’s hand and said with a suppressed smile, “I can honestly say this was the most moving service I’ve ever attended!”
B. TEXT
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:6-11.
C. THESIS
1. According to verse 9, Christ ascended until He disappeared into a cloud (I’m glad He didn’t vanish). Evidently the disciples continued to stare at the cloud after He had disappeared. The angels were puzzled by their continued staring – Jesus was gone! So why did they continue looking up there?
2. THEY REMEMBERED ALL THE GOOD TIMES WITH JESUS
Many people see their time with Jesus in the past-tense. They always speak of the “glory-days” of the past. For many of them, Jesus was “back there” but not here today. Really? Jesus hasn’t changed! He’s just as much HERE TODAY as He was on the Sea of Galilee. The problem is, we’re trying to relive the past and not get a fresh, new experience with Jesus!
3. POSSIBILITY: THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE
a. They’d heard Jesus say, “I am going away,” and also, “I will come again.” They might have continued staring because they thought He would come back at any moment.
b. Studying Bible prophecy is good, but if that’s as far as our Christianity goes, then our application of it is misguided.
c. Which does God care more about? The identity of the 10 toes in Daniel’s vision or the lost souls in your neighborhood?
4. So we’re going to look at 3 reasons the angels said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there gazing up into heaven?”
5. The title of this message is “Star Gazers or Earth Shakers.”
I. WE MUST HAVE HEAVEN’S VISION OF OUR MISSION
A. THE NEED FOR A VISION
1. The angels, with heavenly vision, knew what was truly important in eternity. They knew there was no time to waste for the Early Church. We also need corrected vision today – to know the mission, the goal, the right direction for the church and for our lives.
2. Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” God’s people move when they get a vision. Why are you here? What’s your mission? Why did God leave you here on this earth?
B. EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS THE GREAT COMMISSION
1. Five times in his remaining days on earth, Jesus gave some form of the Great Commission (in all 4 Gospels, Acts):
a. Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”
b. Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
c. Luke 24:46-47, “And [Jesus] said unto them…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
d. John 20:21, “Then said Jesus to them…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
e. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me…to the uttermost part of the earth.” He said the same thing 5 DIFFERENT TIMES!
2. I remember going on a trip with Angela, leaving one of our older kids at home. When we pulled out of the driveway, we rolled down the window and gave one more reminder, “Whatever you do, don’t forget…” That’s what the Great Commission is – it’s Jesus’ most important instruction!
II. PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED GOD IN THEIR LIVES
A. THIS LIFE FULL OF SADNESS
We wrongly assume the lost are happy without Christ. They’re NOT! Job said that our days are “Few…and full of trouble” Job 14:1.
1. Marriages fall apart. Husbands and wives bicker, fight, and are unfaithful. Divorce rates hover near 50%.
2. Jobs are lost; loved ones die before their time; there’s never enough money; children go off the deep-end and their lives are hit by a tsunami of problems.
3. People regularly say to me, “I’m so grateful I have Jesus! I don’t know what people do without the Lord!” They don’t do good!
4. We look on the outside of people and they look like they’re ok, but statistics show they’re not. Check out the millions of sedatives and stimulants prescribed. Psychologist’s offices are jammed. Everywhere people are sad, filled with tragedy, addictions and depression.
5. VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZiR7qCwSE
B. THE GOSPEL IS THE ONLY HOPE
1. People will never be fulfilled without God in their lives. They’re empty without God. There’s a sense of estrangement from the Creator.
2. The Bible says, “But the [godless] are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest….“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isa. 57:20-21. David said, “My soul finds rest in God alone!”
3. People are hurting and we have the answer. Only Jesus can really improve their lives. We have to tell them!
4. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” Jn. 14:27.
C. PEOPLE ARE GOD’S FOCUS
1. ILLUS. A Missionary was waiting in a Pastor’s office. When the Pastor entered, the missionary commented, “You have an impressive library.” Just as the proud young preacher was about to agree, the missionary said, “Too bad it’s all going to burn up some day!”
2. You know what, the same can be said of your car, furniture, stereo, computer and house and all the money you have in the bank. It’s all going to burn up someday, so why we invest so much in that what is temporary?
3. I’m not saying that God doesn’t want us to have fun, to save for our future or have some nice things. The question is, is that our primarily focus? Our primary focus should be on God and His kingdom – on reaching PEOPLE. Why?
a. Because we can take people to heaven when we go.
b. Because GOD’S focus is on people.
c. Because Jesus died for people.
4. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” Since Jesus so loved people—we also ought to love people.
5. ILLUS.
a. Years ago in England, there was a shortage of silver. Someone came to Cromwell one day and said, “There is no more silver. We can’t mint any coins until we get some more silver.”
b. It was explained that the only silver that could be found was in the statutes of the saints found in the Churches.
Cromwell said, “Well, then, melt down the saints and put them into circulation.”
c. That’s what God wants us to do: put the “Saints” into circulation!
III. WE ALL HAVE A HARVEST FIELD
A. WE ALL HAVE A PLACE OF SERVICE
1. Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Mt. 9:37-38. “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’” John 4:35
2. Every one of us has a field we’re supposed to harvest. It’s the people around us who are separated from God/ Jesus by their sins. Jesus’ priority; “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Lk. 19:10.
3. God put you in Huntsville, Texas to witness for Christ! Huntsville is your Mission Field! GOD put you and I here to reach our neighbors, our co-workers, and our friends with the Good News of the Gospel.
B. THERE IS URGENCY IN THIS CALL
1. “Praying Hyde,” a missionary in India, prayed, “Father, give me these souls, or I die.” Hyde had an insatiable desire to reach people for the kingdom of God. Many Christians are too busy with earthy pursuits and the things of this world to realize the URGENCY of the multitudes of lost people going to Hell without Christ. People are dying and going to Hell: 55 million/ year, 153,000/day, 6,400/hour, 106/minute – 9,589 will die and go to Hell during this service! Do you care?
2. ILLUSTRATION: MR. ETERNITY
a. Arthur M. Stace (1885–1967), known as Mr. Eternity, was a reformed alcoholic who converted to Christianity in Australia.
b. Stace heard a sermon by evangelist John G. Ridley, "The Echoes of Eternity" from Isaiah 57:15: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
c. John Ridley shouted, "Eternity! Eternity! I wish that I could shout that word to everyone in the streets of Sydney. You've got to meet it, where will you spend Eternity?"
d. Stace said, "Eternity went ringing through my brain and suddenly I began crying and felt a powerful call from the Lord to write Eternity on walls and pavements throughout the city of Sydney."
e. Even though he was illiterate and could hardly write his own name Arthur, the word 'Eternity' came out smoothly, in a beautiful copperplate script.
f. Over the next 35 years, Stace wrote the word "Eternity" around 500,000 times all over Sydney. His "Eternity" signs became a legend in Sydney. The mystery of his identity wasn’t solved until 1956. He died in 1967 at 82 years old.
3. Has “Eternity” impacted your soul yet? It’s a loooong time!
C. HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
1. I’ll tell you 4 ways you can easily work your Harvest Field in Huntsville:
a. Simply invite friends and acquaintances to church.
b. Another way is send out a link on Facebook to a church event inviting people to attend.
c. Third, develop relationships with your neighbors that can open doors of evangelism.
d. Learn the “Roman Road” and lead someone to Christ. We have some tracts “Steps to Peace with God” that will great simplify doing this.
2. Lastly, every believer should give monetarily to get the Gospel to the rest of the world. That’s why we have a Missions Department. Did you know YOU can be a partner in supporting a missionary on a foreign mission field?
3. May God help us to answer the call to the vineyard God has given us.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: STRAYING FROM THE WITNESS SCRIPT IN APHGHANISTAN
1. Philip Yancey told of an American musical team on a recent tour of the Middle East. The door opened for an engagement in Kabul, Afghanistan.
2. Their leader strictly warned them not to stray from the prepared script. Dire consequences could follow. They sang folk tunes and songs about God’s love. All was uneventful until one member of the team put down his guitar and began to improvise.
3. “I’d like to tell you about my best friend, a man named Jesus, and the difference He has made in my life.” From the side of the stage, the team leader motioned wildly for him to stop. He gestured the cut-your-throat motions. The young man went on with his testimony.
4. Then the Minister of Cultural Affairs for Afghanistan stood and walked to the stage. “We have seen many American young people come through this country,” he said. “Most of them come for drugs, and most look like hippies. We have not seen or heard from people like you. God’s love is a message my country needs. How thrilled I am to hear you!”
5. Then he publicly invited the group to expand their tour to visit every college and faculty in the nation and to give this same message on Kabul Radio. The minister added, “I will make it happen.”
6. The response was amazing. Afghan young people crowd around: “Tell me more about this Jesus—we
know of Him from the Qur’an.” Some asked to pray with the American teenagers. Many wanted to know how faith had changed them. (Philip Yancey, “A Living Stream in the Desert,” Christianity Today. Nov. 2010, 30-35.) [Austin B. Tucker]
B. THE CALL
1. As I was thinking about this message, the Lord laid on me to give YOU the assignment to witness to 3 people in the next two weeks and possibly share it in church if God leads.
2. How many will raise your hand, saying, “With God’s help, I’ll try to witness to, or invite to church, 3 people in the next two weeks!” Good! Remember, the Lord and me will hold you to your promise.
3. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. If you’ve never begun your walk with God, but want to start this morning, raise your hand.
4. How many of you need a new vision of the Harvest field? Let’s all pray for a burning zeal/urgency to reach our families, co-workers, friends and neighbors before Jesus comes back! PRAYER.
