- 5/5/2025
Please enjoy this message delivered by Pastor Mark Hudson.
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#mlcc #church #churchonline
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00:00There's a pastor, also a chaplain, William Willimon, who was at a boys' choir singing
00:06that great ascension composition called Deus Ascendant, Deus Ascendant, which means God
00:13has gone up.
00:15And so he's sitting there listening to these boys sing, of course, I'm sure there's a boys'
00:20choir, well-trained, it sounded awesome, I'm sure it was really good.
00:23But he sat there and thought about that phrase, God has gone up, and then he began getting
00:31this Debbie Downer mode saying, yeah, how appropriate, God has gone up, gone up and away, God has
00:39left us to our confusion, abandoned us in the midst of angry shouts of the mobs, the sound
00:45of gunfire, and the rhetoric of the revolutionaries, God indeed has abandoned us.
00:50So in the moment when they're singing this Deus Ascendant, that God has gone up, he's
00:55in this Debbie Downer mentality, and you know, I can understand that sometimes.
01:01I mean, I know God hasn't abandoned us, he promised he would never leave us our abandoned us, I
01:05understand that, but sometimes we look around and we say, yeah, God, we're just here all
01:10by ourselves, it seems like.
01:12The evil has seemed to be getting greater and greater in our country, and it seems like righteousness
01:18is mocked at and reviled.
01:22I can understand how he got there, but I'm glad the Spirit of God corrected him like he
01:26corrects me when I get in the Debbie Downer mode, that he said, listen, the boys were not
01:32singing Deus Abscondent, which means God has abandoned us.
01:38They were singing Deus Ascendent, God has gone up.
01:41And the words of that song led William to understand that God had not given up on us, rather the
01:47ascension of Jesus signaled that what Jesus had begun on earth would be brought to completion
01:53in heaven, even after his ascension to heaven.
01:56As we say in the Creed each week, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand
02:00of the Father.
02:01He ascended not to abandon us, but to complete what he began through the work of the Holy Spirit,
02:07through his church and through his faithful people, Christ still is at work to rule with
02:14love and mercy.
02:15He has not abandoned us.
02:17He has gone up.
02:19And you're going to see later on, he even told his disciples that it was a good thing that
02:23he went up, that he ascended.
02:26Now, I can imagine you and I as the disciples, we believe our Lord is dead, and then some ladies
02:32come back from the tomb and say, no, we saw him, he's alive.
02:35And then we run to the tomb and we see him and he's alive and we were rejoicing.
02:38And all of a sudden he's going to tell us, yeah, but I have to go now.
02:43I mean, we wouldn't want that.
02:45The disciples, I'm sure, didn't want that either.
02:47But he's going to show us the importance of why he ascended and why it was necessary
02:51for him to assist.
02:54We're going to be in Acts, book of Acts, chapter one.
02:57So open up there before we start reading in verse number one.
02:59We're going to be in the book of Acts in the section that we're going to look at today,
03:02talking about his ascension, his going up, Deus ascendant, is that Jesus prepares his
03:08disciples for his departure, promising them power to be faithful witnesses.
03:15He himself is not going to be there any longer.
03:18Now, he knows what he's going to do, and we'll see here in a second exactly what he
03:21promised that he's going to do.
03:23But from their side, they can feel maybe we're going to be left alone.
03:27But he says, no, I cannot do that.
03:29I will not leave you as orphans.
03:30I promise to come to you, and I will bring you another comforter, another helper, and
03:34he will do the work that I began here on this earth.
03:38He will carry it out through you, my faithful witnesses.
03:42And so they're probably thinking, well, what are we going to need, or what do you and I
03:45need to be faithful witnesses?
03:47I mean, to witness means I give testimony to something that I have seen or heard.
03:53I give testimony.
03:54What do we need to be as good witnesses in the world that disciples are going to learn
03:58exactly?
03:58The book of Acts, then, is the ongoing work of Jesus through his church in the world.
04:04Now, it doesn't end.
04:06In fact, 28, you kind of stop and go, whoa, there's more to this story.
04:09What's this?
04:10It just kind of like stops.
04:11And you know, maybe, maybe God's keeping a record in heaven.
04:14We'll get to read of all the things he's done throughout all of the ages up until the
04:19time he takes us up to, I don't know.
04:21It's just not recorded, but he's not done working.
04:24He's not done working.
04:25Look with me in verse number one.
04:29So turn on your, turn on your biblical device, open up your Bible, whichever the case may
04:32be.
04:32This is God's word.
04:33We want to look at it together.
04:35Think about placing yourself in the positions of the apostles, the disciples here at this
04:40point.
04:41So Luke is the author of Acts.
04:43And he says in the first book or in the former book, O Theophilus, that would be Luke's gospel,
04:48the first one he wrote.
04:50So he wrote the gospel message and O Theophilus, he's writing to Theophilus, I have, I have dealt
04:55with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up, he ascended
05:01after he had given commands, that's his instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he
05:07had chosen.
05:07Those who have, remember, Judas is gone.
05:09So he's 11 at this point.
05:12He presented himself alive to them, to the apostles, after his suffering by many proofs,
05:17appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
05:22So the 40 days he's walking in and among them and teaching them and giving them instructions,
05:26it's concerning the kingdom of God, God's rule and reign in this world.
05:32And while staying with them, some translations say eating with them, the idea is that he's with
05:37them together, probably sitting at a table, so staying and eating with them, he ordered
05:41them not to depart from Jerusalem.
05:43So stay in Jerusalem.
05:45They're from Galilee, but stay in Jerusalem.
05:47But to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me.
05:51So he talked about it before to them.
05:53And then he's going to call back on John the Baptist as a prophecy.
05:56For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days
06:02from now, from the time that he's talking to them right now.
06:05So he's writing the second letter to Theophilus.
06:08Theophilus means lover of God.
06:09Some things that's just a general term for anyone who loves God.
06:13It's probably a real person.
06:15Could even be Luke's patron.
06:16You know, when you travel around, you need expenses.
06:18You need to be able to pay for food and lodging.
06:20He may have been actually the benefactor of Luke.
06:23Nevertheless, he was a believer that needed to be instructed in the faith.
06:25So he writes the book of Acts.
06:26What I like is that the text says what that Jesus began to do, what he began to do.
06:36And it leaves it like it's not done yet.
06:38It's not concluded.
06:39He began to do it.
06:42The work of redeeming people is unfinished.
06:44God is still redeeming people today.
06:46Now, the work of redemption is finished.
06:48It's a one-time sacrifice.
06:49But he's still about redeeming people.
06:52He's working in this world through his church and by the power of Holy Spirit
06:56to proclaim the gospel message so that people can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
07:00He's still at work.
07:02Lest we think that his work is over, it is not.
07:05He's still working through the Spirit and through the church in this world, redeeming people.
07:10He began.
07:11It's not done yet.
07:12Not until the fullness of the Gentiles come in and he calls us back home to him
07:16and we get to come back down to him and he sets up his kingdom on this earth.
07:20He's still at work in this world.
07:23That same Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus will come to them.
07:27And that's unusual because in the Old Testament, the people who received the Holy Spirit were
07:31kings and prophets and priests, not just the average person.
07:35And especially ladies, not even ladies.
07:38But we're going to see here that this Spirit is going to come upon all who believe in the
07:41Lord Jesus Christ.
07:43Not just the men, not just the leaders, but everyone.
07:46So Jesus showed the disciples demonstrative proof, evidence that he is alive.
07:54Forty days he met with them, showed them.
07:56Not only did they touch him, they worshiped him, they heard him speak.
08:00He provided food for them.
08:02We saw last week and a meal.
08:04He's alive.
08:06You remember the road to Emmaus, the two on the road to Emmaus.
08:09And then after the resurrection, he met with Peter and James and the apostles.
08:12In fact, let's read about this.
08:13He proved that he was alive.
08:16First Corinthians 15, for I delivered to you as a first importance, what I also received,
08:21that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that
08:26he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to
08:30Cephas, that's Peter.
08:32And then to the 12, the 12 is a technical term.
08:35We know there's only 11 because Judas is gone.
08:3712 is a technical term to the 12.
08:39Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive.
08:46So when Luke wrote this, I mean, excuse me, yeah, when Paul wrote this to the Corinthians,
08:50these people were still alive.
08:52You want to go talk to them?
08:53Did you really see Jesus?
08:54Yeah, I really saw him.
08:55500 people.
08:57That's enough in a court of law to prove something to be true.
08:59So you who question whether Jesus rose from the dead, ask the eyewitnesses.
09:05They saw him.
09:07Most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
09:10Then he appeared to James and then to all the apostles.
09:13He showed himself to be alive.
09:16They're following a living savior, not a dead one.
09:20David Smeeds tells of a Muslim in Africa who became a Christian.
09:24So he was a Muslim.
09:25He becomes a Christian.
09:26When his friends asked him why he made that decision, he told them,
09:30suppose you were going down a road and suddenly the road forked in two directions
09:35and you didn't know which way to go.
09:38Then you saw two men at the fork, one dead and one alive.
09:42Which one would you follow?
09:43I decided to follow the man who was alive.
09:47Muhammad is still in his tomb and his bones are there,
09:50but Jesus' tomb is empty and he is alive.
09:52I'm going to follow him.
09:54What a great choice.
09:56So he appeared to them.
09:57He didn't stay with them like he did when they were walking on the earth
10:00before his crucifixion where he was always with them.
10:03He would come and he would go.
10:05He wasn't constantly with them,
10:06but the idea is that he was always coming back to them,
10:09teaching them and instructing them on what's coming,
10:11especially about the kingdom of God.
10:13For 40 days, and I know for those who read your Bible,
10:16you were told, 40 days, I recognize that.
10:18That's, you know, he was 40 days in the wilderness being tempted.
10:21Moses was 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai receiving the law.
10:25Elijah went up to Mount Horeb, Mount Sinai for 40 days as well.
10:29So that term 40 days is a pretty big number in the Bible.
10:32It's a pretty important number.
10:34So he's talked about the kingdom and talked about what was going to happen.
10:39The kingdom of God.
10:40He talked to them all about, these 40 days, about the kingdom of God.
10:44God's rule and reign.
10:46He's going to be speaking about, initially about God's rule and reign
10:49in the hearts of his people, but he will talk about later on
10:51this kingdom that's coming to the earth where the rule and reign
10:54will be on the face of the whole earth when Jesus comes back.
10:58Acts 1, we see here.
11:01In fact, that is the central theme of the book of Acts, is the kingdom of God.
11:06In verse number 3, it starts off, the kingdom of God,
11:09and in chapter 28, verse 31, which is the last verse,
11:13you have the bookends, kingdom of God, kingdom of God.
11:16So verse 3 is the kingdom of God, and then 28, 31,
11:19proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ
11:22with all boldness, without hindrance, boop, the book's over.
11:25What? There's more coming.
11:26No, it started with the kingdom of God, and it's going to end with the kingdom of God.
11:30That's the central theme throughout the whole book of Acts.
11:33So they're coming, and they're going, and in Jerusalem, he says,
11:36now I need you to stay here.
11:37Don't leave.
11:37I know you're from Galilee.
11:38Don't go back home.
11:39Don't go fishing again.
11:40Stay here in Jerusalem.
11:42The promise of the Father is coming.
11:44Luke 24, again, in his gospel.
11:46And behold, I'm sending the promise of my Father upon you,
11:49but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
11:53And it won't be many days from now, he said.
11:54It won't be many days.
11:56You can imagine, again, the disciples, you just got your master back.
12:04And now he's talking about leaving?
12:07I mean, think about it.
12:08You're just like them.
12:09I'm just like them.
12:10We wouldn't want him to go, would we?
12:12We'd want him to stay.
12:14No, Jesus, I would prefer that you stay, Jesus.
12:16Don't go away.
12:17Why don't you stay here with us?
12:19We would rather have that.
12:20He says, listen, you have to understand.
12:23Jesus must ascend so he can send the Holy Spirit as he promised.
12:29The Spirit's not going to come until he ascends.
12:31When he ascends to sit on the right hand of the Father,
12:34he promised that he would send his spirit down.
12:36So now Jesus, who was local in his body, his human body in one location,
12:40his spirit now is diffused over the face of the earth,
12:43over all or in all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
12:46His working now is greater than just one person in one location.
12:51He's going to be by his spirit in all believers.
12:56John 16, this is what he said.
12:58Nevertheless, I tell you the truth.
13:00It is to your advantage that I go away.
13:03Not just that it's good for you.
13:04It is to your advantage that I go away.
13:07For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you.
13:10But if I go, I will send him to you that he will be in all believers
13:15that are proclaiming the gospel message on the face.
13:18All believers will have the Holy Spirit of God.
13:21His work will continue in a greater amount
13:24because there's a whole bunch of people with the Spirit of God at work in this world.
13:29Calvin pointed out,
13:31Christ left us in such a way that his presence might be more useful to us.
13:39He was present in a body.
13:40That's what he talks about.
13:41A presence that had been confined in a humble abode of flesh
13:45so long as he sojourned on the earth.
13:47That's true.
13:47Now he's going to ascend and send his spirit.
13:50Now he's going to be in multiple places on the face of the earth all at one time.
13:54As his body was raised up above all the heavens,
13:57so his power and energy were diffused
13:59and spread beyond all the bounds of heaven and earth.
14:02It's to your advantage that I go away.
14:05But Jesus, I don't want you to go away.
14:06I want you to stay.
14:07No, it is to your advantage that I go away.
14:10For the work that I've called you to do,
14:12you need the Spirit of God for the power to be my witnesses on the face of this earth.
14:17It's important that I go away.
14:20For he promised everyone who believes the Holy Spirit of God.
14:24He promised it in Jeremiah in the new covenant.
14:27He promised it in Ezekiel in the new covenant.
14:29And Paul talked about it in Ephesians chapter 1.
14:32He talked about this promise.
14:33In him, you also, that's Jesus,
14:36when you heard the word of truth,
14:38the gospel of your salvation,
14:39and believed in him,
14:41were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
14:44He seals us.
14:45He came to live within us
14:47and all who believe on the face of the earth,
14:49who is the guarantee of our inheritance.
14:52We're going to get an inheritance someday,
14:53not because we're great,
14:54but because God is great and he promised us one.
14:57And the Spirit is our guarantee until we get that.
14:59Until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory.
15:06If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
15:08the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
15:10And he is the one that gives us power to be witnesses in this world,
15:13to tell others about Jesus.
15:16Not many days from now is what we were told.
15:19Not many days.
15:20It's going to come really soon.
15:22Pentecost, which we know is coming later on, chapter 2,
15:25that's 50 days after Passover.
15:27So if you think with me,
15:29he's been three days in the tomb,
15:32Passover, three days in the tomb,
15:3540 days teaching them and instructing.
15:37That's 43 days.
15:39How many days left do they have to wait for the promise?
15:41Just a week, seven days.
15:43Because Passover to Pentecost is 50 days.
15:46So they're only going to have to wait a week,
15:47but they're not supposed to leave Jerusalem.
15:49Stay in Jerusalem.
15:50And at Pentecost, we know the Spirit finally does come.
15:54Matthew 3, promise fulfilled.
15:56Even John the Baptist talked about it.
15:59I baptize you with water for repentance,
16:01but he who is coming after me is mightier than I,
16:04whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry.
16:06He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
16:09His winnowing fork is in his hand,
16:11and he will clear his threshing floor
16:12and gather his weed into the barn,
16:14but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
16:18He promised us he would give us his Spirit,
16:20but it's to our advantage that he goes
16:22so he can send his Spirit down.
16:25This Pentecost, this unrepeatable, unique event
16:29when the Spirit comes down,
16:31founds the church and indwells all believers that day.
16:35So the disciples with Jesus on the Mount of Olives,
16:38and they got questions.
16:39I mean, he's been instruction and teaching them for 40 days.
16:42I mean, I don't know.
16:43If I sit on a Bible study with Jesus for 40 days,
16:45I'm not sure if I have many questions left.
16:47Maybe I'd have even more questions.
16:48I'm not sure, but they still have questions.
16:49They want to know certain things
16:51that just don't make sense to them yet,
16:56especially for a Jew.
16:58Look at verses 6 through 8.
17:01So when they had come together,
17:04they asked him,
17:05Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
17:09Remember, Israel lost her kingdom
17:10when she went into captivity in Babylon,
17:15and her kingdom was never really restored after that.
17:17They were always under different rulers.
17:19Are you going to throw down Rome right now, Jesus,
17:23and establish the kingdom in Israel,
17:24make kingdom the head of all the nations right now?
17:29He said to them,
17:30it is not for you to know times or season
17:32that the Father has fixed by his own authority,
17:35but you will receive power
17:37when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
17:39and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
17:42and in all Judea, and Samaria,
17:44and to the end of the earth.
17:46Verse 8 acts almost like an outline for the book of Acts,
17:49in a sense.
17:51See, they came together and they asked him.
17:53And what's interesting, again,
17:54all you grammar geeks,
17:56it's written in a form that they kept on asking him.
17:58You know how your parents,
18:00remember how your kids used to do that?
18:01Ask you 47 questions,
18:03and you're kind of going,
18:03enough with the question!
18:05They kept asking him questions.
18:07We don't get this,
18:08we don't get this,
18:09we don't get this,
18:09tell us about the kingdom,
18:10what is this,
18:11is this a time?
18:12They just kept asking him questions.
18:15They didn't get it yet,
18:16because something is not gelling in their mind,
18:18especially as Jews,
18:20they don't quite get it yet.
18:22So Jesus had already opened up their minds
18:24to understand the scriptures concerning him,
18:26so it wasn't that they,
18:27they just were having a hard time
18:28piecing some of the,
18:30these multiple different pieces
18:31into this puzzle-like structure
18:32that they didn't quite understand yet,
18:34so they kept asking him.
18:35In Luke 24,
18:38again,
18:38we're going to go back
18:39to a lot of Luke's gospel here
18:40when he writes,
18:41then he said to them,
18:42Jesus,
18:43these are my words
18:44that I spoke to you
18:45while I was still with you,
18:46that everything written about me
18:48in the law of Moses
18:49and the prophets
18:49and the Psalms,
18:50that means all of the Old Testament
18:52must be fulfilled.
18:54Then he opened their minds
18:56to understand the scriptures.
18:57Oh,
18:58isn't that a great prayer
18:59before you start reading the scriptures?
19:01God,
19:01open my mind
19:02that I understand the scriptures.
19:03Help me to see
19:04what you've written here.
19:05So he opened their minds
19:07to understand the scriptures
19:07and said to them,
19:09thus it is written
19:09that the Christ should suffer
19:11and on the third day
19:11rise from the dead
19:12and that repentance
19:13for the forgiveness of sins
19:15should be proclaimed
19:15in his name
19:16to all nations
19:17beginning from Jerusalem.
19:19You are witnesses
19:20of these things.
19:21In other words,
19:21they saw them
19:22and behold,
19:23I am sending the promise
19:24of my father upon you
19:25but stay in the city
19:26until you are clothed
19:27with power from on high.
19:29So he opened up
19:30the scriptures to them
19:30but still they're having
19:31a hard time
19:32piecing it all together.
19:33I like,
19:36we're studying the book
19:37of the Revelation
19:37in the men's group
19:38and I like that
19:39ladies just finished
19:40Bible study fellowship
19:41during the Revelation.
19:42I love looking at prophecy.
19:44I love looking at the Revelation.
19:45I can't say I understand
19:46everything in there.
19:48It's a lot of it's difficult
19:49to understand
19:50but I like looking
19:51towards prophecy
19:52and I like looking
19:53towards the future
19:54and there's nothing wrong
19:55with that.
19:55It's good.
19:56In fact,
19:56as a matter of fact,
19:57John says,
19:57by looking to the future
19:58in his second coming,
19:59we keep our lives pure.
20:00So that's a good thing.
20:01The problem is
20:03we can get so fixated
20:04in the future
20:05that we forget
20:05about the present.
20:07We get so focused
20:08on the future
20:09we forget about
20:09our task at hand
20:10at the present
20:11as we're working
20:11in this world
20:12right now
20:13for the kingdom of God.
20:14So there's nothing wrong
20:15looking to the future.
20:16Just don't get so focused
20:17on the future
20:17you forget the present
20:18and that's what
20:19he's saying to them.
20:20Times and the seasons,
20:21that's in the father's control.
20:22I have a task for you.
20:24Go about the task.
20:26Here's what's confusing them
20:28right here.
20:29In the disciples' mind,
20:30the pouring out
20:31of the Holy Spirit
20:32and the kingdom of God
20:33were closely associated.
20:37When Ezekiel 36
20:38or Joel 2
20:39talks about
20:40the pouring out
20:41of the Spirit of God,
20:41it's always in connection
20:43with the kingdom of God.
20:44So when Jesus talks
20:45about pouring out
20:46the Spirit,
20:47in their mind,
20:47they're thinking,
20:48well, then you must be
20:48going to establish
20:49the kingdom right now
20:50because they always
20:50go hand in hand.
20:52That's why they ask
20:53him this question.
20:54They don't get it.
20:55We are expecting
20:56the kingdom to come now.
20:57I mean,
20:58you always put them together
20:59in the Old Testament.
21:01Why now seems to be
21:03a separation here?
21:06Disciples have concluded
21:07that the final coming
21:08of God's kingdom
21:09must be imminent.
21:10Remember,
21:11he talked to them
21:1140 days about it.
21:12So it's on their mind
21:14and the coming pouring
21:15out of the Spirit
21:16and the kingdom of God
21:16always went hand in hand.
21:18So the logical question is,
21:20is it coming now?
21:22Makes sense.
21:24The outpouring of the Spirit
21:25on Israel and Joel
21:26was seen in nationalistic terms
21:29as a sign for the final
21:30great messianic day
21:32of the Lord
21:32when Israel would be restored
21:34to her former glory
21:35as in the days
21:36of David and Solomon.
21:37So they're looking at it
21:38as a nationalistic
21:39sort of thing
21:40where Israel,
21:40which is true,
21:41the kingdom will be in Israel.
21:42Jesus will sit on the throne
21:43of his father David.
21:45True.
21:47But they're only thinking
21:48of it in nationalistic terms.
21:50He wants to broaden
21:51their perspective.
21:53It's not going to just
21:54be for Israel.
21:55It's going to be
21:56for the nations too.
21:57It's going to be
21:57a worldwide kingdom.
22:01He thought that,
22:02they thought that maybe
22:03he's going to overthrow
22:03the Romans right now
22:05and set up his kingdom.
22:06I mean,
22:06they go hand in hand.
22:07Why not now?
22:09The promise came in Daniel
22:10about this kingdom.
22:12And in the days
22:12of those kings,
22:13the God of heaven
22:14will set up a kingdom
22:15that shall never be destroyed,
22:17nor shall the kingdom
22:18be left to another people.
22:20It shall break in pieces
22:21all these kingdoms
22:22and bring them to an end
22:23and it shall stand forever.
22:25Do we,
22:26do we realize
22:26how great the kingdom
22:27of God is going to be?
22:31Righteousness
22:31will dwell
22:32in the kingdom of God.
22:34Peace
22:34will dwell
22:35in the kingdom of God.
22:36The book of Isaiah
22:37talks about the kingdom of God.
22:38The lamb will lay down,
22:39the lion will lay down
22:40with the lamb
22:41or the lamb will lay down
22:42with the lion.
22:43The child will play
22:44on the,
22:44on the,
22:45on the asp,
22:46on the cobra's den
22:47and not be heard
22:48and all of this holy mountain.
22:49Do we understand
22:50how glorious
22:51the kingdom of God
22:52is going to be?
22:53That's the promise.
22:54So is it coming now,
22:56Jesus?
22:56Is it coming now?
22:58And even that,
22:59they would have a task
23:00in the kingdom of God.
23:01The disciples,
23:02Matthew 19.
23:03Jesus said to them,
23:04truly I say to you,
23:06in the new world,
23:07when the son of man
23:08will sit on his glorious throne,
23:10you who have followed me
23:11will also sit
23:12on 12 thrones
23:13judging the 12 tribes
23:15of Israel.
23:15So there'll be a task
23:16for them to do
23:17in the kingdom.
23:18So they're saying,
23:19is it now?
23:19Is it now?
23:20And he said,
23:22it's not for you
23:23to know the times
23:23of the seasons.
23:24I need for you
23:25to do your work now.
23:27It's coming.
23:28I promise it's coming.
23:29But be focused now
23:30on the present.
23:32And it's a rebuke.
23:32It's a rebuke.
23:33It's a reproof to them.
23:35It's a reproof.
23:35But it's not just
23:36a reproof to them.
23:37It's a reproof to us as well.
23:39Because some things
23:40God has just kept secret
23:41from us.
23:41And you know what?
23:43That's okay for me.
23:45Deuteronomy 29.
23:47The secret things
23:48belong to the Lord our God.
23:49But the things
23:50that are revealed
23:51belong to us
23:52and to our children forever
23:53that we may do
23:53all the words
23:54of this law.
23:55So some things
23:56God's just not going
23:57to tell us.
23:57And I'm okay with that.
23:59I believe he is
24:00just and wise
24:02and perfect
24:03and holy.
24:04And if he's holding
24:05something back
24:05from me not to tell me
24:06when the second coming is,
24:08which he said
24:08no one knows,
24:10only the Father knows,
24:11that's okay with me.
24:14So we can look around
24:16our world today
24:16especially in our society
24:17and I don't see
24:18the birth pains
24:19that are taking place
24:20right now in this world.
24:21We can see them.
24:23But we don't know
24:24the exact time
24:25of the rapture.
24:25We don't know
24:26the exact time
24:27of the second coming
24:27of Christ.
24:28We don't know.
24:29So until then
24:30you and I are to be
24:31faithful to Jesus
24:32in the ministry
24:33that he's called us to.
24:34Yes, we look forward
24:35to that.
24:36Yes, we're longing
24:37for that.
24:37But don't forget
24:38about today
24:39because I have a ministry
24:40for you to do today
24:41is what Jesus
24:42wants to tell them.
24:44He didn't say
24:45you were wrong
24:45and asking.
24:46He just said
24:47let me refocus
24:47that attention
24:48a little bit.
24:49It's not wrong
24:49to ask that question.
24:51Just let me refocus
24:51that attention
24:52a little bit.
24:54So Jesus redirected
24:55their thinking
24:56from nationalistic Israel
24:58to a call
24:59to worldwide mission.
25:01It's not just
25:02about Israel.
25:03It's about the nations.
25:03It's what we intended
25:04from the beginning.
25:06The Father and I
25:07and the Spirit
25:07wanted from the beginning
25:08was Israel
25:09to take the message,
25:10our message
25:11to the nations.
25:11the true
25:14restored Israel.
25:16Really,
25:16these disciples
25:17are the true
25:18restored Israel.
25:20Isaiah 49 says,
25:22Is it too light
25:23a thing
25:24that you should
25:24be my servant
25:25to raise up
25:26the tribes of Jacob
25:27and to bring back
25:27the preserved of Israel?
25:29I will make you
25:30as a light
25:30for the nations
25:31that my salvation
25:32may reach
25:33to the end
25:34of the earth.
25:34That has always
25:35been God's goal.
25:36Salvation to the ends
25:37of the earth.
25:37So now these
25:39restored Israel,
25:40these disciples
25:40who believe
25:41in the Lord Jesus Christ,
25:42their task
25:43is going to be
25:43worldwide,
25:44not nationalistic.
25:48By evangelizing,
25:50they're going to reach
25:51the end of God's
25:52mission on this earth.
25:53You know what?
25:54We long for the
25:56second coming of Jesus,
25:57don't we?
25:57We long for the
25:58rapture of the church.
25:59We long for that.
26:00Do you know
26:01the greatest
26:02and surest,
26:03fastest route
26:04to the rapture
26:04and the second coming
26:05of Jesus
26:06is the evangelization
26:07of this world.
26:10Until the last one
26:11is saved
26:12and the fullness
26:12of the Gentiles
26:13come in.
26:14If we want to hasten it
26:15and I've got like
26:15God is God's day,
26:16hasten the sense
26:17of urging
26:18and longing for it,
26:20let's be about
26:21evangelizing this world.
26:25Have the attitude
26:26that that's what we want.
26:27We want to see people
26:27to come to a saving
26:29knowledge of Jesus
26:29because you and I
26:30are witnesses.
26:32If you're born again
26:33today,
26:33you know the day
26:34where you can remember
26:35basically the time
26:36that you got saved.
26:37You remember
26:38what it was like
26:38not being saved
26:39and then Jesus
26:39comes and gloriously
26:40saves your life.
26:42You met him
26:43in that sense.
26:44You're a witness
26:44to have the attitude
26:46because I want others
26:47to know what a great
26:48attitude to have.
26:50Josh McDowell
26:50was talking to
26:51this headhunter.
26:52That's a person
26:53who goes and hire
26:53other people
26:54for corporate work.
26:56He's talking
26:56to this headhunter
26:57and this headhunter
26:58told him one time,
26:59when I get an executive
27:01that I'm trying
27:01to hire for someone else,
27:03I like to disarm him.
27:05I offer him a drink,
27:06take my coat off,
27:08take my vest off,
27:09undo my tie,
27:10throw up my feet,
27:11talk about baseball,
27:12football, family,
27:13whatever,
27:14until he's all relaxed.
27:15Then when I think
27:16I've got him relaxed,
27:17I lean over,
27:18look him square in the eye
27:19and say,
27:20what's your purpose
27:21in life?
27:22And he said,
27:23it's amazing how top
27:24executives fall apart
27:25at that question.
27:27He said,
27:28well,
27:28one day I was
27:29interviewing this fellow
27:30the other day,
27:31had him all disarmed,
27:33my feet up on his desk,
27:34talking about football.
27:35Then I leaned up
27:36and said,
27:37what's your purpose
27:38in life,
27:38Bob?
27:39And he said,
27:40without blinking an eye,
27:42to go to heaven
27:42and take as many people
27:44with me as I can.
27:46You can't talk about
27:47a better attitude
27:48than that.
27:49I want to go to heaven,
27:51I want to take as many people
27:51as I can with me.
27:52If we want to hasten
27:54the coming of the day
27:54of the Lord,
27:55let's be about evangelization.
27:58Oh,
27:58that's so scary,
27:59I don't know if I could talk.
28:00Did you get saved?
28:01Do you have a story
28:03to tell?
28:04Be a witness.
28:05They saw him.
28:07They saw him
28:08when he was alive,
28:09they saw him
28:09when he was dead,
28:10they saw him
28:11when he rose again.
28:12They have a story
28:13to tell.
28:14And every one of us
28:16who knows Jesus
28:16has a story to tell too,
28:17don't we?
28:19Don't make it
28:19more complicated
28:20than it is.
28:23So two things
28:24were promised by Jesus
28:25to the disciples,
28:26power and witness.
28:28The energy,
28:28the power
28:29to be a witness,
28:31a faithful witness.
28:33Back to Luke 24 again,
28:35Luke's gospel.
28:36And that repentance
28:37for the forgiveness of sins
28:38should be proclaimed
28:39in his name
28:39to all nations
28:40beginning from Jerusalem.
28:42You are witnesses
28:43of these things.
28:44And behold,
28:45I'm sending the promise
28:46of my Father upon you,
28:48but stay in the city
28:48until you're clothed,
28:49the power from on high.
28:50You need the power
28:51to be witnesses.
28:53We are so weak.
28:55We are so weak
28:56in ourselves.
28:57We need God's power
28:58at work in us
28:59to be good witnesses,
29:00to open our mouth
29:01and proclaim these things.
29:03We, you and I,
29:04let me speak for myself only.
29:06I find myself very weak
29:07and sometimes
29:09a little bit of a coward.
29:12I need the power
29:13to be a good witness.
29:15The power to be a witness.
29:17To talk about
29:18what I've seen
29:19and what I know
29:20to be true.
29:21Just to say
29:22what I know.
29:23Again,
29:23you don't have to be
29:23a theologian
29:24to be an evangelist.
29:26You just have to have
29:26a story to tell.
29:27And of course,
29:28the story is aligned
29:29with the word of God.
29:29We understand that.
29:31But it's,
29:32what about this Jesus
29:33that you met?
29:34Can you talk about him?
29:37Macy,
29:38or Massey Shepard said,
29:40the gospel is not presented
29:41to mankind
29:41as an argument
29:42about religious principles.
29:44It's not about
29:44arguing about religion.
29:46Nor is it offered
29:47as a philosophy of life.
29:49No,
29:49it's not even a philosophy.
29:51Christianity
29:51is a witness
29:52to certain facts,
29:55to events
29:55that have happened,
29:56to hopes
29:57that have been fulfilled,
29:57to realities
29:58that have been experienced,
30:00to a person
30:00who has lived
30:01and died
30:02and been raised
30:03from the dead
30:03to reign forever.
30:04Do you have a story
30:05to tell?
30:06Tell it.
30:07God will empower you
30:08to tell that story.
30:09He has given us
30:10his spirit
30:10to be a witness
30:12in this world.
30:15And,
30:16as I mentioned,
30:17our brothers and sisters
30:18in Syria dying
30:19and around the world
30:20as we pray for them,
30:22the root word
30:23for witness
30:24in the Greek
30:25is martyr.
30:27one who has given
30:29the ultimate testimony,
30:30his life
30:31or her life.
30:33Witness equals
30:34being a martyr.
30:34Now,
30:35I'm not asking
30:35that any of us
30:36would be martyred
30:37in this room,
30:37but that's the ground
30:39of the word witness,
30:40that I'm willing
30:41to give witness
30:42up to even
30:43giving my own life
30:45to be a witness
30:47for Jesus.
30:50John Paul Hill wrote,
30:52the story of Jesus
30:53led to Jerusalem,
30:55to the cross.
30:56the story of the church
30:58led from Jerusalem
31:00to the world.
31:03So now,
31:04two angels come
31:04to give a witness
31:05about what they've
31:06just seen.
31:08Look at verses
31:089 through 11.
31:11And when he had
31:12said these things,
31:12so he said all these things,
31:14as they were looking on,
31:16he was lifted up
31:17and a cloud
31:17took him out
31:18of their sight.
31:19You and I have seen
31:20too many sci-fi movies.
31:22This doesn't impress
31:23us anymore.
31:23Oh,
31:25he was lifted up.
31:25Oh,
31:25yeah,
31:26I've seen that
31:26in a movie before.
31:27Yeah,
31:27no big deal.
31:28So we don't think
31:28about it like that.
31:29I mean,
31:29can you imagine
31:30them standing there
31:31that day?
31:31People don't levitate
31:33in front of you.
31:34That's not normal.
31:36He goes up
31:37and then he's
31:37enveloped in a cloud
31:38and then he disappears.
31:39I mean,
31:40they don't see him
31:40traveling until he gets
31:41to be a little speck
31:42because he's enveloped
31:43in the cloud
31:43is what the text says.
31:45He goes up
31:45into the cloud
31:46and he's taken up
31:47in the cloud.
31:47And when they had
31:50said these things
31:51they were looking on
31:52he lifted up
31:52in a cloud
31:53and a cloud
31:54took him out
31:54of their sight
31:55and while they were
31:56gazing into heaven
31:57so you can imagine
31:58they're standing
31:58on the ground
31:59still looking up,
31:59right?
32:00I mean,
32:00it makes sense.
32:01And while they were
32:02still gazing into heaven
32:04as he went,
32:05behold,
32:06two men stood by them
32:07in white robes.
32:08This tells us
32:08they're angels
32:09and said,
32:10men of Galilee,
32:11why do you stand
32:13looking into heaven?
32:14They're still looking
32:15up there.
32:15Is he,
32:16I mean,
32:17is he coming back?
32:19This Jesus
32:20who was taken up
32:21from you
32:22into heaven
32:22will come
32:23in the same way
32:24as you saw him
32:25go into heaven.
32:26So here's a promise
32:27to them.
32:28So you can imagine
32:29it's just like you
32:29and me.
32:30If we see him
32:30go up in the cloud
32:31we're going to just
32:31be standing there
32:32going,
32:32whoa.
32:33You need to probably,
32:34you ever done this
32:35before you look
32:35at something so long
32:36you realize,
32:37oh my mouth is open?
32:39That's probably
32:40what they were doing.
32:40I mean,
32:41if you see something
32:42like that
32:42you would be amazed.
32:43So they're standing
32:45there looking
32:46into heaven.
32:47Fulfillment of prophecy
32:48that he was going
32:49to go up
32:49and this ascension
32:51it doesn't get
32:52a lot of text.
32:53Did you notice that?
32:54Actually,
32:54the instruction
32:55by the angels
32:56to the disciples
32:57is much more text
32:58than just the ascension.
32:59Is this like
32:59a little blip?
33:00You would think
33:01this would be like
33:01two chapters
33:02of the ascension
33:03of Jesus.
33:03Just a small thing.
33:06The angels here
33:07though function
33:07as interpreters
33:08of the ascension.
33:09What's happening?
33:10Kind of like
33:10the two at the tomb
33:11when the ladies came
33:13and they said,
33:13Jesus is not here.
33:14He is risen
33:15as he said,
33:15go into Galilee
33:16and meet him there.
33:17So they're interpreters
33:18of what's going on here.
33:19So they're standing there
33:20helping these disciples.
33:24They're on this mountain.
33:25It is a small mountain.
33:26Mount of all this.
33:27It's a small mountain.
33:28It's not real big.
33:28We call it a hill
33:29from us
33:30in our northwest area.
33:32A hill.
33:32It's still a mountain.
33:34And they're up there
33:34on the mountain.
33:35They're having
33:35this wonderful experience
33:37and the angels
33:37are going to have
33:38to tell them something.
33:39Listen,
33:39mountaintop experiences
33:41are great.
33:42We all long for those.
33:43Where we're up
33:44on the mountaintop
33:45meeting with Jesus
33:45and it's just so good.
33:47You've been there
33:48in the devotion time
33:49or your prayer time.
33:50You know what I'm talking about.
33:51You see him answering
33:52prayer in your life
33:53and you're just having
33:54this mountaintop experience
33:55and they're saying
33:56to the disciples,
33:57listen,
33:58mountaintop experiences
33:59are good.
34:00You need them
34:00every now and then.
34:02But the work
34:02is down in the valley.
34:04It's not on the mountains.
34:05You've got to get down
34:08into the valleys.
34:09That's where the work
34:09is at.
34:10You've got to get down
34:11into the valleys.
34:12There's much work
34:13to be done.
34:15So the angels
34:16promised that he's
34:17going to come back
34:18the same way.
34:19He's going to come back
34:20the same way.
34:20Well, how did he go?
34:21He went visibly,
34:23bodily,
34:23and in a cloud.
34:25So he's going to come back
34:26the exact,
34:26he's not coming back
34:27as a spirit.
34:28In fact,
34:28there was some group
34:29that prophesied
34:29that said that Jesus
34:30came back in the early 1900s
34:32but he came back
34:33as a spirit.
34:34No, he didn't.
34:35He promised to come back
34:36the same way he went.
34:37Visibly,
34:38bodily,
34:38and in a cloud.
34:39That's how he promised.
34:41In fact,
34:42in Matthew 24,
34:44immediately after
34:45the tribulation
34:45of those days
34:46the sun will be darkened
34:47and the moon
34:48will not give its light
34:49and the stars
34:50will fall from heaven
34:51and the powers
34:52of the heaven
34:52will be shaken.
34:53That's after
34:53the tribulation period.
34:55Then will appear
34:56in heaven
34:56the sign of the son of man
34:58and then all the tribes
35:00of the earth
35:00will mourn
35:00and they will see
35:01the son of man coming.
35:03It will be visible
35:04coming on the clouds
35:06of heaven
35:07with power
35:07and great glory.
35:08So visible
35:09and in the cloud.
35:11But how about bodily?
35:12Will he come back bodily?
35:13How do we know
35:13he's bodily
35:14not a spirit?
35:14Well,
35:15at the resurrection
35:15we saw Matthew 28
35:17a couple of weeks ago
35:18and behold Jesus
35:19met them
35:20and said greetings
35:21and they came up
35:22and took hold
35:23of his feet
35:23they grabbed him
35:25they held on to him
35:25you can't grab a spirit
35:26you can't hold on
35:27to a spirit
35:27and worshipped him.
35:29So he's coming back
35:30visibly in the cloud
35:31and bodily.
35:33So he hasn't come back yet.
35:34No matter what that group says
35:36he hasn't come back yet.
35:38In fact,
35:39I like the revelation
35:40John says this
35:41behold he is coming
35:42with the clouds
35:43there's clouds
35:44and every eye
35:45will see him
35:45visibly
35:46even those who pierced him
35:47bodily
35:48and all the tribes
35:49of the earth
35:50will wail on account of him
35:51even so
35:52amen.
35:54In essence
35:54the angel said to the disciples
35:56Jesus is coming back again
35:57do not stand looking
35:59into heaven
35:59go and do
36:01what he asked you to do.
36:03We just want to stand
36:04and look into heaven
36:05and say
36:05he's coming back again
36:06no I want you
36:07to leave the mountain
36:08get down in the valley
36:09and do the hard work.
36:12There's a lot of work
36:13that needs to be done.
36:15Sometimes we get
36:16so focused
36:17on the coming of Christ
36:18that we forget
36:18the promise
36:19that coming
36:21affects the way
36:22we live today
36:23how we behave today
36:24how we interact
36:25in this world today
36:26we don't get so fixated
36:28on the future
36:29that we forget
36:29about our work today
36:31okay
36:33uh oh
36:34okay
36:35hope you're okay
36:36you okay
36:37alright
36:37okay good
36:38alright
36:38I can imagine
36:45you're just looking
36:47there going
36:48wow
36:48that was amazing
36:49and the angels go
36:51it's time now
36:51to get to work
36:52it's time to go down
36:54remember
36:54remember what he said
36:55in Matthew
36:55Matthew 28
36:56and Jesus came
36:58and said to them
36:59after the resurrection
37:00all authority
37:00in heaven and on earth
37:01has been given to me
37:02go therefore
37:03and make disciples
37:04of all nations
37:05you gotta leave the mountain
37:06you gotta get down
37:07in the valleys
37:07you gotta do the work
37:08there's a lot of work
37:09to be done
37:09but I've given your spirit
37:10I've given the spirit
37:11to you so that
37:12you'll have the power
37:13to do that
37:14to be my witnesses
37:15baptizing them
37:17in the name of the father
37:18the son
37:18and the holy spirit
37:19teaching them
37:20to observe all
37:20that I have commanded you
37:21and behold
37:22I am with you
37:23always
37:23to the end of the age
37:25so he ascends
37:26into heaven
37:27and now Jesus
37:28is restored
37:28to the glory
37:29that he had
37:30with the father
37:30before the world
37:31began
37:32he's sitting
37:33at the right hand
37:34of the father
37:34he is not inactive
37:35he is interceding
37:38for us
37:38he is advocating
37:39for us
37:40he is supporting us
37:41in this work
37:42he is not inactive
37:43in heaven
37:43but he's back
37:44to that glory
37:45that he shared
37:45with the father
37:46before the world
37:47began
37:48John 17
37:49in a high priestly
37:50prayer
37:50we read this
37:50I glorified
37:52you on earth
37:52having accomplished
37:53the work
37:54that you gave
37:54me to do
37:55and now father
37:56glorify me
37:57in your own
37:58presence
37:58with the glory
37:59that I had
37:59with you
38:00before the world
38:01existed
38:02he's back there
38:03having fulfilled
38:06the work
38:06of redemption
38:07Jesus sat down
38:08at the father's
38:08right hand
38:09until he returns
38:10to earth again
38:11and we say
38:12even so
38:13come lord
38:13Jesus
38:14and until then
38:16he's given us
38:16a task to do
38:17every one of us
38:19has a ministry
38:19every one of us
38:21has a ministry
38:21to do
38:22hopefully you know
38:23what your ministry
38:24is
38:24but every one of us
38:25have a ministry
38:26and one thing
38:27that every one of us
38:28has is to get to be
38:29a witness for Jesus
38:30we get to talk
38:32about Jesus
38:32we get to tell people
38:34what we know
38:35about him
38:35what we've read
38:36about him
38:37from the word
38:37what he did
38:38in our lives
38:39how he
38:39he took a person
38:42who was depraved
38:43and wretched
38:43and made him
38:44a child
38:45of the king
38:45of kings
38:46and lord
38:46of lords
38:47who promised him
38:49an eternity
38:49who only had
38:50death awaiting him
38:52what a story
38:55to tell
38:56psalm 110
39:00says
39:01the lord
39:02says to my lord
39:03sit at my right
39:04hand
39:04until I make
39:06your enemies
39:07your footstool
39:08and the last
39:11enemy to be
39:11defeated
39:12is death
39:13and we long
39:14for the day
39:15when death
39:16will be no more
39:17until that day
39:19we have a
39:20we have a ministry
39:21we get to be
39:22witnesses
39:23to talk about
39:24Jesus
39:24and what he has
39:25done
39:25what he's done
39:26for you
39:27what he's done
39:27for others
39:28to tell the world
39:29about this savior
39:31who was incarnated
39:33died on the cross
39:35was buried
39:36rose again
39:38and he's promised
39:39come back
39:40and set up
39:40his kingdom
39:41on this earth
39:41until then
39:42we're to be faithful
39:44in doing what
39:45he's asked us to do
39:46let's pray
39:47father
39:47thank you
39:48this reminds us
39:50that your work
39:51is not done
39:52father
39:52your work of
39:53redemption
39:53is finished
39:54yes
39:54in the sun
39:55it's completed
39:56never to be
39:57repeated again
39:58yet the work
40:00of redeeming
40:00people is still
40:01going on
40:02and we pray
40:03that you would
40:04redeem people
40:05even today
40:05even someone
40:06here that you
40:07would redeem
40:07or someone
40:07that's listening
40:08to us
40:08at home
40:09right now
40:09that you
40:10would redeem
40:11them
40:11by your
40:12awesome
40:12power
40:13that you
40:15would come
40:15in
40:15and you
40:16would
40:16you
40:16would
40:16make
40:16a new
40:17creation
40:17a new
40:18creature
40:18in
40:18Christ
40:19Jesus
40:19that you
40:21would
40:21forgive
40:21them
40:21of their
40:22sins
40:22that you
40:23would
40:23adopt
40:24them
40:24into
40:24your
40:24family
40:25that you
40:25would
40:25give
40:25them
40:26your
40:26spirit
40:26that you
40:27would
40:27call
40:27them
40:27a son
40:28and
40:28daughter
40:28and
40:28they
40:28would
40:29respond
40:29back
40:29to you
40:30Abba
40:30father
40:31oh
40:32what a
40:33joy
40:33that we
40:33have
40:34to tell
40:34this
40:34message
40:35in the
40:35world
40:35father
40:36I
40:36ask
40:36that you
40:37would
40:37give us
40:37the
40:37courage
40:38you've
40:39given
40:39us
40:39the
40:39power
40:39give us
40:41the
40:41courage
40:41to open
40:42our mouths
40:43and be
40:43the
40:44witnesses
40:44you've
40:44called
40:45us
40:45to be
40:45to
40:46anyone
40:46and
40:47to
40:47everyone
40:48for
40:49your
40:49redeeming
40:49work
40:50is
40:50not
40:50finished
40:50and
40:51you've
40:51called
40:51the
40:51church
40:52to
40:52do
40:52that
40:53work
40:53on
40:53this
40:53earth
40:54and
40:54thank
40:54you
40:55for
40:55sending
40:56the
40:56spirit
40:56to
40:56us
40:57we
Recommended
35:49
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