Acts 1, What’s Next?

Acts 1 as the Sequel to Luke

Let's read Acts chapter one together. Um, hear the word of the lord In the first book o theophilus I I have dealt with all that jesus began to do and teach. Until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the holy spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs Appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of god. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from From jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of this father, which he said You have heard you heard from me for john baptized with water.

But you will be baptized with the holy spirit not many days from now. So when they had come together, they asked him lord. Will you at this time restore the kingdom to israel? He said to them it is not for you to know Times or seasons that the father has fixed by his own authority.

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 into the end of the earth. And when he had said these things as they were looking on he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight.

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went behold two men stood by them in white robes and said men of galilee. Why do you stand looking into heaven? This jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

Then they returned to jerusalem from the mount called olivette. Which is near jerusalem a sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered they went up to the upper room where they were staying. Peter and john and james and andrew Philip and both and thomas bartholomew and matthew james the son of alpheus and simon the zealot and judas the son of james.

All these with one accord. Were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women and the mary the mother of jesus and his brothers. In those days peter stood up among the brothers. The company of persons was in all about 120 and said brothers.

The scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of david concerning judas. Who became a guide to those who arrested jesus for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.

Now this man bought a field with a reward of his wickedness and falling headlong. He burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out and it became known to all the inhabitants of jerusalem. So that the field was called in their own language.

Uh, keldama that is field of blood so it is written in the book of psalms. For it is written in the book of psalms may his camp become desolate and let there be no one to dwell in it. And let another take his office so one of the men.

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the lord jesus went in and out among us. Beginning from the baptism of john until the day when he was taken up from us. One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.

And they put forward two. Joseph called barsibus was also called justice and matthias. And they prayed and said lord. You know the hearts of all. Show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship.

From which judas turned aside to go to his own place. And they cast lots for them and the lot fell on matthias and he was numbered with the 11 apostles. May the lord add his blessings to the reading of his holy word.

Why Sequel Expectations Often Disappoint

Well. You find sequels. Worse than the originals. I mean disappointing. See see a sequel. You're just not as good as what? What drew you in ever see a movie that was just smart and exciting and interesting and clever.

Some sharp acting maybe terrific eye-popping special effects if there's a sci-fi kind of thing and it just hooks you. You know, you're interested now. You're you like this. This this movie this plot these characters.

The movie producers then of course try to recapture kind of the lightning in a bottle that they got. The first time by following the same formula they hooked you with it and now they want now you want to know.

You know what what's next? What's next with these people? Uh, what what happens with the incredibles family? Uh now that they're all Geared up. Or what happens next with with neo in the matrix? Or taylor the charlton histon character on the planet of the apes.

I mean he's saying the statue of liberty. He knows he's back on earth. What happens next? Or maybe the dinosaurs jurassic park. They're all loose now what has happened after this. But then the sequel comes.

You know, you were looking forward to it and it's. It's a bore. You know the incredibles was I think my opinion about 15 years ago I thought it was a brilliant funny entertaining kind of light, but you know, it's good.

Incredibles 2 released, uh last summer was I thought I took a lot of the I took as many of the kids here wanted to go and uh, I thought uh, it's okay. Whatever, you know, it's kind of repetition more of the same.

Without the brilliance nothing new like the first one was The matrix in 1999 was an original inventive slick sci-fi thriller the two sequels the matrix reloaded in matrix revolutions are in dull confusing unsatisfying.

Ah.

Makes you dislike the original just after seeing the sequels. The original planet of the apes. It's intriguing. It's Stunning charlton heston film in the from the 60s. It spawned a series of sequel. Original series of sequels that seemed to get progressively worse.

I mean they really plunged down after the first sequel and then they just got you know. How could how could we make a worse movie? It's like they they planned. Jurassic park was sharp attention-grabbing drama with special effects.

It's so real. I mean you you think you really seen dinosaurs after seeing that movie jurassic park. The lost world was. I don't really know I'm pretty sure i've seen it at least on tv, but it left no impression on me whatsoever.

It just you know, and a lot of times sequels are just big disappointments. What about sequels in your life? Maybe not just movies, but just things you experience. You experience something great. Maybe a holly a great christmas holly jolly christmas.

Because the tree the gifts the family the parties the food even the church service just kind of all came together. Just right. Oh, what a great holiday season it was and so you think next year. What's next?

Oh, we'll do it again. You'll try to recreate it all do everything you did last year. And when it comes around though, what happens? You burn the cookies and the tree wilts too early this time and the gifts you give aren't appreciated and the gifts you get aren't needed.

The kids are too wrapped up in their smartphones to pay any attention. No one wants to sing christmas carols at your home. And uh, and even the church was a letdown with that obnoxious preacher preaching about carrot killing babies two days before christmas.

What in the world was wrong with him? And the sequel to the holly jolly christmas is a flop. Maybe you'll try again next year, but maybe not, you know, whatever or maybe it's a trip to the beach it was just such a great vacation and.

Um, you'll want to do it again and next year you go and it's just not there. You know, you get just too much sand having to get in your in your toes. And or maybe you like college. It was a great experience at college.

And so now maybe after a while you want to go back to school. Maybe get a master's or a doctorate or and you're expecting. Um, if it was fulfilling before it'll be even more stimulating next time. But instead just next instead of new friends and growth and knowledge and rich experiences.

It's just boring studying for professors who hardly know you exist. Oh for some. Some people it's relationships. So they'll go through one after another. Trying to recapture that thrill of new love that they remember from the first time.

For others it may be the the thrill of experiencing god. And so they'll go through one church after another trying to recapture that spiritual ecstasy that they remember from way back. But the sequels are.

Are usually never as good as the originals. There are exceptions though aren't there. There's the dark knight. There's the empire strikes back. There's the lord of the rings the return of the king. There's the godfather part two.

There's the born supremacy, I think the godfather part two is one of the best movies ever in my opinion.

Uh.

For some people. You can have a great christmas again. You can have another refreshing trip to the beach or fulfilling master's or doctorate program. Things experiences life. Can get better now here in acts.

We have a sequel. What we just read was the first chapter of a of a sequel kind of. Uh, we've been hooked on I hope. On the life of jesus. And so now after that you think you finish with luke that wow.

But you think what's next?

Luke and Acts as One Work: Jesus Part One and Jesus Part Two

Well, that's what acts is about. Now some bible scholars like to speak because they're written by the same man. Obviously you can tell by the introduction and the language some bible scholars like to speak of one work In in two parts what they call luke acts we could perhaps call it.

Jesus.

Part one Which is luke and now jesus part two Which is acts what we have here. We see that here in three major parts. First. There's the introduction. Second there's the commission and finally there's the restoration.

It's a sequel because notice what luke the author says in the very first sentence in the first book. That's the gospel of luke. Oh theophilus. Which means god lover or friend of god. Now, he was probably a real person.

There's some there was probably some man somewhere who luke was writing to maybe a rich guy who could. Could fund luke to have the time to write this book. But in a christian, I mean, but he named theophilus which means friend of god or god lover.

Uh, but. Almost certainly that's providential in other words determined by god. Just that name that he had that name because you know, you think about it luke and acts are intended for every friend of god everyone who loves god.

So he begins in the first book now missing in english. Uh is by the way, the greek and you can tell luke is supposed to be a doctor you can tell that luke is extremely well educated because the greek of both luke and acts is extremely.

Uh money for big the worst word literate. Complicated. Skillful, but anyway missing in english. Is a little greek word only three letters that is usually translated on the one hand. So it properly should say in the first book on the one hand.

Oh theophilus. In the first book, oh friend of god on the one hand I dealt with all that jesus began to do and to teach. Interesting that it began you notice that. Otherwise luke luke luke the gospel of luke was just the beginning the ministry of jesus.

There in the gospel luke it is not over that's just about his beginning. It it just began there and so what's implied with that well. Think about it. He doesn't Notice what he doesn't think think alternatively what he doesn't say.

He doesn't say I wrote about all that jesus did and taught period. As though it's over. No, it's it's on the one hand jesus began to do and to teach kind of incomplete with with beginning in the past, but with ongoing.

Action.

Implying with on the one hand missing in english and the began that jesus is still.

Doing.

And teaching the gospels are about what jesus began to do not not the whole story. That he began on the one hand implies that this second book Is about what on the other hand? Jesus continues to do and to teach.

That's What's next? Next so if you were reading this for the first time if you never read acts before and you just read that introduction This okay. This book too is about what jesus continues to do and to teach.

You would kind of expect maybe That this is this book is going to be about. Be full of accounts of jesus appearing to people here and there maybe like to the apostles in the first 40 days after the resurrection.

Maybe to peter and a vision here, maybe to paul and a vision there, but oddly enough, even though jesus does appear Um a few times and does say a few things in acts Personally directly like to paul, you know on the road to damascus.

Saul. Saul, why are you persecuting me? That's not mostly What is in this book? Mostly, it's the apostles a couple of deacons. It's about the church.

Doing.

And teaching. But luke says it's about jesus. It's about what jesus continues to do and to teach. That's because luke is telling us that now after jesus ascends After the holy spirit anoints the church just like the spirit anointed jesus at his baptism.

What we read last week then now in this sequel. The church is the body of christ on earth.

Now.

Jesus is doing and teaching through the church. He is still doing and teaching.

But the church.

Is jesus part two. And it's not going to be a disappointing sequel. In verse two luke says that he wrote in the first book the gospel of luke about why jesus on the one hand Began to do and to teach he said then until the day when he was taken up then the ascension.

That's that was in the first that was part one and the decision He's about to retell Here and in the beginning of part two Jesus had given commands notice. He says Um, jesus had given commands to his apostles, you know, like wait here in jerusalem until you baptize in the spirit.

Jesus had given commands to his apostles notice in verse two through the holy spirit. I think you got to often just read those phrases like that and you got to pass right over them and don't give them much.

Thought that's important. Even jesus is teaching through the holy spirit. That is jesus's ministry was made possible and and powerful By the holy spirit. That's why at his baptism as we saw last week. The holy spirit came on him enabling him to minister.

Effective ministry Is not possible without the holy spirit. It's the spirit who convicts who who gives life and faith so that people can repent and believe. It's the holy spirit. Who opens people's eyes?

They open their minds so they can finally understand the scripture before that is this what in the world is this book about? Without the ministry of the holy spirit our words No matter how true no matter how biblical will fall on concrete hard hearts.

So we need the holy spirit so even the lord jesus taught here through the holy spirit. Now I think although they would probably deny it reform people like us like me Would have a tendency to forget this because they think well just the power of their logic.

The brilliance of their systematic theology. That the force of their finely tuned doctrine. Will be enough to finally break through. But it's not. If jesus spoke through the holy spirit to minister. How much more do we absolutely need him?

That's why before the power of the spirit is given. You know all the disciples can do all the apostles can do is is wait. And pray they have the doctrine, right? They've been taught but they have to wait for the holy spirit before they can Do what jesus says so jesus orders them while eating with them in verse four notice.

They're eating together even after he's raised from the dead. That's interesting, isn't it to stay in jerusalem? Wait for the holy spirit that was promised the the power from on high. He called it at the end of the gospel of luke that day that we desperately need what it called the gospel of john the paraclete the one who comes alongside.

The one who convicts the world that's the people around us of sin and righteousness of judgment. So that they can see that they need a savior. We need the ministry of the holy spirit. So stay in jerusalem for those 50 days between the resurrection and pentecost because in verse 5 john baptized with water.

That's exactly what he said. That's what john said that his baptism was just a symbol. It was a form of religion. It was just water. It'll wash your body, but that's all it will do for you. That's all it means the real power came with the one who was greater than he.

And stay where you are until you church. Are baptized with the holy spirit?

Immersed.

Anointed empowered by the spirit. Like jesus was in part one. Right the baptizing of the church in the holy spirit is happening. He says in just a few days. It'll be 10 days. Right for 40 days. In verse 3.

Jesus presented himself alive to the apostles and others. He says with many proofs. Right, he ate fish with them ate meals with them allowed him to allow them to touch him. Proving that he wasn't a ghost.

He's not just a disembodied spirit. Was it some kind of mass hallucination they had because they were they were just so. Psychologically traumatized by the crucifixion. No, it was anything like that. He proved it.

Uh for those times he continued to teach them. Notice what he continued to teach them. Continued to teach them in verse 3 speaking about the kingdom of god. Now a false doctrine popular today. Is that jesus came offering the kingdom in his ministry when he began his ministry and that that offer was rejected.

And so he took back the offer and the gospel of grace. Is now a whole different offer. That's something new that's kind of plan b.

Right.

A lot of people out there believe that but we we see not only here in the introduction to acts Which is the summary Of where we left off at the end of luke. Not only is jesus still teaching the kingdom of god during those 40 days after his resurrection That's still his main theme just like all his ministry but also at the very last verse of acts Which we hope to get to in 51 weeks, hold on 51 weeks to go but in that very last verse of the.

Acts.

Jesus part 2. That that paul is in rome proclaiming. Guess what? Guess what? He's proclaiming the kingdom of god. That's how acts begins and ends. So what. What we heard from john the baptist what we looked at last week, you know, he's warning.

It's coming.

Repent for. What was at hand. You remember what the lord jesus brought it? He said if I drive out demons by the finger of god, then the kingdom of god has come upon you. The mystery of the kingdom that he explained in parables.

The kingdom of god is like seed. The kingdom of god is like A little bit of yeast put it in a lump of dough. The rule of god. That is still the message all throughout. Jesus. Part 2. So it's still our message.

Well, that's the introduction sort of setting the scene reminding us of where we left off. Last, you know, like in a tv series I usually begin previously on Whatever breaking bad walter white was doing whatever now here previously on.

Jesus.

What on the one hand he began to do and to teach he's raised. He's still teaching the kingdom of god for 40 days. Telling them to stay where they are until they get baptized in the holy spirit to get power to go.

And now we're ready for jesus part 2. You ready for jesus part 2? What's next. Well the commission. Well, they're meeting again in verse 6 and the disciples asked jesus Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to israel?

Now.

Otherwise. Will the kingdom come now they ask and they're assuming. Apparently that it's a literal earthly kingdom, you know. For the you're going to lead a Revolt now. Expel the romans. Set up yourself as king in jerusalem on a throne.

You're the one from the line of david so you can do it. Uh with the government enforcing your decrees from your from this whole realm. Which in their view would be. But to us would appear a little kingdom from the border of egypt to the euphrates river, you know, that's their view.

It probably was an exasperating question. You know after all this time. Even after the resurrection. You know, they still don't get it.

They don't get it.

All they can think of still like a lot of people today is Politics. You know programs our laws our people our party in control. You know, you set up a government. We implement your policies. It's now the time lord.

We kept hoping during your lifetime, you know before you were crucified you would do it. Well now you're going to do it. John calvin said of that question, you know, will you at this time restore the kingdom to yourself?

John calvin said there are more errors in this question than words. Yeah big errors, too. Jesus patiently answers in verse 7. It's not for you to know the times and the seasons, you know, look at that.

It's not for you to know the times. It's the chronology of events. There's a how one thing after another or the or the eras the seasons the the epochs. That the father he says has fixed he's fixed these times and seasons by his own authority.

Notice the times for nations or empires or dynasties. The mandates for heaven the eras the one kingdom is dominant.

Um.

Is fixed by god's authority those times like israel's golden age under david. The roman era the middle ages and then the rise of islam the zhou dynasty the chen the han the tang the song the ming dynasties.

All that the pax britannica. The greater east asian co-prosperity sphere. That's a mouthful. It means the japanese dominance now the pax americana. Those those eras are fixed by the father. They they are set he says history has been ordered.

By the father's timetable. We we can look at the natural causes of human history. You know the choices that people made the great leaders the turns of events the major battles that turned history. At the battle of tours stopped the islamic invasion into europe.

Solingrad.

Midway.

The decision to build atomic bombs and to use them. The results of elections. Look at all of history. And all of that are but the instruments in god's hands to guide history. In the ways that he has already Says here.

Jesus says here fixed. It's unfolding to us. Like a mystery. We you know, we're surprised the way things turn out sometimes. But through all kinds of causes and decisions. But god has already written written that history.

The rise and the fall of empires. Already written down in his history book. It's fixed. He's the author of it and we're now seeing it play out. That the future god has already fixed. We cannot know. Because god has made it for us not to know.

That's what he says here, right? It's not for you to know it. The times and the seasons. It's not not it's none of your business. But what is our business? Is our commission in verse eight? He says you will receive.

Power.

Now that power is not just for our entertainment. Not just for our thrill like some people take drugs for the thrill. The word is their power is dunamis means the ability the ability to Do whatever needs to be done to be witnesses.

Um.

To be the witnesses that we could not be without the power of the holy spirit when the holy spirit comes upon you church. You will then have power to carry out your commission. Notice. It's not power to be thrilled.

A power to fall over in ecstasy and escape the drudgery of your life. It's power to be witnesses for jesus. To carry on what he began to do and to teach to be actors. In jesus part two. You will receive power.

And you will be witnesses. The power will make you witnesses. First in jerusalem. In other words where you're at right now then in judea the surrounding region then samaria and uh, which is Similar kind of people but they're still different a little different neighbors but foreigners.

Then to the end of the earth. And this in verse eight it's got an outline for the whole book of acts. As the empowered church begins in jerusalem Then it spreads out to those around them. He spreads to the samaritans and finally breaks out to to any up to corinth and to rome which is the crossroads of To that in that part of the world from there from rome you can get to the To the ends of the earth so here we are here we are now.

We are at the ends of the earth. This is it and we still have the power. We still have the power to be witnesses to all kinds of people. Well, their question was lord When did we get to take over. Right, you're you've been raised from the dead.

Now, let's take over. It was all earthly political nationalistic. It's about us our people. It's impatient. Jesus's answer is that the reign of god would be spiritual Transforming lives through the power of the spirit in the gospel.

It would be international including members from nations from the ends of the earth. And it would be gradual. Like yeast in a lump of dough beginning in jerusalem and then growing until it reaches all over the world you know their vision was just the territory of israel.

Right from the border of egypt to the euphrates. Jesus's vision of much greater the ends of the earth. That's their commission to go with the power of the spirit with the witness to jesus to all kinds of people with that commission.

So he's just said this right he's given them this commission. And they're staring at him. And and he's then lifted up off the ground then enveloped by a cloud a cloud of glory like from daniel chapter 7.

Where daniel had saw this vision he sees one like a son of man. Unlike the beast of the kingdoms of this world, but this one he sees is like a son of man coming with the clouds to the ancient of days coming with the clouds.

And was given dominion and glory rule so that all peoples Every ethnic group nations and languages should serve him. What's next? After he sins. Now that he's given glory and a kingdom and rule. Well now we're told in first corinthians 15 that he must reign Until he has put every enemy under his feet.

And that's what this book is about Acts jesus part two. That's what jesus is doing. Now. He's extending the rule of god On earth to the uttermost parts of the earth to the end of the earth in this this sequel right now.

What we're living that's what this is about. And he will continue to do it until he has put even the last enemy death Under his feet then with death finally abolished the sequel ends. And until then we have a commission.

Use the power to be witnesses. Now this leaves the disciples Stunned that he's left there. He's gone. They're staring up into the sky and they're wondering.

What's next.

He's just been asking him Whether now he's going to finally seize the throne set up the government. And now he's disappeared. Literally. He's gone. What do we do now? So two men appear two angels in verse 11 and they tell him men of galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

No time to stand and stare. And before they were before, you know just previous the question they asked they were too earthly. The kingdom was of this world. They thought all about political power and swords and programs and budgets and buildings.

Like those today who think the kingdom depends on politics. On electing the right politicians or or maybe on if it's the church the church having the right programs enough money. Slick videos. We spilled a drink.

It's okay. It doesn't matter. Uh, it's one we have a hard floor not carpet. It's easy to get up um, but now though. They're staring into the sky. Now just ask him this earthly question. It's all about this age.

And now they're staring up in the sky. He's gone.

What do we do?

They've forgotten their commission so the. So the so they're told. He mops up nicely. He's taking your job. Micah. It's all right. We'll take care of it later. But um. We'll let him finish mopping. We can get the whole we can get the back floor back there.

Anyway.

Anyway, they've forgotten their commission. So they're just standing around they've just been told go the other most part to wait for the power then go and. These angels appear to them and they're told this this jesus notice.

This is important for People debate about in time stuff, but this jesus not another jesus. Right, that's one point this jesus. They're very particular in their language. These angels this jesus not someone else not a Not someone who's like jesus.

Maybe you know some people say in the in the spirit or the philosophy the same philosophy as jesus. A jesus -like figure. No, literally this same jesus Who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him?

Come back the same way. You saw him go into heaven come back the same way. He physically ascended. So he will physically this descent. His return will be the same manner as his departure. Yeah, so his coming.

You know some people try to explain about his coming. This coming won't be like a sign in the sky.

Uh.

That his judgment came. Like when jerusalem was destroyed in 80 70. Oh that doesn't fit does it? Uh, or that his his spiritual philosophy will gradually come over the world and transform society. No, he says he's he's coming in back in the same way.

Or that his he's come in the person of somebody, you know. Sung young moon. That's him. That's jesus again. David koresh or whoever claims to be g. No, you don't want that. No, whoever no quite specifically.

He will come back the same one will come back in the same way one day. What day that is. It's not for us to know remember. It's not for us to know the times and seasons. What is for us to know is the commission?

That we will have power to be witnesses. So don't stand around.

You know.

Waiting gazing into the sky. Or gazing into the teachings of whatever so-called prophecy expert claiming that jesus is coming soon. We can know exactly when he's coming soon. If we'll only decipher the prophecies like this expert tells us to uh with a nice donation, please.

No, don't waste your time doing that. That's not for us. What's next for us? The spirit empowered church is fulfilling The commission doing our part with the power of the holy spirit being witnesses for jesus.

That the disciples are thinking Jesus is gone. What's next? First it was politics and programs with jesus as their leader. He ascends now He's gone.

What do we do?

You have no time the church to stand and stare. Well, that's the introduction so we'll know that we're in Jesus part two and then there's the commission. That will have power to be witnesses. Now what's next?

Restoring the Twelve and Waiting for the Holy Spirit

Well, they have have a problem the lord jesus has selected 12 apostles and 12 is kind of important because israel god's god's assembly. In the old testament began with 12 brothers who became 12 tribes.

Jesus said his that he is building his assembly. His church, you know it too would have as his foundation 12 stones 12 witnesses. But now one is missing next. They need restoration. So they returned to jerusalem from the mount of olives where jesus had ascended there and they went to the upper their upper room.