Our Task Is At Hand

Acts 1:1-11  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  (2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:  (3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:  (4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  (5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  (6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  (7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  (8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  (11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Introduction:  As we read these verses we can grasp that Jesus Christ had assembled His Apostles and His disciples for a major speaking engagement.  That might be taking the event lightly, but He wanted them together, for one last time.

              From reading (v 4) there is a command to be at his assembly.  His commandment was:

Acts 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

They were to wait at Jerusalem “…for the promise of the Father.”

              I would also expect the anticipation of the meeting subject was expected to be the announcement of the formation of a group to over take the world, and Christ to become the ruler and King.

Acts 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

              Yet, when they found out what Jesus said, then He ascended, caused them to be astonied.  (Astonied would be a condition where a person is so shocked that he cannot move, go or speak, a super astonishment.)

              Christ in (v 8) tells us what we are to do and what the promise of the Father is.

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:..

I.            JESUS’ ASCENSION                                                                (v 9)

              A.           Was Seen By All Of His Disciples

                             1.           They needed to see Him ascend

                             2.           Since His Resurrection

                                           i.            He had appeared and disappeared

                                                          a.           At His will

Mark 16:12-14  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.  (13)  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.  (14)  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

  

                           3.           This would be the last time they would see Him

                                           i.            He knew that; they did not

              B.           To Comprehend The Finality

                             1.           This exit needed to be different

                                           i.            He will return for His bride

                                           ii.           Until that time

             

II.           WE ARE GIVEN A TASK                                                       (v 8)

              A.           Witnessing For God.

                             1.           Ye shall be:

                                           i.            Witness’ for God.

Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

a.               “Go ye” is a command

b.               “Shall” within our text

c.            Is a command also

                                                                       

              B.           Leading Others To The Lord

                             1.           Witnessing about Jesus Christ

                                           i.            In heaven.

                                           ii.           With God.

              C.           We As Believers:

                             1.           Must witness.

                             2.           As a believer,

                                           i.            You know the cure

                                                          a.           For the world.

              D.           Witness “Unto Me.”

                             1.           Not man’s philosophy,

                             2.           Not Religion,

                             3.           It is “Christ Crucified”.

              E.           All This Should Be A Result Of:

                             1.           Us reacting to The Holy Spirit.

III.         TWO MEN IN WHITE                                                 (vv 10-11)

              A.           They Asked The Gazers

                             1.           Why are you just standing there just gazing

                                           i.            The Lord Jesus gave you a command

              B.           We Are To Be Witnesses Of Him

                             1.           These people are to:

                                           i.            Witness concerning His ascension

                                           ii.           Witness His Gospel

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

C.              Work Till Jesus Comes Again

IV.         JESUS WILL RETURN SOMEDAY                                      (v 11)

A.              “…this same Jesus…”

James 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

1.               He will return as He left

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

CONCLUSION:  We can see

              1.)          Jesus will return (v 11). 

              2.)          We are not to know the time (v 7)

So as we tarry for His return, we must constantly be reminded that we are His witnesses and with the help of the Holy Spirit we are to go about our area and witness the Gospel of Christ.

              And in our thinking it must be without fail.

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

“Go Ye” in that verse and other verses, isn’t a suggestion, nor is it a “pretty please” or an “Ahh come on now.”  It is a direct simple command to Go.

              I have visualized the “Men in white” as men, they were angels; messengers of God.  But for a moment digress and see them looking down on the disciples in a bit of exasperation, thinking “What are they doing?”  Finally they spoke in disgust and asked them a question, Why are you standing there, GO, do what He just commanded you.  In other words “Just do it.”

              Isn’t that what God expects of you and I, to just Do it.