Jesus is Gone, but He Left His Church to Carry On

Acts 1:1-11

Between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, He prepared His followers for His departure, the Church age, and His return at His 2^nd coming.

I.        Jesus’ Final Words Instruct Us for Kingdom Living Now.

A.    He is the “logos” which is use of Luke’s former account or treatise to Theophilus (v. 1).

• Compare Luke 1:1-3 & Acts 1:1-3.  Jesus is the logos - word, and His final words are vital.

B.      His teachings (v. 1) focus on His physical and spiritual kingdom rule (v.3b). 

• Kingdom passages:  Matthew 6:33; 20:1-16; 21:33-44; 22:1-14; 25:1-13;  25:31-46.

C.      He gave His disciples “commandments” or instructions (v. 2).

1.      Surrender to God’s rule (v.3)

2.      Stay in Jerusalem (v. 4)

3.      Serve in the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 5, 8).

4.      Set no dates for His return, but be ready always (v. 7).

5.      Spread the gospel (v. 8).

D.     His disciples desired the physical kingdom in their lifetime (v. 6-7).  We should also be looking up, but not with

idle waiting (v. 11).

E.      Stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit baptizes you (v. 4-5).  This also proved Jesus as the fulfillment of John the Baptist’s preaching.  How does water baptism picture Christ’s work, the Spirit’s baptism at the point of salvation, and the dedication / testimony of the believer being baptized?

F.       Christ proclaimed His disciples will receive power & authority when the Holy Spirit baptized them.

G.     Christ proclaimed His disciples will be witnesses (martyrs) for Christ world-wide (v. 8).  Martyrs are witnesses, but witnesses will not always be martyred.  We are living sacrifices first (Romans 12:1-2).

H.     Notice the Lord’s prayer of John 17, which He prayed with His disciples just before His crucifixion.

II.      Jesus’ Final Works Prepare Us for Kingdom Living Now.

A.       He presented Himself to His disciples off and on for 40 days (v. 3).  They (and we) do not know when He will appear unannounced.  This changes the way we live.

B.      His proofs were many and infallible & unmistakable (v. 3).  How did His appearances encourage those he appeared to?  The ladies at the tomb, Peter, Cleopas and friend on the road to Emmaus, James, “the 12” which must have included Matthias, 500 + at once, Paul, and all the apostles.  I Corinthians 15:1-8

C.      His proofs included eye-witness accounts, “touch my nail prints,” and eating fish together.

D.     He was taken up to heaven in front of His disciples, physically and visibly, until a cloud hid Him and He did not return, nor appear to them as He had been doing for 40 days in His glorified body (v. 9-11).

E.      He sent two angelic messengers to repeat the promise that Jesus is coming back physically.

III.    Jesus’ Witnesses Spread the Kingdom by Preaching the Gospel (v. 8).

• How can you do a better job of seeing a need, helping meet that need, and telling them why?

• Name one person in your “world” who is poor, thirsty, hungry, strange, or needy in any way.  Pray over these people, and discuss ideas of how you will try to reach or bless them, and open the door for the gospel.