03.02.03 » “The work begins” Acts 1:9-11

Intro...It’s fun being around someone famous...Switchfoot CD party...
Amy...budding drummer encouraged by Chad Butler…then the band left...

The disciples were around someone famous and then he left…and essentially he said the same thing to them...now the work begins.

From vs. 9...Jesus gives them his final words of instruction (to spread the faith) and then just leaves.

VIDEO Thoughts?

Facts about the Ascension:

• Greek verb eperthe ("he was taken up")
  
• It occurred after Jesus had given his mandate to witness and while the disciples were watching.
  
• It took place on the Mount of Olives. (vs. 12)
  
• " a cloud hid him from their sight.” The cloud symbolized the shekinah. (Anyone want to take a guess at what the “shekinah” is? ) The visible manifestation of the divine presence and glory. Exod 40:34, the same kind of cloud hovered above the tabernacle in the wilderness as a visible token of the glory of God that dwelt within the tabernacle. In Mark 9:2-8, the same cloud enveloped Jesus and three of his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration as a visible sign of God's presence and his approval of his Son.
  
• So, the shekinah cloud is the visible manifestation of God's presence, glory, and approval.
  
• I know it seems kinda weird...but so was the way he came into the world! It’s a God thing! This is right in line with everything Jesus did, amazing, awe inspiring etc. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of Lord I want to serve!
  

How does apply to today?

1. When God shows up, expect something big to happen. That should be our attitude every time we gather to worship….expecting God to show up and wanting something big to happen.
2. Will you allow God to perform a “transfiguration” or “transformation” in your life?
“ Transfiguration” comes from the word metamorphoo which means "to change into another form.” It is also used in Matthew 17:2, Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, where it describes the believer's progressive change into the moral likeness of Christ.

Vs. 10 Why do you think they looked so intently into the sky?
(I’m sure they were looking intently because they were dumbfounded.)

• We may be dumbfounded or awestruck after meeting Jesus, but we need to get on the task. When it’s clear God is speaking, sometimes we don’t know what to do. Remember the disciples in our video clip? What were they doing as they walked off? Laughing!

Who were these two “men dressed in white?” (Steve Martin...Pat Boone?)

• Angels reassuring them that even in the midst of their confusion... 1. The Jesus they were so well acquainted with now had a heavenly existence. 2. The Jesus they had known will return in the same way. Mark 13:26
  
• Jesus goes to heaven and is welcomed in. Ps. 24:7-8

What’s Jesus doing now?
1. Sitting at the right hand of God, ruling with God. (Mk. 16:19). A privileged place of power.
2. Making sure sin is forever paid for. (Heb. 10:11)
3. He is an advocate or mediator between us and the Father. (Heb. 7:25)
4. He prays or intercedes for us. (Rom. 8:34) 5. He is preparing a place for us in heaven. (John 14:1-2). He’s plenty busy, and it’s all for our benefit!

And so the work begins...What is the work of the church?

• Evangelize...and what is an evangelist? (For those of you here last week?)
  
• The missionary activity of the church rests not only on Jesus' mandate to witness, but also on his living presence in heaven and the sure promise of his return.
  
• While we can be excited about the Parousia (or Christ’s return) it shouldn’t paralyze our evangelistic efforts because all we are thinking about is the “sweet by and by” or the “streets paved with gold”...
  
• But what about “end times” and the Left Behind books and movies?
  
• In his final words before ascending, Jesus could’ve given his disciples more details as to his return. Instead he tells ’em to go share their faith under the power of the HS. Let’s try to figure that out instead of when Christ will return. It’s enough for me just to know he’s coming back!
  
• Becoming a Christian is about so much more than just getting’ to heaven…

"Missions are an essential element in the eschatological divine plan of salvation. The missionary work of the Church is a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, and the Biblical hope of the end constitutes the keenest incentive to action" Oscar Cullmann

God left the task of “world changers” up to you and I.

• Sometimes we get mad at God about all the injustice in the world. “Why don’t you do something about this God? “I did, I created you.”
  
• God could send another flood and wipe out all the sin, but the rainbow reminds us of he promise that he’d never do that again.
  
• Instead he choose to work through human beings like us. First changing us, then enabling us to function as His agents of change.
  
• Paul was radically changed from killing Christians to making Christians.
  
• What about you? Will you allow God to transform your life? GOSPEL
  

“ I count only two men rational: the man who loves God with all his heart because he has found Him, and the man who seeks God with all his heart because he has as yet found Him not.” Blaise Pascal

As a Christian, are you obediently serving him to change the lives of people around you? Jesus left the work in our hands. The good news is we’re not in this game alone. We’ve got the HS.

Conclusion: Soccer goalie plays alone in the fog...

Sharing, prayer
Confession
Silence, prayer.

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