
The Unstoppable Force, the Church
Acts 1:1-11 (NLT)
The Unstoppable Force, The Church 01 | Mick Veach | lead pastor | first aired on 06.06.2021
Read Scripture
In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” —Acts 1:1-11 (NLT)
Review
1 ) The church is facing a critical moment in her history with the following questions:
a ) Why does the church exist?
b ) What does the church believe?
c ) What is the mission of the church?
2 ) Critics of the church have pointed out the failures
a ) The Crusades—too political
b ) Slavery
c ) Colonialism
d ) The view of women
e ) The anti-science viewpoint
f ) The divisions in the church—too many denominations
3 ) Critics never acknowledge the contributions of the church
a ) The portions of the church stood up against slavery
b ) Humanitarian efforts led by the church
c ) Hospitals established by the church
d ) Moral values have saved entire societies
e ) The church stood up against the evil in the world
3 ) Jesus declared the church is his bride and it will be the last thing standing
a ) Mark 2:19-20 — Someday the groom will be taken away from them …
b ) Revelation 21:2 — And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
4 ) It is time for us stand up and be counted and not be ashamed of what we believe and to who we belong
a ) We believe:
1 ) Jesus is the Son of God
2 ) Jesus died in my place and took my penalty
3 ) Jesus is the only way to God and heaven
4 ) The bible is the without and inspired by the Holy Spirit
5 ) The church is tasked to demonstrate and proclaim this truth to the world
b ) We are not ashamed of the gospel
1 ) Matthew 10:32-33 — If you are willing to stand before others and are willing to say you believe in me …
2 ) Romans 1:16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes …
5 ) Luke is the author of a two volume book
a ) The Gospel of Luke — a book about Jesus
b ) The Acts of the Apostles — a book about the early church
6 ) Theophilus is Roman that we don’t know much about and Luke is going to show why Christianity is true
a ) Verse 3 — Jesus demonstrated to them that he was actually risen — “he proved to them …”
1 ) They doubted — every time he showed up, he constantly had to prove that it was in fact him
2 ) They were biased — resurrection does not occur until the end of time
7 ) Why do we come to faith in Jesus?
a ) Because it is true and if it is true then I will:
1 ) Be fulfilled
2 ) Be granted strength and inspiration to live
8 ) The entire book is possible because of His ascension …
3 Reasons His Ascension is the Fuel for the Church
I. He Provides our
A. Verse 9 — He was taken up into a cloud … they could no longer see him.
B. I John 2:1-2 — we have one who is our advocate, who pleads our case before the Father …
He intercedes on our behalf — Hebrews 7:2
He is our Lawyer — he represents us
C. We can’t win this court case but Jesus has the proof that our crime has been paid in full
D. I John 1:9 — He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin
E. This was revolutionary for the Jew and the Gentile of that day because they believed our status spiritually was dependent upon our deeds
Ephesians 2:8-9 — it is by grace, not by works…
Muslims strive for their good to outweigh their bad
Many live believing God is watching to see when we mess up …
F. Example — we all spend an enormous amount of time trying to look good, why?
Image is important — because everyone is passing verdict on us
We all feel like we live in a court room and we are being judged — the church is guilty of this action
But deep down, we all want someone to say, we are good — only our advocate — Jesus can do this
G. Verse 3, 6-7 — Talk about the kingdom of God
1.Those who have the received the kingdom — live free with Jesus as their advocate
- Those who don’t understand the KOG, live in the temporary and with the attempt of attaining fulfillment and destiny — but find it impossible
Key Point: The Ascension set up a court room where Jesus stands as our advocate and we are found, NOT GUITY!
II. He Provides Incredible
A. John 20:17 — Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to cling to him
She does not want to lose him again
Jesus is saying that I must ascend and there is coming a moment where you won’t lose me again regardless of the actions of the world
- The Holy Spirit will play that role
B. Verse 5 — The baptism of the Holy Spirit will be upon you
- The role of the Holy Spirit was limited up to this point in the Old Testament
a. Reveal Truth
b. Empower miraculous moments
Acts 2 — Pentecost will be the day …
It is the foreshadowing of the prophecy about the last days
- Joel 2:28 — I will pour out my spirit …
C. The ascension of Jesus changes the dynamic of our relationship with God
It is a 24/7 access — Matthew 27:51 — the veil was torn in two
Intercession is empowered by the Holy Spirit — Romans 8:26-27 — He intercedes with groans …
We have his power and courage — I John 4:18, Acts 1:8
He is with us until the end … Matthew 28:20
D. The Ascended Jesus is brilliant as the sun — Revelation 1:16-17
John fell as though he was dead …
Yet, he is approachable
E. His intimacy provides the following assurances for us
Ephesians 1 — He controls everything
Romans 8:28 — Everything works for the good …
Key Point: Intimacy with Jesus is possible because He sits in heaven interceding for us
III. He Provides Us with a
A. Verse 8 — Be his witness with power
Verse 7 — All authority comes from the Father and is passed off to us
The disciples were powerless at this point
The disciples were not interested in being a witness
B. John 14:12 — We will do greater things than Jesus after he ascends and the Holy Ghost descends upon believers
- The greater work is the fulfillment of verse 8 — be his witness to entire world
C. Biblical Example
- Acts 7 — Stephen shines as a witness in death because he has been given supernatural power to with stand death
D. We are his witness with power to:
Be free
Be courageous
Be loving
To care for more than yourself
E. Be my witness to the ends of the world
Unfinished task before us today
1.7 billion professing Christians
If we find 180 million true believers that would mean that we would have
- 15,000 believers for each of the remaining 12,000 unreached people groups
Jesus said to go to all people groups—Matt 28:18
F. You are plan A
- Are you living out His strategy for you?
Key Point: God’s plan is using the church to finish the mission
IV. Application - If you have never asked Jesus into your life, now is your time.
Confess — I John 1:9
Repent — Acts 3:19
Believe — John 3:16
Receive — John 1:12
Call to Action:
1. Ask the Lord What He desires for you
2. Begin to seek a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit
3. Say Yes to His Mission
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