Sermon by Pastor Brent Kompelien
March 24, 2024
INTRO
Good morning! We are beginning a new series today. For the next 6 months we will be studying the book of Acts. We are calling this series “To the Ends of the Earth” and today’s message will kick off our study with a foundation-setting passage that defines the central missionary task of the church.
ILLUST — The opening chapter of the book of Acts is like receiving a little cassette tape with your mission briefing, but unlike Mission Impossible, this message won’t self-destruct in 5 seconds.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is this: Join in the mission of God through the saving work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to spread the rule and reign of Jesus as God calls and redeems people from every nation, tribe, people, and language to come into his family and live in his eternal kingdom.
You see, we have recently studied the Gospel of John and we know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He alone is Savior, He alone is Lord, and He alone is our hope. Now we are going to embark on a journey through the book of Acts where we will see the early church become witnesses to this message about Christ, as the kingdom of God grows and expands through the Holy Spirit’s work to use redeemed sinners like you and me to show the power and glory of the risen Savior Jesus.
BACKGROUND
Before we jump into this new book, let me tell you a little background:
The book of Acts was written by Luke, the same writer as the Gospel of Luke.
He was a physician and an astute scholar. He wrote both his gospel and the book of Acts as a well-researched and orderly account of the life of Jesus and of the beginnings of the church.
Luke was commissioned to write this book by a wealthy Greek Christian named Theophilus. This man wanted confirmation about what he had seen and heard about Jesus, and he wanted to understand what had happened during the early days of persecution and the spreading of the gospel in the first decades of the church.
In other words, this book gave inspiration and encouragement to Theophilus and strengthened him in his faith. It should do the same for us.
That’s my prayer for this series: That you, dear church, would be encouraged and strengthened in your faith, and inspired to join in the mission of God.
Luke wrote this book in the early or mid-60s A.D. It chronicles the first 25 or 30 years of the church as the message about Christ spread throughout the Mediterranean.
Some early manuscripts called this book “The Acts of the Apostles”. But Bible scholars throughout church history have suggested that it could be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” because the main character of this book is actually the Triune God himself.
We will see, at every turn, that it is God at work through his people. It is God’s mission that we are participating in. It is God’s work of salvation through Christ that we preach. It is power of the Holy Spirit that emboldens and guides the believers. And it is God’s glory that is displayed in the ministry and mission of the church as people’s lives are changed and the message of Christ is proclaimed all the way to the imperial courts of Rome.
So, open with me to Acts 1:1-26. As I read, you’ll see Luke begin with an introduction to his benefactor Theophilus, whose name means “Loved By God”. Then Luke launches into an account of the last words of Christ to his disciples and an account of the church waiting and praying for what comes next. Let’s read our text this morning. READ Acts 1:1-26.
ORG SENT — We are going to treat this passage in two section: First is the mission (vv. 1-11). We see Jesus commission his followers to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Second is the waiting and praying (vv. 12-26). Here we see the fulfillment of OT prophecy, the replacement of Judas, and the early believers obeying Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem.
PROP — Here’s what we will learn through this passage: We have a mission, and because it is ultimately God’s mission, we embark on this mission by first waiting upon the Lord and praying.
MAIN 1 — The Mission (vv. 1-11). (SLIDE 2)
Remember, Luke wrote the book of Acts as a sequel to his gospel. This opening chapter of Acts picks up right where Luke left off after he captured the last words of Jesus already in Luke 24. But now in the book of Acts, Luke goes into more detail.
In verses 4-9, Jesus makes two statements to the disciples, with a question by the disciples sandwiched in the middle. Look at the text again with me:
READ vv. 4-5 — What does this word “baptize” mean?
This word is a transliteration of a Greek word: βαπτίζω
(SLIDE 3) It was a widely used word in the ancient world that simply meant “to dip” or “to plunge under water” or “to submerge.”
ILLUST — Last summer we offered a baptism class. Most of the class turned out to be elementary age kids. I didn’t prepare to teach a kids-version of the class, so I made the mistake of explain baptism like this: “When you hear the word plunge, what do you think of?” There was some giggling, then one kid raised her hand, “Toilets?”
She wasn’t far off! The word “baptize” was often used in the ancient world to talk about washing clothes, as you scrubbed and plunged and scrubbed and dipped the clothes under water, you baptized them.
(SLIDE 4) This word was used in a technical way to refer to ritual cleansing for devout Jews, and later in the NT it comes to symbolize dying and rising with Christ.
(SLIDE 5) But it also could be used in a figurative way to refer to being overwhelmed or covered or enveloped by something.
Here in Acts 1, Jesus is using the word both in the literal sense of submerging (John baptized with water), and in the figurative sense of being overwhelmed or enveloped by someone or something (you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit).
So let me cut to the chase here: What it means to be “baptized” in the Spirit is not an outward show of charismatic gifts. It is a plunging into, a washing over, a full submersion inwardly into the life-giving Spirit of God as you become indwelled, covered, and saturated with the personal presence of God. It is the regenerating, redeeming, and renewing work of God within your heart. But I don’t think the disciples quite get it yet.
This is where we see the question posed by the disciples: READ v. 6. (SLIDE 6)
This might seem a like it is out of left field. He just talked about giving them the Holy Spirit, so why are they asking about restoring the kingdom of Israel?
KEY: The disciples still didn’t understand the kind of king that Jesus is. The disciples still think Jesus is going to come in and destroy the Romans and establish a physical kingdom in Jerusalem. Its time to bust some heads Jesus! Let’s go!
These disciples were steeped in Scripture. They knew their Old Testament. They likely asked this question while standing in the vicinity of Bethany (cf: Luke 24:50). This is east of Jerusalem, at the Mount of Olives (cf. Acts 1:12), in the exact spot where more than 500 years earlier the prophet Zechariah had spoken of a day when the Messiah would come to deliver God’s people from their enemies.
Zechariah 14:4-5, 8-9 says, (SLIDE 7 and 8) “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him…On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.”
Isn’t this incredible! One day the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, will come and he will stand on the Mount of Olives and as it splits in two, he will lead his Holy People into Jerusalem to establish his Kingdom forever!
So the disciples asked: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). They were half-right. In other words, the fulfillment of Zechariah 14 is only half-over. (SLIDE 9, blank)
Jesus did already stand on the Mount of Olives and ride into Jerusalem as King. Today is Palm Sunday. We remember the week before Jesus died, he rode into Jerusalem on a colt, and John 12:13 says, (SLIDE 10) “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”
But friends, in this first entrance into Jerusalem as King, Jesus rode a colt of a donkey, which was the typical steed of a King in the ancient world when they entered your city to make peace. Jesus came to make peace through his blood on the cross!
But when the end comes, when all history is complete, when Jesus returns, Revelation 19 says he will come riding on a white horse, a charger, a stallion that symbolized in the ancient world a King who comes to make war and to judge and to conquer!
So the disciples wonder if now is the time to fulfill Zechariah 14. (SLIDE 11) But Jesus’ reply reveals something critically important for our understanding of the mission of the church. READ vv. 7-9.
KEY: Something that was not understood from the Old Testament prophets was that there would be a delay between the first and second coming of the Messiah. Why this delay? (SLIDE 12)
Friends, this is critical for understanding the mission of the church: It is God’s plan that salvation through Christ would be preached to the nations. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:4-6 (SLIDE 13) about the patience of God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”
In God’s proper timing, he is being unbelievably patient and gracious to give an opportunity for the church to witness about Christ to the ends of the earth. We are part of that.
Friends, Jesus’ kingdom is bigger than a mere political reign in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. His kingship is grander, his rule cosmic, and his reign eternal.
The disciples still wanted a military Messiah. But Jesus has a grander plan. He is commissioning and empowering his followers to spread his rule and reign across the earth, but not through the means of earthly power. It will come through the spiritual power and spiritual renewal of the human heart as Christ calls his own sheep by name and gathers his flock prior to his return to establish his millennial Kingdom and to restore his creation forever for his glory!
ILLUST — Theologian and pastor John Stott points out in Acts 1 that Jesus is correcting the disciples’ mistaken understanding of the kingdom of God (SLIDE 14) by asserting that the kingdom of God is spiritual in its character, international in its membership, and gradual in its expansion.
I’ll add: It is saturated with and enveloped by the personal and powerful presence of God himself through the Holy Spirit.
Here’s the mission: (SLIDE 15) “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jerusalem = in this city
Judea and Samaria = the two regional provinces nearby
To the ends of the earth = everywhere!
MAKE A PLEA: Does God want you to be a missionary?
In order to embark on the mission, what do the disciples do? They wait and pray.
MAIN 2 — Waiting and Praying (vv. 12-26). (SLIDE 16)
Pick it up in verse 12. The whole group of disciples returned from the Mount of Olives and they gathered in the Upper Room, except Judas who we learn died shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. Joining the 11 disciples are the women who had been a part of Jesus’ ministry, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ half-brothers.
This section gives an explanation of how they replaced Judas. (SLIDE 17) Why is that?
I simply want to point out three things:
First, there is important symbolism in the number 12. (SLIDE 18) The disciples knew that there were 12 tribes of Israel, descended from the sons of Jacob. It is no accident that Jesus picked 12 disciples. Now the early church continues the symbolism of having 12 Apostles because they are constituting a new people of God and fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament. We will see this throughout Acts.
Second, remember a few weeks ago I talked about the role of Apostle that was unique to the early church in the first generation after Christ. Verses 21-22 tell us the criteria for an apostle: (SLIDE 19) It must be a man who with Jesus from the beginning of his public ministry, and he must be a personal witness to the resurrection.
Third, you’ll notice that they cast lots to determine who will replace Judas. Casting lots was a practice of Old Testament Judaism where they would throw marked stones or sticks to know what God wanted, much like rolling dice. But I want you to notice something important that will connect to next Sunday: (SLIDE 20) This is the last time we see anyone casting lots in the Bible. The next event is Pentecost, and after the indwelling of the Spirit we no longer need to cast lots or put out fleeces or to look for omens or to guess and wonder what God desires. We have his guiding and illuminating and comforting Spirit within us!
Now, during this time after the disciples received their mission from Jesus, I want you to look at what they are doing: (SLIDE 21) READ v. 14
Some translations have the words “praying with one accord.” ILLUST — Theologian R.C. Sproul says that it is vital to the mission of the church that there is oneness and a sense of genuine need to be together as the family of God. He compares it to a charcoal fire. If you take a charcoal brick from the fire and set it by itself, it will quickly turn cold. But a brick that is in close proximity to others will cause them all to burn white-hot.
Sproul says, “We cannot stand alone. We need each other. We need the support of fellowship, the mutual encouragement, the strength, and the prayers of the community in which we are involved.”
HOW did they come together in one accord? Prayer!
APPLY — Friends, our Elders and I have shared over the last few weeks that we want to emphasize the importance of prayer this year. We want to grow in prayer, cultivate a culture of prayer, and encourage and inspire each of us to pray.
I need to you to see this: At the very moment when the disciples were challenged with the mission of God, the task of proclaiming Christ to their own city, to their neighbors in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…they stopped, they waited on the Lord, and they prayed. (SLIDE 22)
This is God’s mission. It is the Spirit of God’s working within people’s hearts. It is God’s family we are part of. It is God’s kingdom we are tasting and seeing. And it is for God’s glory that we proclaim to the ends of the earth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.
Precisely because the Triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is the main character of the book of Acts and because the gospel is the center of who we are and what we proclaim, we must likewise begin approaching our mission as a church by waiting upon the Lord and praying.
ILLUST — John Calvin saw prayer as central to the missionary effort of the church to proclaim the gospel for the glory of God. He wrote in his Institutes, (SLIDE 23) “We must daily desire that God gather churches unto himself from all parts of the earth; that he spread and increase them in number; that he adorn them with gifts; that he establish a lawful order among them; on the other hand, that he cast down all enemies of pure teaching and religion; that he scatter their counsels and crush their efforts.”
In other words, we wait upon the Lord and we pray both because it is God’s work to establish the church AND it is God’s work to protect the church!
There are many enemies of the church today. We live in a culture set against the gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a world full of hostility, evil, and destruction. And yet we trust in God’s sovereign power and we know his mission will prevail.
(SLIDE 24, blank) This reminds me of Psalm 27. I want to leave you with this Psalm, and I want you to listen to how this Psalm describes the salvation and strength of God, the perils we encounter, the centrality of prayer, and the promises for those who wait upon the Lord. (You can turn to follow along, or just close your eyes and listen)
Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.