ACTS 1:1-11
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”6 Then they gathered around Him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.8 But 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.”9 After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:1-11 TRUSTING GOD’S TIMING LIKE JESUS
Springford Baptist Church: May 7, 2022.
Waiting, an inevitable and even necessary aspect of human life, is not something that most of us like to do. We wait in lines: in order to purchase groceries; to get gas for our vehicles; to be served at a restaurant; to be attended to in a bank; at stop signs and traffic signals; at amusement parks; to see a play or movie. We must also wait for flowers to grow and bloom; for babies to be born; for wounds to heal; for bread to rise and cheese to age; for children to mature; for friends to call; for love to deepen. It has been estimated that in a lifetime of 70 years, the average person spends at least three years waiting!?
So what do we do while we are waiting?
This becomes a very important consideration for us as followers of Jesus Christ!
Jesus’ disciples like other Israelites were waiting and looking for the deliverance of the people of Israel from foreign domination (Roman) and for the establishment of an earthly kingdom.
Question: “Lord are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel”? (Acts 1:6)
Remember these same people had seen Jesus die on the cross and then be raised back to life. Anything was possible and so they looked toward a pressing concern on their minds. They wanted to be liberated from the control of the Romans. They wanted Jesus become their King and establish His rule right here, right now! No more waiting.
vs. 7 “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. God has the authority over the timing of things. Not only is it not for us to know every detail, but there’s something more operating. We need to trust God. This is what Jesus did.
This is a key aspect of what they needed to do and what we need to do while we wait-Trust! We need to trust God!
vs. 8 But 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.” This is again repeating what they are to do when Jesus leaves. Matthew 28-Great Commission-Go into all the world and preach the gospel-communicate the good news of Jesus. This is what they are to do while waiting for Jesus to return. Now Jesus restates that their job, their responsibility, is to be His witnesses. And notice, they will receive power from the Holy Spirit for what they are to do!
Our waiting is not a time to just sit back and do nothing. Not at all! There is work to be done!! There are so many people who need to know who is Jesus. They need to know how much He loves them. They need to know how they too can know for certain that they will go to heaven to be with Him forever!
vs. 9 Can you imagine what this would have been like? They have just had Jesus come back among them and now He leaves, but this time He actually ascends up into the clouds. Incredible!
No wonder they were standing there staring up into the clouds-Wouldn’t you have been?
-thinking, “Maybe I’ll get just one more glimpse of Jesus my Saviour.”
-thinking, “Now what”?
-probably thinking, “How long will we have to wait for Him to return”?
Angels address them, “… why do you stand here looking into the sky”? (vs 11a)
This is not a time to stand around.
This time of waiting is meant to be a productive time!
Waiting for Jesus’ return is a time to trust God!
Waiting for Jesus’ return is a time to carry out the work He has left. It is a time to share His message in practical ways that provide love and support.
vs. 11b “This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven , will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Matt. 24:30 “… They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
This is a certain promise that Jesus will return!
This is a certain promise that heaven is waiting for us!
At the right time that God has decided this will happen.
How can we best use the time that we are waiting for the return of Jesus?
Waiting is a time for trusting God! Jesus trusted God’s timing.
Waiting is a time for doing the work He has called us to with the power of the Holy Spirit available!
Waiting is a time to encourage and support each other.
Waiting is a time to spend praying, listening to God and for God, growing ever closer to Him.
You know how it is when you are waiting for the guest of honour before beginning a birthday party. While waiting other people arrive and are able to be part of the celebration.
The longer we wait, the more people can come to Jesus!
For loved ones who have already gone on to heaven to be with Jesus, there is no more waiting. They are already there face to face with Christ our Saviour.
Every day we are waiting, we are that much closer to the return of Jesus, just as He promised!
As we wait for Jesus, heaven is waiting for us! While we wait, as the hymn says, “Let us labour for the Master from the dawn ‘til setting sun. Let us talk of all Hs wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done and the roll (in other words attendance) is called up yonder (in heaven) I’ll be there”!