Our response to His Resurrection

We just celebrated the season of “Easter”. We praised God for His precious gift to us – His Son Jesus Christ.

The question often comes up – “Ok, I believe in His death, burial and resurrection. I believe that it is by Grace alone we are saved through faith alone in Christ alone Now what? How do I respond to what God has done for me?” Good question! Here is how God taught us in Acts Chapter 1.

1. Respond by Waiting. Patience is a virtue. God sets the dates of our life; beginning through end. He controls our calendar. He is not impressed with our schedules. We are to watch and wait for Him, always prepared for His return.

2. Respond by Telling. Waiting is an active effort. Sharing the Gospel to all people in all places. God chose to spread His gospel through those who know Him and love Him. His Will is for us to share His love with others.

3. Respond by Watching. Looking for Jesus. His return and what He is doing today. The disciples so wanted to see Jesus that they “strained their eyes” to see Him. Are you really looking for Him today? We talk about WWJD, but do you really want to know?

4. Respond by Trusting. Faith pleases God. Trust that He is God and He will come back just as He said He would. By faith we are prepared for His return. Are you ready? What if He returned for us…or you…right now?

Acts 1:6-11

When the apostles were with Jesus,

they kept asking him,

"Lord, are you going to free Israel

now and restore our kingdom?

The Father sets those dates,"

he replied,

"and they are not for you to know.

But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

you will receive power

and will tell people about me everywhere—

in Jerusalem,

throughout Judea,

in Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth."

It was not long after he said this that he was taken up

into the sky

while they were watching,

and he disappeared into a cloud.

As they were straining their eyes to see him,

two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them.

They said,

"Men of Galilee,

why are you standing here staring at the sky?

Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven.

And someday,

just as you saw him go,

he will return!" (NLT)

Acts 1:6-11

6 {The Ascension of Jesus--} When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?"

This was a very good and timely question. The disciples were in the presence of their risen Savior. He had been murdered, buried and was now victoriously resurrected. The disciples must have been very excited! They were pumped up and ready for the next “phase” to begin.

“Jesus, NOW will You take up Your scepter and take full control?”

“Will You NOW destroy the Roman rulers and wipe out the flesh based religion of the temple?”

“ARE WE THERE YET?”

7 "The Father sets those dates," he replied, "and they are not for you to know.

Jesus responded in a way that must have greatly disappointed and confused their hearts. He told them it was not any of their business!

In the military there is a doctrine called “need to know”. You were permitted to know vital military secrets as long as you had to know them to complete your assigned task. Even someone with high level top secret clearance could not find out information on a operation that they were not involved in. This meant that sometimes a ground troop or mechanic knew more than a 3 star general…simply because he had the “need to know”.

We do not have the “need to know” for the date and time of Christ’s return. Simply put it ain’t none of our business.

Think about this for a second. If man knew the exact moment Jesus Christ would rapture His church and begin His next work in dealing with the world what would happen?

Most would live like the devil then repent at the last possible second. Because of this many would die and go to hell because they died before the rapture. God would not be glorified.

Christians would spend a long period of time planning a great evangelic strategy to reach the world in the last 30 days before the rapture. God would not be glorified.

Panic would strike our land and a sinful world would rake in billions on books, seminars and rapture insurance. God would not be glorified.

Many would simply take their own life rather than wait for His judgment to fall upon them. God would not be glorified.

We would begin to focus on the date and time, making it a type of god that we worship while we wait. God would not be glorified.

God has a much different plan. He knows the date and the time. This information is already scribed in the annuals of time. He will do it His way, not ours.

He told us the end is coming quickly so we can be faithful and prepared. God is glorified.

He told us to go out daily and share the Gospel with our world. God is glorified.

Salvation is given to us freely and openly. Peace and assurance is a blessing of faith. We can know beyond any shadow of any doubt that we belong to Jesus and have the right to be called His children. God is glorified.

We live a life of faith and obedience. We are no longer bound and defeated; we are victorious! God is glorified.

We focus on Him, His plan and His Blessings. God is glorified.

We have been told what we need to know. God is Sovereign Lord, He loves you and has done everything He had to give you the gift of abundant life now and eternal life with Him forever.

8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

What God calls us to do He prepares and empowers us to do. He has a task to be done, He has the wisdom and the power to do it and all He needs from you is the willingness to allow Him to complete His work through you!

The Holy Spirit is very real and powerful – and active in our world today. Sometimes we want to deny the Holy Spirit. We are afraid of what the Holy Spirit can do in our life. We hear the stories of how He has moved in the life of others and, maybe worse, we have heard how others have done “stuff” on their own and accounted it to the Holy Ghost.

A few simple facts about the Holy Spirit.

Ø The Holy Spirit is God

Ø The Holy Spirit must glorify God

Ø The Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus Christ

Ø The Holy Spirit brings us comfort, correction and guidance.

Ø The Holy Spirit teaches us

Ø The Holy Spirit will NOT do anything that conflicts with God’s Word.

HOLY SPIRIT - The third person of the trinity, who exercises the power of the Father and the Son in creation and redemption. Because the Holy Spirit is the power by which believers come to Christ and see with new eyes of faith, He is closer to us than we are to ourselves. Like the eyes of the body through which we see physical things, He is seldom in focus to be seen directly because He is the one through whom all else is seen in a new light. This explains why the relationship of the Father and the Son is more prominent in the gospels, because it is through the eyes of the Holy Spirit that the Father-Son relationship is viewed. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Now what about these places the Holy Spirit will give us the power to take the gospel to?

Everywhere – pretty self explanatory, but Jesus went into more detail.

Jerusalem Our own backyard. Our city. Those around us that we see every day, and usually ignore. The grocery store clerks, mechanics, business leaders and trash

collectors.

Judea Those of like nationality, language and beliefs. This may mean Texas, America and Canada for us today.

Samaria This is a little tougher. Samaria represents those who do not act, think or talk like you do. This is as simple as across the border in Mexico, the streets of Afghanistan or the atheist across the street. The Jews thought the Samarians were dirty ignorant people and they considered themselves to be unclean if they were even in close proximity to them. Anyone like that in your life? You said no too quick, think longer and ask God to show you.

The ends of the earth. Everyone everywhere. Top to bottom, left to right – if they are on the planet you should be telling them about Jesus Christ. NO EXCUSES.

9 It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud.

He could not return unless He left.

This passage could easily be the worst most hopeless scripture in the Bible if it was taken out of context or was the only one you read. He left. He is gone.

But this is not the end of the story – it is the beginning. He promised us that He would be with us all the way to the end of the age and He promised us that He would send His Spirit to comfort and help us until He returned to take us Home with Him.

10 As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them.

Here is a very important lesson for us.

We should ALWAYS be “straining our eyes” to look for Him. Be anxious and watching for His return.

When we look for Him with everything we were given by Him He will send His Holy Spirit and other ministers to help us and teach us. We need to listen for His voice even if He speaks through the life of others, even angels. Angels will always glorify God, point to Jesus Christ and never violate God’s Word.

11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!

Their basic message was that “He will return”. This is not a sad day; it is a joyful day. We know where Jesus is – He is in Heaven, at God’s right hand.

All scripture from the Authorized New Living Translation