Author: missionspaul

Acts 1:10
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

Two phenomena were happening at the same time.
A strange happening in the sky and a strange happening on the earth.
Jesus was ascending but not into some outer space domain. He was moving into the realm of God. Then suddenly…
God sent messengers on to earth, into the realm of man. These two men dressed in white remind us of the resurrection tomb when perhaps the same two men were also there.

We have got to move into the realm of God, the unseen world of His kingdom and we have to give room for Him to move into our realm. God wants His messengers to stand beside you here in your world.

Here I am! Come Lord Jesus come is our prayer.

Acts 1:9
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

After he had said what?
It was after he had told them they would be laying their life down across the world, enabled to do so by the power of the Spirit, that he left.
You will die, bye. But the Spirit will be with you.

What were they doing?
More than at any other time they were focused on Jesus not distracted in anyway. Then he left.

When did they stop seeing him?
They watched him ascend then the cloud came. The clouds always cover the sun and on this day they also covered the Son.

The point being?
At the point of their surrender He left them.
At the point of their attention on Him He left them.

When the clouds of life cover the Son, will you trust Him?

Acts 1:8
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.

BUT.
Jesus hears them still locked into their idea of the kingdom being about rising to the top, of Israel overcoming Roman rule. He then sets them straight. It is a shock.
You will be my witnesses, my martyria, where we get our English word martyr from. From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth this first century church would lay their life down just as Jesus did and by so doing they would take the gospel far and wide. They would go further than Jesus.
And how would they ever be able to do this? How would they cope with this cup of suffering? It would be because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The power of the Holy Spirit is connected to your surrender.
You surrender because of the power of the Spirit upon you.
You receive the power of the Spirit because you surrender.
Today everyday, now in fact, the nameless and faceless are dying for their faith at the hands of wicked men and they do so witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are enabled because of the Spirits power.
Let us join the family of God and surrender our lives not before evil men but before our Lord. Let us give up our rights. Come Spirit of God empower our lives today.

Acts 1:7

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

The disciples were convinced as were their Jewish culture that one day Israel would be the top nation. For the disciples they believed Jesus would bring this about. They then had to go through the topsy-turvy of the Death where things seemed to be at an end and then came the Resurrection. The question on their minds was this: are things back to normal now? Are we still heading for freedom from Roman rule? Are you going to lead us to the top again? Are we going to rule, reign, establish, conquer?
The answer that came wasn’t a YES or NO. In fact it didn’t correct their thinking, it almost encouraged it by simply focusing on knowing the future. Jesus was saying God does not want you to have the crystal ball life. He wants you to live in relationship with Him who will not reveal what’s ahead to you.
So at this point they are still thinking they are heading for the top.
Jesus would correct that in what he says next, but here, they are waiting and even if they don’t know the dates, they are expecting glory here on earth.
There are still some people expecting their glory here on earth. Their promotions. Their accolades. They truly believe God is going to bless them in such a way that they will be top-dog. It’s only time, but it will happen. This is their vision, their dream. To be the best, the most, the biggest, the most sought after, the favourite.
They are like the disciples at this moment: they have not understood the kingdom.
I hope as you consider this today you are quicker off the mark and realise the kingdom of God is not about rising to the top. It is not about how high you climb in life either by praise of men or achievements gained. The kingdom is something quite different.

Acts 1:6
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Prior to the Spirit coming on them there was only one thing on their minds. That was the removal of Roman oppression over Israel. They of course had misunderstood the kingdom that Jesus was speaking about. Without the Spirit there is always misunderstandings of the things of God.

So when they met together what would they talk about? Surely the only thing on their mind was his resurrection experience, that in itself raises so many questions even for us today. How was it? Where did Jesus go? Why did he come back to life? But nothing of that was asked. Instead their thoughts were focused not on Him but on them. When will it be easier for us? When do we win? When are we going to rise?
But again, remember, this was prior to the Spirit.

An indicator of the need of the Spirit is whether a person is talking about Him or themselves. An indicator of the need of the Spirit is that prayers are about the benefit of the person who prays and are not prayers about the will of God.

This is why we need more of the Spirit.

Acts 1:5
For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

To those in love years can seem just like a few days. And to those looking back on a long life can see it as just a fleeting few days.
When I was younger a few days waiting seemed like forever. Now that I am older a few days go by so quickly.

Jesus’ promise was for the event to happen in a few days time. How would this effect them?
How would it effect you if you knew that God had something for you in a few days time?
If you or a loved one were to die in a few days time, how would you live today?
In a few days time what kind of person do you want to be?
Are you going to be held back by spending those few days embracing past hurts?
Or will you have some sort of nostalgia that everyone of worth is in the past and the future is of doom?
Will you blow the next few days away with wild living?
Choose today how you will live these next few days. Who knows but you just may create a habit?!!

Acts 1:4
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.

It was just an ordinary day, a day very similar to any other. An occasion where they were doing what was normal, they were eating. And yet, of course this was no longer ordinary for them. This was one of those times post-resurrection. No day was ordinary in the post-resurrection. It is the same today. Whatever today holds for you, you may think it is predictable, you may think you know what will happen but remember this is the day when Jesus is alive so anything can happen.

This was not a word ‘to GO’ this was ‘to STAY’. It is really important to know the difference. It would appear easy to differentiate. But some people are only wanting to leave, to move on, to go forward and there needs to be people who are wise enough to hear the command of Jesus to wait.

Do you remember the past words the Lord spoke to you about? If you do then you will be able to receive present commands easier for you will place them within the framework of what has already been said.

Acts 1: 3
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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.

The suffering ended for Jesus and it will end for you. After. There is life after. Suffering is never the end. It never has the last word. We must believe for after. Some suffering has to run its course. Let it. For your day is not over. Your day will come again. You will rise again. It happened for Christ and He has made sure it will happen to you.

Jesus had to convince people he was alive. Some people don’t want you to come back. Some have written you off and will not re-write the script. Some want to believe but cannot believe. You need to give many convincing proofs. Keep showing up, every day, be there, let them see you, you are here again!

Jesus spoke the Kingdom of God and so must we. We live in a dark world where there is a prince of darkness who wants to steal, kill and destroy. There are rulers, authorities and powers fighting against the Church, against you. There is s kingdom who will put you on a cross and think you are finished. But you are storming back and what needs declaring is the rulership of God, the domain and authority of God. His kingdom is here to heal, to save, to deliver, to raise! Here right now.

Acts 1:2 … until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

There will come a day when you will no longer be here, you will have been taken to heaven. Until that day carry on. Until that day do the work. Until that day speak up and speak out. For when that day comes then your opportunity will be gone.

Are all your actions and words about now? If so then change that. Think about what happens after you have gone. What have you left behind? Is there anyone going to carry on what you are doing? Is there anyone who is speaking the language of love that you speak. Or does everything die when you die?

– the instructions: There are things in you that need to be revealed. You operate out of these beliefs, values and goals. There is a hidden DNA in you that people only see the benefit of. Reveal what is hidden.
What is most important in life?
How do you do what you do?
Why do you say what you say?

– through the Holy Spirit: He is your helper. Not everything inside you should be revealed! Make sure what you pass on is filtered by Him.

– to the apostles: Don’t pass on all that is in you to people who will not do anything with it. Give it to those who are also sent, the apostles. Give to people who will go further than you and do and say more than you. Build a legacy that reaches far and beyond you would ever possibly achieve on your own.

– he had chosen: Look around. Not through the eyes of man. Look at potential. Look for the willing. Look for those who will follow. Find some people. Choose someone. Don’t be taken empty handed. Everyone should be mourned not because of failure but because they are no more. Decide who they are and remain committed to them.

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach” Acts 1:1

Luke has written his gospel (his former book) and is now writing further.
There is more. Your experience of Jesus in the past, no matter how amazing, is just a part of what can be fully experienced. There is more. Write again. God hasn’t finished with you yet.

No one fully knows who Theophilus was. Many have speculated, but Luke knew.
Tell the story to someone specific. Target someone again. Find your Theophilus. His name means ‘beloved by God’. It is easier to share your life with someone when you know God loves them.

Luke writes of what Jesus began to do and to teach.
Jesus began and now you must begin. You must carry on where Jesus has left. Let your “do” and your “teach” match together. It is your calling.