After Easter…Now What?

In my first book* I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, 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.

4 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. 5 John baptized with* water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 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?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 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.”

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “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!”

INTRODUCTION:

A- The disciples had experienced the gambit of emotions in the previous six weeks.

1. The excitement of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

2. The awe of seeing Jesus cleanse the temple.

3. The intimacy of the Last Supper.

4. The shock of Jesus’ arrest and trials before the Jewish Sanheidren and Roman authorities.

5. The grief of seeing their master die by crucifixion.

6. The amazement and overwhelming joy of finding out that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

7. The mountain-top experiences of 40 days of post-resurrection appearances and teaching by Jesus.

a. There were at least ten separate post-resurrection appearances of Christ to his disciples.

1) In these appearances, he “proved by infallible proofs” that he was physically alive.

2) In these appearances, he taught them about the Kingdom of God.

B- The glory and excitement of Easter has a higher purpose than providing disciples with a mountain-top experience to ponder for life.

1. Jesus repeatedly emphasized the higher purpose and practical purpose of all that he and his disciples had been through together.

a. Jesus shared with his disciples what they were to do in light of Easter…his resurrection.

b. You and I must face the same question “After Easter: Now what?”

TS: Jesus gave his disciples directions that instruct us how we are to live and what we must do in the aftermath of Easter…

I. SEEK THE LORD FOR HIS DIRECTION AND POWER (Acts 1:4-5).

Acts 1:4–5 NLT

4 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. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

(Acts 1:12-14)

Acts 1:12–14 NLT

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

A. Prayer is the starting point for finding God’s direction and power .

Luke 24:41–49

41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

(Acts 1:4-5, 12-14)

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.* 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Prayer is the key to seeing a mighty move of God.

This is why Jesus commanded his people to spend time in prayer.

They had to come to the place that they would be ready to be used by God.

Note that Jesus had already given them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(John 20:21–22)

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

B. The promise of the Holy Spirit comes from the God who does not lie or change.

1- God cannot lie.

(Psalm 89:35)

Psalm 89:35 NLT

35 I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie:

2- God does not change.

(Malachi 3:6)

Malachi 3:6 NLT

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.

3- God’s Holy Spirit is always present with His poeple.

(John 14:15-16)

John 14:15–16 NLT

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

4- The Holy Spirit will do his work as we obey him.

(John 16:7-11).

John 16:7–11 NLT

7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

II. FOCUS ON THE CHRIST-GIVEN MISSION, NOT SIDE-STREET ISSUES (Acts 1:6-8).

Acts 1:6–8 NLT

6 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?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 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.”

A. Side-street issues are a distraction and should be avoided. (Acts 1:6-7).

Acts 1:6–7 NLT

1. Side-street issues can take many forms:

a. Questions over issues that are known only to God.

“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.

1). Illustration: Video of “Why Jesus is coming back before Sept. 7, 2017.”

b. Debates over questions of methods and practices that side-track the church from following Christ’s marching orders.

Worship Wars

Order of Worship

c. Choices that sacrifice commitment and godliness to the false gods of this world.

Families who have made the wrong choice

B. Our focus must be placed upon the fulfillment of the commission Christ has given to us.

1. It is a commission that Christ has equipped us to carry out. (Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 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.”

(Matthew 28:18)

Matthew 28:18 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

2. It is a commission that is clearly laid out in scripture.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

(Luke 24:45-48)

Luke 24:45–48 NLT

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Mark 16:15)

Mark 16:15 NLT

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

III. THE TIME FOR ACTION IS UPON US- THERE IS NO TIME FOR PASSIVENESS AND INACTIVITY (Acts 1:9-11).

Acts 1:9–11 NLT

A. While we serve an amazing Lord, our worship is incomplete if that is our sole focus.

(Acts 1:9)

Acts 1:9 NLT

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.

(Romans 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1- Real worship has not occurred until we have allowed God to do his work of transforming us.

B. We must get busy about the master’s business because the time for work is limited.(Acts 1:10-11).

Acts 1:10–11 NLT

10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “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!”

1- Real worship has not occurred until we are moved into action.

What is His business?

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

CONCLUSION:

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