Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

In this book, it shows how the Christianity becomes established in Jerusalem— The first Christians meet opposition from the same Jewish leaders who had executed Jesus

Pete and John are arrested more than once— Stephen is put to trial and stoned to death

The Apostles are always at odds with the Jewish Council [Sanhedrin], because the apostles insist on preaching the gospel

As the Christians Missionaries Travel, they are sometimes arrested and punished— In Ephesus, Paul’s success with the gospel threatens the local trade in idols and magic charms

In Both Ephesus and Jerusalem, Paul is the centre of a full scale riot

The Key to Reading Acts is to Recognize the Movement of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome

Throughout his story, Luke is careful to point out that Christianity is the fulfilment of the Jewish Faith— The young church is not a threat to Roman authority— when Paul is put on trial in from of the Roman magistrates, they find nothing wrong with his life and teaching

The implied readers of this book are the Gentile Christians— It’s emphasis is that the good news of God’s Salvation through Jesus is for Jew and Gentile Alike— thus fulfilling the Old Testament expectations

The Holy Spirit guides the church in spreading the good news— salvation is for all is God’s thing and nothing can hinder it— the good news is accepted in joy by some and rejected in anger by others

While the Gospel of Luke concentrates on Jesus ministry on earth, His ascension and heavenly rule define the Book of Acts

Now, open your Bible to ACTS 1:1-11, once you get there I’d like you to type, “I’m ready to study the book of Acts”

CHARACTER OF GOD, SIN TO CONFESS, PROMISES TO CLAIM, ATTITUDE TO CHANGE, COMMANDS TO KEEP, EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW, PRAYERS TO PRAY, ERRORS TO AVOID, TRUTH TO BELIEVE, SOMETHING TO THANK GOD FOR

Read ACTS 1:1-11

BOOK

Acts 1:1–11 NLT

1 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 he suffered and died, 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!”

WHAT: Ascension of Jesus into Heaven

WHEN: 40 Days after Resurrection

WHERE: Mount of Olives— Near Bethany

WHO: Theophilus could be a person— but since Theophilus can be translated as “lover of God”, many have suggested that Theophilus is a title rather than a proper name. Disciples.

WHY: Jesus gave them instructions before He was taken up into Heaven

LOOK

HE PRESENTED HIMSELF TO THEM AND GAVE MANY CONVINCING PROOFS THAT HE WAS ALIVE

Jesus being alive is the heart of the Apostles message [our message]

Just recently from the gospel of John we saw the accounts how Jesus revealed His resurrected self to Mary Magdalene, to his disciples, to the two who are on the way to Emmaus, and to many more

They saw the glorified Jesus with their own eyes and they stood as witnesses for Christ— but before they could even witness for Him, they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit to receive power

DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED

What gift was that? The Holy Spirit! Let’s quickly circle back to JOHN 14:26 to refresh us about this promise

FOR JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Water Baptism is the Baptism of Repentance [indwelling]— Baptism in the Holy Spirit is when you receive power [infilling]

We had an intensive conversation and study about this matter— if you missed it, or if you want to review it, on your free time, go back to our August 24 Devotional Study available on my FB profile or at our Church YouTube Channel

IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR DATES THE FATHER HAS SET BY HIS OWN AUTHORITY

Obviously, the disciples are anxious to know when the Lord is going to restore the kingdom to Israel— very significant event in our modern day that points towards this restoration is when President Trump moved the US Embassy to Israel recently

It was a very bold move to recognize Israel and the US allegiance to it

We’re flooded with a lot of prophecies about the Lord’s return, specially now that the world in its most uncertain times— we are in it! And many are anxious to know when the Lord is coming back

But the Lord has been very very clear about the time of His return— that no one, not even Himself knows when— MATTHEW 24:36

Jesus deflects the apostles question and tells them they should be concerned with timing— rather Jesus said these

YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU

What is the purpose of that power that they received afterwards during the Pentecost at Jerusalem?— power to be the Lord’s witnesses, first in Jerusalem [family, community], in all Judea [State or Province], Samaria [Country, other cultures or ethnicity] and to the ends of the earth [world]

We are empowered by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to do many things but primarily to be witnesses for Christ— yes we none of us have seen the Lord with our own eyes— but by faith we had our personal encounter with the Lord

Jesus said to Thomas, blessed are those who didn’t see and yet believed— that’s faith! In Hebrews faith was described as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see!

AFTER HE SAID THIS, HE WAS TAKEN UP BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES

When somebody departs from us, what we normally remember is his or her last words— 45 years after my mother died, her words that resonates to me still was when she uttered “Tatay.. si Anthony, si Koreano, huwag mong pababayaan”

In the same way that we shall always keep the Lord’s last words in our hearts and minds fresh everyday— and those words were, we will be his witnesses in our family, in our state, in our country and in the world

While the disciples was looking up intently into the sky— two angels suddenly appeared to them and said— Men of Galilee, 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

So, we know how but we don’t know when the Lord is coming back— this was later on relayed by Paul to church in Thessalonica— 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17

TOOK

I DON’T KNOW WHEN, BUT I KNOW HOW THE LORD WILL RETURN

I WILL DO WHAT JESUS SAID WHILE WAITING FOR HIS RETURN

SING

Elevation Worship— SEE A VICTORY

Related Media

Related Sermons