Category: Studies in Acts

Sermon: Sunday, 24th September, 2023
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

We spend a lot of time in church teaching about the cross and the resurrection, and rightly so, because these are both central pillars of the Christian faith. However, perhaps we are guilty of neglecting the ascension of Jesus, when he left this world to return to Heaven, to rule and to reign as the exalted King of Kings. Do you think much about Jesus’ ascension? Remember, after Jesus rose from the dead, there was a period of 40 days when he made several appearances to people, to individuals, to the disciples and also to a larger group. There are about a dozen such appearances recorded for us in the Bible. For each of these appearances, the resurrected Jesus would have left Heaven, from the right hand of the Father, and come back down to earth. For example, he appeared on the road to Emmaus, to the disciples without Thomas but later with Thomas, to Peter and to 500. (See 1 Corinthians 15:6) Jesus did not stay on earth throughout these 40 days, but was coming and going from Heaven. But this coming and going was not going to last.

Jesus wants to make it clear the disciples that he is about to return to Heaven permanently, and there will be no more resurrection appearances until the Second Coming. I think that’s why Jesus leaves in the public and dramatic way he does. If you think about it, he could have just disappeared and never come back. But that would have left the disciples in limbo, wondering if he would appear again in a few days’ time.

“Jesus departed in a style designed to convey finality. Even then, it was not ‘Farewell’ but ‘Au revoir’, for as the apostles stood gazing at the heavens, two angelic messengers appeared to tell them that Jesus would return from Heaven in a similar manner to that in which he had just departed.” (Gordon Keddie)

The temporary period of 40 days has drawn to a close. Jesus is leaving them physically, only to return at the end of time, when he comes back as Judge. Amazingly, his departure is a wonderful thing for the church, because although no longer physically present, by his Spirit, Jesus will be with all of his people all of the time, empowering them in their Christian walk, and assuring them of his love. ‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement…’ (John 16:7-8)

1. The details of the ascension

We are not given many details about this crucial event. ‘And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.’ (Acts 1:9) Imagine being there. Jesus begins to ascend into the sky. And the only other detail we are given is about the clouds. Is this significant? I always just visualised Jesus being hidden from them as he went above the clouds. However, it actually says that the cloud not only surrounds Jesus, but also carries him away. In other words, the cloud is his mode of transport to Heaven.

This might seem insignificant. But it is actually a wonderful detail, especially in the light of the prophecy made about Jesus’ ascension in the book of Daniel. Acts details the ascension from a human viewpoint, whereas Daniel’s viewpoint is from Heaven itself. ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.’ (Daniel 7:13-14)

The way Daniel describes it, Jesus’ ascension is like his coronation procession, where he is taken away from his earthly ministry and into his heavenly glory and reign. Just 10 days after his ascension, on the day of Pentecost, Jesus will pour out his Spirit on the church. ‘Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.’ (Acts 2:33)

When you think of Jesus, and talk to Jesus, where do you picture him to be? This is an important question! It is vital that we grasp that he is no longer dead on the cross, but is alive in the throne room of Heaven, in heaven’s headquarters, where he is working all things for good.

2. The distraction of the ascension

What do I mean by that? They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘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 1:10-11)

At first, the question of the two angels might seem unfair. Of course, the disciples would be staring up at the sky, we might think. So, why do the angels give this mild rebuke? We need to remind ourselves of the context of this passage. Jesus has just given his disciples a hugely important job to do, to be his witnesses near and far. They have received their marching orders. They are to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit, and then they are to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the task of spreading the gospel. In this sense, the angels are redirecting the gaze of the disciples. It is as if they are saying, don’t look up to the sky, wondering when Jesus will come back, but rather look out into the needy world, and focus on the task he has entrusted you with.

“Looking up into heaven is inappropriate. He will indeed come back in the same way. But, being assured of that fact, you must not spend any time looking up into the sky in anticipation of the event. Rather, you must set your eyes upon the work he is giving you to do!” (Gordon Keddie)

I think there’s a lesson for us today. Maybe we are a bit like the disciples here. We’ve been given a clear job to do, but instead we stare up into the sky, as it were, speculating about when exactly Jesus will return, or speculating about other questions in the Christian life, which are of very little importance. It’s quite an image- the disciples are skygazing when they should be amongst people, living out the gospel in actions and sharing it in words. Sometimes we make such a big deal about our preferences for worship style, whether based on the Bible or not, or how we should dress at church, or wishing church was more like the way it was when we were young. We can be guilty of majoring on the minors. Jesus would want us to focus on the major task at hand- evangelising lost souls. What is it that distracts you in the Christian life? What will help you to refocus your gaze onto being a witness for Jesus? Stop looking, and get working!

Or maybe you are distracted by tv or holidays or gardening or good food or your appearance. Don’t gaze into the mirror, but see instead the lost world around you. We all have our hobbies and legitimate concerns, but don’t let them weigh us down. ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ (Hebrews 12:1-2)

There’s a further incentive here for staying focused on being a good witness of Christ Jesus, and that’s the fact that Jesus is coming back. ‘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 1:11) This is the Second Coming of Jesus. It helps us to consider the sobering truth: we will one day have to give an account of our lives to Jesus. We won’t have to give an account of our lives to anyone else, not our spouse or children or friends or even our bosses. Only Jesus. It makes sense then, to live for his glory, and to get on with the work he has given us to do. Then we’ll hear one day the amazing words ‘well done, good and faithful servant’. Now is the time between the ascension and the 2nd Coming. Now is the time for sharing the gospel.

3. The difference the ascension makes

We’ve already noted one huge difference that the ascension makes to the church, and that is the giving of the Holy Spirit to all those who trust in Jesus for their salvation. Yes, we’re called to be witnesses and that’s not always an easy task, but we’re equipped by God for the job. He will help up live out holy lives and he will give us the words to say as we share our testimony. Let’s spend the rest of our time looking more widely at what the rest of Bible teaches us about the practical difference the resurrection makes in our lives. As we do so, let’s consider what Jesus is doing right now: he’s sitting, he’s interceding and he’s preparing.

Jesus is sitting. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he sat down. ‘Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.’ (Hebrews 10:11-13)

When you are doing manual work, for example, you’ve been catching up on housework for most of the day, we all know the lovely feeling of knowing that you’ve finished the housework and you can just sit down and have a cup of tea and rest. Sitting down is a sign that the work has been completed. Jesus has finished his work of dying on the cross for our sins, and so now he can sit in the place of rule, at the Father’s right hand. That is great news for us. It means that the task of covering over our sins has been finished. So, when we trust in Jesus for our salvation, God treats us as if we had never sinned. We are righteous and innocent in his sight. Enjoy the fact that Jesus sits in Heaven.

Jesus is interceding. ‘Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.’ (Romans 8:34)

What does this mean? It means that Jesus is always thinking about us, praying for us, and arguing our case before his Father. He does this for all of his children. He does this for you, if you trust in him.

I’ve shared before how encouraged I was to meet an elderly Christian man who said to me: ‘I pray for you every day’. I was really taken aback. I didn’t know him very well. But it was just what I needed to hear, and just what I needed in my weakness. But there’s something even more encouraging- Jesus is doing that for us each and every day.

Jesus is preparing. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ (John 14:1-3)

Is your heart troubled today? What a truth this is to help us to keep perspective- Jesus is getting everything ready for us to spend eternity with him in Heaven. One of our friends in Oxford allowed us to spend time in their cottage there. It was really kind of them. They worked hard to get everything ready for our arrival. Then they could say: ‘Come and stay – everything is now ready’. One day we shall hear those words from Jesus himself.

These are all huge encouragements. Let’s think about the ascended and reigning King Jesus more than we sometimes do!

Sermon: Sunday, 17th September, 2023
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Is 2023 a good time to be alive in Scotland? Perhaps you wish you’d lived 100 years ago when the churches in the town were much fuller. Perhaps you wish you’d lived in Israel in the days Jesus was on the earth. Scotland seems so secular these days. So many people believe it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere. Many seem to reject Christianity, without even knowing what it is really about. It’s easy to have a negative outlook. But I’d like us to be encouraged by this wonderful passage this morning, by understanding the times we are in today. There’s no point in false hopes or groundless positivity. However, this passage is full of truths which ought to encourage us, if we are able to grasp them and think deeply about their implications.

So, what are some reasons to be encouraged in these days?

1. Jesus is still at work in the world

The book of Acts is written by Dr Luke, the same person who wrote Luke’s Gospel. In a way, the book of Acts is just Luke, volume 2. Acts is the sequel to Luke. Both of these books are dedicated to a man called Theophilus. We know almost nothing about this man, but some think he was a high-ranking government official, who is a believer, but has some doubts about the faith. Luke wants to assure him of the truthfulness of the gospel. Luke wants Theophilus to know that all that is recorded in Luke and Acts really happened. It is trustworthy information, from eyewitnesses who saw these things. ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven…’ Notice the word ‘began’. The implication is this: even though Jesus will no longer be with them physically, because he is going to Heaven, he will continue to be at work in the world by his Holy Spirit, through his apostles and through the church.

Even right now as we worship in Kirkcaldy Free Church, Jesus is with us by his Spirit, and is at work in our lives. He is the King and head of the church. He continues to bring new people into his family, and continues to help Christians on a daily basis. This is enormously encouraging. When we see people becoming Christians, and we have in recent months, we are seeing Jesus at work. When we see Christians, over time, wrestling with their sins and problems, and making progress, this is Jesus at work. We need to grasp this and we need to believe it.

In the book of Revelation chapter 1, we read about seven lampstands which stand for the seven churches: ‘I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.’ (Revelation 1:12-13) Jesus is with us and amongst us, working in our lives. It is often said, and helpfully so, that the title of this book ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ is not a good one. It is not the God-given title. A better title suggested is ‘The Acts of Jesus Christ, by the power of his Spirit, through the church”. We are part of the church. So, let’s not be pessimistic about the church, or cynical about her, but believe that we are the instrument through which Christ continues to be at work in the world. Be encouraged.

2. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world and within us

We must not miss the drama unfolding in this chapter. For hundreds and hundreds of years, God had been promising that a day would come when his Spirit would permanently indwell his people, giving them enormous power. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come on particular people, at particular times for particular tasks. For example, a prophet or a king might receive the Spirit’s filling for a time, in order to help them with their God-given work. However, in the Old Testament, these people would know the Spirit in a more temporary and external way. However, a day would come, God promised, when the Spirit would be poured out on all Christians, to help us live for Jesus, and be his witnesses on the world.

‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.’ (Isaiah 44:3-5)

‘I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’ (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

These are wonderful promises. And as Jesus is about to leave the disciples and ascend into Heaven, he says, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 1:4-5)

What a tremendous time for us to be alive! We are in the ‘last days’ when the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all Christians, so that we can be empowered to tell people about him. Why is the Holy Spirit given to us? One reason is clear: so that we, ordinary Christians, will be able to share our faith with other people. Read v 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.’

Again, we can be pessimistic about sharing our faith in Fife. We can think all kinds of negative thoughts, like: no one will be interested in what I have to say; or I can’t possibly explain the gospel to other people- that’s a job for ministers and elders; or I won’t be able to answer questions I’m asked. But none of these things are true. What is true is that God has given us an enormous task of spreading the gospel world-wide, but when he calls us to a task he always provides the power to carry out the task. You are a witness of Jesus Christ. All Christians have the power of the Spirit to give us understanding, and give us the words to say, and give us the ability to live consistent holy lives, and give us boldness to speak to people. Is this a good time to be alive in Scotland? It’s the age of gospel proclamation, when the good news is to be taken to the ends of the earth.

3. The disciples’ confusion

The disciples must have been absolutely pumped with excitement at what Jesus was saying. At long last, the days of blessing were coming- just a few days away. Their expectations are sky high. However, they have the wrong expectations. We can see this from their question: ‘Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ (Acts 1:6)

The main point of their confusion flows from assuming that the Kingdom was going to be a political kingdom. They are thinking of a geographical kingdom, like the United Kingdom. But Jesus’ Kingdom is a spiritual one and not limited to one nation, not even Israel. In fact, Jesus Kingdom was now going to be international. The church was not going to be national, but international and universal in scope. And the Kingdom was not, as they thought, going to arrive quickly. They ask if Jesus is going to ‘at this time’ restore the Kingdom. Jesus corrects their thinking on all of these points, telling them not to focus on the timing of the Kingdom, but rather on the task of the Kingdom.

The disciples have a limited vision of where the Kingdom would be. Their minds are on the country of Israel. They want Roman power to be broken there and be an independent nation again. They want the glory days of King David and King Solomon. Jesus broadens their horizons. Christian mission would include Jerusalem and Judea, but would also take in the despised Samaritans and even further afield- the very ends of the earth. Even in our own church, we can see how Jesus’ statement has come true. We have people from Moldova and Romania and Nigeria and Slovakia and Brazil and Bulgaria and hopefully help coming from the US and even some Irish people. I’d love to see more nationalities here. The good news that Jesus is able to forgive sinners who place their trust in him is news that the whole world needs to hear.

4. The task of the church

We’ve already seen this a little but let’s think more about it. The apostles were called to be witnesses to Jesus locally in Jerusalem. But they were also to have a regional concern for those in Judea. And they had to take the message to their historical enemies, the Samaritans, and even beyond that to the ends of the earth.

What about Kirkcaldy Free Church? Of course, we must have a concern for our own town of Kirkcaldy. But the ripples must go beyond our own doorstep, to the region of Fife. But that’s not far enough. We should be concerned with Scotland and Europe and the farthest places on the globe. When you throw a stone into the water, the ripples go from the centre and continue to go out wider and wider. This is a picture of what our missionary interest ought to look like.

We must start locally. This is our Jerusalem. Sometimes it is hardest to witness at home, to our children and our spouse and our siblings. Bringing our children to church and worshipping with them at home is part of being Jesus’ witnesses at home. Are we doing this? Are we reaching those closest to us? That surely includes our immediate neighbours and work colleagues. Pray for opportunities to speak with them about Jesus. We run the church café on order to reach people locally. We must also use our own homes too, spending time with people, getting to know them.

However, we also have a responsibility to reach those further afield. How wonderful that we can be involved in supporting a church plant in Leven. We are not just focused on our own patch that we are blinkered to real gospel need in Fife at large. We must reach beyond our own locality. We think of Scotland, and we pray for a healthy gospel church in every community in Scotland.

Finally, we care deeply about gospel impact all over the world. We get involved in Blythswood and Steadfast Global and Wycliffe and Tearfund and Overseas Mission. This week I was privileged to interview a young man from Brazil who wants to come and minister in Scotland. He is Brazilian but he sees the gospel need in Europe and in Scotland in particular. He understands that his gospel interest should not just be limited to Brazil, but to the ends of the earth. He has a broad missional horizon.

A challenge for today – it’s true that being witnesses for Jesus will not be easy. Some people might not want to listen. Others might not want to be friends with us any more. Some people will be offended. Does that mean we should retreat, and just keep our faith to ourselves? Are we to be some kind of private Christians? Just because it is a costly and self-sacrificial activity?

Of course not! Now it is our turn to be witnesses for Jesus. That’s one reason why we need to get involved in our communities, and in the lives of friends and neighbours. We have good news to share. That’s why we need to keep on praying as we do this, depending on the power of God. And we need to go out in faith, with the message that Jesus Christ is the only King and the only Saviour. Tell other people about Jesus. We have been given the power to do so.

‘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.’ (Acts 1:8)