Morning Message Text: Acts 1: 1-11
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 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, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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.
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.
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
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.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 “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.”
Morning Message:
Today I want to remind us to have the right focus. There is so much that distracts us in today’s world. Sometimes we need to stop, take a breath, and refocus on the things that really matter in our Christian lives. I know that I preach this all the time, but what would God have us focus on? Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It can be so easy to get caught up in the glory of it all that we miss some very important things that we need to focus on.
First, we need to realize the importance of this event. Everything that takes place and is written about in scripture has a purpose, and many times more than one. The Ascension was prophesized many times in the Old Testament, so this is a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus predicted and made known to his disciples many times about this coming event. Jesus told them very clearly that he would return to the Father in heaven. After his ascension it is well documented in scripture of his presence in heaven. Stephen, when he was being stoned to death looked up and saw Jesus standing there. Paul saw the ascended Lord Jesus Christ when his life was forever changed on the road to Damascus. In Revelation John saw the slain lamb standing at the center of the throne. This was the same Lamb whom he had known personally on earth.
Let me ask you. Do you think that the ascension of Jesus was just a glorious event to prove to us that Jesus is in heaven? I think that is a very small part of this story. Let me move from this subject for a moment and examine the heart of God. This is worth repeating. God’s heart, his very essence is love; and what does he love? His creation. Let me give you an example of what God really sees. We know the nature of God through the person of Jesus. Do you remember the story of the women at the well? Unlike the disciples and the townspeople, I do not think that Jesus ever, ever thought of the woman at the well as a prostitute. He only saw her as thirsty. Jesus knew that she yearned and ached with a parched soul for the kind of water that satisfies and gives inner peace, contentment, joy, zest, and life. The trouble was she had drunk from so many wells that left her even more thirsty. Haven’t we all? Jesus did not focus on what her life had been. He did not focus on her outward appearance. His focus was on her true need. We are all born with a humongous God-sized vacuum in our hearts that can only be filled by him.
Do we see people as thirsty? Jesus saw in people what they could become. Think about this for a moment. We are capable of thinking this way. After all, don’t we see our children and grandchildren this way; sometimes, maybe to a fault. Because Jesus did not focus on anything negative and only on what could be, he saw a worshiping woman and a Good News Proclaimer in this woman at the well.
Remember little Zacchaeus? Jesus didn’t see an evil tax collector. He saw a hidden philanthropist; a heart of a giver.
Jesus didn’t look at all of Peter’s mistakes in judgment and see a bumbling idiot who would always have his foot in his mouth. He saw a Rock of an Apostle and a born leader who would fearlessly proclaim the gospel.
The world saw Paul as a terrorist of Christians. Jesus saw a world changer that would bring many to salvation.
Jesus did not get bogged down in the muck of people’s current sinful reality but saw past the junk to envision what God could do if their spiritual thirsts were quenched. May we do the same. What do we see when we look at people?
This is what caught my attention as I focused on today’s text. Jesus is telling his disciples about all the wonderful power that will soon be bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit. You would think that they would be excited, thrilled, overjoyed, but instead they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” I wonder how many of them had family members, friends, and acquaintances that had still not come to Jesus for salvation. Jesus had just told them that they would have great power to witness to the world and their first thought was let’s bring this world to an end right now. Jesus basically says to them, your focus is wrong. Stop thinking about all the benefits of the coming kingdom and get out there and do everything that you can in the power of the Holy Spirit to fill my kingdom. Notice that he says to the ends of the earth. And, oh yes! Samaria too.
Even the angels are sent with basically the same message. Why are you standing around looking at the clouds? Get to work! Jesus is coming back in the same way; will you still be standing here or will you do what you were told? I need this message today as much as anyone. I have been so discouraged lately by the condition of so many who seem so ungodly and lost. The world is exploding all around us and instead of seeing lost souls that need the help that God so gracefully bestowed upon me, I have started to focus on the ugliness of their sins. I find myself saying, Lord is it time for your kingdom now? I am reminded today, that is not the right focus; that is not the call that Jesus put on my life or yours. Today, more than ever, we need the right focus.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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