5 Things Jesus Left The Church

Text: Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1:1-11

1          The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2          Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3          To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4          And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5          For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6          When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7          And he said unto them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8          But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’

9          And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10       And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11       Which also said, ‘Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’

I.                   INTRODUCTION

A.      HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATIONS

1.            Perhaps you have heard about the congregation that decided to build a new church building.

a.     A Building Committee was chosen and soon they began meeting regularly.

b.     After MANY meetings and much discussion, the Building Committee passed the following resolutions:

(1)             We shall build a new church.

(2)             The new building is to be located on the site of the OLD building.

(3)             The material in the old building is to be used in the construction of the NEW building.

(4)             We shall continue to use the OLD building until the NEW building is complete.

2.            Change is difficult because we are creatures of habit.

a.     If you don’t believe me, just consider the following…

(1)             Nearly everybody parks in the same place in the parking lot outside.

(2)             Nearly everybody sits on the same pew in worship and in the same chair in Sunday School.

(3)             We rarely change the order of the service, because we like the idea of knowing what to expect.

(a)              It’s no different at home…

1)         You have YOUR parking spot, and rarely does anyone dare park there.

2)         You have YOUR chair or place you sit in your living room.

3)         Every morning you go through the same routine, whatever that routine may be.

3.            You see, we are creatures of habit and we don’t do “CHANGE” very well.

a.     Allow me to illustrate:

(1)             A new pastor was commenting to one of his members about the many years that he had been a member of the church.

(2)             The pastor said, “I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of changes in all your years.”

(3)             The man replied, “Yeah, and I’ve been against every one of them!”

B.       THE BOOK OF ACTS

1.            Acts is a book about what Jesus began to do and teach until His ascension and what the believers did after Jesus ascended.

2.            Acts is a book that tells us the Jewish Clock had stopped ticking and the dispensation of Grace had come to fruition as the Church was born.

3.            Acts is one of the most exciting books in the New Testament – it records the ascension of Jesus and the history of the Early Church.

a.     As the ascended Christ, Jesus is…

(1)             The head of the Church; and

(2)             The help and the hope of the Christian.

4.            I want to share with you Five Things Jesus Left the Church…

II.                 BODY

A.      FIRST: JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH AN UNFINISHED MISSION.

1.            Three times in the Gospels, and once in the Book of Acts, Jesus told us what to do.

a.     Matthew 28:19-20 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

b.     Mark 16:15 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

c.      Luke 24:47 – And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

d.     Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2.            Jesus told us what to say.

a.     We are to witness by our WORDS – testimony of our lips.

(1)             Matthew 10:32 – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

b.     We are to witness by our WORK – consistency of our lives.

c.      We are to witness by our WARMNESS – challenge of our love.

3.            Jesus also told us where to serve:

a.     Jerusalem – our local areas (our families, our work places, our city).

b.     Judea – our Parish.

c.      Samaria – our State.

d.     Uttermost Part of the Earth – Home and Foreign Missions.

4.            Have you ever considered the TURTLE?

a.     The only way a turtle can make progress and get anywhere is to stick his neck out.

(1)             I wonder: would you be willing to stick your neck out for Jesus this week?

5.            One elderly lady I read about was praying one day, and as she finished her prayer she made this unusual request:

a.     “Lord, when you are through with this old soul on earth, let me come into heaven dragging tired!”

(1)             I pray that some of your wonderful elders of this church have the same prayer request.

(2)             You need to pray that God will give you the health and ability to work faithfully for His kingdom, literally SPENDING your life for Him!

6.            Jesus left the Church an unfinished mission:

a.     We are to share the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ!

B.       SECOND: JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH AN UNCHALLENGED MESSAGE

1.            Acts 1:3 – He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days and speaking the things pertaining the Kingdom of God.

a.     It is important to understand that the story of Jesus Christ has six stages:

(1)             Stage 1 – The conquest was predicted in Genesis 3:15.

(2)             Stage 2 – The conquest began in the ministry of Jesus in His earthly life.

(3)             Stage 3 – The conquest was achieved in the death of Jesus on the Cross.

(4)             Stage 4 – The conquest was confirmed in the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.

(5)             Stage 5 – The conquest is being extended today through the Church.

(6)             Stage 6 – The conquest will be consummated by the return of Jesus Christ.

2.            We are presently in Stage 5 of this incredible story.

a.     The conquest of Jesus is being extended through the Church.

3.            The Church is telling the story of Jesus around the world and thousands upon thousands are coming into the Kingdom of God as a result!

C.       THIRD: JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH THE POWER TO ACOMPLISH THE MISSION AND SHARE THE MESSAGE.

1.            Through the Holy Spirit, He gives us the power of conviction.

a.     The Holy Ghost brings conviction to the saved concerning the need for sharing the Good News of forgiveness of sins and salvation to the unsaved.

b.     The Holy Ghost also brings conviction to those who are unsaved for the purpose of helping them realize their lost condition and the need of salvation.

2.            The Holy Spirit gives the power of confrontation.

a.     When we know we are going out under the “authority of God” we know that we cannot fail!

(1)             The commission of Christ encourages us in our witnessing.

3.            Our conviction about the needs of the unsaved encourages us to be faithful in sharing the Gospel of Christ…

a.     His death, burial, and resurrection and how it is applied to our lives today.

4.            The Holy Spirit gives us the power of compassion, as well.

a.     Through the Holy Ghost we realize that witnessing is not about us…it’s about the lost!

(1)             Through the compassion of the Holy Ghost we are to tell others of the saving grace and power of Christ.

(a)              Remember, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!

D.      FOURTH: JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH AN UNSHAKEABLE TESTIMONY.

1.            Jesus has left His Church the testimony of a Living Word.

a.     The greatest testimony we have is, first of all, the witness of our lives; and if He has to, God will use the witness of our lips.

(1)             When your friends witness the difference in your life, they will naturally ask about it, opening the door for you to tell them what Christ has done in your life.

(2)             Jesus uses our WORKS and our WORDS to win the lost.

(3)             Your lifestyle changes speak volumes to those who knew you before the Holy Ghost changed you.

(a)              And the longer you live for the Lord, the louder your LIFE should speak concerning His love and grace!

(b)             Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

2.            Jesus has left the Church the testimony of a written Word…

a.     The Bible is a Book of Revelation, Redemption, and Regulation!

E.        FIFTH: JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH AN UNCHANGING PROMISE.

1.            In Acts 1:11 the Angel said to the disciples, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

2.            Just as Jesus left, He shall return.

a.     Jesus left bodily, and He shall return bodily.

b.     Jesus left visibly, and He shall return visibly.

c.      Jesus left in person, and He shall return in person.

d.     Jesus left on a cloud, and He will return on a cloud.

e.     Jesus left from the Mount of Olives, and He shall return to the Mount of Olives!

3.            Yes friends, Jesus left His Church an unchanging promise; and that is that He is coming again, and this time He will take His bride – the Church – to be with Him in Heaven!

a.     I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of that Bride that is raptured out of this old world and ushered into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

III.              CLOSE

A.      5 THINGS JESUS LEFT THE CHURCH

1.            Jesus left the Church an unfinished mission.

2.            Jesus left the Church an unchallenged message.

3.            Jesus left the Church the power to accomplish the mission and share the message.

4.            Jesus left the Church an unshakeable testimony.

5.            Jesus left the Church an unchanging promise.

B.       ALTAR CALL