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YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSESS

Acts 1:1-11

Key Verse:1:8 “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.”

  We praise and give thanks to God who richly blessed our Easter Bible Conference at Camp Jo-Ota last weekend. Through this conference, we experienced God’s endless forgiving love through Jesus’ prayer on the cross and the power of resurrection which enables us to overcome current challenges and limitations.  Indeed, Christ has been raised and lived in us and been with us! Amen.

  From this week we’ll study the book of Acts as a sequel of Luke’s gospel. In fact, Luke, a historian and physician, was the author of the two books.  We don’t know exactly when and where Luke wrote the book of Acts, but we believe that it was around AD 70 while Paul was still living in Rome as a prisoner.  According to verses 1,2, in Luke’s gospel, Luke wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until Jesus was taken up to heaven. Luke’s gospel teaches us the birth of Jesus, his youth life, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension. In the book of Acts, Luke teaches us how Christian churches were born, how they grew and how the gospel of Jesus spread to Jerusalem, to all Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth through his apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Especially we learn how the Holy Spirit worked through the apostles in spreading the gospel of Jesus. So, someone says that the book of Acts is ‘the Acts of the Apostles’ or ‘the Acts of the Holy Spirit.’ I pray that God may pour out his Holy Spirit upon all of us while we study this book so that we may be fearless witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection in our generation. Amen.

First, the Risen Christ gave his disciples many convincing proofs of his resurrection. (3) Look at verse 3. “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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.” Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He appeared to several sorrowful women, and then he appeared to his two despairing disciples who were walking on the road to Emmanus.  All these people who had met the Risen Jesus face to face were completely changed. Their sorrow became an unutterable joy. Their despair became a living hope for the kingdom of God. They went back to the apostles and testified that Jesus was alive. However, the apostles wouldn’t believe their testimonies. They thought that the women’s testimony sounded like nonsense and that the two disciples’ report was implausible. (Lk 24:11,36) While they were still talking about the report, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When they thought the Risen Jesus of a ghost, Jesus rebuked them saying, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”  (Lk 24:38,39)  The disciples saw the nailed hands and pierced feet and side with their own eyes. Thomas must have put his finger where the nails were and put his hands into his side. (Jn 20:27) It was Jesus! It was the one who was crucified with two other criminals, died, was wrapped, and carried away to the tomb. This same Jesus was alive and stood in their presence with new image and new body, the glorious resurrection body.

  Still, they did not believe it because of joy and amazement, Jesus asked them to bring something to eat. When they brought a piece of broiled fish, Jesus took it and ate it in their presence. (Lk24:32) In order to give them more convincing proofs that he was alive, Jesus began to teach the Bible. He said, “This is what I told you while I was with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Lk 24:44) Jesus had the first Easter Bible Conference with his disciples in Jerusalem. During this Easter conference, Jesus taught them the Bible and helped them to write testimonies, to memorize key verses, to have Bible quizzes, an award ceremony, duet Easter drama by Peter and John, singspirations by Bart and Matt, and so on.

Jesus spent with them for forty days. Last weekend we had the conference for two nights and three days. But, Jesus had the Easter conference for forty days with his disciples. During this period, Jesus helped them to firmly believe the resurrection of Christ. Jesus repeated his resurrection messages again and again until they could not but believe that Jesus was alive. During this period, Jesus also taught them the kingdom of God. The title of part one was “He has risen!”, and the title of part two was “the Kingdom of God.” The first message of Jesus on this earth was “The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15) Here we learn that all our messages should be focused on the kingdom of God. The purpose of our church also should be the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the foundation of all Christian churches and is that of our Christian faith.

We understand why Jesus gave his disciples many convincing proofs of his resurrection. We are the same as his disciples in doubting and forgetting.  Among sensory loss in our body, the loss of hearing ability comes first as we age.  We often forget what we heard even a minute ago. Jesus predicted his suffering, death, and resurrection to his disciples again and again as a mother instructs to her children repeatedly. Still his disciples forgot what Jesus had said, and then they doubted Jesus’ resurrection. We studied the resurrection of Christ for three weeks based on 1 Corinthians 15.  Indeed, Christ died for our sins and has been raised from the dead. Indeed, as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. Indeed, we all will be changed like Jesus at the last trumpet sound. There is no despair or failure in those who have resurrection faith. The Risen Jesus lives in us and answers our prayer when we trust in him. However, some of us have already forgotten what they had heard before and doubted the power of prayer. We must repent of our unbelief and complaining spirit. Jesus rebuked the doubting Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.” (Jn 20:27) I did not doubt about God’s blessing upon our Easter Bible Conference because we have prayed for it for 40 days. I believed that God never ignores our prayer and that he will answer our prayer no matter what. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” May God help us to overcome our doubt and unbelief so that we may grow God-pleasing men and women of faith. Amen.

Second, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.(4,5) Look at verses 4,5. “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. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The Risen Jesus asked his disciples not to leave Jerusalem. His disciples desired to leave Jerusalem as soon as possible because Jerusalem was the city where their master Jesus was crucified and where life-threatening enemies were seeking for their lives. Nevertheless, Jesus asked them to stay in Jerusalem. Jesus wanted them to overcome their failure in Jerusalem. Jesus wanted them to start God’s work from Jerusalem. Jesus wanted them to wait for the Holy Spirit which the Father God had promised. Jesus wanted them to be baptized by the Holy Spirit so that they might carry out God’s great plan for world salvation.

  How is different the baptism of the Holy Spirit from the baptism of John? The baptism of John is the baptism of repentance. (Lk 3:3, Acts 19:4) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism for the forgiveness of sin and for regeneration. John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit. (Lk 3:6) When his disciples are baptized with the Holy Spirit, they will be changed into new creations. They will be equipped with necessary things for them to carry out God’s great world salvation plan.

Third, you will be my witnesses. (6-8) Look at verse 6. “So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  The restoration of the kingdom of Israel was a hot issue to the Israelites who had been occupied by foreign countries for long years. It was their urgent and practical problem to be solved. Indeed, their suffering under the Roman Empire was more than they could bear. So, all the disciples of Jesus expected that Jesus could redeem the kingdom of Israel with his mighty power and authority.(Lk 24:21) Jesus knew what they desired.

  How did Jesus answer them? Look at verses 7,8. “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” Jesus said to his disciples that they must put the future of Israel into God’s hand because God rules the world. They must know that it was not Caesar, but God who controls the world history , and it is God who redeems his country Israel. Instead of worrying about the destiny of Israel, they should seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said to his disciples who worried about their security, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Jesus had a great faith in his disciples when he gave them the world mission command. His disciples were a handful Galilean fishermen and commoners. They were weak and vulnerable in many ways. They all ran away out of fear when Jesus was arrested. They did not put any hope in themselves. But, Jesus was different. Jesus had a great faith in them despite their poor human condition. Jesus saw great world mission vision through them. When we look at others, we must see them with the eyes of hope. We must see a great vision for each of them to carry out God’s great plan for this world.  When Jesus saw the change of a Samaritan woman, he had a great vision for evangelizing the whole townspeople. (Jn 4:35) When I was converted, I was the only one UBF member in my art college. However, God’s servant saw His vision through me to evangelize the whole campus. Jesus’ disciples might have despaired for themselves, but Jesus did not. Jesus believed that God would use them greatly for world salvation plan in the future. May God give us the eyes of Jesus to see each person with the hope of God. Amen.

Jesus’ great faith in his disciples was based on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus believed that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God the Almighty. Jesus called the Holy Spirit, “Another Counselor”, and “Another Comforter”. (Jn 14:16) It is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. (Jn 15:13)  Above all, the Holy Spirit gives us power, power which enables us to carry out God’s world mission.  Whatever we do, we need power. When your alarm clock is dead, its power is gone. It needs new battery, new power. As we have studied, Jesus’ disciples had no power. They were spiritually dead because of their unbelief.  They followed Jesus for three years with passion and desire. But, now their human efforts and loyalty ran out like a worn-out battery.  Now, Jesus promised to give them the Holy Spirit. When they are baptized with the Holy Spirit, they will be changed. They will receive power. They will receive courage, wisdom, and all necessary strength to be witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Jesus commanded them to be witnesses of his death and resurrection in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. At that time, “to be a witness” implies “to become a martyr”. Being his witness is not like fulfilling our jury duty, but  becoming a martyr for the sake of Christ. In order to become witnesses of Jesus, the disciples would confront many challenges and obstacles. They should overcome the fear of the Jewish elites who were seeking for their lives. They also should deny their human ambition and worldly dreams for the sake of the gospel. They should overcome racial barrier, language barrier, cultural and gender barriers to win over the gentiles. They had no money, no passports, and no UBF chapters in remote countries.  Nevertheless, it makes them have mission possible when the Holy Spirit comes on them. They will receive power when they are baptized by the Holy Spirit. Here we learn that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of the most essential and urgent requirements for us to carry out world mission. We have many things to prepare, many things to bring, and many things to be equipped for God’s mission. On top of these, we should receive the Holy Spirit. This is the key. Jesus promised in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Now, we all must ask the baptism of the Holy Spirit for God’s kingdom. Is there anyone who often despairs after being rejected by students on campus? Receive the Holy Spirit. Is there anyone who lacks wisdom in dealing with personal or family problems? Receive the Holy Spirit. Is there anyone who struggles with his or her own sin problems secretly? Receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Our UBF ministry for the last half-century is the work of the Holy Spirit. When we simply trusted in Jesus and obeyed his world mission command, the Holy Spirit has been with us. Wherever we preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit worked. We saw incorrigible sinners changed into great spiritual leaders by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have witnessed how the barren land becoming a fertile land flowing with milk and honey. We experienced the power of the Holy Spirit wherever we landed our foot by faith. Pioneering 87 nations is the work of the Holy Spirit.  Evangelizing Wash U, UMSL and SLU is also the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do anything. In fact, we should not try to do by our own will power in doing the work of God. Humbly we should depend on the Holy Spirit. We must admit the presence of the Holy Spirit, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily life and in our church ministry. Amen. May God fill us with the Holy Spirit Amen.

After giving the great world mission command, Jesus was taken up to heaven. When the disciples were looking intently up into sky, two angels appeared to them and rebuked them saying, “Men of Galilee. Why do you stand here looking into 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.” (11) This is not a science-fiction movie. It is a real story. Before their very eyes, Jesus was going up to heaven. Jesus will come again in the same way. Jesus’ ascension gives us a great hope for our own ascension when Jesus comes again. Come Lord Jesus soon!

In conclusion, Jesus really helped his disciples to believe his resurrection. He also gave them a great world mission command despite their human situation. Jesus did so because he believed the power of the Holy Spirit. May God fill us with his Holy Spirit and fill this house with the spirit of the Risen Christ. Amen.

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• YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSESS-message-3.doc

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