← ArchiveSaviorEaster: To Be Continued (Acts 1:1-11)DateApril 27, 2025SpeakerDr Josh BurnhamTextActs 1:1–11Passages in this sermonActs 10:52Acts 1:12:59Luke 247:13Romans 107:53Psalms 2718:25Acts 233:13TranscriptMachine transcribed. Click any line to jump there.0:00Music playing. Okay, welcome to the church that gathers here locally at Bethel.0:30My name is Josh, lead pastor here, and I'll bring the word today from the book of Acts. So if you have your Bibles with you, join me in Acts chapter 1. For those of you watching online, as many of you do, for the balcony, the upper room,0:57for the lower room, if this is your first time or your thousandth time, we want you to know you're not simply welcome, but you're wanted. We want you to grow in Christ and we want you to know Christ. So praise be to God that he has gathered us here today. As Pastor Jared has already said, Easter is over. So now what?1:27What do we do? In Acts chapter 1, we're going to find out together what we do. So picture the disciples, stunned by the empty tomb, breathless in wonder. Jesus had risen in Acts chapter 1 that we're going to read. Jesus has now ascended, where he is seated at the right hand of the Father. What do we do? That's a question that we need to ask.1:55You see, Easter is not the end. It's the turning of a page. The resurrection and Easter morning remind us that Jesus lives. And the ascension reminds us that Jesus reigns. But you're still here. I'm not telling you anything you don't know. So what do we do now that Christ has ascended and risen? Because the Bible is very clear.2:25We're not stuck here. We're sent here as Christians. The tomb is empty. Throne is occupied. And the church has been given a calling. Go and teach. Go and declare. Go and anoint. Go and baptize. You have a mission. We're going to read that together and answer the question, so what?2:54Acts chapter 1, verse 1. I'll be reading from the Christian standard version of the Scriptures. Sermon title is called To Be Continued. Easter, To Be Continued. Acts chapter 1. I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and to teach. So pointing back, don't forget what I wrote to you, until the day that Jesus was taken up.3:21After he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles that he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to many, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Now that's a summary introduction. This is a good English student, right?3:52I'm going to give you the summary, thesis, and now we're going to unfold God's plan. Look at verse 4. While he was with them, that's Jesus, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promise, which he said, you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, are you restoring the kingdom at this time?4:19And he said to them, it is not for you to know the times or periods, some scriptures say dispensations, that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses, first in Jerusalem and then Judea, Samaria, and then to the uttermost ends of the earth. Places that they never conceived of, places like Alabama and the Western Hemisphere.4:47You know, you think about that. We laugh, but this scripture is about you. This is part of God's plan. You are part of God's plan. Verse 9. After Jesus said this, he was taken up while they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly, two men in white clothes stood by them and said,5:13Men of Galilee, why do you stand there looking into heaven? Well, because Jesus just rose. That's why. He who has been taken from you into heaven will come in the same way you have seen him going into heaven. To be continued. Let's pray. Father, we know in Isaiah that your word will never return void.5:43There is no scheme of Satan or device of man that can make your word unfruitful. Lord, today, would you find our hearts ready to receive the holy scriptures that we might love you and know you. Father, if there is someone here today that does not know you, may the gospel presented in the baby dedication, the family dedication, may the singing of the gospel, may the reading of your word convict them of sin, where they would run to Jesus Christ and find that the tomb is still empty and the invitation of salvation is still open.6:10Lord, this is our prayer in Jesus Christ. Lord, this is our prayer. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. To be continued.6:40So, in Acts, in Acts, Luke, Acts, it's really one book and Luke knows that we're lazy and you probably wouldn't read one big book. So, he said, I'm going to split it into two. Which is what happens in the ancient world because it would not fit on one scroll. But Luke, Acts, ask us two great questions. And they both come from the mouth of a divine messenger. The first beautiful question that every man has to ask and answer every woman is what's asked at the empty tomb.7:06Luke 24, 5, the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground when they go to the tomb. And the angels asked this question. Why do you look for the living among the dead? This is a question of faith. It's a question of trust and acceptance. This is the so what of faith.7:35This is the question that every person who has ever lived has to answer. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God? And the way that you answer that has eternal consequences in your life. The Bible says this in Romans 10, 9. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. That's the answer to this question.8:05Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Romans says if you believe that, then you will what? You will be saved. Salvation is possible in your life. If you trust in Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for your sins. So that's the so what of faith. Do you believe Jesus? But the second question asked in Luke Acts, again by divine messengers, it was asked right here in Acts chapter 1.8:31It's not the so what of faith, it's the now what of faith. Verse 11. And this is the question we are going to answer for the next 21 minutes and 14 seconds. It's funny, God sends his angels to ask questions that we should have the answers to.8:52But it's something when an angel asks a question, we stand at attention and we listen. This is the so what, the now what of faith. So firstly, we see this in our lives. The gospel is not over. This is to be continued.9:23It's hours to carry. So look at verse 1. Luke says, I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do. Verse 7. He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the periods for your own authority, but you will receive. There's this idea of continuation. This is, it's not an announcement, it's an assignment.9:49It's, this is the now what of the Christian faith. That the risen Christ is not finished. He is continuing to do something in your life. The word began should arrest our attention. Verse 1. He said, All that Jesus began to do. Meaning he started something earlier, but it also has the sense that he is continuing something in you. So the empty tomb was not the end.10:20Now I know I'm preaching to the choir. Well, no. You get the, you get the metaphor, right? Some of you don't sing. Just pretend you do. You say, well, pastor, I'm, it's not Easter and I'm still here. I get it. I get a gold star in heaven, a crown. But it's the reminder that God's work was not finished last Sunday. He is still working in us. He, he has unfinished business.10:48Now this is not a, an unfinished business of anxiety. God doesn't leave loose ends. He doesn't say, oh no, what am I, Jesus rose. What am I going to do? Oh, I got it. I'm going to send the church. They're going to finish what Jesus started. It's not loose ends, but it's that the message of salvation is continuing through you and through me. The gospel is something for us to carry. God is still working in the world and he wants to work through you.11:16Now I know what some of you are thinking. You looked in the mirror today and you, you see your life and what you look like. And you're thinking there's no way that God can use me. But the Bible says difference. Actually, if you have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb, then the Bible says, actually, God doesn't simply use you. He chose you. And he chose you to carry the torch of the gospel so that the world might see your life and glorify your father in heaven.11:43You see, we weren't merely saved from something. You were saved for something. For something. It's a reminder here in Acts what Jesus began to do until the day he was ascended. He continues to do. The gospel is not a trophy. Now let me speak to my millennials. You got trophies for everything you did. Because your parents just told you that you were the best at everything you did.12:14And they lied to you. They did. My mom is actually here. She lied to me. I remember a couple of years ago, she comes to my house with a box. And she says, hey, Josh, here's all the trophies that you earned growing up. And my response says, what do you want me to do with those? I said, I'm going to throw them out. You know what she did? She told her grandchildren, hey, here's trophies you can play with. Thinking if they get in the hands of the grandkids, they won't go in the trash.12:44The gospel is not a trophy to put on your shelf. It's a torch to carry. It's not a participation trophy. And some of us think that we have the gospel like that. I am saved from my sins. I had the participation trophy. Praise be to God. And the Holy Spirit says, why are you gazing into heaven? It's collecting dust on your shelf. No, it's a torch to carry because people are dying and going to hell around us.13:15The gospel is still continuing. And if you say, well, how can I do this? I can't do this on my own. Jesus cuts us off at the pass. Verse 4. Jesus knows we're going to have excuses. And Jesus says, you heard me speaking about this Holy Spirit.13:42John baptized with water, but I baptized with the Holy Spirit. And they said, well, Lord, today, like right now, you're going to restore the kingdom. He says, you fools. It is not for you to know the days or the dispensations. That's for the Lord. That's for the Father himself. But, and praise be to God for divine buts in Scripture. He says, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.14:11You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost ends of the earth. God has given you power. And the power that he has given us is a person that he has put within you by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, he didn't say you might receive power. Again, God's word is purposeful. Jesus doesn't say to Stephen.14:41Stephen's looking at me. Here he was. Now he is. Jesus doesn't say to Stephen, well, when I get around to it, I'm going to send power upon you. If I think about it. That's the way that we read Scripture sometimes. Look what, Jesus' words are divinely inspired. And they are purposeful. And they are filled with gospel intent. Look at verse 8.15:10He says, but you will receive power. You will. He doesn't think about it. He doesn't hope for the best in your life. He says, you will. If you have come to Christ by faith, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses. There are two you wills. It's not a question. It is a certainty. The power you need is the person you have.15:40It's a call to live by the power of God in your life. And the Holy Spirit is not this battery pack of success. God doesn't give you his power and say, okay, Josh, do what you want to do and just include the Holy Spirit. And there is your power. No. We have the living God living in us. I love what Alistair Begg says about this.16:10Alistair Begg says, we have settled in the Christian church for adequacy. We read this and say, well, the Holy Spirit gives us a little bit every day. No. Jesus says the Holy Spirit will come upon you and it will be dunamis. It will be dynamic authority from heaven. We don't need adequacy. We need abundance. And Jesus knows that that's what he gives.16:38Some of us are just living by adequacy. We're playing the church game and we're saying, if I can just get a little bit. That's not what Jesus promises us. The power you need is the person that you have. So I ask your life as I've asked my life, have you settled for spiritual adequacy? Has church become boring, boorish? Do you serve when it's convenient?17:09Do you only sing with fervently the songs that you like? Do you only witness when you have a rainbow from the heavens and you say, ah, now I see. How dare we only live an adequate life when Jesus has promised us the abundance of the Holy Spirit.17:31This is the to be continued of the gospel. And I would ask you today right now, would you simply pray under your breath, God, I don't want control of my life. I want you. Because the Holy Spirit doesn't give you control. The Holy Spirit is described as a wind and as fire.18:01Two things that once it gets out of control, it is way out of control. Because you can't put God in a box in your life. Would you have the boldness today to say, Lord, I don't want control anymore. I don't want adequacy. I want, I want you. Psalms 27 says, Lord, one thing I ask, to dwell in your house forever, to see the beauty of your presence.18:25When's the last time you saw the beauty of the Holy Spirit in your life? The power you need is the person that you have. And Jesus says, this is the why of the power. Because I know what you're hearing. We read this and say, I got power. Power, wonder working power. I'm about to do something for me.18:56And Jesus says, no, you don't. There's two you wills. You will receive power, Josh, not for your kingdom. You will receive power. Why? Because you will be my witness. You will be my witness. That's the calling. The power comes with a calling. And the calling is to be a witness to Christ. Which means if your neighbor needs Jesus, don't call me.19:26You can call me to pray, but you're their neighbor because you're their missionary. You're their witness. And here's my promise. If my neighbor needs Jesus, I'm not calling you. I'm going to call you to pray, but just say, pray for me because I'm their witness. God has given me the power of the Spirit to be their witness. Pray for me that I might walk in the boldness of the Holy Spirit because the gospel is not a trophy, it's a torch. But the torch of the gospel keeps us from the fires of hell.19:54Lord, I want, I don't want adequacy. I want abundance. Some of you missed it earlier today, but as we anointed these two children with oil, I got a little, I'm Baptist and we don't do oil very well. So I got a little overzealous with the oil. So I was, I was walking out. One of the dads wanted to give me a hug. I said, don't touch me. I'm oily. I got abundance on me today, but it hit me that that's the scripture.20:24We should be walking around like this thinking, Lord, your spirit is all over me. May we be witnesses to the power and the presence of Jesus Christ in our life. When, when and where in your life is Jesus calling you to speak boldly and freely for him? Where is Christ calling you to be oily for the spirits?20:53Don't walk around like this. People say, what's your problem? You're weird. They say, yes, I'm, God has redeemed me. I don't know what's going on, but the spirit in me is empowering me to, to be the witness of the Lord. Maybe it's your home. Maybe it's your mom or your dad, your son, your daughter, your brother, your sister, who, who needs Christ.21:21And today God is pricking your heart and to say, listen, don't just bring them to church. Don't bring them just to watch you worship, but share the hope that's within you. Share the oil. Maybe for you, it's, it's your workplace. And when you hear the water cooler talk that you shouldn't be involved in, you either back away or you kind of step in and say, listen, I'm different.21:44And here's why. I can't listen to that joke. Not because I'm trying to throw shade at you because I hate you. I can't listen to that because I love you. And God has something better for your life. And I want to be oily for Christ. Maybe for you, it's a friend who's hurting and you just go and you sit with them. And maybe they're suffering because of decisions they've made in their life, but they don't need to hear you tell them that.22:13They know that. And they just need you to sit there and say, when you are ready to hear about the hope that God has for you, you let me know. But until that day, I will sit with you. Maybe for you, that's a child who's asking spiritual questions. The power you need is the person you have in Christ and through the Holy Spirit to be continued.22:37There's one more. And I simply want to say to you and encourage you, eyes up, church. Eyes up. Because Jesus is coming again. Don't look down. Don't look up. Eyes ahead.23:07Eyes ahead. Let's go. Look at verse 9. After he had said this, he was taken up. They're still thinking through like, wait, the Holy Spirit? Like us? The Holy Spirit's not a thing? Is it not an it? It's not a thing? It's a person? How does that work out in us? And Jesus is like, gone. Y'all figure it out. But wait, because the Holy Spirit will come upon you. And a cloud takes him up. And I like the word of God because the disciples are normal people.23:36Because they're doing what you would do. Like if you're with 11 of your friends and Jesus just goes up in a cloud, you're going to be like, dude, did you just see? What? In my mind, some of you played Mario. You know that little cloud thing that used to come and throw like, I don't know, those spiky shells at you at Mario?24:02I'm not thinking like that. That cloud just took him up. And we would be here like, what do we do? Was it a cloud? That's really weird. Didn't think it was going to be a cloud. Chariot of fire. Could have seen that. Arc, maybe. Rainbow. But a cloud? And then the angel said, like, guys, come on. Like, you know he's Jesus, right?24:32You know he's the son of man. You know he reigns in victory. Head up, church. Let's go. Jesus is coming again. He said, men of Galilee, men, women of St. Clair County, why are you standing looking into heaven? Like, well, because Jesus was just taken up. That's why. He will come again in the same way.25:01You have seen him going into heaven. They had walked with the Lord. They had watched him bleed. They saw him rise from the dead. And now he was gone from their sight. Their rabbi. Their friend. Their savior. Gone. But here's the beautiful tension in the text.25:31Jesus was gone. He was gone visibly. But he didn't leave them helplessly. Does that make sense? Like, Jesus is no longer visible. But he doesn't leave his people helpless. And not just them. He doesn't leave you helpless. Jesus says, I will come again. But until that point, I will send you the Holy Spirit.25:59Now, there's a gentle nudge. The angels say, listen, he's not abandoning you. And apparently the disciples took this to heart because the last thing that Matthew records, the Great Commission. Go into all the world, preach and teach them everything I've commanded you and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And then Jesus says, and lo, lo, lo, lo, what? I will be with you.26:30Even until the end of the age. Matthew remembered what the angel said. That Jesus has gone visibly, but he is not gone spiritually because the Holy Spirit is our comforter. You are not helpless. We've got work to do. We are not abandoned. We might be pressed, but we're not crushed.26:59We might be persecuted, but we're not in despair. We are not helpless. And the struggle we have is that we want to take these moments and build headstones in a spiritual cemetery. Because many of us, like the disciples, would say, well, if Jesus is coming back, then I'm just going to stand here. And I'm going to gaze.27:31Into heaven. And if you walk around like this, you're going to miss so much of your life. And the Holy Spirit says, okay, boys, listen up. Don't walk around like that. That's weird. Head straight, eyes fixed, because Jesus is returning. And how many of us in life want to just find markers and say, God, I'm going to stand here until you come home.27:58And the Holy Spirit is saying to us, no, there's work to do. Don't build spiritual markers and put them in a cemetery. No. Build Ebeneezers in your life because the mission of God is still going forward in your life. This is exactly what the work of the Holy Spirit does. This is the gentle nudge.28:27Jesus did not call you to stand and stare. He calls you to go and to serve. So may we quit staring today. So the angel's question still rings true, doesn't it? Why are you standing and looking into heaven? Thank you.28:58Thank you. Some of us are still staring today. Standing. And the Holy Spirit is saying, okay, Josh, it's time to quit standing still. It's time to forgive that person that hurt you years ago. It's time to forgive. And even if they never know it, the Holy Spirit will give you the power. It's time to let go. Let's move on.29:27Yes, they wounded you, but they wounded Christ more. Forgive. Quit standing and staring into heaven. Maybe for you, it's time to speak the name of Jesus over your neighborhood, over your family, your co-worker, your child. Maybe for you today, the call of the Holy Spirit is to begin to pray boldly yet again and pray as if Jesus hears those prayers because he does. You say, well, pastor, I've been praying and nothing's happened and I'm just tired.29:56I'm going to stand here and wait. And the Holy Spirit's nudging you saying, no, keep praying. God hears. Be like that persistent person going to the judge, that pagan judge. He gave her what she wanted because she didn't give up. And your father who loves you more than any pagan judge would ever love anyone, he hears your prayers. Keep praying. Don't give up. Don't stand. Don't stare. Keep boldly going before the throne.30:24Maybe for you, it's time to finally say yes. The Holy Spirit has been prompting you to give your life to Jesus Christ. And for whatever reason, you said no. Quit standing. Quit staring. Hear the call of the Lord while he can still be found. Because there will be a day in your life where it will be too late. Hear the call. Do not stand and stare. Maybe for you, God is calling you to be a missionary. And you say, well, I have all these plans.30:55God, your plans interfere with my plans. And for the first time, you realize, God, your plans are better. Maybe for you, that's a call to full-time ministry. Quit standing and staring. Maybe you've been a member of this church for 85 years and you've never served. God is not calling you here to stand and to stare, but to do something with great power. That is inside you. Maybe for you, the call is you've been hoarding treasure in your life and you've never given freely and abundantly to Christ.31:24And you're going to die with all this treasure. And you're going to say, God, look at all I save for you. And you say, Josh, why didn't you give that for kingdom purposes? Maybe for you, it's for the first time to give freely and abundantly. And watch what God can do with that. I don't know what that means for your life, but I do know it means something. May God do great work in our life.31:52Why do you stand there staring into heaven? He is coming back. Don't worry. And may he find us faithful unto them. Okay, I'm going to preach the rest of the book of Acts in about two minutes. You ready? It's not a joke. I can do this. What Jesus promised to the disciples happens.32:24They waited. The Holy Spirit comes. They start speaking in tongues that none of them, there was no Rosetta Stone, Babel language. Like they, God gave them the gift of Chinese and people from China were coming to faith. And they were like, hey, they didn't, they didn't, they're not from China. They're not from Ethiopia. How do they speak those languages? And they said, it's the Holy Spirit. Some say, well, y'all are drunk. They said, it's too early to be drunk. Go, go read Acts one and two. This really happens. The power of God gets in their life and the disciples become oily, filled with the Holy Spirit.32:56And the people begin to ask questions because when your life changes for the gospel, holy lies prompt holy questions. So in Acts 2, 12, the people are asking, what does this mean? God has got a hold of these people. What does it mean for us? And so Peter declares the gospel that because of your sin, God sent his one and only son to die on the cross for your sins.33:21He was in the grave for three days. He rose again. He, he ascended into heaven in a cloud and we were staring and the angel said, why are you staring? Get to work. And so we got to work and now we're here. And this message is for you because the power that we need is the person that he has put in us. And then in Acts 2, people ask a second question. Not only what does this mean, but what should we do? And Peter says two things, repent and be baptized for the remission of your sin.33:53That's the book of Acts. So here's my question in the to be continued of Easter. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will live a holy life and holy lives prompt holy questions. When's the last time someone came up to you and said, what does your life mean for me? What does this mean?34:24Josh, why are you living like this? And what should I do? Because if we are living for Christ, that will happen. Does your life prompt holy questions? And if not, would you come to the throne again of the Lord and say, God, I want to have a life that prompts holy questions. Because I am called to be holy as you are holy. And Easter is not the end. It is to be continued. And you are working through me for your glory and our good. Does your life prompt holy questions?34:53Secondly, would you ask God today, Lord, what should I do? God, if your word is true and you have powered me by the Holy Spirit and you have grafted me into this beautiful kingdom and you are still working. God, what do you want me to do because I forgive me when I stood and stared.35:19But Lord, today I'm going to go and serve. Father, you show me and I'll do it. Do you know what the Lord will do with the person who prays, God, send me, here I am? He will tell Satan, game on. What would our world look like if we all prayed today?35:46God, what do you want me to do? Easter is not the end. It is to be continued. And we have a world who is dying and going to hell. And may they look at our lives and say, what does this mean and what should we do? And we simply say, man, it's the Holy Spirit. It's the risen, crucified Lord. And if you would follow him, what he has done for me, he will do for you because he promised.36:13It's not a might, it's a will. Praise be to God for divine promises and praise be to God for the gospel. Would you pray with me, Lord?← Previous in SaviorEaster – The Savior’s VictoryMore sermons on Acts →
