How His Kingdom Will Break Into the Whole World

[0:00] Well, greetings to you all. It's great to be here. It really is. It's been a long, long time since the last time I've seen you. And the church at Calderwood send their greetings to. I'll do this and then you don't need to have it up. So there you go. So I might have a clicker somewhere. I don't know if there's... That's right. He's going to fling it down so just duck. Sorry, it's okay. We'll follow along, won't you guys? Yeah, that's okay.

[0:40] Well, it's great to be here. My name's Cal, if you don't know that. I've been doing pastoral training at Calderwood Baptist Church and at Cornhill, Scotland. And the last couple of years I've been doing the pastor's training course at Cornhill and doing assistant pastorship in Calderwood. And I've been in and out of here a couple of times. I've got to know a couple of you, a few of you. And I think the last time that I was here we were actually in the back room in an evening service. We had a TV screen and we were doing slides of the universe and it was fantastic. But today it's really great to start a year with you guys. And I'm really excited about that. And as such, I thought it'd be great to start a series in the Book of Acts. This series is going to be called King and Kingdom. And basically the Book of Acts, if you don't know, is part two of a two-volume complete work, Luke Acts. They're written to the same person. They're connected. And as such, Theophilus would have had the whole of Book 1, the Gospel of Luke, in mind when he started to read the

[1:51] Book of Acts. So if you haven't read the Gospel of Luke, read that just now and then we'll start this year. That's what he would have had in mind. And they're meant to be read together and understood together. And only together do they represent the full story that Luke is telling. Only together do they really do for Theophilus what Luke intended when he put pen to parchment. And second, although Luke and Acts are both narrative, they're not merely history, as some people might think. At the beginning of Book 1, Luke writes, although many have undertaken to compel a narrative of these things, it seemed good to me, having followed all things closely for some time past, to put an orderly account to you, Theophilus, so that you might have certainty concerning the things that you've been taught. That's what he said. So Luke knew about other Gospels, about Mark, probably Matthew as well. Therefore, he isn't going to go to the effort and expense of repeating everything that they wrote. Unlike now, writing to the ancient world was very time-consuming and an expensive task. And as such, you had to be quite selective about what you include. Luke isn't just writing a historical account, he's writing a theological account so that Theophilus might have certainty about what he was taught. Thank you, Cameron.

[3:17] So, if it was just a historical account, then there would be many questions about all the things that were missing. Traditionally, this book is called the Acts of the Apostles. But you would have to ask why Luke hardly mentions most of the apostles in the whole book. Why does he seem to give so much airtime to Peter and then Paul, who isn't even an apostle? He's not one of the original twelve. He is an apostle, but he's not one of the original twelve. And then he writes a bit about James, the brother of Jesus, who isn't an apostle, and also Stephen and Philip, who aren't apostles either. So it's clearly not a book all about the Acts of the Apostles, is it? We see that Luke's been very selective. Now, is this unfair that Luke's doing this? It's only unfair if you think that this book is supposed to be the Acts of the Apostles, or a historical account. But when we take the two books together, Luke and Acts, and take what Luke states within those books, we see that what it's actually about is Jesus, the King, and his kingdom. And I'll show you how that is a priority in a moment. But with that, let's open the book of Acts, and I'm going to read again the first fourteen verses. And when I'm reading, I want you to have these two questions. I'll ask the questions afterwards. But this morning, we're going to be thinking about...

[4:42] There we go. We're going to be thinking about how his kingdom will break into the whole world.

[4:53] So Acts chapter 1. Luke writes, In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his sufferings by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, You heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So when they'd come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

[6:09] 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. While they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes and said, Merah, Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day journey away. When they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers. Amen.

[7:08] Well, in order to think clearly about what Acts is all about and consider the gospel of Luke, I want to ask two questions. Question one, and you can just think about this for a wee second.

[7:20] Question two, when did Jesus complete his work? And question two, has Jesus completed his work?

[7:42] When did Jesus complete his work? Has Jesus completed his work? Some of you may be completely comfortable in your answers to that, and I expect some of you are.

[7:54] Others might think it's a trick question. They're not. Others still might think that these questions are overly simplified, and the answer to each is a little more complicated, which is true.

[8:06] But the point is to get us thinking more carefully about what Acts is all about. See, there are aspects of Jesus' work that are complete and can never be repeated. He put on flesh and lived a completely righteous life as a human among humans.

[8:22] Done. Complete cannot be repeated. He is still human, but he is now a resurrected, new creation, not subject to death human. So the life he lived on earth was for a purpose, and that is complete.

[8:38] He gave his life as a sacrifice on the cross, a ransom for many. He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 5.21. It's done. It's completed.

[8:50] And because of that, he died. Also done. Completed. These things cannot happen again. For Christ also suffered once for sins. 1 Peter 3.18.

[9:01] For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all time. Romans 6.10. It's completed. It can never be repeated. So there are aspects and areas of Jesus' work that has been completed.

[9:13] But that's not why he left. That's not why he ascended. When he said, it is finished, he wasn't saying, I've done my part, now you do yours.

[9:24] Obviously something was finished. But there were things that he is still doing to this very day. For instance, Jesus said that he will build his church.

[9:35] And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. See, death will not stop him building his church. Neither will death stop his church. Nothing will stop his church. So although he might not be visible at every deacon's meeting or every church service, Jesus nonetheless is building his church.

[9:53] Jesus nonetheless today is building this very church. You and me today. Not complete, but an ongoing work that he's doing all over the world, all the time.

[10:05] And in a while we'll look at some other areas of his work that he's doing even today. So we see in these verses, in verses 1 and 2, he gives a very brief summary of book 1, the gospel of Luke.

[10:18] That it was about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up. Many would say that book 2, Acts, is all about what Jesus continued to do by his spirit and through his people.

[10:30] So the book of Acts is not about the acts of the apostles in the world, but rather the acts of Jesus throughout the whole earth. And this opening section gives the details of where the story will go.

[10:44] It's the story of the king and his kingdom. And our opening section could be entitled, How His Kingdom Will Break Into The Whole World. Now I know that's been a long introduction, but one that I hope is helpful for our thinking as we go ahead throughout the whole book of Acts.

[11:02] For the rest of this time, we'll go through the passage rather quickly. And if you'd like to take notes and find alliteration helpful to remember, then each part of this passage will have a helpful heading that's alliterated.

[11:14] So firstly, let's look at the proof of the king. Verse 3, he says, He presented himself alive to them after his sufferings, after his death, by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

[11:34] Now, what do you make of people who claim that Christianity has no proof? Or that your faith is just blind belief? What do you make of that when people say that?

[11:44] Are you intimidated? Do you maybe feel, oh, maybe they're right, maybe you just have to have faith? Well, let me tell you, God is not a God who requires that we take any big leaps of faith.

[11:56] See, the kind of faith and trust that God requires is not without proof. But rather precisely because he has shown himself to be trustworthy. That's why he requires faith.

[12:07] Because time and time again, God shows himself to be trustworthy. And that's why it's such a grievous sin to disbelieve in Jesus. Not because God's angry that you didn't take a leap of faith in his son.

[12:20] But because such disbelief makes God to be a liar. As though he went to the extreme lens he has to show himself completely trustworthy in his actions and words.

[12:31] See, God goes to great lengths to show that his words are truth. That what he says will happen, happens. And that's also why God completely disassociates from false teachers and false prophets.

[12:45] If anyone predicts a thing that doesn't come to pass, God wants you to know that it was nothing to do with him. That he did not speak for God. Because God is not a liar. And as such, God's testimony of Jesus must be accepted as truth.

[13:00] That's what it says in 1 John. See, God never requires people to take a leap of faith. For Theophilus, having read about Jesus and the gospel of Luke.

[13:11] Having heard of the things that he was taught. Having seen the things that have gone on in the world. He knows that Jesus can be trusted. Jesus is shown to be from God.

[13:23] Jesus is shown to be he, the one that he claimed to be. Who the angel claimed that he was. Luke chapter 1. The son of God. The one who has given the throne of his father David.

[13:34] The Messiah, the Christ. The one who will reign over the house of Israel forever. That's who Jesus is. And so, with his own disciples. Even after many years of them living and traveling with him.

[13:47] He doesn't require his own disciples to take a leap of faith that he has risen. Even after all that time they've spent with him. Even when he has risen from the dead. He doesn't require them to take a leap of faith.

[13:59] Rather, he presents himself alive to them by many proofs. Now, remember again. Theophilus will have just read at the end of Luke's gospel.

[14:10] Luke 24. Big stone removed from the tomb. Body missing. Angels telling them what happened. Other disciples investigating. Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus.

[14:23] Teaching and revealing himself to those disciples. Appearing in the upper room. A locked room. Taking food to prove that he wasn't a ghost. Opening their minds to understand the scriptures.

[14:35] And we know from the other gospels that Jesus did many other things to prove that he really was alive again. Risen. Different. Alive. More than ever before. Luke doesn't want anyone to be mistaken that Jesus really was risen from the dead.

[14:51] And that his resurrection was not without many proofs. Now, don't let anyone discredit your faith to blind belief. And if anyone here or listening is in two minds about this, then I would recommend you thoroughly investigate the resurrection for yourself.

[15:09] You'll find that it is by far the best explanation of all the historical evidence surrounding the event. Now, on the point of proof, I should say a final note about the book of Acts itself.

[15:22] Now, you may remember this if you were watching back in April online. There was a Scottish archaeologist and New Testament scholar called Sir William Mitchell Ramsey.

[15:34] He was raised an atheist. And as an archaeologist was convinced that the Bible was fraudulent. He regarded the weakest spot in the whole New Testament to be the story of Paul's travels.

[15:49] The book of Acts itself. Sir William Mitchell Ramsey considered the book of Acts to be the weakest point of the New Testament. So, he thought they had never been thoroughly investigated by anyone on the spot.

[16:04] So, he went to where Paul travelled, spent 15 years digging. In the end, Ramsey was struck by the accuracy of the book of Acts. And in his quest to refute the Bible, he discovered many facts which actually confirmed its accuracy.

[16:23] In fact, he went on to conclude that Luke's account of the events and setting recorded in the narrative were exact, even in the smallest detail.

[16:33] And of Luke, this is what the chap wrote of Luke. Luke is a historian of the first rank. Not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy.

[16:47] This author should be placed along with the very greatest historians. From an atheist, someone, an authority to investigate these things, became convinced that this was not only true, but it was so trustworthy that you should consider Luke among the very greatest historians.

[17:12] And he became a believer. So, in the subject of proof, even this book, Acts, is one proven to be incredibly accurate and reliable. Even Luke himself doesn't want you to take a leap of faith.

[17:25] He's trustworthy. Following this, we read that while Jesus remained for 40 days after his resurrection, he taught the disciples speaking about the kingdom of God. And then when we get to verse 6, the disciples asked Jesus if this is the time when he will restore the kingdom to Israel.

[17:44] Now, we might be tempted to give them a hard time, but we shouldn't. They're asking a question about something Jesus, even after his resurrection, has still been speaking about. They're on the right topic.

[17:54] If Jesus is the king, then his priority is the kingdom. This is the priority of the king. And as we read in Luke chapter 1, the angel Gabriel, who came to Mary, said of Jesus, her son, He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High.

[18:11] And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, there will be no end. And likewise, throughout Jesus' ministry, his priority, Jesus' own priority, was his kingdom.

[18:27] That he came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, chapter 4. That he went about proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, chapter 8. That he sent his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God, chapter 9.

[18:41] That he taught that it should be our priority to seek the kingdom, chapter 12. I love that song, Seek Ye First. We had that on my wedding day, and it was appropriate to sing that together.

[18:53] And that the kingdom is like a mustard seed, or like leaving, chapter 13. Now that last one is important, because at this time the disciples have a question about timing.

[19:08] Will he restore the kingdom now? But Jesus has already taught them how. They're not wrong to wonder about the kingdom. They're perhaps just asking the wrong question.

[19:21] Rather than whether it will be now and fully realized. They will soon see that the rest of their lives will be about how it will be breaking in. How will the kingdom come?

[19:33] Because remember in chapter 17 of Luke, the Pharisees asked a very similar question to the disciples here. About when the kingdom of God would come.

[19:45] And Jesus answered them saying, Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed. Nor will they say, look here it is. Or there, for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.

[19:58] This was evident at various points throughout Jesus' ministry, wasn't it? Through Jesus, the kingdom was breaking in. Wherever Jesus was, the effect he had on people, on nature, on everything around him, was like the kingdom of God reigning in that particular spot.

[20:17] Jesus was like a mobile kingdom carrier. Taking the kingdom wherever he was, because he indeed was its king. Now that was a little more contained than in Acts.

[20:31] Jesus did do things that were completely unparalleled in Acts or in the disciples. They didn't do nearly as impressive miracles as Jesus did. He is the Son of God.

[20:42] That wasn't their greater works. That's not what the greater works are about. But they were sent much further afield as kingdom carriers into the whole world. And like a mustard seed, the kingdom comes in a way that first seems very small and insignificant.

[20:59] But grows. It grows. It spreads. It breaks through the surface. This is what we see in Jesus. And this is what we see in Acts. The kingdom of God is breaking through the surface of this very world.

[21:13] Growing and spreading. And one day will be fully realized when this world passes away. I've got a question. Can you not see it here?

[21:28] Brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is in your midst. What things do you see in the kingdom of God? Remember the kingdom is at hand.

[21:40] Repent and believe the good news. Do you see repentance in people? Do you see people among you believing in the good news of Jesus?

[21:53] Then you are seeing the kingdom of God breaking into this world right here. Now if you live in Bells Hill. I know you come to this Bells Hill Baptist Church.

[22:04] If you actually live in Bells Hill. And you see this. Then you must know that it's a miracle. That the kingdom of God can be seen in Bells Hill.

[22:17] Is that not true? But it's true. It's right here. It's right now. It's right in front of you. Right here this very morning. The kingdom of God is in the midst of you. This is the priority of the king.

[22:31] And so it should be ours. But as we said. He's not just left us to do this on our own. He promised that the father would send the Holy Spirit.

[22:42] And this is the promise of the king. In Luke chapter 3. The people were asking themselves. If John might be the Christ. But he answered them saying.

[22:52] That's John the Baptist. He said. I baptize you with water. But he who is mightier than I is coming. The strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He. This person will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

[23:07] It's not me. I'm the water baptizer. He's the spirit baptizer. And then in Acts. Jesus said. You heard from me for John baptized with water.

[23:20] But you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Not many days from now. Jesus is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. Now it may be worth saying.

[23:30] Whatever your view on this is. The only real biblical scenario. Is that Jesus is the one who baptizes people in the Holy Spirit. Even if Peter and John and Paul lay hands on some folks.

[23:42] At some times in Acts. It is not. It's not as though the Holy Spirit had to come through their hands. Like it only existed in them. And traveled through them. No.

[23:53] Jesus gave these folks the Holy Spirit. And was pleased at certain times. To have his apostles. On certain occasions. Be physical markers. In confirmation of this. But the same Jesus that gave them the Holy Spirit.

[24:08] The same Holy Spirit that came in Acts 2. Jesus gave to me and you. Now this didn't happen. For everyone. Every time.

[24:19] This same way. Yet all who believe. Receive the Holy Spirit. And this is evident throughout Acts. Indeed.

[24:31] This is the promise of the Father. And the promise of the Son. That those who would repent and believe. And be baptized. Would receive the Holy Spirit. As a gift from God. And that's what Peter states.

[24:42] In Acts 2. After his sermon. And that takes us to the power of the King. Jesus is very much at work still.

[24:54] Anything that he requires of his people. Of me and you. It doesn't require that we do it so ill-equipped. Or in our own power. Think about the disciples.

[25:07] After having abandoned. Or even denied their Lord. At his death. And went into hiding. How would these fearful and few disciples. Have ever have changed the world. Certainly not only by being convinced.

[25:21] That he was risen. As confident as that might have made them. It was never enough. They could not have been his witnesses. To the end of the earth. Except by his power.

[25:31] Is that not true for us also. How can we ever repent? How can we endure? How can we keep speaking the gospel? Though it be good news. How can we do that?

[25:42] Against a strong tide of hatred and persecution. How can we keep speaking truth. When bombarded with darkness and lies. And accusations of hate crimes. How can we forgive our enemies?

[25:56] How can we pray for those who persecute us? How can we so different remain united? How can we have joy in the face of sorrow? How can we have peace in the face of trouble?

[26:09] How can we endure to death proclaiming that Jesus is Lord. God. Unless he gives us power by his spirit. How can we do any of that? Unless he empowers us by his Holy Spirit.

[26:22] How can any of us have hope. To live this sort of faithful life. For Christ. Well take courage. He has given us his spirit. And in doing so.

[26:33] He has given us power to live for him. Might not feel like it. Might not look like it. But the kingdom of God is in your midst. You see it. You're doing it. Only by his power.

[26:44] There is no longer I who live. But Christ lives in me. Hallelujah. So when Jesus reveals to his disciples his program.

[26:56] He does not do so without giving them hope of ever being able to do it. The program of the king is. That you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. And in all Judea and Samaria.

[27:08] And to the end of the earth. And when he said these things he was lifted up. And you can just imagine the disciples. If it happened exactly like that. He said it.

[27:18] And then he was lifted up. No wait. Wait. Wait. How? How are we going to do that? Come back? It's the same thing in Matthew isn't it? Go and make disciples of all nations.

[27:29] Baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I've commanded. And I will be with you always. Goodbye. No wait. Wait. Wait. Come back. How are we going to do that?

[27:40] How are you going to be with us always when you're leaving? How are we ever going to do something like this? Well in Matthew. And in Acts. Jesus first says.

[27:52] You will receive power. And in Matthew. Jesus first says. All authority has been given to me. So the question is.

[28:04] All these things about the Christian life. Taking the kingdom of God. To the end of the earth. Filling this. Building to the gunnels with people who believe in Christ.

[28:17] How on earth. Are we going to do that? Do we have the power to do this? Yes we do. Because Jesus by his spirit has given us it.

[28:30] We get to that point. Where authorities demand that we stop. Speaking the gospel. Then we remember that we have authority to do so. By the one who has authority in all heaven and earth.

[28:43] We speak the gospel by the authority of Jesus. Jesus. Who says all authority has been given to me. We don't do this in our own authority. Neither do we do this in our own power.

[28:54] He's given us the authority to speak the good news. To the end of the earth. Because this is his earth. And also the power to do so. And we must remember this. And we must trust this.

[29:06] Both when we fear. Or when we are threatened. He is with us. And this is his program. Does Jesus take a. Does Jesus require that we take. A leap of faith to believe.

[29:17] That he's given the power. To us to do this. Well if it wasn't for the apostles. Would we ever know about this gospel. How could the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[29:27] Come to Bell's Hill. If it were not for his power. And his people. It couldn't. It couldn't. And as such. We see this is the direction. That Luke takes and acts. Jerusalem.

[29:40] Witnesses. Chapters 1 to 7. All Judea and Samaria. Chapter 8. And then beyond that. To the end of the earth. Even Bell's Hill.

[29:53] I tell you. It's probably by design. That we. We live with a certain ambiguity. It's frustrating at times. Isn't it? But it causes us. To pray more. To rely more on God.

[30:04] See the disciples. Don't need Jesus. To explain. Exactly how this will happen. How they'll be able to do this. They just need to. To do what Jesus. Actually told them to do. Wait for the Holy Spirit.

[30:15] You will receive power. You will be able to do this. I will be with you. Even to the end of the age. We don't need to wait. For the Holy Spirit. Us. But at times. If things are not clear.

[30:27] With ambiguity. It's good to wait. Sometimes. Not in a manner of procrastinating. But drawn close to God. Praying. Considering. Growing in patience.

[30:38] Not rushing in. Being sober minded. And thinking on his words. Is that not what we've had to do. For the past six months. To wait. It's not a bad thing. The church.

[30:49] And many times throughout history. Has had to do that. Jesus is at work. He knows what he's doing. No authority. No government. No virus. Has overthrown his sovereignty.

[31:02] Nothing. Not even the gates of Hades. Will stop him. Building his church. Nothing. Will stop his kingdom. Breaking in. To this world. At this point. We see.

[31:13] The position of the king. There's much. Significance. In the ascension of Jesus. That isn't often spoken about. The ascension is. Is less about him. Leaving. Than it is about him.

[31:24] Taking his rightful place. See. Jesus doesn't currently. Rule. From some earthly palace. Made from human hands. He rules. From heaven. By the right hand of God.

[31:36] His kingdom. Envelops the whole earth. And he does so. From a place of highest. Authority and power. As before. There's certain aspects. Of Jesus work.

[31:47] That have been completed. Never to be repeated. But there are. Other aspects. That not only. Do they go on. But they must go on. So here's an interesting question. If you don't know.

[31:58] If you've never. Ever considered. But. If you read the gospels. Then perhaps you have. I've had this question. At the end of Luke's gospel. When Jesus ascends.

[32:10] Why do the disciples. Return to Jerusalem. With great joy. And you read in John's gospel. In the upper room. Before his death. They're very sorrowful.

[32:22] Jesus. Many times. Has to say. Take heart. Take courage. Take heart. Take heart. Fear not. The prospect of Jesus.

[32:33] Leaving them. Was not something. They initially thought of. With great joy. And here's another question. If you could have it. Your way. Would you rather.

[32:44] Than. Would you rather. Jesus. Was in our midst. Like the disciples. If we could think. Of where Jesus could be. At this time. Would you rather. Have him in your midst.

[32:55] Like he was. With the disciples. Now obviously. There's a sense. That that would be amazing. To actually see the Lord. We long. To see the Lord. In person. Just like we've longed. These past months.

[33:05] To see each other. To see Jesus in action. In this town. But maybe it's less helpful. To think. Of his current position. As an absence.

[33:16] From here. And more helpful. To think of it. As a presence. Somewhere far more important. When we get. What that means. Then despite.

[33:28] Our longing. To see him. We can have great joy. Because of where he. Currently is. Jesus himself. Said in Luke 22. 69. Where he will be.

[33:39] Following his trial. See they were. Questioning him. And they asked. If you're the Christ. Then tell us. But he said to them. If I tell you. You will not believe.

[33:50] And if I ask you. You will not answer. But from now on. The son of man. Shall be seated. At the right hand. Of the power of God. So they all said. Are you the son of God then?

[34:02] And he said to them. You say that I am. He is indeed. Such a momentous point. In his trial. Commentators put it.

[34:12] This. Wonderfully poetic way. That. Jesus finally. Breaks his silence. Deciding to put an end. To this miserable. And useless trial. And supplied his judges.

[34:23] With the evidence. They needed to sentence him. What a miserable. And useless trial it was. And finally. Jesus breaks the silence. If I tell you. You won't believe. If I ask you. You won't even answer.

[34:34] But I'll tell you what. From now on. The son of man. Shall be seated. At the right hand. Of the power of God. There you go. If I tell you plainly.

[34:45] You won't believe anyway. If I ask you. A question. To lead you. To the right answer. You won't even give an answer. That's how it's always been. You are not.

[34:55] Jesus. To these people. You are not. And have never really been. Looking for the truth. Just an excuse. To kill me. So I'll give you. What you need. Because look. Chapter nine.

[35:06] The son of man. Must suffer many things. And be rejected. By you elders. And chief priests. And scribes. And be killed. And on the third day. Rise. See you might kill me. You might think.

[35:17] That serves your purposes. Because you don't believe. But killing me. Won't help you. And it certainly. Won't stop me. You might think. That I am dead. But from now on. I shall be seated. At the right hand.

[35:28] Of the power of God. Says Jesus. And he is. Right now. Today. This is our king. This is our savior. This is Jesus. So we can think.

[35:39] Of where he is. Not as an absence. From here. But as a presence. Somewhere far more important. The king has taken. His rightful place. Above all the earth. Above all. See people in our day.

[35:51] Think that he is long gone. That he is. No one special. Just a figure from history. And one who is dead. And gone long ago. Daniel 7. Reveals what Jesus said.

[36:03] This is why his ascension. Should bring us great joy. Daniel 7. Says. I saw in the night visions. And behold. With the clouds of heaven. There came one like a son of man.

[36:14] And he came to the ancient of days. And was presented before him. And to him was given dominion. And glory. And a kingdom.

[36:24] That all people's nations and languages. Should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. Which shall not pass away. And his kingdom. One that shall not be destroyed.

[36:36] This is Jesus and his kingdom. Psalm 110 verse 1. The Lord said to my Lord. Sit at my right hand. Until I make your enemies. Your footstool. See that's how Peter explains.

[36:48] The absence of Jesus in Acts chapter 2. Not as an absence. But as being present. Present with the. At the father's right hand. Ruling over his enemies. Paul says in Philippians 2.

[37:01] God has highly. Exalted Jesus. Bestowed on him. The name that is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus. Every knee. Shall bow. In heaven and on earth.

[37:11] And under the earth. And every tongue confess. That Jesus Christ is Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Imagine trying to prevent.

[37:23] That kind of thing happening. Just to keep Jesus here. His ascension. Shouldn't make us dwell. On his absence here. But rather rejoice. That he is no longer.

[37:34] Absent from his throne. And how will he return. The same way he left. One day. Not only we. But the whole world.

[37:46] Will see the presentation. Of the king. Isn't this such a great thought. Although many disbelieve. Although many mock. Although the world cannot. See him right now.

[37:57] One day. One day. It will be plain. For all to see. Who Jesus really is. There will be no need. To convince people. No need to persuade. No need to reason.

[38:08] With people. That he is the Christ. The son of God. No. No. On that day. Everyone will see. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess. That we. What we ourselves know. To be true.

[38:19] That Jesus Christ. Is the Lord. That he is the king. The eternal king. With a kingdom. That will never end. But now.

[38:30] We wait. We gather. We pray. We proclaim. Before the king. Comes in power. He graciously. Sends his people.

[38:40] Ahead. Into the world. To offer terms of peace. To the whole world. That's why me. And you are here today. The kingdom. Isn't fully here. For the kingdom.

[38:52] Doesn't really belong. On this. Fallen earth. His kingdom. Is not from this world. But the kingdom. The eternal kingdom.

[39:04] Is breaking in. All over the world. And for this purpose. That people may know. That there is hope. Of a way. To enter this eternal kingdom. By the good news.

[39:15] Of Jesus Christ. As king. Everyone is offered peace. Before the end of days. Before the judgment. Of all the world. And before the kingdom. Takes over in power. Everyone. Is offered peace.

[39:27] Everyone is offered peace. Everyone is offered a way. To escape. The domain of darkness. That is passing away. And enter into the kingdom. Of the son of God. By his grace.

[39:38] Everyone is offered this. To swap a future. Of judgment. And perishing. For forgiveness. And eternal life. With the king. In his kingdom. Him. What do we do.

[39:49] What do we do. As the people. Of this glorious. And powerful. Reigning king. We do what Jesus instructed. We wait.

[39:59] We gather. We pray. We proclaim. And we do it. In the power. And authority. Of his spirit. Do we wait well? What a glorious king we have.

[40:15] Jesus is not only alive. Brothers and sisters. He has been exalted. To the highest place. At the right hand of God. He is present. On his throne. He is appearing.

[40:26] As our high priest. He is interceding. For us. He is our king. He is the king. Of kings. He has given us. A place.

[40:36] In his kingdom. And we have the joy. Of being empowered. By him. To see that kingdom. Break further. And more and more. Here and now. Given us the power.

[40:48] To proclaim the good news. Of that. To the whole world. See Acts chapter 1. Has set forth. All of that. For the rest of Acts. For the rest of.

[40:59] History. And for us today. And Jesus is present. He is at work. And me and you. Well glory to God. Through Jesus Christ. Our Lord. We are going to sing together.

[41:11] Just now. No we are not. In our hearts. We are going to sing together. So strange isn't it. There are things that we cannot do. But I will tell you this.

[41:22] Just thought of this. See when everything is normal. And we are not in a pandemic lifestyle. And all that kind of stuff. There are still many things. The church cannot do together.

[41:34] That the church. Will one day do. When we are free. From being subject to sin. Subject to suffering. Persecution and death. So.

[41:46] Don't worry about a little restriction. Here and there. We are always restricted. As long as we are on this earth. But glory be to God. That when this passes away. And when these bodies pass away.

[41:56] The Lord will raise us. Into his eternal kingdom. So. In our hearts. Let's sing together. Let's reflect on this song. Facing a task unfair.