WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.419 Well, good morning, everyone. It's great to have you with us today. My name is Graham. 00:00:04.520 --> 00:00:09.040 I'm the pastor here at the church. And let me encourage you to grab your Bibles and please 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:13.580 turn with me to Acts chapter 1. It's where we're going to be today. Maybe worth having 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:19.980 a finger in Psalm 24 that was read earlier to us as well. As we come to this, the penultimate 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:24.519 sermon in our short little series that we've been in over the last few weeks, thinking 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:31.719 about and looking at the defining moments in Jesus's life. And just as we begin today, 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:38.340 let me tell you about the last date night that my wife and I had before the lockdown. So 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:43.439 I managed to get us tickets to go and see The Lion King when it was on at Edinburgh Playhouse. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:48.620 Now, I don't normally do musicals, not really my thing. But even I came out of that thinking, 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:53.019 boy, that was a spectacular show. So let me encourage you, if you get the chance to see 00:00:53.020 --> 00:00:58.359 it, go and see The Lion King, you'll absolutely love it. But I'm guessing that if you haven't 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:04.140 seen the musical, there's a good chance that you've probably seen the film. Now, being a 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:10.740 Disney film, it's not the most complicated of plots. It really revolves around one question. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:18.280 And the question is, who is the rightful king? Right? So that's the question that dominates 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:26.120 the storyline of The Lion King. And as the story unfolds, you begin to see that it really matters 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:35.340 who is on the throne. What they are like really matters. How they got there really matters. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:41.980 And what they do with the power that they have as they rule really matters as well. 00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:48.659 You see, it really matters who's on the throne. And now let me take you from the realm of Disney 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:53.800 to the realm of real life. Because if you're anything like me, there's two questions that 00:01:53.800 --> 00:02:01.280 perhaps are in your mind as you come to church today. And as you live your life in a world trying 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:07.200 to do its best in the middle of this pandemic, but where it increasingly feels like we're a bit 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:13.420 like we're on a runaway train. And I'm asking myself the question, is there anyone who's in 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:22.460 control of this? And at the time when the stories of our lives, the narratives that we try and live by, 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:28.420 the things that we pour our energies into, a time when those things have never looked so shaky, 00:02:28.419 --> 00:02:37.799 I'm asking myself, is there a bigger story to life? One that's bigger, one that's going somewhere, 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:45.339 one which you and I are part of and that we find ourselves in. And what these verses from the Bible 00:02:45.339 --> 00:02:54.739 today tell us is that there's a yes to both of those questions. Yes, there is somebody in control. 00:02:54.740 --> 00:03:02.580 And yes, there is a bigger story which you and I are part of. And there's a yes to both of those 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:09.180 questions because there is a rightful king of the world who we're going to meet today in these verses 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:16.439 whose name is Jesus. And so hot off the back of Easter, we pick up the story about Jesus in the book 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:24.719 of Acts. Now, Acts is written by this man called Luke, this doctor come historian who has written his 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:32.819 account of the life of Jesus. And what I love about Luke's gospel is that he is so explicit as to why 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:40.259 he wrote it. And you'll see it in verse one of Acts one. You see, Luke's slightly being commissioned by 00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:48.759 this man called Theophilus, who wants to know for certain who Jesus is as he wrestles with the 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:56.099 question in his mind. Is this man worth following with my life? And you see, the thing is, is Luke has 00:03:56.099 --> 00:04:04.179 researched Jesus. And as he's considered what his facts are telling him, that what the conclusion that 00:04:04.179 --> 00:04:12.639 Luke has come to is that Jesus most certainly is, as he sees the promises and the purposes of God 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:21.879 in history fulfilled in the life of this man, Jesus. And if Luke is almost like part one of his 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:28.259 account, which records the events up until Jesus's resurrection, Acts is almost a bit like the sequel 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:36.459 where Luke writes about what Jesus continued to do. So this is where we are in the story. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:41.639 Jesus has risen. We thought about that last week. We thought about how Mary Magdalene 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:48.919 has become the first witness to the risen Jesus. And notice Luke telling us at verse three 00:04:48.919 --> 00:04:54.779 that Jesus didn't just shoot straight up to heaven after he appeared to Mary Magdalene. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:00.319 Right? Really important that we see that. Because here's what would have happened if that were the 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:06.759 case. Mary would have run ecstatically and told everybody that Jesus is alive. And they would respond 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:16.500 and say to her, can anyone back that up? And she would have said, no, not really. And so they would 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:22.740 have concluded, well, we don't think he did rise from the dead. Mary would have come back and said, 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.319 well, yes, he has. I've seen him. They would have come back and said, no, he hasn't. She would have 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.139 come and said, oh, yes, he has. And not only do we have on our hands the original and the most boring 00:05:30.139 --> 00:05:36.439 pantomime in history. But what we have is what they call the knots and crosses, a cat's game. 00:05:36.919 --> 00:05:41.620 Right? I don't know why they call it that. It's just what they call it. A cat's game. Deadlock. 00:05:42.159 --> 00:05:52.779 Game's over. And the news about the risen Jesus never even gets up off the ground. But Luke tells 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:59.599 us that Jesus appeared over a period of 40 days. Do you see that? To many different people. What was 00:05:59.599 --> 00:06:06.159 he doing? He was proving and he was speaking. In fact, we know from elsewhere in the Bible that Jesus 00:06:06.159 --> 00:06:14.019 appeared to over 500 people at one time. So in terms of the eyewitnesses, you have the breadth in terms of 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:18.599 the number of people and you have the length in terms of the number of days, which together come 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:24.980 together to form pretty conclusive evidence for the risen Jesus. Now, let me hit you with a little 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:31.300 factoid at this point. I don't know if you knew this, but actually we have more evidence for the 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:40.420 resurrection than we do evidence for the fact that Julius Caesar even existed. Now, what does that tell 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:50.980 us? It tells us that Christianity rests on a bedrock of verifiable facts, reliable facts. Maybe 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:56.960 that's something that you've never really thought about until today. What is this Christianity business? 00:06:57.080 --> 00:07:02.879 What is it based on? Well, it's based on facts. Our faith rests on facts. Maybe you need to check that 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:10.500 out for yourself. And 40 days have passed since Jesus rose and he's about to ascend into heaven. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:17.259 And if you look at it, his disciples ask him, verse six, they say, is now the time for you to restore 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:24.000 the kingdom? There's their question, right? In other words, is now the time for you to become 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:31.439 the earthly king? Is now the time for you to set up your kingdom here? And Jesus says, no. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:41.079 And he tells them that they will soon be living in the gap, right? Between his first coming, 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:51.500 his going, and we'll think about this next week, his return. And the time of the GAP is the time 00:07:51.500 --> 00:08:01.339 that we will know as the GPA. It is the gospel proclamation age. As these disciples become his 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:08.259 witnesses, and as they take the news of the risen Jesus to the peoples of the world, 00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:18.040 and Jesus ascends into heaven. And so in the time we have remaining, I just want us to see two reasons 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:25.520 why the ascension is so significant. And so here's the first reason why this is so significant a moment. 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:35.080 Firstly, because it tells us that the king is on his throne. Now remember those words of Psalm 24. 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:40.440 If you've got it there, then open it up in front of you. Here's the questions of Psalm 24. 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:47.960 Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place? 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:55.460 In other words, who can qualify to enter God's presence? And these aren't rhetorical questions. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:09:02.280 You see how the Psalm gives us the answer. Answer, the one who has clean hands, 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:09.959 and the one who has a pure heart. And we respond to that, don't we? Not by saying, 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:16.179 grab your backpack, we're going up the hill. No, we respond by saying, that is not us. 00:09:17.319 --> 00:09:23.480 That is not us. But it's a Psalm that throws us back, not to look at ourselves. It's a Psalm that 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:36.000 throws us to look at Jesus. The one who came down and lived a perfect life of obedience to his father 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:44.259 and finished his kingly work, the work that his father gave him to do of rescuing sinners from the 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:53.460 gates of hell for his father on the cross. The final cry of Jesus on the cross. It is finished. 00:09:53.460 --> 00:10:03.920 He did it. And truly he is the Lord's mighty in battle. And because of that, here he is entering 00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:12.620 heaven's course as the conquering king. You see, the ascension is about the homecoming of the king of 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:21.300 glory. As Jesus takes his seat on the throne at the right hand of his father in heaven, in this the 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:32.199 most glorious of moments. And the thing for us to see is this is where he is right now, ruling and 00:10:32.199 --> 00:10:40.299 reigning all things in that position of ultimate power. Here is Jesus in all his glory. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:51.099 And so the question we have to ask ourselves is, have we caught a big vision of the king of glory? 00:10:52.939 --> 00:11:01.819 Are we resting in this king's victory? My wife and I spent some time in Malawi in 2012. Again, 00:11:01.859 --> 00:11:07.039 if you've not been to Malawi, a beautiful part of the world, if you get the chance, do go. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:12.599 But we got there and I remember speaking to some of the local people and I'm asking them about their 00:11:12.599 --> 00:11:21.759 ruler, right? About their president. Because while the majority of Malawians were living in poverty, 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:31.519 he was traveling about in either his $8.4 million private jet or one of his fleet of 60 Mercedes 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:37.519 cars. In fact, when the guy died, they found bags stuffed full of American dollars in his room. 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.879 This was their president. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.659 What kind of king is Jesus? 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:47.980 What's he doing in the place of power? What is he doing in the place of all authority? 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.379 Well, the answer that the Bible gives us incredibly 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:56.699 is that he is interceding for his people. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:08.100 That's what kind of king Jesus is. He's given himself for us. He has loved us. He has atoned for 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:13.180 our sin. He has brought us to himself. And that's how we can ascend the hill of the Lord. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:20.020 And that means that as far as God is concerned, that if our trust is in Jesus, if he is our savior 00:12:20.020 --> 00:12:25.240 and king, then the jury is not out on us. We are adopted as his sons and daughters. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:30.700 And we're not adopted into God's family and then put, if you like, on probation period. 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:35.360 God's saying, you can come in for just now. We'll put you on a six month trial and we'll see how it 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:42.240 goes after six months if you can live up to this billing. No, because we are in Christ, 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:51.879 the father loves us in the same way that he loves his son. And in the same way that the high priest in 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:58.799 Israel wore the names of the 12 tribes of Israel on his heart, symbolic for the people of God as he 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:08.080 came into the very presence of God. So the Christian has a great high priest who, as the song goes, 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:18.460 ever lives and pleads for us in God's very presence. Do you know what that means? That means on my best 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:25.340 days when I'm on top of the world and on my worst days when not just has life sucked, but I know 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:32.480 myself that I have sucked. On those days, I derive my identity from this, that Jesus has loved me, 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:42.400 that I'm forgiven, that I am free because I am his. Friends, let me ask you, are you resting 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:51.899 in the king's victory? And are you displaying the king's rule? Do you know what the word is that 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:59.699 causes the most fights in our house? It's the word mine, right? Our kids do it. I mean, 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:05.279 they compete over everything, cereal, bowls, cutlery, seats at the table, and that's just dinner time. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:11.559 But the honest truth in our home is that the adults do it just as much, if not more, than the children. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:18.779 Right? This is my time. It's time for my show. It's time for us to live my dream. 00:14:20.079 --> 00:14:23.519 I find that in your life that the word mine comes so naturally to you. 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:33.419 And yet, do you see how we follow a king whose central confession in his life was not my will be done, 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:43.159 but your will be done? And so in response to his love for us, in response to where he is, 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:52.579 do we as his children increasingly demonstrate his kingship over every single area of our lives? 00:14:52.580 --> 00:15:02.840 As we live holy lives? If you look at this psalm and knowing that Jesus fulfilled it, 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:05.980 friends, do we strive to reflect it? 00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:10.960 The ascension means that the king is on his throne. 00:15:12.400 --> 00:15:17.300 And secondly, the ascension means that the spirit is in our hearts. 00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:22.099 See at verse 4 of Acts chapter 1, what does Jesus say to his disciples? 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.179 He encourages them to wait. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:27.979 Right? Imagine how difficult that must have been, 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:30.959 given that they've just seen the risen Jesus, to wait. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.799 But this is what he says. They have to wait. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:34.959 And not just to wait randomly for something. 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:39.039 They have to wait for the promise of the Father. 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.120 Now, what's this all about? 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:48.120 Well, here's some words of Jesus that Luke records at chapter 11 of his gospel. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:54.259 And in the context, Jesus is trying to help his disciples fathom something of the goodness 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:56.399 of their heavenly Father. 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.860 And this is what he says. This is his line. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:05.960 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:11.240 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:14.720 In other words, he's saying, you wouldn't do that, would you? 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.980 If you have children, you wouldn't promise them something great 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:22.780 and then flip it round when they came for it and play a little cruel trick on them. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.800 Right? I heard somebody once say, it's like, son, here's an Xbox. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:31.540 Right? They open it up and they see that something used to be there. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.019 And now it's empty. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.060 See, son, I told you it's an Xbox. 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:36.579 He wouldn't do that. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.919 How much more would God never do that with his children? 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:42.199 This is Jesus' point. 00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.519 Right? And he goes on. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:50.319 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:16:51.239 --> 00:16:54.519 how much more, love that phrase, 00:16:54.519 --> 00:17:03.719 how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:07.339 You see, here's the gift of God. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.980 It's not stuff. 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.539 What does he say? 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.539 It's the Spirit. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.440 Given to God's people from the Father and the Ascended Son, 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:19.400 the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:25.380 Now elsewhere you hear Jesus referring to him as the comforter. 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.819 It's a wonderful phrase that, isn't it? 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.839 As the comforter. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.559 As another helper. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.700 One who will be just like Jesus himself. 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.779 Because with Jesus not here, 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.559 and this is what the disciples ask Jesus, 00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:41.119 and you totally get their logic here. 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:44.339 Because when Jesus is not here, but he's up there, 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.059 how can he be true to his promise 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:49.879 that he will be with his people to the end of the age? 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.900 That's a great question. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.160 I mean, is that just wishful thinking? 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:57.180 Is this some kind of motivational pep talk from a personal trainer? 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.600 What's going on here? 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.980 No, this is the promise of the Father. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:07.580 The Holy Spirit sent to the disciples 00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:11.200 in the days following this, known as Pentecost, 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:16.580 to live in the very hearts of all of God's people. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.580 As God the Father and God the Son 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:25.220 really do take up personal residence in their lives 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.200 through the indwelling Spirit. 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:33.200 The Spirit who helps us in our weakness as God's children. 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:35.279 The Spirit who helps us to pray. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.200 The Spirit who helps us to understand more 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.059 the deep things of God. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:44.200 The Spirit helping us in that lifelong project 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:49.620 of pointing us to and making us more like Jesus. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.539 And specifically here, 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.400 we see the Spirit helping the disciples 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:59.380 to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.799 You see Jesus telling them there, verse 8, 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.400 that they will receive power 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.900 when the Holy Spirit has come upon them. 00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:09.980 Power for what? 00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:10.740 He says it there. 00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:11.240 He's explicit. 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:14.040 Power to be His witnesses. 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.480 That's the power. 00:19:16.280 --> 00:19:17.019 They're to go. 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:20.040 They're to testify to the risen Jesus. 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.340 I mean, what's the job of a witness? 00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:25.400 To simply say what you know to be true. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.160 That's your job. 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.259 It's not to convince the jury. 00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:28.280 It's just to tell the truth 00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:30.120 about what you know to be true. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.200 That's the job of a witness. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:35.799 And they're going to be Jesus' witnesses. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.740 As they go, 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.200 and as they proclaim, 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:43.460 knowing and trusting that the Spirit 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:46.400 will do His sovereign work. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.580 And really, it's the only thing 00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.900 that explains how Peter, 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:54.580 the man who crumbled when Jesus was arrested 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:57.720 as he was interrogated by this little servant girl, 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:00.039 all of a sudden you flip on a few pages 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.720 in your Bible 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.539 and you read an ax 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.559 and you see Peter standing 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.759 and boldly declaring 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.660 the mighty ax of God 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.660 and raising Jesus from the dead. 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.000 He's not scared. 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.660 He's got courage. 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:13.460 How? 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:15.500 How have we gone from there to there? 00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:17.759 The only answer is the power 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.500 of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:22.599 The Spirit took this pansy 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.400 and made him a preacher. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.339 And so the book of Acts 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.519 that starts in Jerusalem 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.279 ends with this man called Paul 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.859 giving testimony to the risen Jesus. 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:33.400 Where? 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:35.640 In the city of Rome. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.720 The very heartbeat 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.819 of the Roman Empire. 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.619 And so here we are 2,000 years later. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:45.039 The message of the risen Jesus 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.720 having reached and transformed 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:49.759 even the people in Scotland. 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.299 And so as we respond to this, 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.819 let me encourage us 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:56.440 to be thinking and praying 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:59.600 on who we can be witnessing to. 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:03.180 You know, let's not underestimate 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:05.940 what the Holy Spirit can do 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.319 through the power 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:11.200 of everyday ordinary witness. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.180 My favorite example of this 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:17.660 is a man called John Wesley 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:19.799 who is one of a number of people 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.840 from the 18th century in the UK 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:23.900 who God used mightily 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:25.200 to reach countless numbers 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.279 of people around the world 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.920 for Jesus. 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.019 Man who preached 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.680 to thousands of people. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.980 The man who interacted 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.519 with some of the biggest brains 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.580 in the world at the time. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.539 And do you know what he said 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:37.279 was the most powerful witness to him 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:39.039 growing up 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.360 to the reality of the risen Jesus? 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:44.740 He said it was watching his mum in action. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.539 Just watching her do her thing, 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:49.079 watching her go about her life, 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.879 hearing what she was saying 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:53.319 about how Jesus has transformed her life. 00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.119 And he said this, 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:54.740 he said, 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:56.359 I learned more about Christianity 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.839 from my mother 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:01.019 than I did from all the theologians 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.939 in England. 00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:05.119 Isn't that a wonderful truth 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:06.359 about the power 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.359 of the Holy Spirit 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.059 through somebody 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.919 who's just being 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:11.979 a faithful word 00:22:11.979 --> 00:22:12.979 and deed witness 00:22:12.979 --> 00:22:14.000 for the risen Jesus? 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:15.599 I hope that encourages you today. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.899 It encourages you 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:19.099 as you speak to the neighbour 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.079 on the street corner, 00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:21.000 keeping your distance, 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.959 but speaking to them 00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:22.779 on the street corner. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.000 As you speak to that friend 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.779 at the shop, 00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:30.079 as you love your family member, 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:31.859 as you call them on Zoom this week, 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:33.419 let's not underestimate 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:36.800 what the Holy Spirit can do 00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:39.080 through the everyday Christian 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:40.640 whose faithful life 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.220 and words testify 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:44.240 to the good rule 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.860 of Jesus. 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.680 You know, 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.640 maybe you're watching this 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.880 and somebody's just flicked 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:51.060 this link onto you 00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:52.060 and you find yourselves here. 00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:53.320 Why not ask them 00:22:53.320 --> 00:22:54.940 why they trust and hope 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.820 in the risen Jesus? 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.100 Wouldn't that be a great conversation 00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:57.779 to have today 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.779 off the back of this? 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.900 So here's the ascension, 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:03.720 this defining moment 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.920 in Jesus' life. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.500 What does it mean? 00:23:05.540 --> 00:23:06.340 It means two things. 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.840 It means that the king 00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:08.680 is on his throne 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:11.380 and it means that the spirit 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:13.560 is in our hearts. 00:23:15.040 --> 00:23:15.380 You know, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.080 just as we close, 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.940 let me just take you back 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:18.040 to date night, okay? 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:19.720 Let me take you back 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.540 to the Lion King, 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.519 this thing that we're watching. 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.580 Let me take you back, 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.759 if you know the film, 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:25.200 let me take you back 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.560 to what was the finale. 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:29.200 Remember the question, 00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.280 who is the rightful king? 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.420 Here's your spoiler alert. 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.519 The musical ends 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.360 with the big finale. 00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:35.200 Simba takes his place 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.960 as the rightful king, right? 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:40.279 And all things are right again. 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.000 And in an instant, 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:42.120 all the animals are there, 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.380 all the plants transformed 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.539 to be lush and green. 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.440 And the adult in you screams 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.920 of only cultivating a garden 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.980 was as simple as that. 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.340 But it's a wonderful scene. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.900 But here's the thing 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.120 with Simba's reign as king. 00:23:56.560 --> 00:23:57.279 You know the film, 00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.440 the question he asked 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.500 his dad as a child. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.980 He said, 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.839 Dad, are we king over there? 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:03.640 Right? 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.240 What about that shadowy place? 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.680 And Mufasa replies, 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.160 No, son. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.400 That's beyond our borders. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.880 We'll contrast that 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:16.400 with the opening words 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.099 of Psalm 24. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.119 What is the Lord's? 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.640 Where does he rule? 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.779 Where does he reign? 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:26.859 The earth is the Lord's 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:30.460 and the fullness thereof. 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:33.839 In the words of Abraham Kuiper, 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:35.399 former prime minister 00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:36.359 of the Netherlands 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.480 who realized there was 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.599 a king above him, 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.440 he says this, 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:42.319 There is not a square inch 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.399 in the whole domain 00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:46.259 of our human existence 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.839 over which Christ, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.099 who is sovereign over all, 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:52.159 does not cry, 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.240 mine. 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.319 And the question 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.159 as we close 00:24:58.159 --> 00:25:01.219 is for you to think about 00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:03.539 whether you have surrendered 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.379 your life 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:05.980 to the rule 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.819 of this good king. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.179 Let me pray. 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:13.900 And so, Father, 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.680 we thank you 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:16.440 that Jesus, 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.920 the king of love, 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:21.640 the king of glory, 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.980 is on his throne. 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:28.660 Help us to respond rightly 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.740 to his rule 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:31.840 and in faith 00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:33.680 reach out 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:36.160 and take great comfort 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.240 not from how things 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.340 look down here 00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:41.380 but from how things 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.440 look up there, 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.340 from who he is 00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:46.800 and from where he is 00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:48.200 and from what he will 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.980 one day do. 00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:50.360 Father, 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.540 thank you that you love us. 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.580 Thank you for this time 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.120 this morning. 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.400 Thank you that you hear 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:54.980 our prayer 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.279 because we make it 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.759 in Jesus' precious name. 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:58.660 Amen.