WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.240 It is a joy to us who come to the Word of God to know that however massive this task is, 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:19.339 not only in understanding the Word, but especially applying that Word to our hearts isn't a task 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:28.519 ! It's a task that we invite the Spirit to do along with us and to help to do for us as we 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:34.320 submit ourselves to the Scriptures as we seek to apply that Word to our lives. And then we see 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:42.320 the work of God and how He does that in us and how He blesses us with the joy of seeing His work 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:49.340 in the lives of others. What a privilege that is. Well, tonight, most of you, many of you, 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:56.019 maybe all of you will be participating in an activity, probably watching the Super Bowl together. 00:00:56.020 --> 00:01:04.840 Bright lights, packed stadiums, confetti, the celebration that's taking place. And for all 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:09.620 intents and purposes, this is really kind of the center of attention for today, is it not? 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:19.960 Somewhere around $800 million will be spent on commercials. About $8 million per 30-second slot 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:28.859 is going to be spent. Somewhere around 65,000 people will attend the game this evening and spending 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:41.419 about $4,500, upwards around $30,000 on a ticket. With some tickets going around $40,000 even. 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:52.079 About 127, 130 million people will be participating and watching the game tonight. Planning has been 00:01:52.079 --> 00:02:00.859 underway for the last 18 months. It will feel like the center of the world in many ways. But by tomorrow 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:09.199 morning, all the crowds will have left, all the seats will be empty, and there will be those who will 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:16.739 be there in the stadium cleaning up after a massive event. Here's the sobering reality. 00:02:17.679 --> 00:02:24.539 Many of you probably don't even know who's playing tonight. That would be me. I don't even know who's 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:32.399 playing tonight. Many of you probably don't know who won last year, don't know who the MVP is, 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:38.299 don't know where the game was played, don't know what the score was, all of those things that seem 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:46.100 really important tonight. We won't have any clue what's happening just a few days from now. 00:02:47.660 --> 00:02:54.320 Moments that felt really massive, moments that garnered lots of attention, will fade into 00:02:54.320 --> 00:03:01.260 meaninglessness. That's kind of where we find ourselves this morning in the book of Acts, Acts chapter 1. 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:08.439 It's kind of how this whole movement of the church begins. It begins with this sense of a letdown after 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:15.699 these massive crowds that were once so prevalent in the city of Jerusalem. And now, just a month and a 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:22.780 half afterwards, all we're left with is just a spattering of followers, 120 people who seem to be 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:31.120 left. This unexpected movement that seemed to garner the attention of an entire nation, now all of a 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:40.360 sudden has faded into almost obscurity. Jesus was taken, of course, by religious leaders. He was put to 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:46.659 death by Roman authorities. And all of a sudden, unexpectedly, this movement that seemed to be 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:55.639 gaining steam was over. But the lesson of what happens in the book of Acts is unforgettable. 00:03:57.379 --> 00:04:07.120 What if God does his greatest work when the stadium is empty? What if the mission of Christ was never 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:16.120 built on crowd size, but was built on quiet obedience? What if the real story of the history 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:24.120 is not the roar of the crowd, but the faithfulness of the remnant who were left? What if the difference 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:33.579 between collapse of a movement in courage is that they return? These few returned. They obeyed. They 00:04:33.579 --> 00:04:39.340 went back to Jerusalem. They did what they were told. They followed the instructions that they were given. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:49.319 And these four realities that we have come to begin to see last week in the surprising return of these 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:57.959 disciples. And these realities that we started looking up last week. The promise of Christ, the promise of 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:07.719 God that kept them. The power of God that was set before them. The pattern of God that was given to 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:15.640 guide them in their efforts. And finally, the people who were determined to obey the instructions that 00:05:15.640 --> 00:05:24.780 they were given. Now we bring all of that into focus through Acts chapter 1 verses 12 to 13. And I would 00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:30.920 encourage you, if you have your Bibles, please open with me Acts chapter 1. If you're using the Pew Bible 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:39.939 there in front of you, it's on page 909. Luke will say, almost matter-of-factly, then they returned to 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:49.020 Jerusalem. And in that surprising return, God will begin to shape the hope and the life of this group 00:05:49.020 --> 00:05:56.480 of believers. And he will set a pattern for us on how we can enjoy and experience the benefits of the 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:04.879 working power of God to accomplish his purposes through simple obedience. Simple obedience. 00:06:05.780 --> 00:06:11.860 So we see their obedient return in verse 12. Look with me there. It says, 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:19.100 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:25.280 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James 00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:31.780 and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot 00:06:31.780 --> 00:06:39.500 and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:47.480 with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers. As we saw last week, it's easy to read 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:59.020 these verses as generally un-extraordinary. We see them as the automatic and natural expectation. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:06.500 This is what we have come to expect. And as we, maybe as you're familiar with the book of Acts, 00:07:06.640 --> 00:07:11.780 you know the story. It's routine. And of course, the disciples come back to Jerusalem. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:21.379 But when we read, Then they returned to Jerusalem, we need to pause for a moment and understand the 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:28.379 significance of this response and what God is beginning to put in place and the pattern He's 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:35.659 beginning to set for us as people who also want to comply to the instructions of God and to enjoy the 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:43.540 benefits of His promise. We need to feel the significance of this work of God working through 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:53.940 extraordinary means to accomplish His objectives. Take note of these words. Then they returned. 00:07:55.020 --> 00:08:00.820 We saw last week that it was an immediate response. We understood through the text that the word 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:07.199 then is meant to help you understand the immediate sequence of events that are taking place. That 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:14.300 they receive these instructions from the angels. They've watched Jesus ascend into heaven. The angels 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:19.620 come and say, hey, what are you doing, guys? Why are you standing around looking around? Do what He said. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:27.560 And so then they return. This immediate posture of obedience without hesitation, without delay, 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:33.860 without question, without second guessing. They do what they're told. They follow the instructions 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:40.580 that they received already from Jesus. So we saw the beginning of Acts chapter 1, verse 4. It says, 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:47.100 And while staying with them, speaking of Jesus, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:54.360 but to wait for the promise of the Father, which He had said, you heard from me. This imperative order, 00:08:54.360 --> 00:09:00.779 this command, this instruction that was given. And the disciples saw it for what it was. Not just a 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:07.779 suggestion, but as a command to follow. And they do it immediately, without hesitation. 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:14.039 And second, we saw last week that it was purposeful. That there was direction to their obedience. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:20.800 Again, verse 12, they returned to Jerusalem. Then verse 13, and when they had entered, 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:26.599 they went up to the upper room where they were staying. And it's difficult to really appreciate 00:09:26.599 --> 00:09:32.139 what's taking place here in the English translation, but each of these four verbs, 00:09:32.359 --> 00:09:38.099 they returned, they entered, they went up, they were staying, are verbs that have a prefix, 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:46.839 a prepositional prefix that has direction attached to it. This direction to their obedience, 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:55.240 this design to their obedience. And what seems so natural to us is all a strategic way in which God 00:09:55.240 --> 00:10:03.379 was getting them to the place where He wanted them to be. Maybe you say, big deal. Why are you making 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:12.540 such a big point about this? And the reason, of course, is because simple obedience is what activates 00:10:12.539 --> 00:10:22.199 God's unstoppable plan. Simple obedience activates God's unstoppable plan. It's not going to be based 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:27.360 upon your heroics. It's not going to be based upon your charisma. It's not going to even be based upon 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:31.980 your giftedness. It's not going to be based upon your ability to defend what you believe or even 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:39.179 articulate what you believe. The plan of God, the purposes of God will be worked out and put into 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:50.000 motion as you decide to obey God's instructions. Simple obedience activates God's unstoppable plan. 00:10:51.239 --> 00:10:57.519 Do what God says and you will invite God's power. But see, obedience wasn't automatic for these men. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.899 And that's what I want to spend our time this morning understanding. That while we see obedience here, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:11.600 obedience was really not the pattern for these men. And there are four reasons that we can stand back 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:18.220 and just appreciate the work of God that's taking place here. Last week, we saw that it was activated 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:26.240 first by the promises of God. This promise of God that kept them. And we saw last week that Jesus' 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:33.759 ministry there began in the Jordan Valley, in the Jordan River area. And right after His baptism, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:39.039 He was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. And there He was tempted for 40 days. 00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:45.419 Well, in Luke's account and in Matthew, in Mark's account, we get the impression that as soon as Jesus 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:51.720 came out of temptation, He made His way immediately to Galilee. But John's account helps us to understand 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:58.279 that there may have been as much as a year that Jesus spends in ministry there in Judea, there around the 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:05.899 Jordan River, and Jerusalem before He ever makes His way back to Galilee. 00:12:06.579 --> 00:12:13.000 Jesus is there. He's performing miracles. He's casting out demons. He and His disciples are 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:20.299 constantly surrounded by people. His ministry to them, Jesus' ministry to them is flourishing. 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:29.500 So Jesus, recognizing the press of the ministry on His disciples, when He, at some point that happens 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:35.099 in John, Jesus encourages His disciples, hey, let's get away. Let's get some retreat. Let's have some time 00:12:35.099 --> 00:12:42.519 of refreshment. And so they go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, this retreat experience that 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:48.980 they were supposed to enjoy. And who do you suppose meets them on the other side? Well, we find from 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:56.159 Matthew chapter 14, verses 13 and 14, that Jesus and His disciples withdrew from there in a boat to a 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:03.419 desolate place by Himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:11.759 When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:21.860 Fortunately, Jesus is not like me. Fortunately, Jesus isn't like many of us. That when we decide 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:29.500 that we deserve some time off, we deserve some time of refreshment, and then all of a sudden, 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:34.740 the crowds come, and we're like, wait a second, this is not what I signed up for. Jesus, instead of 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:40.960 pushing the crowds away, recognizing that Jesus, or that God was sovereign over that, 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:50.300 He had compassion on those crowds. And you know the story. Jesus, He healed their sick. He spent the day 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:56.460 healing their sick. But then He turns it into an object lesson, where He invites the disciples to 00:13:56.460 --> 00:14:02.400 begin to think about how they were going to take care of the physical needs of those who had come. 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:07.200 How are you going to deal with their hunger? And of course, Jesus cared about their hunger, too. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:12.500 But He cares more about their spiritual needs, and He wanted the disciples to recognize, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:18.660 even at the very beginning of the ministry, that the things that seemed impossible for them 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:26.620 were possible with God. Jesus would meet their physical needs by feeding 5,000 men and as many as 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:33.960 15,000 women and children. Well, He would send the crowds away, and on the next day, those same people 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:41.580 would return. And that's where we find ourselves in the book of John, John chapter 6. And Jesus, now, 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:47.420 He's caring about these spiritual matters, not just the physical matters. And so He's going to 00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:54.600 begin to ask and make some very bold and defining statements about the fact that He is the bread of 00:14:54.600 --> 00:15:00.420 life that's come down from God, and that they would need to eat on His flesh and drink His blood. And the 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:05.799 disciples that were listening, the crowd of people that had come to turn out to hear this were like, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:13.439 what is going on with this guy? So then in John chapter 6, verse 60, we find many of His disciples 00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:20.879 heard these things and said, this is a hard saying. Who can listen? And we find in verse 66 that 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:30.720 after this, many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. These bold, confusing statements 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:38.159 caused many of Jesus' disciples, the thousands that were there, to not even bother associating themselves 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:45.639 with Christ's ministry anymore. And we would see this as a pattern just generally across the landscape of 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:53.299 the nation of Israel. But what we find, a promise of Christ to His disciples that He would keep them. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:16:01.120 John chapter 6, verse 61, Jesus now turns to His disciples. He says, knowing in Himself that His 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:05.059 disciples were grumbling about this, He said to them, do you take offense at this? 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:13.879 Then in verse 64, there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:20.799 who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him. And He said, this is why I 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:28.639 told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to Him by the Father. Then in verse 67, 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:36.120 so Jesus says to the twelve, do you want to go away as well? And Jesus answered them, did I not choose you, 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:43.820 the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For he, 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:51.019 one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. Jesus understood the fickle hearts of the nation of Israel. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:58.840 He understood how displaced the hearts even of His own disciples were. And yet the promise-keeping 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:07.720 power of Christ in knowing His own, you are going to remain with Me. One of you will depart. And Jesus 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:15.980 knows that it's Judas by name. So by the time we make our way to Acts chapter 1, verse 13, we see that 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:21.100 they're all accounted for. They returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:26.299 a Sabbath day journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:33.680 staying. And here they are, all accounted for. Peter and John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:44.399 Bartholomew, Matthew, James, Simon, and Judas, the son of James. The promise-keeping power of God 00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:54.579 to keep His own. The eleven apostles, here they are. Jesus fulfills His word. What if we believed 00:17:54.579 --> 00:18:02.619 the most important thing we could do as a church was obey the simple instructions of our Lord and 00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:10.539 trust Him to keep His promises? What if we believed that the instructions that God gave led to the 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:18.799 results that we begin to see breaking forth in the first chapter of Acts chapter 1? What if we believed 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:25.539 that it was just as simple as doing what God instructed? And we could trust Him with those results? 00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:31.680 We didn't have to worry about strategies. We didn't have to worry about performance. We didn't have to worry about 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:38.399 making things happen. We just trusted that the instructions that God gave to us were sufficient. We just did what He 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:45.819 told us to do, and we trusted Him for the results, and we were satisfied with what He determined was right. 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:53.259 Remember the promises of God and marvel at the return of the disciples to Jerusalem. 00:18:54.139 --> 00:19:00.200 Those promises that kept them. Second, we say, and want to consider the power that was set before them. 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:06.700 The power that was set before them. You know, if we trace the public ministry of Jesus 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:12.559 throughout the gospel of Luke, we find the extraordinary power of God. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:18.599 And really at the very beginning of Luke's account as Jesus will make His way into Nazareth, 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:22.179 we see in Luke chapter 4, verses 18 and 19, it says, 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:29.500 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.480 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives in recovering of sight to the blind, 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.720 to set at liberty those who were oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:44.500 And then Jesus will, after reading the scroll, He sits down and He says, 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:47.940 Today, this has been fulfilled in your hearing. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.279 And the crowd there in Nazareth, there in the synagogue in Nazareth, 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:56.140 marveled at what He said, the authority of His words. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:20:00.620 And the things that Jesus was teaching blew them away. 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:08.319 It became kind of the beginning of this movement that Jesus will begin to put into motion. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:11.120 Where people were seeking after Him. 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:15.000 And so then we get to Luke chapter 5, the beginning of verse 1. 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:21.160 And so many crowds are there coming after Jesus that Jesus has to get onto a little boat 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:25.920 and move out into the Sea of Galilee so you have some space between Him and the people. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:31.519 We find in Luke chapter 5, verse 15, Jesus heals this man with leprosy. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.079 And it says, 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:35.859 But now even more, the report about Him went abroad. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:40.720 And great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:46.240 Mark gives us a fascinating account of the ministry of Jesus. 00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:50.099 Notice this in Mark chapter 3, verses 20 and 21. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.920 It says this, 00:20:50.920 --> 00:21:10.460 They thought Jesus was crazy. 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:16.400 They thought there was something mentally wrong with Him because He was always surrounded by the press of the crowd. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:18.019 He never seemed to take a break. 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:22.440 So that in a few verses later, Mark chapter 3, verse 31, 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.400 His mother and brothers came again. 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:27.039 Standing outside, they sent to Him and called Him. 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.400 And a crowd was sitting around Him. 00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:30.160 And they said, 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:32.920 Your mother, your brothers are outside seeking you. 00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:38.279 This continuing ministry of Jesus that continued to gain popularity. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:44.379 So that even as Jesus now leaves Galilee and begins His way towards Jerusalem, 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.339 we find in Matthew chapter 19, verses 1 and 2. 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:53.119 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, He went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea, 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:58.399 beyond the Jordan, and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:04.420 The prominence, the popularity, the ministry of Jesus that was so prominent. 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:10.259 His popularity in Judea and Jerusalem was massive, was epic. 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:15.500 So that by the time that Jesus is now making His way into Jerusalem, 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:20.580 this final time for the day of Passover, we find in Luke chapter 19, 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.879 you're familiar with this story, 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:25.720 that Jesus entered Jericho, He was passing through, 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.099 and behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:30.799 He was a chief tax collector, was rich. 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:34.119 He was seeking to see who Jesus was. 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.599 But on account of the crowds, 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:40.980 He could not because He was so small in stature. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.599 There were too many people. 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:47.419 The crush of the crowds, the press of the multitudes were there. 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:50.740 And as Jesus now makes His way into Jerusalem, 00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:53.019 the same kind of thing is taking place. 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:56.180 We find that in Luke 19, 47 and 48. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.259 He was teaching daily in the temple. 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:02.779 The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him, 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:05.300 but they did not find anything they could do, 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:08.980 for all the people were hanging on His words. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:12.600 It's repeated again a couple chapters later. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.420 Luke 21, 37. 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:16.539 Every day He was teaching in the temple, 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:20.240 but at night He went out and lodged on the Mount Cololivet. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.759 And early in the morning, 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:25.319 all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:29.240 The crowds in Jerusalem would swell some figures, 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:32.319 as many as 1.2 to 2 million people. 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:37.799 And the temple mount area could hold as many as 100,000 people. 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:40.299 Now, all of them were probably not there, 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:44.559 but you get a sense of the massive crowds that were taking place. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:51.059 So what does Jesus need to do to prepare His disciples for this Acts 1 kind of ministry? 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:55.279 He needs to help them understand that He's not going to be around forever. 00:23:56.359 --> 00:24:01.599 He needs to help them understand that while the massive crowds are there, 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.779 Jesus is the common denominator. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:07.559 What's going to happen when Jesus is absent? 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:11.879 See, embedded in the messaging that He gives, 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.399 that Jesus gives to His disciples, 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:17.259 right leading up to His crucifixion is found in John chapter 14. 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:20.500 He says in John chapter 14, verse 3, 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.920 I am going away. 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.500 I'm going to prepare a place for you. 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.980 Then in John 14, 19, 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:30.299 Yet a little while, and the world will not see you. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.440 John 16, 6, 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:34.819 I'm going away to Him who sent me. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.960 Then John 16, 16, 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.640 A little while, and you will see me no more. 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:45.799 You get to see this clear sense that Jesus is preparing His disciples for what's coming. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:53.559 What was this massive, prominent ministry that depended on the presence of Jesus? 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.819 What will happen when Jesus is gone? 00:24:56.539 --> 00:25:00.339 And Jesus is leaving, and He wants to prepare His disciples for that moment. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:02.639 He says this in John 16, 7, 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:05.099 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:07.799 It is to your advantage that I go away. 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:12.039 For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. 00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:15.500 But if I go, I will send Him to you. 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:18.720 And that's what we find in Acts chapter 1. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:23.559 We find in Acts chapter 1, verse 4 and 5, this promise of Jesus, 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.579 Wait in Jerusalem. 00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.519 Wait for the Spirit. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.680 The Spirit will empower you. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.319 The Spirit will fill you. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:35.160 The Spirit will help you carry out the instructions that I'm giving to you. 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.480 Trust the Spirit. 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:40.319 Do what I say, and you will enjoy the results. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:42.380 You see, God had a master strategy. 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:45.360 The disciples could never have anticipated 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.599 that Jesus was going to go, 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.539 and the Spirit was going to come. 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:52.059 He was going to fill them and empower them for the work 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.339 that God had prepared for them. 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:58.419 So marvel at the master plan of our Savior. 00:25:59.199 --> 00:26:02.519 Marvel at the return of the disciples into Jerusalem. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:08.179 And it's this supply of power that was not just sufficient. 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:14.399 It was overabounding to help create this unstoppable movement. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:22.460 Second, what if we were convinced that God delights in using His power 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:28.000 to accomplish impossible things through very meager people? 00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:29.660 You and me. 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:34.620 What if we believed that God's power could accomplish the work 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:38.680 that God promised to accomplish through the power of His Spirit? 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:43.200 And to demonstrate, this work does not depend on us. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:48.440 So we just want to just briefly think about the frailty of the disciples. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.440 And that's our next point. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:52.460 I want to consider the pattern that would guide them. 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:57.960 What was their tendency as a group of followers? 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:01.539 What do we find throughout the course of Jesus' ministry? 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:04.640 What is the pattern that they show, 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.799 and what is the pattern they need to develop? 00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:10.039 Consider the pattern that guided them. 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:14.359 You see, the disciples have a tendency to fall away. 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:19.779 You remember all of those times that the fickle hearts of the disciples 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:23.740 seem to be carrying them away from Jesus instead of towards Jesus? 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:27.879 But Jesus knows their tendency to cower. 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:30.840 Jesus knows their tendency to be afraid. 00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:37.040 As a matter of fact, this is a tendency that has been built in from the very beginning of time. 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:42.840 One of my favorite verses going all the way back to sixth grade is Joshua 1.9. 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:46.400 Have I not commanded you, be strong and have a good courage. 00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:48.520 Be not afraid, nor be dismayed. 00:27:48.520 --> 00:27:51.720 For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go. 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:55.920 You can trust in the pattern of power from God. 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.420 You can trust Him. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.360 You don't have to be afraid. 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.680 And so we find these disciples. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:03.460 They were so given to fear, weren't they? 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:07.240 We find this over and over through their lives. 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:12.500 Especially in the garden, we see this being set before us. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:16.180 This group of men who promoted their loyalty, remember? 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:19.160 Oh yeah, we're loyal to Him. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:23.140 And just a couple of months before the crucifixion, 00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:29.800 you remember that Mary and Martha had invited Jesus to come and to heal Lazarus, their sick brother. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:33.340 And things were already very hostile in Jerusalem. 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:37.920 And the disciples knew the danger that was in Jerusalem and Bethany, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:41.060 just a couple of miles away from Jerusalem. 00:28:42.040 --> 00:28:44.440 They knew that Jesus had already been, 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:48.279 excuse me, the religious leaders had already tried on a couple of occasions 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:50.779 to throw stones to kill Christ. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.940 And here they were. 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:54.519 Now, in the shadow of Jerusalem, in Bethany, 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.720 and what does Thomas say? 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.839 Thomas, this obedient, loyal one, says, 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:03.619 Let's also go that we may die with Him. 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.200 Good Thomas. 00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:09.119 His desire to be loyal. 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.359 His desire to be faithful. 00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.420 Follower. 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.700 Things were hot in Jerusalem. 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:17.640 And now, during this week of ministry, 00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:20.300 this Passover week that we find, 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:23.660 and Jesus, He's there in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:26.180 and He begins to establish this pattern. 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:30.840 He wants to put this pattern of faithfulness in front of His disciples. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:34.880 We find from Matthew 26, verses 30 to 35, 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.700 When they sung a hymn, 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:39.320 they went out to the Mount of Olives. 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.100 Then Jesus said to them, 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:43.980 You will all fall away because of me this night. 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.440 For it is written, 00:29:45.780 --> 00:29:47.320 I will strike the shepherd, 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:50.140 and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.140 Peter answered Him, 00:29:52.780 --> 00:29:55.600 They all fall away because of you. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:57.480 I will never fall away. 00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:59.140 Jesus said to him, 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.800 Truly I tell you, this very night, 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.560 before the rooster crows, 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.960 you will deny me three times. 00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.519 Peter said to Him, 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:08.279 Even if I must die with you, 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.839 I will not deny you. 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:12.599 And all the disciples said the same. 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:15.019 But you remember the story, don't you? 00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:16.639 The crowds came. 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.740 The soldiers were there. 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:20.259 The religious leaders were in tow. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.379 And they had good intentions, 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:24.899 but very poor follow-through. 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:28.779 The crowds would come, 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.559 and Jesus would respond, 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.700 and there was this flash of courage, remember? 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.339 This flash of courage, 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:37.700 where the disciples are thinking, 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:40.179 Okay, should we strike right now with a sword? 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.480 Should we defend you? 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.419 And Peter reaches out, 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:46.980 and he's the one who's cutting off the ear of the, 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.700 excuse me, 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:50.819 the high priest's servant, right? 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:55.339 But immediately following this action, 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:58.339 we find all the disciples fled. 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:01.159 They left him and fled. 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:03.480 You see, Jesus had promised this too, 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.459 because Jesus understood 00:31:05.459 --> 00:31:09.740 the cowering, fickle hearts of these disciples. 00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:13.459 He knows our fickle, cowering hearts as well. 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:16.599 This timid band of disciples 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:18.240 who were easily shaken, 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:20.319 fearful, and disloyal. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:22.599 And this promise of Christ, 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:24.200 strike the shepherd, 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.919 and the sheep will scatter. 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:28.000 That's our tendency. 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.939 Well, God says, 00:31:30.179 --> 00:31:30.579 Fear not, 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.299 for I am with you. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.439 Be not afraid. 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.279 I'm your God. 00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:35.700 I will strengthen you. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.099 That's the promise. 00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:37.659 And yet, 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:39.819 our hearts continue to fear. 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.939 We struggle with fear. 00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:45.059 30 years after this event, 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:47.859 the Apostle Peter would encourage the church 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:49.099 with the same pattern. 00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:49.619 Remember, 00:31:49.719 --> 00:31:53.639 the pattern was watch and pray. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:56.799 That was the ground that was set before him. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.119 You don't have to fear, 00:31:58.339 --> 00:32:02.500 but if you're going to resist temptation, 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:06.199 if you're going to stand in the face of the conflict, 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.959 you need to watch and pray 00:32:07.959 --> 00:32:10.039 that you may not enter into temptation. 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.939 Peter would respond 00:32:12.939 --> 00:32:14.819 and say much the same thing 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:16.879 in 1 Peter 4, verse 7. 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.199 He says, 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:26.140 That's the pattern 00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:30.380 of a people who will be able to stand 00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:32.340 in the face of temptation, 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.480 who will be able to stand 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:35.900 in the face of fear and conflict. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:36.840 They will be people 00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:39.100 who are strengthening themselves 00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:40.580 in prayer, 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.140 in dependence on God. 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:45.740 So be courageous, 00:32:46.300 --> 00:32:48.340 but not in your own strength. 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.120 Be courageous 00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:50.540 in the strength 00:32:50.540 --> 00:32:51.540 of the Lord. 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.580 Marvel 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:54.040 at the return 00:32:54.040 --> 00:32:54.759 of the disciples 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:57.040 that God is shaping 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:58.259 fickle hearts, 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.860 that God is shaping 00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:01.960 fearful hearts. 00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:03.220 He's making 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.160 a man 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.780 who are 00:33:04.780 --> 00:33:05.500 committed 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.880 to Christ. 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:08.660 And we see 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.839 here in Acts chapter 1, 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.400 what are they doing? 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.180 They're coupling themselves 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:13.240 to God's purpose 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.480 through prayer. 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.059 Waiting 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.339 and praying. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.140 What if we believed 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:21.440 that God's pattern 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.420 of prayer 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:24.000 was not just a good idea, 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.759 it was the only option. 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.160 It was necessary. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.220 It was essential. 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:30.420 I love how 00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:31.140 A.C. Dixon 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.900 puts this. 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.680 He says, 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.460 when we depend 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.620 upon organizations, 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.740 we get what 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:37.440 organizations can do. 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.259 When we depend 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.240 upon education, 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.380 we get what 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:42.640 education can do. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:44.059 When we depend 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.779 upon man, 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.660 we get what 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.519 man can do. 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:48.079 But when we depend 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.240 upon prayer, 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.579 we get what 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.660 God can do. 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.180 Oh, may God 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.740 help us 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.519 to depend 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.660 on Him 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.480 through prayer. 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.819 And it's a pattern 00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:58.419 of life 00:33:58.419 --> 00:33:59.460 to anchor us 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.359 in the hardest times. 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:01.740 Finally, 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.259 let's consider 00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.779 the people 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.379 who remained 00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:04.799 with them. 00:34:05.439 --> 00:34:06.480 Consider the people 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.439 who remained 00:34:07.439 --> 00:34:07.839 with them. 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.299 You see, 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.259 many would fall away 00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:11.079 and we get 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.059 immediately after 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.279 the crucifixion, 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.239 we kind of get 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:15.559 this story 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.880 in Luke chapter 24 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.400 of essentially 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:20.059 these disciples, 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.059 two disciples 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.679 on their way 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.259 to Emmaus 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.000 and they kind of 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.880 explain that 00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.900 the general tenor 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.279 of the nation 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.299 really at that point 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.820 we find 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.860 these two disciples, 00:34:30.060 --> 00:34:30.580 Cleopas 00:34:30.580 --> 00:34:31.519 and perhaps 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.220 his wife, 00:34:33.560 --> 00:34:34.039 that other 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.800 disciple's name 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.420 is not given 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.280 and there's 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.120 a seven mile 00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:38.300 hike from Jerusalem 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.140 to Emmaus 00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:40.280 and they're 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.620 having a conversation 00:34:41.620 --> 00:34:42.680 with one another. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.800 No doubt 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.300 they were talking 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.420 about the crucifixion, 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:46.019 no doubt 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.860 they were talking 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:48.019 about this 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:49.900 messianic expectation 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:51.120 and all that Jesus 00:34:51.120 --> 00:34:52.440 was going to do 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.340 and all they saw, 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.360 the multitudes 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.140 that were gathering, 00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:56.619 this three year 00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.379 ministry that had 00:34:57.379 --> 00:34:58.379 turned the nation 00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.599 upside down 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:01.779 and then all of 00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:02.279 this sudden, 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.319 this unexpected, 00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:05.079 this unexpected 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.980 turn of events, 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.900 the religious leaders 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.000 who come, 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.000 the Roman authorities 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.239 who take Christ, 00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.500 he's tried, 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.779 he's scourged, 00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.679 he's crucified, 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.199 there he dies 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:19.000 and they must be 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.920 thinking it's over, 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.159 what just happened, 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.739 how did this take place? 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.379 And then they hear 00:35:24.379 --> 00:35:25.619 these remote 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:27.119 discussions 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.159 and conversations 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:29.159 about some women 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:30.779 who saw Jesus 00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:31.759 at the tomb 00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:33.019 and this mystery 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.859 that surrounded 00:35:33.859 --> 00:35:35.000 this news 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:37.379 and here they are 00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:39.019 having this conversation 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:39.819 when all of a sudden 00:35:39.819 --> 00:35:40.759 Jesus shows up. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.039 They don't know 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.839 who he is, 00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:44.939 they see him 00:35:44.939 --> 00:35:45.639 walking there 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.719 in Luke 24, 00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.219 15, 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.059 while they were 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:49.019 talking and discussing 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:51.639 together, 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.900 Jesus himself 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.820 draws near 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:55.179 and joins their journey 00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:56.420 and asks them 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.219 what they were 00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.820 talking about 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:59.259 but they didn't 00:35:59.259 --> 00:36:00.000 recognize him 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:01.360 and they say, 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.219 are you the only 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.619 visitor to Jerusalem 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.500 who does not know 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.239 the things that have 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.679 happened in these days? 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.880 Where have you been? 00:36:09.219 --> 00:36:09.519 What are you, 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.280 what news channels 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.219 are you listening to? 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.480 This illustrates 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.420 the prevailing heart 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.619 of the people 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.779 of the nation. 00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.460 Confusion, 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.239 discouragement, 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.900 uncertainty, 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:21.679 heartache, 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:24.440 who was this one 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.679 we thought was the Messiah? 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.659 And the effects 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.339 of these events 00:36:28.339 --> 00:36:29.719 will speak for themselves 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:31.219 as we look at 00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:32.219 the remnant 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.139 who is left there 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:33.819 in Jerusalem, 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:35.480 we find only 120 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.460 who are left 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.759 of the thousands 00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:39.599 and tens of thousands 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:41.119 who had followed Jesus 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:41.980 at some point 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.579 throughout his ministry. 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.219 And only 120 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.279 are left. 00:36:47.379 --> 00:36:49.079 We find in Acts 1, 00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.819 verse 15, 00:36:49.919 --> 00:36:50.480 in those days 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.179 Peter stood up 00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:52.239 among the brothers. 00:36:52.379 --> 00:36:53.579 The company of persons 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:55.259 was in all 00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:56.500 about 120. 00:36:57.939 --> 00:36:59.419 What a meager group. 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:00.859 Of course, 00:37:00.919 --> 00:37:01.819 the 11 apostles 00:37:01.819 --> 00:37:02.419 were there. 00:37:02.899 --> 00:37:03.899 Maybe a spattering 00:37:03.899 --> 00:37:04.939 of the 72 00:37:04.939 --> 00:37:06.379 who had followed Jesus 00:37:06.379 --> 00:37:07.159 at some point. 00:37:07.899 --> 00:37:09.839 Perhaps some of those 00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:12.079 who were of the 500, 00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:12.980 remember Jesus 00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:14.500 showed up to 500. 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.579 He revealed 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.239 that He had been 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.079 resurrected. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.760 Where are they? 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.800 Where are these 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:21.039 massive crowds? 00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:23.539 We're left 00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.300 at this point 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:25.420 wondering 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:27.239 what is going to happen 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.179 to this movement 00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:30.380 that Jesus began. 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:32.159 Even the disciples 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:32.760 themselves 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.599 are floundering 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:35.360 in this 40-day window. 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.619 We find from 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.800 John chapter 21 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:39.659 that they are in Galilee, 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:41.119 but what are they doing? 00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:41.360 Well, 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.120 they're fishing. 00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:43.599 They're fishing. 00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:46.599 And not just fishing, 00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.760 but they're not even together. 00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:50.340 We find from John 21, 2 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:51.019 that there's only 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:53.019 seven of the 11 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:53.680 that are left 00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.940 that actually go out 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:56.260 together to fish. 00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:58.019 Where are the others? 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:00.140 Why did they 00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:01.559 return to their 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.200 former life? 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.820 What is the lesson 00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.480 we can learn? 00:38:05.680 --> 00:38:06.340 And it's Jesus 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:06.940 that comes. 00:38:07.660 --> 00:38:08.579 He meets them there. 00:38:09.319 --> 00:38:09.759 It's Jesus 00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:10.380 that begins 00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.659 to realign 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.380 their perspective. 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.779 It's the presence 00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.500 of Jesus 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.279 that helps them 00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:16.880 recognize once again 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.639 that the mission 00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:18.759 that they've been called to 00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:20.279 has not failed 00:38:20.279 --> 00:38:21.340 and they're called 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:22.759 back to that purpose 00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:24.340 of being fishers 00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:25.340 of men. 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.980 In the beautiful part 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.799 we find in Acts 00:38:28.799 --> 00:38:29.980 chapter 1, verse 14, 00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:30.980 they're together 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:32.039 with the women 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:33.059 and Mary, 00:38:33.139 --> 00:38:33.840 the mother of Jesus 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.699 and his brothers 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:36.239 and some translations 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:36.920 even have 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.900 and his sisters. 00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:40.000 This family 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.360 had wondered 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:42.099 if Jesus 00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:43.860 was out of his mind. 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:47.360 God changes 00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:47.840 their hearts, 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:48.579 transforms 00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:49.819 their opinions 00:38:49.819 --> 00:38:50.619 and here they are. 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.819 They're represented 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.920 in this 120. 00:38:54.779 --> 00:38:55.500 These believers 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.739 who God will use 00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:58.079 to turn the world 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.759 upside down. 00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:01.019 This ragtag group, 00:39:01.299 --> 00:39:02.239 this meager group, 00:39:02.319 --> 00:39:03.299 this surprisingly 00:39:03.299 --> 00:39:04.699 infinitesimal 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.960 small group 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:07.179 compared to the thousands 00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:08.079 who had come. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.019 but it's all 00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.880 by design 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:11.299 to draw attention 00:39:11.299 --> 00:39:12.039 to the mighty 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:13.719 work of God. 00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:16.299 God doesn't need 00:39:16.299 --> 00:39:16.739 a crowd 00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:18.059 to accomplish 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:18.699 his purposes. 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:20.079 He needs a few. 00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:22.179 A few faithful, 00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:23.159 obedient 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:25.319 followers of his 00:39:25.319 --> 00:39:26.759 and then he can 00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:27.719 multiply the loaves 00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:28.659 and he can multiply 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.139 the fishes 00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:30.480 and he can do the work. 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:31.079 It rests 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.659 in the power of God 00:39:32.659 --> 00:39:33.819 not in the power 00:39:33.819 --> 00:39:34.219 of men. 00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:37.059 What if we believed 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:38.439 that God works 00:39:38.439 --> 00:39:39.639 through small things 00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:40.319 to accomplish 00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:42.519 his amazing purposes? 00:39:43.899 --> 00:39:44.980 What if we believed 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.759 that the results 00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.839 didn't really depend 00:39:46.839 --> 00:39:47.980 on us 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.179 but depended 00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:49.819 upon God? 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:51.459 What would that change? 00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.679 What would that begin 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.199 to change 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:53.859 for this week? 00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:55.519 What one step 00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:57.159 would you alter 00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:58.039 in your week 00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:59.799 to align your hearts 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:00.940 to the truths 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:01.700 that we've seen 00:40:01.700 --> 00:40:02.320 this morning? 00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:04.220 To remind ourselves 00:40:04.220 --> 00:40:05.300 of God's instructions 00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.039 and what he has 00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:06.940 called us to do 00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:09.140 and simply obeying 00:40:09.140 --> 00:40:09.800 the things 00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:10.820 that God has said. 00:40:11.140 --> 00:40:12.500 How that will lead 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.300 to the results 00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:13.920 that he's promised. 00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:15.900 Remember 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:16.780 what he says 00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:18.760 in Acts chapter 1 00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.380 verse 8? 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:20.640 He says, 00:40:20.640 --> 00:40:23.000 You will receive 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.940 power 00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:25.460 when the Holy Spirit 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:26.720 has come upon you 00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.480 and you 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:29.380 will be witnesses. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:31.900 God's promise 00:40:31.900 --> 00:40:34.039 for those who obey 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:36.200 God's instructions. 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:37.500 Oh may God help us 00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:38.960 to be able to enjoy 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.640 the benefits 00:40:39.640 --> 00:40:40.800 of obedience 00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:41.920 that result 00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:43.800 in God's promises. 00:40:44.260 --> 00:40:44.700 Let's pray. 00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.080 Thank you Lord 00:40:47.080 --> 00:40:48.580 for the example 00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:49.260 of this group. 00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:51.400 Thank you for 00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:52.280 the mighty work 00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:54.060 that you exemplified. 00:40:54.640 --> 00:40:55.720 Thank you for 00:40:55.720 --> 00:40:57.340 the wonder working 00:40:57.340 --> 00:40:58.780 power of your spirit 00:40:58.780 --> 00:40:59.780 working in a 00:40:59.780 --> 00:41:01.740 very meager group 00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:02.380 to accomplish 00:41:02.380 --> 00:41:03.140 extraordinary 00:41:03.140 --> 00:41:04.720 things. 00:41:06.040 --> 00:41:06.460 Father, 00:41:06.580 --> 00:41:07.120 thank you that you 00:41:07.120 --> 00:41:08.440 use weak vessels. 00:41:08.620 --> 00:41:09.360 You use us. 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.560 Help us Lord 00:41:11.560 --> 00:41:12.420 to not only 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.820 know your instructions 00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:15.080 help us to 00:41:15.080 --> 00:41:16.080 faithfully carry out 00:41:16.080 --> 00:41:16.760 your instructions 00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:18.460 so we can enjoy 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:19.140 the benefits 00:41:19.140 --> 00:41:20.519 of your power 00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.820 in our lives 00:41:21.820 --> 00:41:23.260 and also your power 00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:23.700 working 00:41:23.700 --> 00:41:24.800 in the lives 00:41:24.800 --> 00:41:25.920 of those around us. 00:41:26.540 --> 00:41:27.540 To your glory 00:41:27.540 --> 00:41:28.820 we pray in Jesus name. 00:41:29.080 --> 00:41:29.340 Amen. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.780 God bless you. 00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:31.600 Have a great week. 00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:32.179 God bless you. 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:32.179 00:41:32.179 --> 00:42:02.159 Thank you.