MPC
4th February 2018.February 4 - Acts 1 - "Purposeful Church"
MPC
4th February 2018.
Phil Campbell
At 10:45am on Thursday October 20th last year, my dear old mum went from is. To was.
It's just a small change of words. But it's a very significant change in a person's state of being, isn't it?
Grammatically speaking, it's a change of tense. And when you move to the past tense. You actually cease to be. You go from are to were. Its the difference between living. And dead. You've stopped being a being. You're gone.
And typically, apart from heroic intervention, it's a one way street. Typically, there's no coming back. Typically, we all move at some point from is to was and then even the was gets gradually erased from history as what we were fades from memory. And there's nobody left to say yep, she was a great mum; she was a good friend. Typically, is becomes was. And then was... becomes forgotten.
It's a sobering thought, isn't it? That those two little letters "I" and "S" can carry so much weight. That they can be loaded with so much significance. That one small change of tense - can convey such huge news. It's a matter of life and death.
Which is why in our MPC theme phrase as we do our best to summarise what the New Testament keeps calling the gospel; the good news that rang around the first century world; which is why the central and all important word is that small word is. And not was.
If you've been around for a while you've already memorised it: The one who died for sin is king.
And as we launch our series in the book of Acts this morning, which is shorthand for the traditional title The Acts of The Apostles; what the first messengers of Jesus said and did; it's important to notice that fundamental to their mission and their message; is that Jesus who was, is. That the Jesus of Nazareth who the world had seen crucified is now very much living and active. That he is. And not was.
The one who died for sin... is.
Which is implied right from the very first words of the book, where Luke, who's writing for his friend Theophilus the sequel to his gospel; and I want you to notice his wording... because he says:
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
In part 1... that's the part of the New Testament we call Luke's gospel; in part 1, he says, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach. But see... that was just the beginning. Wait until you hear what he does and teaches next. Through the holy spirit. And his chosen apostles.
Because get this. Verse 3:
after his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.
Not just one appearance. Not just a mirage. Not just a vision. Not just a delusion.
Jesus provided them with indisputable proof of life. Over and over again. And spoke to them, over that next 40 days; about the kingdom of God.
A 40 day training course that pre-loads them with everything they need to know; for the unfolding of their mission of proclaiming a king. In the next 28 chapters of Acts. And as Mark Driscoll put it so well when he named his mission organisation a few years ago; the chapters we're still writing. In Acts 29. And beyond. 40 days speaking to them... about the kingdom of God. Which Jesus rules as king. We'll unpack that a bit more in a minute.
But at this point, the bottom line of the message is, the one who died for sin ... is.
We've seen him and listened to him for forty days.
Not only that, verse 4, we ate and drank with him. Which back in the gospel accounts is presented as fundamental evidence that the Jesus they're meeting is not a ghost but a resurrected man. Solid. Flesh and bone. Eating solid food. But alive and living forever.
Jesus isn't was. Jesus is.
And will you notice as you head down to verse 21 and 22, after a headcount of the names of the 11 remaining apostles and a gruesome recap of the fate of Judas Iscariot; when the 11 apostles have got the problem of appointing a replacement to bring them up to twelve again; will you take a close look at the requirements. And the job description. For a replacement apostle.
It's at the same time very simple. And yet very limiting. I don't know if you've come across the Apostolic Church; they're a denomination that believes they're still ruled and led by present day apostles today. Who have the same authority and power as Peter and James and John and Andrew and the other guys in verse 13. But as Luke tells it, there's something more foundational going on.
Paul later on says the church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets. Foundational because; it's gotta be someone in verse 21 who's been there with them the whole time Jesus was with them. And who most significantly has been a witness of his resurrection.
Not just the forty days of teaching. But the whole time, from John's baptism to now.
Follow his words. This is peter speaking to a small crowd of just 120 believers. The seed of the church. The original church plant. And he says to them, Judas has gone. So it's necessary... read from verse 21...
21... to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
That's the job description.
And so out of two possible candidates; Justus and Matthias; they pray and ask the risen lord Jesus to choose one of them by lots. And the lot falls to Matthias. And he's added to the eleven. Because he. Like they. Was a witness with them of his resurrection.
And so he like they; will go out as a first hand eye witness. That the one who died for sin, he isn't a was. He's an is.
Bearing witness to the astonishing fact that this same Jesus who they saw whipped and bleeding and mocked and hanging on a cross, and dead, is alive and active again. And astonishingly powerful. As king. Over not just Israel. But over everywhere.
A kingdom without borders. a Kingdom sans frontiers.
Which is the point being made in the verses we've skipped over from verses 4 to 11. Which are loaded with echoes of Israel's Old Testament expectations.
Just notice, as you look at those verses on the screen, the string of references to Jerusalem. And Israel. And Jerusalem again in verse 8, and Judea and Samaria; and the ends of the earth.
I mean, this could be today, couldn't it? Should America move their embassy to Jerusalem. Or not? Donald Trump thinks so. A bold declaration that Jerusalem is once again the capital of a united kingdom of Israel. That's what the apostles are looking for from Jesus. And let me tell you, the politics were even more messy back then than they are today.
Remember, resurrected Jesus has just spent 40 days teaching them about the kingdom of God. And that's their hanging question. Verse 6. "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Which is so much what the people of Israel have been longing for. It's a question that hangs over the whole of the book of Acts. If you want to know the answer to it, you'll have to go to the end of chapter 28. As you're reading the book, keep it in mind as a question. Keep your eye on the people of Israel. And see how they respond to the announcement of their king. Because that's what it's going to hinge on. The Kingdom's going to be restored to Israel. If Israel is restored to their resurrected king. So how are they going to respond? And look, even though Jesus doesn't answer it directly, its the right question to be asking.
Look back at their history. The Old Testament spells it out. Their life of blessing in the promised land wasn't for long.
First, the ten northern tribes; smashed by the Assyrians in 721bc. Dispossession. Exile and assimilation.
Those left behind in the area that goes on to become Samaria. The ten tribes so diluted that there's hardly a trace. And the Samaritans and the Jews; they don't even get on any more.
Then Judea's turn. The southern section; with Jerusalem as capital. Their story's just as bad. Smashed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Exiled for a generation; a whole population led off in chains to slavery just south of Baghdad. And all of it. Was exactly what God warned them from the start. If you want to live like the other nations. If you want bow down to idols like the other nations. If you don't want to live with me as your God. Then you can go and live with them.
After a while some of them come back; rebuild their temple. Patch up a city wall around Jerusalem. But then they're over-run all over again. Ultimately by the Romans. Who are still in charge when the disciples are putting the question to Jesus.
And it's a fair question. Because there was always the promise. Of better days ahead. There was always the promise. Of a grand restoration. And a coming king. And that's what the apostles are asking. Is it now?
"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" And look, Old Testament promises like Isaiah 56; that the scattered exiles will come streaming back; that the marginalised and the dispossessed will find blessing again. Have got to be at the front of their minds.
Not to mention the promise in passages like Deuteronomy 30 verse 6; like Jeremiah 31:31. Like Ezekiel 36. That promise not just a national kingdom, not just a fresh coat of paint on the city; but new hearts. By God's spirit.
It's a long track of promises stretching all the way back through the Bible. But just take a quick look at one of them. Ezekiel 36:
24 For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Gather you back. Clean you up. Cleanse you from sin. And put my spirit in you. To move you from the heart. In a whole new way. The sin. That brought Israel undone. Their stubborn refusal to treat God as God. Replaced by hearts with desires that are in sync with God's heart. Moved. To do right. By right motives. Moved to be pure. Not by a stack of rules. But by pure hearts. As God pours out his spirit.
And friends, it's that most of all. That Israel's been waiting for. For hundreds and hundreds of years. That's the new age. That's about to dawn. That's the story that's going to unfold in chapter 2, and right through the book.
Wait in Jerusalem, says Jesus. For the gift the father promised. Verse 4. You've heard me talk about it. Just a few days more. Until you'll see the promise finally fulfilled. In a few days time, you'll be baptised not with water. But with the promised Holy Spirit.
So it's no wonder they're asking the question that they're asking in verse 6. Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? To which Jesus says, "only God knows times and dates. What I will tell you, is that the main thing is, the Holy Spirit's going to come upon you. And give you the power you'll need to testify; not just in Israel. But all over the place."
Look at his words. Verse 8:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Power from the Spirit not just to live in a way that pleases God from the heart. But power to stand up and speak with courage. That you didn't have before. Keep reading in Acts and you'll see exactly that. Playing out. These 12 apostles. Peter. Who a couple of months before wouldn't even admit to knowing Jesus. By chapter 2 he's a whole new man. Preaching the rule of the resurrected Jesus. No matter what the threat.
And in what happens next, just seals the deal.
And look, it's back to the Old Testament again if you want to get some context. Because the prophet Daniel; he'd had a famous vision back in the time of Israel's exile. Of Kingdoms that rise and fall and come and go. But of one kingdom. That he sees is going to last forever.
And the key moment in his vision; this is Daniel chapter 7; the key moment in his vision is when he says one like a son of man; he rises up on a cloud all the way to the throne room of the one he calls the ancient of days. And Daniel sees in his vision; this great procession on the clouds, coming closer and closer; all the way to the throne.
You can see his words there on the screen.
And especially the second half. That this son of man; he's given authority. And glory. And sovereign power. Not just over Israel. But over everywhere.
And get these words. All nations. And people of every language. Worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. That will not pass away. And his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
See - that's the Kingdom Jesus has been teaching them about. And now in the ultimate visual aid... he's taken up before their eyes. In the clouds.
Where do you reckon he's going?
They've seen him taken up in the cloud. Where do you reckon he's heading? See, it's the starting point for the scene from Daniel.
If you've got any doubt about it let me just point you forward a few pages to Acts chapter 7. Where Stephen, in his dying vision; sees straight into God's throne room. And Jesus is there in all his glory at the right hand of God. The Son of Man. Ruling from Heaven. Jesus. That is the message that these apostles are going around preaching.
That this Jesus who suffered and died, is.
And he is in fact king... over every nation. And not just Israel, but India and Indonesia and Istanbul. Not just Jerusalem but Jakarta and Johannesburg. Everyone. Is being called to repent and bow down and honour his rule. Because the one who died for sin is king.
Now look we talk about that here in church. Maybe you think it's only words. But I want to ask you this morning, have you actually done that. Have you got to that point. Of repenting. From living under your own rule. And bowing to Jesus? If you have, is there any evidence that you're living like it?
Is he King over your big decisions? Or just your small ones? Is he King over your whole budget? Or just Lord over your small change? Is he King over your lifestyle choices? Or just when the options are comfortable? King when it's costly? Or just when it's easy?
There's one thing as we read Acts that I reckon is very, very clear. And that's the fact that these Apostles, when they talk about Jesus being king, they really mean it. Literally.
And they went flat out at it, for all they were worth. All in. To reach their world. And call all kinds of people to turn to him. It's the centre of their purpose.
So if you've answered yes to the first question; is he your king, can I ask you if you're actually going to be in the business of joining those first apostles on their mission?
Look, it might be as simple as just noticing in the bulletin this morning that there are openings for RI teachers. And you could be one of them. Or if you say, I couldn't possibly do that, you could be a support person. You could encourage someone who's doing it. Or talk to a friend and say I reckon you could do that, and I'll help you out. I'll drive you there. I'll help you prepare. I'll buy you a coffee after the lesson. I'll pray for you. All kinds of ways. To be on about the mission.
Here at church; this year we want to create more and more ways to help you be on about the gospel mission. Funny, isn't it? We're happy to support missionaries to the other side of the world. But not so happy to be one here. But there are all kinds of ways we can be on mission together. To give people opportunities to hear what it means and see what it looks like. That the one who died for sin is king.
You know it's funny. That's actually why year after year we run key events. Like what we used to call the Women's Sticky Date Pudding and Stories night. You do realise, that the purpose of an event like that: it's not actually the pudding. It's to create an event you can bring friends to and they get to hear some Christian women talk honestly about living with Jesus is king. Often through the hard times. And yet I can still remember I heard someone here at church saying years ago, "Oh, I'm not coming, I don't like sticky date pudding." So now they call it Summer Sweets and Stories. I hope that helps.
Seriously. Keep in mind our purpose. We're not here as a social club. If you're here this morning maybe even for your first time ever at church. I want to say, that's what we're on about. About calling people like you to follow Jesus. We're on about encouraging one another to live as part of his kingdom. And invite others into it.
Because powered by the Holy Spirit, that's the way the Kingdom grows. Astonishingly. A word about Jesus from you or from me. That takes root in someone's mind and heart. And changes the whole direction of their life.
And it happens. I need to mention Jane (not her real name).
Some of you might remember when she was part of MPC about five years ago. Part of a growth group. Army husband. Here for a while, and then they moved down to Tasmania.
Here's the thing. A friend of ours met Jane at a conference in Tasmania just before Christmas. Talk turned to Brisbane. And she said, my life was turned around when I came to MPC and really understood what it meant to follow Jesus. She said I wasn't a Christian before. But it all made sense. And she said, the last few years I've been learning what it means to be a Christian mum. Part of a beaut church down in Hobart. She said, it's been fantastic.
Your words. To someone in your growth group. To a first time visitor at church. To someone in your office. Can play a part. In turning their life completely around.
In Acts they call it bearing witness.
That's the job Jesus gives them in verse 8. You will be my witnesses. That's what they're looking for when they're taking nominations for the new Apostle in verse 22. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
And the same phrase is used another nine times through the book. Acts 2:32. God has raised this Jesus to life. And we're all witnesses of it. Acts 3:15. You killed him. God raised him. We're witnesses.
Friends, that's the testimony we stand on. And that's the testimony we share. And God by his spirit is still growing his church through that same gospel news today.
Let's pray that he'll continue. Through us. And that there'll be lots more Janes in the year ahead.