Devotion by Pastor Robert Green, Ascension North Picnic, September 27, 2008, No. 701,
based on Acts 1:1-11
The reading I have chosen for this gathering comes from Luke’s account of Jesus’ time with the disciples just before his ascension into heaven. In this Luke records Jesus final instructions for us telling us, Acts 1:1-11 (NIV) ”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. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” May these words remind us we gather together to have Christian fellowship; to gather around the Word; and to fulfill the great commission!
Why are we here?
I. to have Christian fellowship;
We certainly have had fellowship together with one another as Christian brothers and sisters sharing food, conversation and friendship. It is a good thing for Christians to spent time together, relaxing and enjoying one another’s company, for in this we celebrate our relationship together as children of God. We see the disciples doing this here as they gathered together with their Lord for a meal. Thus as the disciples gathered together to eat and to just enjoy one another’s company, so we have gathered together for food and fellowship.
We have special reason to do this as we come together with a common confession of all we believe knowing that on this confession there is nothing to separate us or to divide us. Our God teaches us to continually gather together not only for food and fellowship, but for worship and for the work of the kingdom of God.
Christians gathering for fellowship around a picnic table is a snapshot of the greater fellowship we enjoy as we worship together and work and live together in this corner of his kingdom. For we gather together, not only for friendship and good times, but also because we love the Word of God that assures of God’s love and forgiveness. Just as we gather together for a meal to feed our bodies, we gather around his that very Word to hear it and inwardly digest it to feed our souls.
II. to gather around the Word;
In this reading, we see the disciples gathering around Jesus to listen to him. They had great reason to do so as we do, for his very presence proved to them that he had raised from the dead. His eating with them was proof his physical body rose from the dead. The resurrection is proof that Jesus is true God and true man, the Savior of the world. It proves that his suffering and death were the all sufficient payment for sin and that God the Father accepted his work to save man.
Jesus gave them many convincing proofs that he had risen, not only for their sakes, but for you and me. A single appearance by Jesus to the disciples would have convinced them he had risen, but we are far removed and God in his wisdom assures us that Jesus raised with this many convincing proofs. God gives us these proofs that we might believe in our Risen Savior and be saved.
The disciples gathered to hear Jesus’ teaching and encouragement. We gather to find that same encouragement as we listen to the Scripture. The disciples had reason to continue to listen to Jesus for they had an imperfect understanding of the Word, as was evident in their question if the time was right for Jesus to establish his kingdom on earth. Thus, the disciples needed to grow in faith and understanding.
Jesus of course wanted his disciples to grow in faith and understanding so he told them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would come to them. The Holy Spirit would come and give his gifts to the disciples. These gifts enabled the disciples to come to a greater understanding of the Word. We have no less reason to study the Word, for we too have an imperfect understanding of the Word. Understanding will come only through the Holy Spirit as we continue to study it.
We have great reason to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Word, for Jesus has made us to be his witnesses to the world of who he is and what he wants all mankind to believe about him.
III. to fulfill the great commission
We have also gathered here today to show support for our brothers and sisters who live far away from Ascension. One goal for our congregation is to explore ways of serving our brothers and sisters who live so far away. One way we do this is by having the worship service broadcast on the web. Another way is to come and share fellowship with them in their neck of the woods.
Another way to serve our brothers and sisters up is to have an eye toward the establishment of a preaching station or congregation in the area. We have reason to consider this for we are blessed to have a group of families in this area that can be the nucleus needed to establish a congregation in this area.
On the one hand, to be sure a matter, establishing a preaching station or ultimately a congregation would be of great convenience for those who live up here. But we miss the mark God sets before us if we would merely be satisfied with establishing a convenient means of worship for our brothers and sisters, for God tells plainly that our marching orders are not to establish a place of worship for mere convenience, but to go and be his witnesses to all the world.
Jesus shows the great importance of this command by making it his final words on earth. Consider that Jesus was speaking first to his disciples, but then to all disciples when he told them, “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.” The disciples received power from the Holy Spirit as does each believer, for the Holy Spirit gifts all believers to serve our God as his witnesses. Matthew records Jesus telling us how we are to be good witnesses, saying in Matthew, as he ascended into heaven, Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God the Holy Spirit wants us to be good witnesses and provides the means for us to know the content of our witness, for he gives us his Holy Word to teach us all that we are to believe and teach about him. Jesus earlier promised the Holy Spirit would remind the disciples of all that Jesus had taught them. In doing this, the teachings of God have been preserved for us as the content of our witness. God wants us to witness about Jesus, about his life, teachings, suffering and death. To properly do this we must be faithful witnesses to the entire Word of God.
No it is not enough that we would establish a preaching station in upper Pennsylvania, nor is it enough that we would establish a congregation up here. What Jesus wants from us is to be his witnesses and unless that is our goal whatever else we would achieve up here would fall short of our Savior’s commands. Let us then, keep in mind that our goal is to bring the Word of God to as many as we can here and everywhere. Let us be faithful in the proclamation of the Gospel message not just for our own edification and good, but for the good of God’s church in this corner of his kingdom. Let us always remember why we are here, wherever that may be, for we are here to have Christian fellowship; to gather around the Word; and to fulfill the great commission! To God be all glory, amen!