To the book of Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1. Pastor and Shirley were in Missouri
this morning, and I assume that they were on their way in this
evening. It may be tomorrow, but They'll
be back. We'll see. We'll see him on Wednesday
along with Cody Gruber, one of our missionaries. So we have
a special night coming up of again, the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's all we want to hear, isn't
it? It's all I want to know is about my Lord. Anything else,
you can set it aside, put it away. All we need to know is
him. All we need. Acts chapter 1,
beginning with verse 1. The former treatise have I made,
O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until
the day in which he was taken up, after that he, through the
Holy Ghost, had given commandment unto the apostles whom he had
chosen, to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion
by many infallible proofs. being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being
assembled together with them, commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,
which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized
with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence. When they therefore were come
together, they asked of him, saying, Wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them,
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons. which the
Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses
unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken
these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud
received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them
in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken
up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you
have seen him go into heaven. I'm taking my text, my title,
my message tonight from verse 11. Why stand you here gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus, not just any
Jesus, this same Jesus. As a matter of fact, and I won't
go into the details, part of it I couldn't if I wanted to,
but as a matter of fact, the Greek construction in this verse
here means the only one Jesus. There's only one, only one God. the man, Christ Jesus, specifically
speaking of him, the man, Christ Jesus. This same Jesus, there's
no other. Isaiah said that, God speaking
through Isaiah, beside me, there is no other. There's no other
God, no other person. We look for no other. We're looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We're looking only
to him. And isn't it wonderful that he
is always the same? This same Jesus, He's the same
in the beginning of scripture, He's the same at the end of scripture,
He's the same, if you can call it eternity past, He's the same
in all eternity future and on. He is always the same. Jesus
Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. This same Jesus
is who we're talking about. This same Jesus is, verse 2,
He was taken up. Verse 9, He was taken up. Verse
11, He is taken up into heaven. He's ascended on high. This same
Jesus who is prophesied in the Old Testament, who fulfilled
all prophecy. This same Jesus who appeared
to some in the Old Testament, like to Moses on the mount, or
in the tabernacle as the cloud came down and spoke to Moses
and Aaron, the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that led
the Israelites. This same Jesus is the one who
said to Moses at the burning bush, I am that I am. That's the same Jesus we're talking
about. He's often called the angel of
the Lord in the Old Testament. This same Jesus has fulfilled
all prophecy. It was read in our hearing just
a while ago. He fulfilled all prophecy for
us. This same Jesus who became a
man. God becoming man with one purpose
in mind, with a two-fold mission in that purpose, to satisfy the
justice of God and to offer Himself as a substitute for His people. God had to be satisfied because
His people were sinners. God had to be satisfied and the
Lord Jesus became the substitute, died for his people on the cross
that they may have life and life abundantly in him. This is the
same Jesus of whom all scripture is written. I'd like you to look
at that with me in John chapter 5 verse 39. Hold your place there,
we'll be back there in Acts. John chapter 5, just to look
back. In John chapter 5 and verse 39. Jesus is speaking to these religious
leaders, the fundamentalists of His day, if you will. And
He's speaking to them and He says, search the Scriptures. For in them ye think ye have
eternal life. And they are they which testify
of me. All scripture is about the Lord. This same Jesus of whom all scripture
is written. This same Jesus who was virgin
born. And he speaks in, Isaiah speaks
and says that thou Bethlehem, well let's just read it so I
can get the quote right. Isaiah chapter seven, Isaiah
chapter seven. In Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14,
therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin
shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel,
God. with us, God in human form. As a matter of fact, chapter
9 verse 6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall
be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting
Father, the Prince of peace. This same Jesus that was taken
up, that's who we're talking about. This same Jesus came to
seek and to save that which was lost. This same Jesus came to
save His people from their sin. This same Jesus is the one who
went about doing good. This same Jesus is the one who
is approved of God and the only one who is approved of God. This
same Jesus healed all manner of diseases. He made the lame
to walk, the blind to see, the lepers to be clean, the deaf
to hear, the dumb to speak, the dead to rise again. This is the
Jesus that we're talking about. This same Jesus preached righteousness
to the congregation. This same Jesus is the one who
made the water into wine, who walked on water. This same Jesus
is the one who calmed the seas and the water. This same Jesus
is the one who was transfigured before three of his disciples. This same Jesus is the one who
suffered and died on the cross to put away sin. This same Jesus
shed his blood as a perfect sacrifice to cleanse his people from sin. This is who we're talking about
here. This same Jesus who was raised the third day after his
death and then walked among his disciples for 40 days. And then he was taken up in the
clouds. He went up in the clouds. He's
coming back in the clouds, the angels or these men said. Look
at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Paul tells us of this in 1 Thessalonians
chapter 4. Beginning with verse 13. Verse 13. But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. We heard about
that hope this morning, didn't we? And what a good hope we have. But if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord. that we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent or go before them
which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. to meet the
Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore,
comfort ye one another with these words." What comfort? This same
Jesus is coming back again. This same Jesus left this earth
to appear before God for us. Look at Hebrews chapter 9. Hebrews
chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9, verse 24,
Hebrews 9, 24. For Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence
of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer
himself often as a high priest entereth into the holy place
every year with blood of others, For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. This is the same Jesus that left
to appear to God for us. This is the same Jesus who at
this point, right now, is seated at the right hand of His Father.
This is the same Jesus who has all power and authority, to whom
all will bow and the earth is His footstool. This is the Jesus
that the angels were telling them about. This same Jesus. It's taken up from you, but it's
coming back again. This same Jesus. Not only that, but I want you
to look at it on an opposite point of view. There are many who worship a
different Jesus. I know that to be a fact. Been
there, done that. There are many who worship a
different Jesus. You see, their Jesus is a byword. They take the name of Jesus in
vain. They cuss with the words Jesus. Their Jesus is a weakling. He
can't do anything unless they let him or maybe help him. He's done part, now I'll do my
part. Their Jesus is only a religious
leader. He is a son of God, one group
tells us. He is a created being, another
group tells us. He's a notable equal to Muhammad,
one group tells us. Their Jesus is only a religious
leader. Their Jesus is a crutch, only
needed when they get in trouble and they can't get themselves
out, they call out, oh Lord, help me. That's their Jesus.
It's like the old country song of just very few years ago, Jesus,
take the wheel. I'm in a bad situation. Their
Jesus is a failure. Their Jesus loves everybody,
yet millions are going to hell. Their Jesus died for everyone,
yet millions die in their sin. Their Jesus is a failure. Some
will say, lo, here is Christ. Some will say, lo, there is Christ.
And our Lord said, don't believe them and don't go after them.
This is the Jesus we're talking about, the one who's returning
to this earth. The same Jesus which is taken
up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you
have seen him go into heaven. This same Jesus is coming back
in like manner. Hasn't changed a bit. Hasn't
changed a bit. Just the way he went, that's
the way he's coming. hasn't changed a bit. He is still
Lord of glory. This same Jesus is in, he's coming
back in all his glory, Matthew tells us. In all his glory with
all the holy angels. And he's coming back for all
his people. He's gathering his people together.
And when he comes back, we'll finally be like For we shall
see Him as He is. We'll be like Him. We'll be changed
in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. Paul tells us we'll
be just like Him. This mortality will put on immortality. This corruption will put on incorruption. We'll be just like them. And
then death will be swallowed up in victory. Death swallowed
up in victory. Once we pass through the valley
of the shadow of death, there's only victory on the other side.
Oh, there's victories before, but the victory over this body
of sin that we live in. It'll be gone. No wonder the
hymn writer said, lo, he comes with clouds descending, once
for all salvation slain. Thousand, thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train. Every eye shall now be hold him,
robed in dreadful majesty. Those that said it not and sold
him, pierced and nailed him to the tree. Yea, amen, let all
adore thee, high on thine eternal throne. Savior, take the power
and glory, claim thy kingdom for your own. This same Jesus
is Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus Christ. the Lord. Look with me just a moment. Few
more times. It's mentioned through the book
of Acts, this same Jesus using the same construction in Acts
chapter two and verse 32. The writers who translated didn't
see to put the word same in here, but you could, because it's the
same word. This Jesus hath God raised up,
whereof we are all witnesses. Look at verse 36. Therefore,
let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made
that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ. This same Jesus, the man Christ
Jesus. Not just any man. Look at Philippians
chapter two. Philippians chapter two. Not just any man, this same Jesus. Philippians chapter two. Verse five. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given
him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Not just any man. not just any
man, this same Jesus. Peter at Pentecost preaches and
tells of his credentials, verse 22 of chapter 2 of Acts. He says,
ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also
know. Him being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain. He's approved of God. He is resurrected. You know what? In most, if not
all the messages of the book of Acts, whether it be Peter
or Philip or Paul, in almost all, if not all the messages,
there's the resurrection of Jesus Christ preached. He is alive. He did raise Himself from the
dead. God Himself being in Him raised
from the dead. And He's, for His people, raised
for their justification. He is alive. That same Jesus
is alive. He is seated at the right hand
of God, exalted, and he's received the promise that was given him
of the Holy Ghost, and he's shed forth that promise on God's people
at Pentecost. But you notice in verse 36 of
chapter 2, he is made, whom you, he is that God hath made that
same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. He is Lord. He is Lord, whom
you crucified, whom I crucified. God the Father used the wickedness
of men, the determinate counsel and poor knowledge of God to
use these men who with their own hands crucified Jesus Christ
in God's will, God's sovereign will. That's what happened. He
was despised, rejected, denied, and all of us were representative
there. I crucified my Lord. I'm guilty. The religious world, the fundamentalists
of his day, they had no knowledge of what they were doing, no knowledge
of the grace of God. They were envious of our Lord.
His very appearance made null their system of works. all their
religious practices, all their meritorial systems, all their
self-righteousness. Our Lord spoke and showed them
the truth and they wouldn't hear it. Principalities and powers
were there, the governmental powers. Pilate said, don't you
know I have the power to crucify you or let you go? And our Lord
spoke to him and said, you'd have no power except God gave
it to you. Only the Lord could give that kind of power. They passed him, the governmental
leaders passed him off to one another. Couldn't find any fault
with him. Then they washed their hands
of the whole deal. Man cannot wash his hands of
this deal. He is altogether a sinner and
Christ is altogether the Savior. The common man was there. The
mob was crying out through the urging of the priests. Crucify
him! Crucify him! Away with this man! We'll not have this man rule
over us. The deniers were there. But the
wonder of wonders, not only was I there and I crucified him,
but I was crucified with him. Nevertheless, I live. Yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live,
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who gave himself and
died for me." I'm the sinner for whom Christ died. Folks,
if we don't see it personal as that, then we don't see the grace
of God. I'm the sinner for whom Christ
died. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners and He's made Lord. He's the Lord of glory
with the Father. He is Lord of all. He is eternal
Lord. He's the master. He's the head
of the household. He's the wise master builder,
the architect, the engineer of His church and our lives and
of the whole of salvation. He's the master teacher. No one
ever spoke like this man. He has made Christ prophet, priest,
and king. And the Holy Spirit came upon
him, being a God-man. Yes, he was God. Yes, he was
man. But as man, God anointed him
with the Spirit of God, with power and with glory because
of what he was to do for us. Only Christ, this same Jesus,
only he could do. what is done for his people. Is he your Lord? Is he your master? In Acts chapter 3, I want to
say one more thing. In Acts chapter 3, by this same
Jesus doth this man stand before you all. Acts chapter 3. You can look at it in chapter
four, verse 10, as Peter explains what's going on here. He says,
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand
here before you ho. This was a beggar. This was a
lame man. This was a helpless man. They
had to carry him wherever he would go. This was a man who
only lived by the alms, by begging of alms. This was a man that
was not seeking the Lord. He was seeking substance, temporal
things, alms. I wasn't seeking the Lord. Matter
of fact, I thought I'd already found him. How do you find somebody
who ain't lost? I thought I was seeking Him.
Then one day I heard the message of the gospel, the truth that
salvation is of the Lord. And I learned what it meant that
when God says He justifies the ungodly, I learned that I was
a sinner before a holy God. I was lame. I was helpless. And I was a beggar, only looking
for what I could touch, see, or smell, or whatever. But you
know what? The Lord sought me. Sixty years
old, been religious all my life, and then the Lord sought me.
Said, son, it's time. Now is the day of salvation.
Now is the appointed time. And my Lord told me what the
truth was. Gave me new life. It's like what
Isaiah said in Isaiah 65 verse 1. I am sought of them that ask
not for me. I am found of them that sought
me not. I said behold me, behold me unto
a nation that was not called by my name. So here's this lame
man that Obie read about this evening. Here's this lame man,
helpless, a beggar. And then there's a preacher.
A God-called preacher. Peter was called by God Himself,
chosen, hand-chosen, hand-picked. A God-called preacher, told to
go feed the lambs. And Peter fastened his eyes on
this beggar, this lame beggar. And said, look on us. And the
beggar looked at him, expecting to get something from them. As
he said at that gate called Beautiful. And I like what Peter said, don't
you? Silver and gold have I none. Such as I have, I give unto thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the hand and
he rose up and walked and leaped and shouted and praising God
through the temple. Can you imagine the riot that
caused in a quiet temple setting? No wonder the people came running
around. And then to see that this was the guy who was sitting
at that gate who couldn't walk, who had to be carried around.
But now something has happened. He's made whole. This man stands
before you whole. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, this same Jesus that was taken up into heaven, who's
coming back again, this same Jesus is the one who makes whole. I ask you, if there is only one,
to whom should a man go? Will you leave me? He said to
his disciples. Peter spoke up and said, where
will we go? You have the words of life. Thou art the son of
the living God. Thou art the Christ, the son
of the living God. Where are we going to go? There's
only one to whom we can go. And so we cry out like the publican,
God, be merciful to me, the sinner. We cry out like Bartimaeus, Jesus,
thou son of David, have mercy on me. And I cry it out every
day, don't you? You'll never exhaust the mercies
of God, for he delights in mercy. this same Jesus and no other. Who are you worshiping? Let's
pray. Father, we're so thankful for
your word tonight. Thankful, Lord, that you're always
the same and that you are that one, the only one. to whom we can go for life, for
mercy, for grace, for love. And thank you, Lord, for the
day that you showed us that you are salvation. We look for no other. We want
no other. Father, again tonight, we beg
for mercy. Oh, how I need mercy. Father,
give me mercy. You said to that publican he
went to his house justifying. You said to blind Barnabas, bring
him to me. Oh, how we need mercy tonight.
We pray that you would bless your people here at Lantana Grace
Church. We pray, Father, that you'd meet
every need of their life. and help us always to remember
that it's this same Jesus that's taken up from us who's coming
for us again. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.