Acts 1:8-11

Up, Up & Away or Stop Gazing & Get to Work

Introduction: The subject is a familiar phrase many have heard before.  The purpose of this message today is to look at Luke’s depiction of the ascension narrative in pictorial form of the Lord’s departure from earth after his resurrection and see what we can learn for ourselves as we walk this Christian journey.

I. Instructions (v.8)

·         Instructions before a departure is made are usually very important. Final instructions should gain our attention.

·         The believers were to receive power necessary to complete an important task.  And for any task given to a person by Jesus is of the utmost importance and it cannot be done of one’s own power and strength.  God said in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

II. Distractions (v.9-11a)

·         A distraction is anything or anyone that takes one’s attention off a main focus.

·         The distraction was Jesus making his departure from earth after his resurrection.

·         It really got the disciples’ attention.

·         Distractions can be harmless, helpful and sometimes fatal-depending on a person’s focus.

·         This distraction started out as harmless and helpful.

·         It was harmless because it was something unusual and a site to see for the disciples.

·         It should have been motivating.

·         It was harmful, they were gazing/looking (v.11a) gazing being interpreted as a long fixed look as if losing something.

·         Distractions can be fatal. Ed Young, in his book “Fatal Distractions” lists a few distractions:

·         Pride, Anger, Envy, Lust, Greed

III. The Main Attraction (11b)

·         This same Jesus…

·         …shall return just as He left, not a different mode of transportation

·         …is the One who will come back, not a double

·         Jesus is the main attraction!  Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” 

·         We must focus on the final instructions and the main attraction.

Conclusion

·         We must continue to tell people about the life, death, burial, resurrection and future return of Jesus Christ.