“The Church’s Hope”
Acts 1:4-11
Sermon Series: “The Church”
Introduction: Matthew 16:18 records the first usage of the word, “church,” in the Bible. Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Satan hates the church and always works to destroy it. He works through hypocrisy, false doctrine, sin, and disunity within the church. We are often our own worst enemy. Satan works through opposition and persecution from religious and secular leaders outside the true church. Many today dismiss the church as outmoded and irrelevant. Many people today seek to have religion or spirituality apart from the church. It is always going to seem like Satan and evil are winning until Jesus comes back. In light of these realities, what hope does the church have?
1. Our hope is in the finished work of Christ (as demonstrated through the ascension) [v. 9]. The ascension was a literal event where Jesus returned to His glory and the presence of God in heaven from His ministry on earth and finished work on the cross. Yet it also kicks off the ministry of Jesus in heaven, which involves some wonderful spiritual realities. They include:
A. Exaltation (Philippians 2:5-11)
B. Enthronement (Hebrews 10:11-14)
C. Victory (Hebrews 10:11-14, Colossians 2:14-15)
D. The Father Accepting His Finished Work (Hebrews 10:11-14)
E. His Intercessory Ministry (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25)
-He is High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
-He is our Advocate (1 John 2:1)
-He is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
2. Our hope is in the present ministry of Jesus by the Spirit through His people (v. 4-8). No matter how bad the world seems to be and no matter how much the church is opposed, Jesus is still working through His church to build His Kingdom, save people, and change the world. He is doing this through the Holy Spirit according to our text and other Scriptures, including John 16:5-15. 1 John 4:4 teaches us that “He who is in you [the Holy Spirit] is greater than he who is in the world [Satan].”
3. Our hope is in the future return of Jesus to the earth (v. 10-11). He will return:
A. Literally
B. Bodily
C. Visibly
D. Supernaturally
E. Powerfully
F. Triumphantly
Conclusion: Jesus is King. He manifested the kingdom through His work on the earth, is advancing the kingdom now through the church, and will completely establish the kingdom at His return. There is victory and hope through Jesus for every Christian and for the church. Do you know Jesus? Are you resting in His finished work? Are you serving Him through the power of the Holy Spirit? Are you looking for His return? As a church, are we functioning with hope and victory through the past, present, and future work of Jesus? Because of these truths:
-We can go to Him because He is on the throne.
-We can go for Him because the Spirit is in us.
-We can go with Him when He returns for us.
