Bible Text: Acts 1:4-15 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in the Holy Spirit
Apollo One 1967
Apollo 11 Moon Landing July 1969
The Ascension of Jesus: Acts 1:4-11
The Incarnation
Acts 1:4-5 …but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
1 Corinthians 12: 4-14There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…
The plan of God is to REDEEM mankind
Jesus declared on the cross
IT IS FINISHED!
It is ALWAYS man’s choice to stay in relational connection with His creator or not.
It is our choice to access God’s resources.
God gave mankind the privileged right and horror
of choosing his own way.
John 6:60-67 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can understand it? …What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? …From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, do you also want to go away?
Jesus ascended and promised us that He will return and until His return we are to live out our lives in power of the Holy Spirit. 
We are to live a spirit-full; spirit-filled; and spirit-led life.
We are not just a group of people pieced together but the living incarnation of God – a community – formed into a unified group with diversity yet unity.
1 Corinthians 12:18-21But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
1 Corinthians 12:24-28But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Globalizing Incarnation
Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7 And He said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
John 14:12-13 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Acts 1:10-11 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.
Incarnation RELEASED
Acts 1:12-15 …then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room…all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…
We all need the power of the Holy Spirit, prayer and the Word in our lives
We need a daily flow of the Holy Spirit.
We need to ABIDE in the Holy Spirit.
Abiding is our willingness to listen, learn and do.
Mark 14:22-25 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, Take it, for this is my body. And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.