ACTS 1: 1-11

DON’T GET DISTRACTED

Last words are really important. Stan Laurel on his death bed said to his nurse: “I’d rather be skiing than doing this.” The nurse asked: “do you ski Mr Laurel?” “No” he replied “but I’d rather be skiing than doing this!”

Here we are reading some of Jesus’ last words. And they are really important. We are going to place most of our focus on the first half of verse 8:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

There are three points I would like to draw out of this

1. Don’t get distracted

You will notice that Jesus says “but”. In the previous few verses the writer records that the disciples had been continually asking about whether Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel. In brief the disciples are asking whether Israel would be restored as a kingdom (as it had been and was under occupation). In verse 7 Jesus tells the disciples, very politely, that it’s none of their business. Then he says “but”. We will get onto what the “but” is in a moment but it will be something better.

But the disciples were focussing on the wrong thing – or what was none of their business. It was a distraction. Organisations fail because they focus on the wrong thing to do and then become very good at doing it! I’m sad to say that I know churches that have done just that. The danger is that we as individuals or as a church get distracted. So when something comes along which start to play on our mind – we need to ask: is this a distraction? Is this none of our business? Is it of secondary importance?

Sometimes we wake up with some matter going round and round our minds like a marble in a tin. Question: is this a distraction? Is this taking me away from what God would intend for me? Is this matter or secondary importance? Or maybe we are worrying about what we will do or what people might think or about something that may or may not happen. We need to ask: is this a distraction?

I read this story about a woman who liked to put on their headphones to listen to music or a podcast as they hoovered their house because it made the tedious work easier to bear. One day as she hoovered her house, she lifted furniture, worked energetically on every corner and under the beds and tables as she was very conscientious. However, when she finished and went to unplug the vacuum cleaner, she realised that she had never plugged it in!

2. But…you will receive power

So these distractions distract you. But look carefully at what our Lord Jesus says next. He doesn’t say avoid distractions and that’s it. He says: “But…” Or to put it another way: “Instead”. There’s something else. And if it is from Jesus it will be something much better. He says:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;”

In a moment we will look at what this power is to be used for. But first notice first where the power comes from. It is not self-derived. Our Lord Jesus doesn’t say you will receive power when you get rid of the distractions in life. No – the avoiding of distractions gives the space to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Or rather than be filled with distractions – we are to be filled with the power of God.

So it is God who provides this power – for you.

There was an American who took his English friend to see the Niagara Falls. He said to his friend, “I’m going to show you the greatest unused power in the world.” And so he took him to the foot of Niagara Falls – in all its power and majesty. “There,” he said, “is the greatest unused power in the world!” “That’s not right” was the reply. “The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the living God.“

The question is, therefore, is how is the Christian to receive this power so it can be used? Well there’s a number of aspects to receiving this power of the Holy Spirit but to pick up on one part of this – in verses 4 and 5 Jesus says:

“….but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

Wait. We wait. This waiting on the Lord is to take our eyes off the agenda of distraction and onto the Lord himself. It is to say: “Lord – I want to be on your agenda – not mine.” It is to take time out – and wait. Paul instructs us in Ephesians 5: 18 to be filled with the Spirit. Well – you can’t fill a cup of water unless you hold the cup under the tap, turn it on and wait for it to be filled.

Dwight Moody said this: “Some people seem to think they are losing time if they wait on God for His power and so away they go and work without any anointing – but they are working without any power.”

Another quote: “We are too busy to pray and so we are too busy to have power.“ (RA Torrey)

So how does this work practically? The danger is of course is that we wait for something bad to happen – then we say “Ah – I need God now” – and we wait, panic stricken! The best way is to build waiting for the Lord into the day – into the ordinary. Into those times when you are doing something that you can cope with. So we may be going shopping or walking to school or driving to work and maybe before – we simply wait on the Lord and ask him to fill us once more. And it may be we ask in those moments: “Lord – what is it you are saying here?” Sometimes the Lord may not have anything specific to say except to be aware of his presence.

3. What’s this power for?

So we have recognised the distractions of life, we have quietened ourselves and have waited on the Lord. And so we may ask for what purpose is this power?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

So what does witness mean? We may be a witness in a trial and as a witness we will describe what we know – what honestly happened. Well, to witness about Jesus is to say what the Lord has done in your life. How would you answer that? What would you say to the question: What has the Lord done in your life – or maybe – What is it about the Lord that is so precious to you?

And it maybe that in answering this question we start to worry about what we would say if we were to witness to others – and then if we did say anything it would be a bit of an act and we would say nothing of substance. So notice therefore the order. It doesn’t say – go and be my witnesses…and then you will receive power. But – wait and (continually) receive this power and as a result of this you will be my witnesses. There’s something about being caught up in all that God has done in our lives that changes us. To be filled with God himself – to know God is with us and is for us that sweeps away all fears and gloom. That God Almighty himself, perfect and utterly holy, would fill ordinary people like you and me with his Spirit so we would be witnesses to all he has done.

And we will be witnesses – not by our might, not by our power but by his Spirit.

So be aware of distractions; instead wait and be filled with His Spirit and empowered to be a witness to all we meet.

Amen


Category: Sermons , The Bridge

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