Today, we’ll begin by reading Acts 1:6–11. Let us pay attention to the reading of Scripture, because when we read the Bible, God speaks to us; we hear His voice. So, let us listen to what He will say to us.
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Acts of the Apostles 1:6–11 (NIV)
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,”they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
God has just spoken to us. Now let us pray that His Holy Spirit would guide our thoughts and reflections on this passage:
Our Father, thank You because You are a God who speaks; You have just spoken to us through the Scriptures, which are Your Word. Please now guide our reflections with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to think rightly about Your Word, help us to act rightly according to Your Word, and help us to see Christ in Your Word. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Verse 8 of this passage contains a somewhat intimidating phrase: “… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What a massive task! How do we do it? Where do we start?
Recently, IBM (Iglesia Bíblica Mallasilla) held their Missions Tea, where they shared about several initiatives to reach others with the gospel. IBM is working hard on church planting in El Palomar and in Achumani, is collaborating with church networks in the city and across Bolivia, is working in the northern part of the La Paz department, and is involved with the Ese Ejja ethnic group. These are amazing and very challenging initiatives. But how do we handle all the planning and labor involved in these efforts without becoming discouraged?
A task as monumental as bearing witness to Jesus to the ends of the earth might seem like the task of Sisyphus in Greek mythology—have you heard that story? The story goes that Sisyphus was punished by Zeus and forced to push a massive boulder up a hill; and every time he reached near the top and looked about to give the final push, the rock would roll back down the hill and the poor man would have to start his grueling task all over again. And so, Sisyphus was condemned to work for all eternity, never able to complete his task.
“… You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth” can sound like pushing a giant stone uphill—but today I have good news: God does not give us an impossible task. He would be truly cruel if He gave us something unachievable, like Zeus giving Sisyphus an impossible burden. Our God is Good and Merciful, and along with the great task of being witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth, He also gives us the help we need. And in all the missionary initiatives of IBM, God is also providing the help we need.
How does God help us in the immense task of being witnesses of Jesus? First, He takes a burden off our shoulders. Second, He gives us sufficient power. And third, He gives us the necessary assurance. These are the three things I want us to reflect on this morning. Let’s begin with the first:
1. He takes a burden off our shoulders
Have you ever attended a workshop, conference, or training that left you excited and motivated to do something? I remember that, during my college days, some classmates and I attended a hacker conference. We all left the event motivated to become hackers. For some of us, the excitement lasted a while, and for others, not so much.
Now, Acts chapter 1 presents us with something like a training session—but this is the most exciting one in all of human history. It’s more thrilling than that hacker conference from my college days. In fact, it’s more useful, motivating, and revealing than any workshop or symposium we’ve ever attended in our lives.
Look at what the prologue of Acts says (1:3): Jesus “after his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Imagine that 40-day training with Jesus! Right now, many from IBM are at the camp in the Yungas, and I’m sure they’ll come back very encouraged after these four days—but can you imagine a training session not of four days, but forty days, face to face with Jesus Himself, speaking about the Kingdom of God?
At the end of this intensive time of teaching, and with their minds opened to see the Messiah in the Scriptures (Luke 24:44–45), the disciples were surely excited and motivated—but also carrying a burden. And this burden can be seen in their question in verse 6: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Can you feel the weight in their question? What were they concerned about? They were concerned about the times, the eras.
To understand this, let’s imagine a situation that never actually happened… Imagine Jesus looked straight at His disciples and said: “The consummation of the Kingdom of God—composed of all Israel united, Samaria and Judea, and the nations grafted into the Kingdom—will happen in 30 days… and you will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth.”
Obviously, that didn’t happen—but if it had, how would the disciples have reacted? I can imagine their excitement quickly turning into unbearable pressure, glancing at one another in panic, thinking: “Thirty days? How are we going to reach the ends of the earth in so little time? What will we do? That’s not enough time!”
Now, let’s imagine a different situation… Imagine Jesus saying: “The final consummation of the Kingdom will come in exactly six thousand years… and you will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth.” I can picture the disciples feeling a mix of excitement and discouragement: “Great! There’s plenty of time to fulfill the task—but how sad! That time is so far off… six thousand years? Who knows if future generations of Christians will even survive that long? Wouldn’t it be better if it came sooner?”
To tell them when the Kingdom would be consummated—whether soon or far off—or worse, to tell them, “It’s up to you to determine the time,” would be placing a burden on them that no human can bear.
Determining the times and seasons is something only the Sovereign God of History can do. That’s why Jesus says in verses 7 and 8: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” God the Father, in His own authority, has fixed the times and seasons. The final consummation of the Kingdom is in His hands, and the disciples of Jesus are simply to be His witnesses. God lifts that burden from our shoulders—the burden of trying to determine the times ourselves.
Human history is full of end-time predictions. One that comes to mind is by Harold Camping, an American radio host who claimed the end would come on May 21, 2011, and later revised it to October 21, 2011. And here we are, 14 years later, and the end still hasn’t come.
When he died in 2013, The New York Times wrote this about him: “Critics called him a fraud, a lunatic, a heretic, and worse… No one knows how many people rushed into marriage… quit their jobs or gave away their possessions. But the reaction was widespread and in some cases tragic…” The article then describes incidents of violence and death caused by Camping’s predictions.
I ask myself, what good do these predictions and obsessions with the future really do? When we place the burden of determining the times and seasons on our shoulders, we do more harm than good—and we lose focus. And even if some here think, “I’m not worried about those kinds of predictions,” I’d say: aren’t we all concerned about the future in some way? The future of our country, our families, our church—it can become a source of anxiety and a heavy load to bear.
But I have words of encouragement: “It is better to witness than to know the future.” That’s the title of a sermon by the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon. He said, “… it is neither proper, nor profitable… nor possible… to know the times and seasons…”
So then, since it’s not our role to determine the future—because it belongs to God alone—and since it’s not profitable because it makes us lose focus, and since it’s not even possible because we are limited creatures, God helps us by taking that weight off our shoulders so that we can focus on what actually is our responsibility: to be witnesses of Jesus, proclaiming that the Father, in love, sent the Son to save us—Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, rose on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will return. That is the simple message we must testify to. The future, the times, and the seasons are in the Father’s hands.
Let us think again about IBM’s gospel outreach initiatives—for example, church planting. Can you imagine if it were up to us to determine the exact timeline to reach the entire city of La Paz? That would be an unbearable burden. In fact, in the Church Planting Incubator program of City to City, one thing they always tell us is: a single church cannot reach the whole city—we need networks of churches. And that’s part of what IBM is doing: building networks, and that is very good. But let us remember: it’s not up to us to determine the times or the seasons. It is God who determines them. He is the one moving. He is the one carrying history toward its final consummation when Jesus returns. And He takes the burden off of us to figure these things out ourselves. He allows us to collaborate with Him. He allows IBM and other churches to be part of His plans. He allows you and me, as individuals, to be His collaborators. What a privilege!
And besides lifting that burden from our shoulders, God also helps us be witnesses of Jesus by giving us the power we need to do it.
2. He gives us sufficient power
Jesus told His disciples in verse 8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Here we see a great task: the disciples, starting from Jerusalem, were to bear witness to Jesus throughout Judea and Samaria—this covers the former territory of the southern kingdom (Judea) and the northern kingdom (Samaria). God was going to gather a remnant from all of Israel (north and south), just as the prophets had announced (Ezekiel 37:14–22). But this testimony would go beyond the boundaries of ancient Israel and would reach to the ends of the earth, as also foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 49:6). And throughout the book of Acts, we see this expansion, which continues to this day.
What a massive task! We can compare it to a large swimming pool. Could someone who doesn’t know how to swim make it across? You know, I learned to swim late in life, when I was about 14 years old—and how did I learn? I learned by jumping into the swimming pool at El Puente camp in the Yungas without knowing how to swim. Either I swam or I drowned—there was no turning back. So I had no choice but to figure out how to swim by force. (Teenagers who are here, please don’t follow my example in this—don’t jump into a pool without knowing how to swim; that’s not the best way to learn something that’s a matter of life or death.)
If the great task of bearing witness to Jesus to the ends of the earth is like a massive pool, then it is a matter of life and death that the witnesses of Jesus know how to swim. And Jesus didn’t just throw His disciples into the pool of global evangelism saying, “You’ll be My witnesses to the ends of the earth… good luck! You’re on your own!”
No! He first promised them the power needed to cross the pool—the power of the Holy Spirit: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has comes on you…” (Acts 1:8a)
At the beginning of today’s sermon I said that sometimes we may feel weak and incapable in the face of such a great task. And we feel even more incapable when we look at public figures who speak to massive crowds—famous pastors and preachers—or when we see Christian celebrities who have the ability to reach millions and fill entire stadiums. That’s when I think: “Who am I? Better to leave the task to the powerful.”
And the truth is, not many of us here are wise by human standards, or powerful, or of noble birth (1 Corinthians 1:26). But even though not all of us have the ability or opportunity to preach to large crowds, every Christian has the power—we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Jesus ascended into heaven and shared His Spirit with His whole Church. He is the one who gives us sufficient power to be witnesses of Jesus in the different places where God has placed us, each of us in unique ways.
Let me briefly share a story about this—about how different Christians can be used in unique ways in the great task of being witnesses of Jesus. This story is from the book Evangelism by J. Mack Stiles. If you want to read the full story and more on the topic of evangelism, I recommend reading the whole book. The story goes like this:
Kelly was a 16-year-old Brazilian girl when she traveled to the United States to study. Imagine what that means: being alone in another country, far from your home, your language, your people. But God was already at work.
The family who hosted her—Connie and John—were an ordinary couple, but with a gospel-centered faith. They prayed for Kelly, invited her to church, and told her about Jesus. But Kelly… didn’t show much interest. Has that ever happened to you? You try to share your faith with someone, and there’s just no response. Still, John and Connie didn’t force anything. They simply loved her. They cared for her. And when Kelly returned to Brazil, they stayed in touch. Connie never stopped praying for her. Years went by—praying, without seeing fruit, not knowing what would happen, but still praying.
Fifteen years later, Kelly was living in Dubai. Her life was difficult. She had just broken up with her boyfriend; she was alone and sad. In that tough time, Connie—still part of her life—sent her the address of a church there in Dubai. And Kelly went.
When she arrived, she was welcomed by a Filipino woman named Hetty. She didn’t know her, but Hetty received her with the warmth of Christ’s love. Then, at the church’s bookstall, another woman—Kanta, from India—also welcomed her. That morning, Kelly heard Pastor Dave preach the gospel, and her heart was touched.
Hetty and Kanta invited her to lunch; later, to a small group. And there, surrounded by people who welcomed her with love, Kelly began to open her heart. Later on, another woman from the church, Leeann, invited her to dinner. And at that meal, Leeann clearly explained the gospel of Jesus to her.
Some time later, Kelly was baptized. And who had the privilege of baptizing her? Mack Stiles, the author of the book where this story appears. He writes a sentence that sums it all up:
“Multiple continents, a couple of churches, various cities, many languages, numerous ethnicities, diverse personalities, years of prayer, verbal and written communication, two meals; and one gospel…”
Being witnesses of Jesus isn’t just the work of preachers and authors—it’s a team effort of every Christian, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: “You will receive power”—in the plural—not just some, but all His disciples. The Holy Spirit dwells collectively in the whole Church, and individually in each believer.
That’s why the phrase I mentioned earlier is so important—the one we’re often reminded of in the Church Planting Incubator: “One church alone cannot reach the whole city—we need networks.”
And we could say something similar on an individual level: no single Christian can carry out the great task of bearing witness to Jesus. Like in Kelly’s story, a network of people is needed. We are all small links in the great chain of witness to Jesus to the ends of the earth, and each of us plays a unique role. Sometimes you’ll show hospitality, sometimes invite someone, other times share a meal. Maybe you’ll send an email or a message, or make a phone call.
You can be part of this work right where God placed you, because He is the One who gives you the power through His Spirit.
This week, when you eat with someone, when you shop at a store, when you show hospitality, when you pray, when you speak—remember that the Holy Spirit gives you the power to show Jesus through all these things.
And not only does God help us by giving us sufficient power—He also helps us by giving us the necessary assurance.
3. He gives us the necessary assurance
After commissioning His disciples with the great task of being His witnesses and promising them the power of the Spirit, verse 9 says that Jesus “was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
How would we have reacted after witnessing this? Can you imagine being there and seeing Jesus ascend into heaven? I think many of us would have had a hard time taking our eyes off the clouds and walking away. I might have thought: “What if Jesus shows up again? What if another sign appears in the sky later on?”
It’s like when we go to the movies, and after the movie ends, some of us stay seated through the credits to see if there’s a bonus scene. Well, that’s how the disciples were—standing there, staring at the clouds… waiting to see what would appear after the credits.
Then two men in white clothing appeared and said to them: “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
And after those words, the disciples returned to Jerusalem. Jesus ascended and He will return—without a doubt. That gives us the assurance we need as we bear witness to Him to the ends of the earth.
Let’s think for a moment about the uncertainties that sometimes worry us. We don’t have to look far—in our current context, we’re concerned about the situation in our country (Bolivia). Tomorrow—will there be gasoline? Will there be chicken? Will there be dollars? Will there be roadblocks? What will happen after the elections in August?
Or on a more personal level, we face the uncertainties of relationships, conflict, illness, studies, and work. All of these uncertainties are part of life on this earth and can discourage us from the great task of being witnesses of Jesus. However, despite and in the midst of life’s uncertainties, we can stand firm. Do you know why?
Because Jesus ascended to heaven, we know that He is reigning and in control of everything.
Because Jesus ascended to heaven, we know we have a Mediator and Advocate in heaven.
Because Jesus ascended to heaven, we know we have a Judge from whom nothing is hidden.
Because Jesus ascended to heaven, we know that from there He sent His Spirit to empower us.
And we can also stand firm because Jesus will return, descending from heaven—therefore, we know the kingdoms of this world are inevitably heading toward their end.
Jesus will descend from heaven, so we know we are not adrift; history has a happy ending.
Jesus will return from heaven, so we know that one day He will judge human evil.
Jesus will return from heaven, so we have the hope of a new creation and the restoration of all things in Jesus.
So, with the assurance given by the ascension and the second coming, we can face uncertainty with confidence. We can calmly and joyfully focus on what is our task: to bear witness to Jesus to the ends of the earth, to proclaim the good news of God’s love in Christ, who died in our place for our sins and rose again.
Some years ago, I spoke with a man who lived on Isla del Sol, that beautiful and remote place on Lake Titicaca. As our conversation progressed, we eventually reached the topic of faith and Jesus. Then he told me something that deeply impacted me.
He said that one night, he had a dream. In the dream, Jesus descended from heaven… with glory and majesty. And in the dream, when the man saw this, he—moved, desperate, perhaps full of hope—started running. He wanted to reach Jesus, he wanted to get to Him. But he didn’t make it. In his dream, as he was running, Jesus ascended again into heaven… and he was left behind. Alone. Abandoned on the island.
I believe there’s something deeper in that dream—it reflects uncertainty, it reflects fear. Can you imagine something like that? Wanting to reach Jesus… but not making it in time? Watching Him go, completely unsure whether He’ll come back for you?
That kind of fear can paralyze a person. That’s why the words of Acts 1:11 are so encouraging and fill us with assurance: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Maybe there are people here who feel paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. In those moments, remember today’s Scripture passage. The best weapon against fear is truth—the truth that after His suffering on the cross for our sins, Jesus rose again, ascended into heaven, and will return. Believe this. Have faith in it.
That is the truth that can awaken us from paralysis, help us fight fear, and give us the assurance we need.
Conclusion
You know, like anyone else, preachers also go through moments of discouragement and even depression, and sometimes we too feel paralyzed by uncertainty. Last year, during one of those moments of discouragement—due to conflict and challenges—I felt like that Greek mythological character I mentioned at the beginning of the sermon. I felt like I was pushing a rock uphill and getting nowhere. One morning, I was working at my desk, writing a sermon, thinking, praying—and I could see through the window that, to top it off, the day was completely gray, cold, and cloudy, very much like the condition of my heart.
As I worked, I had music playing in the background from my favorite Latin rock band (Rescate), coming through the speakers on my desk. And although I wasn’t paying much attention to the music, suddenly a phrase broke through the silence of my reflection. The lyrics said:
“Today there’s no sun in the sky, it rained all day, and last night the stars didn’t come out. But I’m okay, and I think it’s because You are here…”
Suddenly, that truth shook me, and like a ray of light, it filled my heart: God is here. The day may be overcast, the task ahead may be enormous, life may be full of uncertainty, and the challenges in ministry may be great—but I am not alone. We are not alone. We walk hand-in-hand with God.
Jesus said: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you…” (Acts 1:8).
As we’ve seen this morning:
- God takes the burden off our shoulders: It’s not up to us to determine the times—He does that.
- God gives us sufficient power: through His Spirit who dwells in us.
- God gives us the necessary assurance: Christ ascended into heaven and He will return.
So, let us take courage—and be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
