Waiting on the Promise: The Church’s Posture in a Hostile World An Exegetical Sermon on Acts 1:4-14 Text: “And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, ‘you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ So when they had come together, they asked Him, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.” (Acts 1:4–14, ESV) Introduction: The Church in a World of Impatience Brothers and sisters, we live in a world that despises waiting. We want instant answers, immediate results, and overnight success. We microwave our meals, stream our entertainment, and demand our politicians fix everything by next week. But here in Acts 1, we find the disciples in a posture that is utterly foreign to our modern sensibilities—waiting. This is not passive waiting. This is not twiddling their thumbs, staring at the sky, or wasting time. This is active, expectant, obedient waiting—the kind of waiting that prepares God’s people for His sovereign work. And in this passage, we see three critical truths that define the Church’s mission and posture in a hostile world: The Promise of Power (vv. 4–8) The Ascension and the Assurance (vv. 9–11) The Unity of Prayerful Expectation (vv. 12–14) Let’s dig in. 1. The Promise of Power (vv. 4–8) “Wait for the promise of the Father… you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power… and you will be My witnesses.” Notice what Jesus doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “Go figure it out.” He doesn’t say, “Here’s a five-step plan for cultural dominance.” He says, “Wait.” Why? Because the mission of the Church is not sustained by human ingenuity, political strategy, or moral reform. It is fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples wanted a timetable for Israel’s restoration (v. 6), but Jesus redirects them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons… but you will receive power.” A. The Danger of Misplaced Priorities The disciples’ question reveals a preoccupation with earthly kingdoms. Sound familiar? How often do we fixate on elections, policies, and social movements while neglecting the real battle—the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom through the Gospel? Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for wanting God’s Kingdom; He rebukes their timetable. The Father’s authority is absolute (v. 7), and our calling is not to speculate but to obey. B. The Power for the Mission The Spirit’s coming at Pentecost was not about personal ecstasy but evangelistic urgency. “You will be My witnesses” (v. 8)—not “you might be” or “if you feel like it.” This is a divine imperative. Today, the Church in the West is paralyzed by fear—fear of cancel culture, fear of persecution, fear of irrelevance. But Jesus says, “You will receive power.” Not political power. Not cultural dominance. Holy Spirit power. The same power that raised Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:19–20) is available to us. Application: Are you trying to do God’s work in your own strength? Repent. Are you more passionate about temporal politics than eternal souls? Repent. The Church doesn’t need better marketing; we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 2. The Ascension and the Assurance (vv. 9–11) “He was lifted up… a cloud took Him out of their sight… ‘This Jesus… will come in the same way.’” The ascension is not just a dramatic exit; it is a theological declaration. Christ’s departure confirms His victory (Eph. 4:8–10) and His eventual return (Rev. 1:7). A. The Danger of Spiritual Passivity The disciples stood gazing into heaven (v. 10). The angels’ rebuke is piercing: “Why do you stand looking?” In other words, “Stop staring and start serving!” Too many Christians today are spiritually passive—consumed with end-times speculation, conspiracy theories, or escapist theology, while the world drowns in sin. Jesus didn’t leave us here to count clouds; He left us here to preach Christ! B. The Certainty of His Return The angels’ promise is clear: “This same Jesus… will come.” He is not absent; He is reigning (Acts 2:33). And His return is as certain as His ascension. Application: Are you living like Christ is coming tomorrow? Or are you entangled in the world’s distractions? The hope of His return should fuel our urgency, not our apathy. 3. The Unity of Prayerful Expectation (vv. 12–14) “They returned to Jerusalem… devoting themselves to prayer… with one accord.” This is the birth of the New Testament Church—not in a blaze of glory, but in humble, unified prayer. A. The Power of Corporate Prayer The disciples weren’t praying for comfort or convenience; they were praying for the fulfillment of God’s promise. And when the Spirit fell in Acts 2, it was in the context of united, expectant prayer. Where is this kind of prayer in the Church today? We have conferences, programs, and podcasts, but where is the desperate, unified crying out for God’s power? B. The Necessity of Gospel Unity The disciples weren’t perfect. Peter had denied Christ. Thomas had doubted. The brothers had once thought Jesus was out of His mind (Mark 3:21). Yet now, they are “with one accord.” The modern Church is fractured by secondary issues, personality cults, and tribalism. But the early Church thrived because they were united around the Gospel. Application: Is your local church marked by prayerful dependence? Are you pursuing unity, or are you a source of division? The world won’t believe our message if we don’t love one another (John 13:35). Conclusion: The Church’s Posture in a Hostile World Acts 1 is a blueprint for the Church in any age: We wait on the Spirit’s power, not our own wisdom. We work under Christ’s authority, knowing He is coming back. We worship in prayerful unity, refusing to let secondary issues divide us. The world doesn’t need another social movement. It needs the Church to be the Church—Spirit-filled, Gospel-driven, and relentlessly focused on Christ. So I ask you: Are you waiting, working, and worshiping like the apostles? Or are you distracted, discouraged, or divided? The promise still stands. The power is still available. The mission is still urgent. Let’s get to work. Amen.
