Sermon Synopsis
This sermon examines the response of the early believers in Acts 1:12–14 after receiving the Lord’s final command before His ascension. Their example shows four principles for serving the Lord: waiting on God’s timing, grounding service in God’s Word, working together in unity, and persevering in prayer. The early church’s obedience and unity prepared them for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The message challenges believers today to follow the same pattern as we participate together in the work of evangelism and service for Christ.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Serving the Lord After the Ascension
Acts 1:12–14
Opening Prayer
Good morning everyone. Let us begin with a word of prayer.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this morning. Our thoughts are drawn to the cross of Jesus—the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we look at His humanity, bearing the name that means “the God who saves,” we remember that He was the Sent One and that He is the Lord Jesus Christ because of His victory over the grave and beyond the grave.
Lord, as we look into Your Word this morning, we ask that You would encourage us concerning the things that happened after the victory over the grave—after the Lord’s resurrection and His ascension. We pray all these things in the Lord Jesus’ name. Amen.
Introduction: Our Calling to Evangelism
Our assembly’s theme this year is evangelism.
Just now we saw a video of four of our brothers giving a presentation regarding the gospel meetings to come. Throughout the year we have seen many efforts by different activity groups to present the gospel to those outside the kingdom of God.
We have also seen many purposeful ministries carried out: Children’s Corner, Sunday School, youth meetings, young adults, Boys’ Brigade, Manna, and many other groups. All of these share the same purpose—bringing the person of the Lord Jesus Christ to a world that needs His saving grace.
In these things we see the assembly working together as the body of Christ.
Let us now look at Acts chapter 1. We will read from Acts 1:12–14 and consider how the first group of believers responded to the Great Commission.
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.
The Background
In the forty days after the resurrection, Christ presented Himself to the disciples and spoke about the kingdom of God.
During this period, He appeared about ten or eleven times, including three appearances in the upper room to the entire group of disciples on three consecutive Sundays. Christ showed the disciples from the Old Testament the predictions and passages related to His life, His death, and His resurrection.
In Acts 1:4–5, we read:
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.”
At the end of the forty days, He ascended to heaven. He took them to the Mount of Olives, the place from which He would ascend. What happened there is recorded in verses 6–11.
In verse 6, the disciples asked:
“Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
This question showed that they had not yet fully understood the implications of the resurrection. They did not realize that the Lord would be leaving them. They thought He would restore the earthly kingdom of Israel at that moment. They might even have been thinking about what administrative posts and positions they might hold in this restored kingdom.
They were thinking about earthly roles.
The Lord’s response contained His final instructions. He told them:
After He said these things, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. As they were gazing into heaven, two men in white robes stood by them 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.”
This event had been prophesied in Zechariah 14:4, where it says that when He returns to reign, His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives.
It was an amazing experience—a landmark moment for the disciples.
So what did the disciples do in response?
The First Response of the Early Church
Acts 1:12–14 tells us the first actions of the early believers after receiving the Lord’s final command.
Their response is instructive for us. As we examine ourselves, we must ask:
Both individually and corporately as a church, how do we gather together to serve Him in evangelism?
In these verses we notice four principles about serving the Lord:
What did the disciples do when they received the Lord’s command?
The first thing they did was return to Jerusalem. It was not a far distance—only a Sabbath day’s journey.
They went there because the Lord had commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit.
How long would they wait?
They did not know.
They were only told it would be “not many days from now.”
So it was a day-by-day waiting for the Lord’s promise to be fulfilled.
God was going to do great things through them, and they patiently anticipated the opportunity to be used by Him.
Waiting on the Lord
We also make plans in our assembly—programs to build one another up and to reach the world with the gospel. But as we make these plans, we must wait upon the Lord for His direction.
The Lord promised:
But why must we wait?
Because we need to know what work the Lord wants us to do, and when He wants us to do it. God knows the time when we are ready.
Often when we look at ourselves, we realize we are not yet ready to serve Him as we should.
Showing Up
While waiting, all the disciples were present. None was missing in action.
They were Galileans from the north, far from Jerusalem, yet they remained there in obedience to the Lord’s command.
Their names are recorded as a kind of roll call.
They waited together, sharing the bond of having walked with the Lord Jesus Christ. They had shared mountaintop experiences as well as painful ones. They had seen His persecution and heard His warnings that they too would suffer.
They wanted to be in the right place so that the Lord could use them.
There is an important lesson here: the importance of fellowship with believers.
It does not matter if our contribution seems small. The Lord has a place for each of us in His vineyard.
Please show up for work.
Be available.
Wait for the Lord’s instructions.
Waiting often involves uncertainty and sacrifice. The disciples had left their vocations—fishermen, tax collectors, and others—to follow the Lord.
Waiting means submitting to the Lord’s perfect timing, not our own.
What did the disciples do while waiting in the upper room?
It was not a time of idle sitting.
They must have been recalling the Lord’s words and claiming His promises. They remembered the things He taught them—especially what He explained after the resurrection.
They were waiting in the upper room in Jerusalem.
This place held great significance:
The lesson for us is this: our hall is an important meeting place.
It is more than just a building. It is a gathering place for hearts that love the Lord and desire to hear His Word.
When we stay close to God’s Word and God’s people, we are never far from His purposes.
Verse 14 tells us the disciples were with one accord.
The word describes the shared attitude of their hearts. It means having one mind, one passion, one purpose.
It does not mean they all had the same ideas or opinions. But they shared the same passion—to serve the Lord.
Working in one accord does not come naturally. As human beings we have egos that must be set aside. We must consider one another and work toward harmony.
Sometimes there will be friction, even among the Lord’s people. But it takes commitment to pursue unity and recognize the unique roles each person plays.
The King James Version says they “continued with one accord.”
The word continued emphasizes devotion and perseverance. It means:
Sustaining unity requires effort—constant vigilance, sacrifice, and commitment.
Working together means we put our shoulders together for the Lord’s glory.
Finally, the disciples were united in prayer.
Their prayer was marked by perseverance.
Perhaps they prayed to calm their hearts in a time of danger. Perhaps they prayed as they prepared for the great undertaking of the Great Commission.
They had seen the Lord’s own example—rising early in the morning to pray. They understood the priority of prayer before beginning any work.
Prayer united them with one passion and one heart.
No doubt they prayed for one another as well.
An assembly that persists in prayer with the right spirit of unity will be in a good position to receive the Lord’s blessing.
A Challenge for Us
Recently we looked at our assembly’s annual report from 1934.
It recorded a regular attendance of 30 people at the prayer meeting, out of a membership of 170 saints.
Today the average attendance is about 95, out of a membership of 600. These include:
It is a challenge for all of us to recognize the importance of prayer.
Technology has made it easier than ever for us to participate—through Zoom, YouTube, and prayer items shared on WhatsApp.
Let us avail ourselves of this great source of power.
Prayer is not merely the uttering of requests. It is the coming together of God’s people with one mind to seek His will and ask for His provision.
The Waiting Ends
The disciples waited patiently in unity and prayer.
Then came Pentecost, fifty days after Passover.
In Acts 2:1, we read that they were all together in one place. Most likely it was the same upper room.
Just as they had done after the ascension, they were gathered together in one accord.
Then, as promised, the Holy Spirit came and empowered them with spiritual gifts. This marked the beginning of the great work of the church.
Conclusion
May we also continue—as this passage encourages us—to continue with one accord in prayer and service for our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Closing Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for the work You have given to our assembly—to be witnesses for You in this place where You have planted us, and among the people connected to us in our homes, workplaces, and daily lives.
Lord, we know that You delight to see us laboring together with one accord in prayer before Your throne of grace. We pray that we would wait upon You with patience, serve according to Your Word, work together in unity, and persevere in prayer.
We give You thanks in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.