The Hidden Explosive: Dynamite in Your Dentures

This is the first sermon in the series titled "Watch Your Mouth,". Over the next few weeks, we are going to look closely at a tiny part of the human anatomy that has the power to alter the course of your entire life.

"The Hidden Explosive: Dynamite in Your Dentures"

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:3-6 NIV) 

Imagine a construction crew standing before a massive, solid granite cliffside. They need to clear a path for a highway. To do it, they don't use picks and shovels. They drill deep into the rock, pack it with sticks of dynamite, run a wire to a safe distance, and press the plunger. In an instant, what was solid and immovable is shattered into dust.

Dynamite is a fascinating thing. Kept in a secure, temperature-controlled environment, it sits completely still. It looks harmless—almost like a collection of candles. But the moment a spark hits it, its latent, hidden energy is unleashed with terrifying, unstoppable force.

Every single one of us is carrying a spiritual stick of dynamite. You didn’t leave it in your car, or the bedroom, or the kitchen and you didn't pass it through a security detector. It is sitting right behind your teeth. Whether you have your original teeth, a bridge, implants, or no teeth at all, the spiritual reality remains exactly the same. The "dynamite" isn't the porcelain or the enamel; the dynamite is the tongue.

Scripture:

James 3:3-12 NIV [3] When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. [4] Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. [5] Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. [6] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. [7] All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. [10] Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. [11] Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? [12] My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Introduction: 

Today, we are launching a new sermon series titled "Watch Your Mouth,". Over the next few weeks, we are going to look closely at a tiny part of the human anatomy that has the power to alter the course of your entire life.

Before we look at the Word together, I want you to imagine a construction crew standing before a massive, solid granite cliffside. They need to clear a path for a highway. To do it, they don't use picks and shovels. They drill deep into the rock, pack it with sticks of dynamite, run a wire to a safe distance, and press the plunger. In an instant, what was solid and immovable is shattered into dust.

Dynamite is a fascinating thing. Kept in a secure, temperature-controlled environment, it sits completely still. It looks harmless—almost like a collection of candles. But the moment a spark hits it, its latent, hidden energy is unleashed with terrifying, unstoppable force.

Every single one of us is carrying a spiritual stick of dynamite. You didn’t leave it in your car, or the bedroom, or the kitchen and you didn't pass it through a security detector. It is sitting right behind your teeth. There is "dynamite in your dentures." 

What about those of you that don’t have dentures? Well; Whether you have your original teeth, a bridge, implants, or no teeth at all, the spiritual reality remains exactly the same. The "dynamite" isn't the porcelain or the enamel; the dynamite is the tongue.

Here’s our text for today;

James 3:3-6 NIV [3] When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. [4] Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. [5] Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. [6] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

1. There is Disproportionate Power of the Tongue

Look at the three-part blueprint James uses to expose the hidden power of the tongue. He shows us that disproportionate control belongs to the smallest elements. 

We see it in the bit that subdues a powerful 1,200-pound stallion. We see it in the rudder that commands a giant ship against the fury of ocean gale winds. And we see it in the spark of a single match that unleashes a raging inferno across millions of acres.

In every single case, the message is identical: don't misjudge the size of the instrument, because the scale of its influence is monumental.

What’s the point the Holy Spirit is making through James? The point is that the tongue is a tiny muscle—accounting for a mere fraction of your total body weight—yet it is a major force shaping your life. The words you speak have a massive, disproportionate sway over your daily life.

Look at Proverbs 18:21 NIV The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Notice that it doesn't say the tongue has the power to influence life and death. It says it holds the power of life and death. Your words carry spiritual weight. Every day, you and I are using our speech to either breathe life into our relationships, our careers, and our church, or we are using it to speak of death, decay, and defeat over them.

2. The Danger of Uncontrolled Fire

James warns us that when the tongue is left unchecked, it behaves exactly like a wildfire.

James 3:6 NIV The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Think about how a wildfire operates. It starts small. A casual comment. A little bit of juicy gossip passed along under the guise of a "prayer request." A sharp, sarcastic jab at a family member or a close friend over the phone because you've had an exhausting day. It feels completely insignificant at the time and you think nothing of it. But in the spiritual realm, that spark starts a fire and  fire spreads. That one sharp comment creates a wall of emotional distance. That piece of gossip fractures a friendship. 

We think the comment was forgotten, but it was actually smoldering beneath the surface the entire time. By the time the visible fire finally breaks out and consumes the relationship, it is simply the inevitable result of a foundational collapse that started with the weight of our own words. Before you know it, the relationship is in flames, and you’re standing over the smoldering ruins wondering, "How did it get this bad?"

It got that bad because we underestimated the spark.

James doesn't mince words about where the spark gets its fuel, he says  "it is itself set on fire by hell." 

Let’s read the verse James 3:6 NIV The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

When we use our mouths to tear down, to lie, to manipulate, to complain, or to sow discord, we are allowing the enemy to use our vocal cords as a microphone for his agenda. We become standard-bearers for the kingdom of darkness using the very mouths that were created to praise the King of Kings.

James 3:9-10 NIV [9] With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. [10] Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 

3. Harnessing the Energy for Kingdom Purpose

Let's go back to the dynamite analogy we started with; Is dynamite inherently evil? No it isn’t.

In the hands of a skilled engineer, dynamite blasts through mountains so that tracks can be laid, roads can be built, and people can be connected. But in the hands of a criminal, dynamite destroys lives and robs banks. The power is the same; the outcome depends entirely on who is controlling the source.

Your tongue has incredible potential energy. Left to its own devices—controlled by the flesh—it will blow up your life. But when it is fully submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ, that exact same power can be used to blast through spiritual barriers.

James 3:7-8 NIV  [7] All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James uses the vivid imagery of a wildfire to describe the tongue left to its own devices. On its own, controlled by human impulse, the tongue is an unstable force capable of burning down an entire life.

If it is left to us, it blows things up. The only way to harness that incredible potential energy—transforming it from a destructive wildfire into a spiritual breakthrough—is to place it under the absolute authority and taming power of Jesus Christ.

Uncontrolled by the Spirit, the fleshly tongue acts as a destructive catalyst that ravages everything in its path. But when brought under total authority, everything changes.

When the tongue is yielded completely to the Holy Spirit, that exact same intensity that once caused destruction is now channeled into divine purpose.   Guided by the Holy Spirit, this small part of the body safely and powerfully navigates the entire life through the roughest seas of human emotion and conflict, speaking words of life, healing, and truth.

Look at Proverbs 12:18 NIV The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Imagine the shift in our lives if we stopped using our words as swords and started using them as medicine. Imagine the shift in our personal lives if we stopped using our mouths to describe our problems and started using them to declare the promises of God.

When you use your voice to encourage someone who is ready to quit, you are using Kingdom dynamite. When you use your mouth to speak truth in love, to pray fervently for a brother or sister, or to worship God in the middle of a dark storm, you are blasting away the strongholds of the enemy.

Conclusion & Invitation: Submitting the Plunger to the Master

Maintaining a strong spiritual foundation is a continuous process. It is not a quick fix. It requires daily self-reflection and a constant willingness to open ourselves up to God’s guidance. And there is no better place to start that self-reflection than by evaluating the words that cross our lips.

Who is holding the plunger to the dynamite in your mouth today? Is it your emotions? Is it your anger? Is it the cultural climate around you? Or is it the Holy Spirit?

We cannot tame the tongue on our own strength. 

James 3:7-8 NIV [7] All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

No human being can tame it. It requires supernatural intervention. It requires us to bring our mouths to the altar and say, "Lord, edit my thoughts, guard my lips, and let my words align perfectly with Your sovereign will."

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge today the incredible weight and power of the words we speak. Forgive us for the times we have allowed our tongues to scatter sparks of fire into our homes, our workplaces, and our church. Holy Spirit, we invite You to take absolute control of our speech. Set a guard over our mouths. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

The Language of the Spirit

This is the manuscript for the seventh and final sermon in the "Witness" series of sermons that brought us from the jubilation of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday to the excitement of  Pentecost.   

The word "witness" often carries heavy baggage. We think of courtrooms, legal depositions, or high-pressure sales pitches on street corners. But in the New Testament, a witness is simply someone who tells the truth about what they have seen and heard.

Being a witness isn't about having a polished script or a perfect life. It is about a continuous process of self-reflection and aligning our daily priorities with God’s will. It’s about moving from "knowing the facts" of the Resurrection to "living the reality" of the Resurrection

Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews. We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.” (Acts 2:11 ERV)

Looking for a place to quiet the constant chaos, tune out the cultural chatter, and find genuine peace? Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday, and it also kicks off Memorial Day weekend. As we pause this weekend to honor the costly, solid foundation laid by our fallen heroes, we will also look at the spiritual bedrock laid by the early disciples.

Over 2,000 years ago, the Church was born in an explosion of wind and fire. But the greatest miracle wasn't the noise—it was the understanding. The Holy Spirit arrived as the ultimate translator, breaking down human barriers so that people from every nation could hear the Gospel in their own native language.

The Spirit didn’t make everyone speak one uniform language; He made one message understandable to everyone—young and old, men and women, slave and free. Our witness must be just as inclusive as the Spirit’s fire.

Let's stop the noise, and ask the Spirit to help us meet people exactly where they are.

Scripture: 

Acts 2:1-13 NIV [1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [5] Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. [7] Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? [9] Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome [11] (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” [12] Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” [13] Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.

Text

Acts 2:11 NIV (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Before we dive into the Word today, we want to acknowledge that this is Memorial Day weekend. It’s a time when our nation slows down to remember the incredible men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. You know, when you visit a national cemetery or stand before a memorial, the most striking thing isn't the noise—it’s the profound silence. It reminds us that the greatest sacrifices usually don't come with loud, boastful words; they are honored in quiet reverence. 

As we talk today about moving past the noisy clamor of our culture to hear The Language of the Spirit, let’s begin by thanking God for those who paid the ultimate price, and ask Him to teach us how to listen to the quiet, sacred things He wants to speak into our lives. 

We live in a world dominated by noise. We live in an absolute age of talk—news talk, sports talk, money talk, self-help talk, car talk, and what we might as well call "I-just-want-to-talk talk." Everyone, it seems, desperately wants to be heard.

Today marks the seventh and final sermon in our Witness series. Over the last several weeks, we have been exploring what it looks like to align our priorities with God’s will and live as credible, active witnesses of the Risen Christ in a fast-paced culture. We’ve discovered that being a witness is a constant process of spiritual growth.

With all this talk filling our days, are we actually listening to anyone? 

More importantly, if we are having trouble hearing the people around us, we are probably talking so much that we don't hear God either. God has a lot to say, and what He says is infinitely more important than what we have to say.

Looking at the miracle of Pentecost in Acts 2, it becomes clear that the Holy Spirit doesn’t arrive to blend in with the noise of the world. Instead, He completely reshapes our perspective, teaching us to speak and live in an entirely new, divine language.  To be a powerful witness it’s time to stop talking and start listening because we have to learn The Language of the Spirit.

We live in a world that is completely fascinated by spectacle. We love the dramatic, the loud, and the explosive. And if you were standing in Jerusalem on the morning of Pentecost, the spectacular is exactly what you would have witnessed. 

The New Testament Church wasn’t born in a quiet, subtle whisper; it was born in a literal explosion of sound and fire. There was the roaring of a violent wind rushing through the room, and there were tongues of fire parting and resting on the believers.

Acts 2:1-3 NIV [1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 

It is easy to get lost in the pure wonder and astonishment of that moment. We look at the flames and the supernatural manifestations, and we think, “That is the miracle.”

But if we look closer at the text, we discover something profound: the most important miracle of Pentecost wasn’t the noise. It was the understanding.  Look at verse 11.

Acts 2:11 ERV [11] Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews. We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.”

The crowd that gathered wasn't drawn together just because they heard a loud sound; they were drawn together because the chaos suddenly gave way to complete clarity. 

In a world full of spiritual interference and competing voices, the Holy Spirit did something revolutionary: He created a moment where people could truly hear and understand the heart of God.

The Ignition: Fire on a Prepared Foundation

When people read the story of Pentecost, they often treat it like a spiritual, lightning bolt from heaven that instantly fixed everything for the disciples. We live in a culture obsessed with those kinds of quick fixes. We want instant maturity, instant peace, and instant impact without having to put in the time.

But Pentecost was not a random shortcut. The fire of the Holy Spirit didn't fall on an unprepared space. It fell on a foundation that had been meticulously laid over weeks of intentional waiting, regular self-reflection, and persistent prayer.  

Before Jesus ascended, He gave a strict command: 

Acts 1:4 ERV[4] One time when Jesus was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here until you receive what the Father promised to send. Remember, I told you about it before. 

Just look back at 

John 15:26-27 ERV  to find out what he told the disciples  before [26] “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. [27] And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.

The disciples did not treat this waiting period as a vacation. 

Acts 1:12-14 ERV [12] Then the apostles went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. This mountain is about a half mile from Jerusalem. [13] When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. These are the ones who were there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon, the Zealot, and Judas (the son of James). [14] The apostles were all together. They were constantly praying with the same purpose. Some women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers were there with the apostles.

The Upper Room was like an incubator of spiritual renewal. The time of waiting was necessary to transition the disciples from a state of fear and confusion (locking themselves away after the crucifixion) to a state of unified, prayerful anticipation.

John 20:19-20 ERV [19] The day was Sunday, and that same evening the followers were together. They had the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” [20] As soon as he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were very happy.

God didn’t build the early church on a cleared patch of dirt, but on a foundation laid down through weeks of waiting and prayer. If we want the fire of the Spirit to sweep through our lives and families today, we cannot bypass the preparation. We have to quiet our own noise, stop our self-defense, and learn the language of waiting and listening. The fire of God never falls on an unprepared space; it falls on a finished foundation.

Breaking the Barrier: The Ultimate Translator

When the disciples began to speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the diverse crowd from every corner of the Roman Empire was completely bewildered. Why? Because residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Rome were all hearing the same message simultaneously.

Acts 2:11 ERV [11] Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews. We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.”

The Holy Spirit breaks down human barriers. The Spirit doesn't achieve unity by erasing our differences. He doesn't force everyone in the crowd to speak one single, uniform human language. He doesn't wipe out their unique cultural identities.

Instead, the Spirit makes one message perfectly understandable to everyone.

The Holy Spirit is the ultimate translator. Human communication so often builds walls—we use our positions, our jargon, and our personal opinions to exclude others or defend our own views. But the Language of the Spirit does the exact opposite. It translates the deep, uncompromised truth of the Gospel into the specific, intimate heart-language of the individual.

The New Reality: An Inclusive Fire

When Peter stands up to explain this miracle to the cynical crowd, he doesn't point to a new human strategy. He points to the fulfillment of an ancient promise recorded by the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:17-21 ERV [17] ‘God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams. [18] In those days I will pour out my Spirit on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy. [19] I will work wonders in the sky above. I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke. [20] The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be as red as blood. Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come. [21] And everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.’ Joel 2:28-32

In the ancient world, divine revelation was often viewed as something exclusive—reserved only for the elite, the priests, or kings. But Peter announces that the parameters have radically shifted.  This is the birth of a brand-new reality. 

• Young and old will receive insight.

• Men and women will speak truth.

• Socioeconomic barriers are completely dissolved.

The Spirit of God is poured out on all flesh. Therefore, if the fire of the Holy Spirit is completely inclusive, our witness as a church must be just as inclusive. Living here in a sprawling, incredibly diverse metropolis like Los Angeles, we are surrounded by people from every imaginable background. We cannot afford to build exclusive enclaves. We cannot limit our reach to people who look like us, think like us, or speak like us. Our lives must reflect the wide-open hospitality of heaven.

Conclusion & Call to Reflection

Being a witness of the Resurrection means learning to communicate the goodness of Jesus using the dialect of the Spirit. And that requires us to stop broadcasting our own commentary long enough to genuinely listen to the people around us.

I am not talking about their native tongue or country of origin. I am talking about the language of their current human condition:

• Are they speaking the heavy, quiet language of grief after a difficult loss?

• Are they speaking the isolated, defensive language of loneliness?

• Are they speaking the skeptical language of intellectual doubt, searching for honesty?

You cannot meet someone’s deep need if you are speaking right over them to argue your own point. Ask the Holy Spirit to act as your translator. Ask Him to give you the exact words, and the patient grace needed to meet your neighbors exactly where they are.

The Closing Prayer

"Gracious and Almighty God,

We stand in awe of a day like Pentecost, where You proved once and for all that You are a God who wants to be known, understood, and felt. Thank You that You do not leave us to wander through the confusing, chaotic noiseof this world, but that You send Your Holy Spirit to speak directly into our hearts.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have chosen the world’s strategy of noise. Forgive us for the times we have been quick to anger, quick to defend our own views, and painfully slow to listen to the people You have placed right in front of us. 

Help us to settle our need for control. Remind us  that You are sitting on the throne, that You are fully in control of our lives, our families, and this city, so that we can finally afford to slow down our mouths and open our minds.

We ask that You thin us.  Give us the discipline to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Help us to pass over the barriers of culture, age, and background, and carry an inclusive fire that reflects Your ultimate message of radical love. 

May our lives be an undeniable witness that Jesus Christ is alive.

We love You, we trust You, and we place ourselves  into Your hands.

And all God’s people said... Amen."

Looking Up, Moving Out

 

This is the manuscript for the sixth sermon in the "Witness" series of sermons that will take us to Pentecost Sunday.   

The word "witness" often carries heavy baggage. We think of courtrooms, legal depositions, or high-pressure sales pitches on street corners. But in the New Testament, a witness is simply someone who tells the truth about what they have seen and heard.

Being a witness isn't about having a polished script or a perfect life. It is about a continuous process of self-reflection and aligning our daily priorities with God’s will. It’s about moving from "knowing the facts" of the Resurrection to "living the reality" of the Resurrection

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. (Acts 1:8 NIV) Have you ever had a mountaintop experience—a retreat, a beautiful service, or a moment of clarity—where you just wanted time to stand still? You thought, 'If I could just stay right here, I’d be okay.' In Acts 1, the disciples are doing exactly that. They are staring into the sky, paralyzed by the wonder of what they’ve seen. But the Christian life was never meant to be lived in a trance. Jesus didn’t leave so we could look up in longing; He left so He could live through us in power. Today, we’re exploring the 'Divine Hand-off.' We’re learning why Jesus’ departure wasn't a loss, but a launch—and how the same power that fueled the early church is currently waiting to be released in your living room, your office, and your neighborhood.

Scripture: 

Acts 1:1-11 NIV [1] In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach [2] until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [3] 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. [4] On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” [6] Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” [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.”

Text 

Acts 1:8 NIV 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.”

Introduction

Today is the sixth installment of our Witness series. Over the last five weeks, we have journeyed through the radical transformation of the early believers, seeing how the resurrection changed everything they thought they knew about life, death, and hope.

Today, we reach a pivotal moment in the story—one that feels like a bittersweet ending but is actually the ultimate beginning. Our scripture today marks the "graduation day" of the disciples. I’ve titled today’s message "Looking Up, Moving Out," because we find the followers of Jesus at a crossroads: standing between the wonder of where He has been, and done, and the weight of the mission He is leaving behind.

If you feel like you’ve been waiting in the wings of your own faith, or if you’ve been staring at the horizon waiting for a sign to finally start moving, today’s word is for you. Let’s look at what happens when your gaze shifts from the clouds in the sky to the needs of the world.

I. The Hook: Graduation Day

Imagine a graduation ceremony. The caps are tossed, the diplomas are in hand, and the celebration is loud. But eventually, the stadium or auditorium lights go out. The graduates can’t stay; the whole point of the ceremony was to prepare them for the world outside the campus gates.

Acts 1 depicts the "graduation day" of the disciples. For three years, they had the ultimate Teacher. They watched Him heal, heard Him preach, and saw Him conquer the grave. But in the opening of Acts, Jesus does something startling: He leaves. 

His leaving  isn't an ending; it’s the beginning of the Church’s mission. The training is over. The work is just beginning.

II. The Message: Stop Staring at the Clouds

In the scripture today, we see the disciples standing on the Mount of Olives, necks craned, eyes fixed on the sky where Jesus just vanished into the clouds. But some angels appear with a message that is both a comfort and a correction”

Acts 1:10-11 NIV They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “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.”

The disciples stood frozen, staring up as Jesus ascended. We often do the same—mesmerized by the clouds, waiting for a cosmic nudge because we've turned worship into an excuse for inaction.  Looking up is for adoration; moving out is for activation. We worship in order to witness." 

III. The Hand-off: From One Body to Many

Jesus had already told them that He had to go for their good.  

John 16:7 NIV But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 

He is no longer just beside us.  Through the Holy Spirit, He is within us. We are now His hands, His feet, and His voice. While Jesus was on earth in the flesh, He was in one place at one time. By ascending and sending His Spirit, Jesus makes a divine "hand-off."

As long as Jesus was physically present in His earthly body, He was limited by time and space—He could be in Galilee or Jerusalem, but not both at the same time. By going away, He replaces a localized presence with an omnipresent power through the Holy Spirit, who can be with every believer, everywhere, all at once.

John 14:12 NIV Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

The "greater things" aren't greater in quality than Jesus' miracles, but greater in extent—reaching the ends of the earth because the Spirit is not confined to one physical body.

Jesus didn't leave to abandon the earth, but to "fill" it. 

Ephesians 4:9-13 NIV [9] (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) [11] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

By ascending, He is no longer restricted by a physical location, the Holy Spirit that is in every believer allows His presence to be active through every believer everywhere simultaneously.

Instead of one physical body, there are now millions of "members of the Body of Christ" acting on His behalf.

The ultimate goal is for the church to reach "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." This means instead of being "tossed back and forth by the waves" of life or changing circumstances, a person, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ becomes grounded, stable, and complete in their faith and character. 

IV. Power, Not Might

We don't go out in our own strength or our own cleverness. We go out fueled by the very power of God.

In our text Jesus promises: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline

It is vital to understand what this power is—and what it isn't.

• It is not political dominance or social prestige.

• It is not the power to coerce or control others.

• It is the spiritual dunamis (that is the Greek word for dynamite).  It is the spiritual power to speak truth in love, the spiritual power to remain faithful under pressure, and the spiritual power to love our enemies.

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V. The Roadmap: The Expanding Circle

Our witness starts exactly where we are, but if it is a true witness, it can never stay there in that one place. The Gospel is a fire that naturally spreads outward.

Jesus leaves the disciples with a specific itinerary: 

Acts 1:8 NIV 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.”

Let’s make this personal;

1. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is: Your home. Your family, your coworkers, your friends.

2. Judea and Samaria are: The people who are "different" from you, who don’t look like you, even those you’ve been taught to dislike.8

3. Ends of the Earth is: Our witness should take on a global vision that refuses to be limited by borders, or race, or language, or wealth.

The Gospel is not something forced, it is a movement that catches and spreads rapidly once it is "kindled."  When the Word is truly in us, it becomes a fire that is impossible to contain. 

Witnessing isn't just a duty; it’s the inevitable outpouring of the fire burning inside.

Jeremiah 20:9 NLT But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a treefire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!

VI. Call to Reflection

The transition from "looking up" to "moving out" is a continuous process. It requires us to stop waiting for the "perfect" moment and start being obedient in the present moment.

Are you currently "staring at the clouds"? Are you waiting for a perfect sign, a perfect set of circumstances, or a "more spiritual" feeling before you share your faith or serve your neighbor?

Jesus has already given the command and provided the power. The mission is right in front of you. It’s time to lower our eyes to the needs of the world and move out in His name.

Closing Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Forgive us for the times we stand still when You have told us to go. Give us the courage to be Your witnesses in our homes, our communities, and beyond. Amen.