The Promise of the Father Acts 1:1-11 INTRO: This will be a long but exciting series Not long and boring 28 thrilling chapters explaining the roots and foundation of the Christian Church. Our roots and foundation Let s jump right in and let the first few verse be our introduction READ Acts 1:1-11 PRAY V:1 The former account was the Gospel of Luke These were written on 2 large scrolls @ 35feet long. Scroll one = The Gospel of Luke Scroll two = The book of Acts ACTS is so very important because it answers so many important questions Imagine if you finished reading the Gospels and went right to the next book Romans How did the Gospel get to Rome? Who is this Paul and where did he come from? Acts = the remarkable story of how the gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome and in between That expansion from Jerusalem to Rome is a remarkable story. Humanly speaking, [Christianity] had nothing going for it. It had no money, no proven leaders, no technological tools for propagating the gospel. And it faced enormous obstacles. It was utterly new. It taught Page 1 of 10
truths that were incredible to the unregenerate world. It was the subject to the most intense hatreds and persecutions. (Boice) V:1 The former account I made Luke We really don t know much about Luke! We know that he was a physician (Colossians 4:14). We know that he was a Gentile (from his name). We know that he was a devoted companion of Paul (from the text of Acts, and Colossians 4:14, Philemon 24, and 2 Timothy 4:11). We know even less about Theophilus We know that this was the same man Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke to it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. Luke 1:3, 4, NKJV. This man might merely have been a Christian wanting instruction. A friend of Luke s He might have been a Roman official being briefed by Luke about the history of the Christian movement in Paul s defense? (Comments?) Or, the name could be symbolic, because the name Theophilus means God-lover. I believe he was probably a benefactor or patron who assisted Luke with the expenses of publication or distribution of his work. o Possibly Luke s master? EXPLAIN Page 2 of 10
Notice V:1b of all that Jesus BEGAN both to do and teach The story of Jesus didn t end not finished Acts is the story of what Jesus CONTINUED both to do and teach! He is still working through His disciples Acts 29! Guzik - We must remember that Acts does not give us a full history of the church during this period. For example, the churches in Galilee and Samaria are barely mentioned (Acts 9:31), and the establishing of a strong church in Egypt during this time isn t mentioned at all. Acts spans a period of about 30 years (comment) And takes us up to about AD 60 or 61, with Paul in Rome waiting to appear before Caesar Nero. This same Nero began his infamous persecutions of Christians in AD 64. V:1-3 40 days of post-resurrection appearances These appearances were not to the hostile Jews who crucified Him He did not appear to just anyone V:2! o To give commandments to the apostles Notice: Through the Holy Spirit o How Jesus always works! Then / now o How dare any of us think we can do any good work apart from the Holy Spirit! (V:3)... alive, with, many infallible proofs Page 3 of 10
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:6, NKJV. Jesus identity & glory was now irrefutable now let s talk about, The Kingdom of God (V:3b) Don t you wish you had a record of all the conversations Jesus had with His disciples during those 40 days? READ THE EPISTLES! In the forty days between Jesus resurrection and ascension, there are recorded only about 10 or 11 appearances of Jesus to believers confirming His resurrection from the dead. On the last of these appearances, Jesus gathered His apostles together and commanded them not to leave Jerusalem (V:4-5) READ o The work of the ministry is too big and too heavy for you to think you can just do it on your own! o We need the power of the Holy Spirit o They needed to wait for it! o I never want to attempt to serve God in any way without the help of the Holy Spirit! Every Sunday, every day I ask for the Holy Spirit! If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how Page 4 of 10
much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:11-13, NKJV. Ask God for the promise of the Father! (V:4) What is, The promise of the Father V:5 What does it mean to be baptized into something? Immersed Drenched with (Ice tea plunge) V:5 not many days from now He made them wait! But it was worth waiting for! Get used to waiting Get used to God not telling you how many days from now V:6 Isn t this what bible students always want to know? Eschatology! We want to know when! STORY: Surfing trip / favorite end time verse Mine V:7-8 EXPLAIN! What is Jesus desire for you? NOT that you solve all your end times questions and perfect all your eschatological charts He wants you to have POWER! POWER TO BE A WITNESS for Him! POWER to preach the Gospel to the world! Too many Christians today are powerless! Page 5 of 10
WHY? Because their focus is wrong! (Priorities off) They want tingly experiences God s priorities are to reach the lost with the Gospel and to build up and strengthen the church! Make THAT your focus and let God empower you to accomplish this endeavor BTW Do you know why Jesus did give the apostles a clear time chart of eschatology? It was better for them not to know (Application?) Let me tell you what I am absolutely confident of. If you are born again, God wants you to be a witness! NOTICE THE PLAN: Jerusalem = home Judea = Your neighbors Samaria = Those who are not your friends The end of the earth = everyone / everywhere! Notice THE KEY to power When the Holy Spirit comes UPON you! There are 3 basic experiences one can have with the Holy Spirit. 1. The "WITH" experience - This is a description of the Holy Spirit of God convicting an unbeliever of sin and drawing them to faith in Christ. Page 6 of 10
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells WITH you and will be in you. John 14:16, 17, NKJV. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8, NKJV. This WITH experience can be ongoing 2. The "IN" experience - This is a description of every true born again believer. The Holy Spirit of God makes His home in those who trust Christ for salvation And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22, NKJV. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13 (This is a one time experience ) 3. The "UPON" experience - This is "the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4) when the Holy Spirit comes "upon" the believer in Christ to empower that believer for ministry and service (Acts 1:8) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat UPON each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4, NKJV. Page 7 of 10
It may not and probably won t happen exactly as it did on the Day of Pentecost It can happen over and over (Not one time) o Not a magic bullet Picture OT personalities Samson, Saul, David & others Examples: (Read & comment on verses) Peter, preaching to the Gentiles (Cornelius house) And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell UPON them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 11:15, 16, NKJV. NOTE: This can be at salvation (In & upon) This can also be repeatedly, as needed (Peter preaching to Jewish leaders in Jerusalem) Then Peter, FILLED with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, Acts 4:8, KJV. (UPON & FILLED can be synonymous. EXPLAIN) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31, NKJV. V:9-11 Read and comment Why up into a cloud?... Shekinah glory?... Q. Why "UP" instead of just vanish? Page 8 of 10
A. Jesus has been appearing and disappearing for 40 days. Now it is important for the disciples to know that Christ was now actually leaving Also, to model how He plans on returning - see V:11 Christ will someday physically return! BE READY! LIVE READY! Wrap things up. What should we take home? 1. Live ready for His return! (Don t know when ) 2. Be what Christ called you to be! (A witness of Him) You can t do that without the promise of the Father! You need the power of the Holy Spirit! ASK! If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:11-13, NKJV. Remember, this is not a tingly experience Not power to be a super saint But POWER TO BE A WITNESS POWER TO SERVE in ministry! PRAY END Page 9 of 10
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