Acts--Specialty Tools for the Job

Acts 1:3-11

For Jesus to continue his work through you,
you need the specialty tool of…

• A Solid Foundation (v. 3)
• The bodily resurrection of Jesus is your solid foundation.
• He presented Himself alive. 1 Corinthians 15:4-7
• He ate with his disciples – Luke 24:41-43
• The bodily resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of the Christian faith.  1 Corinthians 15:17-19
• The reality of God’s Kingdom is your solid foundation. Luke 11:20
• The word “kingdom” occurs over 40 times in Luke’s Gospel and 8 times in Acts. A kingdom is a realm in which a king exerts control and authority. So the Kingdom of God is the realm in which God is in control
• Supernatural Power (vss. 4, 5, 8) 1 Corinthians 15:20; James 1:18
• The word “pentecost” in Greek means fiftieth. Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks, was a time for Israel to offer to God the first fruits of their harvest (Lev. 23:15-21; Num. 28:26-31; Deut. 16:9-12).
• The word “baptize” means to immerse a person in water or to deluge with. It has the meaning of being totally identified with something, in this case, the Holy Spirit. The passive phrase “be baptized with” indicates that God did the baptizing; the disciples merely received it. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:25
• In Acts 2, the believers in Jerusalem receive the Holy Spirit.
• In Acts 8 and 10, the new believers in Judea and Samaria receive the Spirit.
• In Acts 19, believers in Ephesus receive the Spirit.
• A Sharp Focus (vss. 6-8)
• Focus on the great task for the here and now – to bear witness of Jesus Christ.
• A Sure Hope (vss. 9-11)
• All authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus – Matthew 28:16-20
• Jesus made the one offering for sins that is good for all time – Hebrews 10:12-13
• Jesus intercedes for His children.  Hebrews 7:24-25