Invincible Faith

Acts 1:12-26

Key Truth: The purposes and plans of God the Holy Spirit are invincible.

• So we follow Jesus with patient obedience (v. 12-14). Isaiah 40:27-31; 2 Peter 3:3, 4, 9
• So we rely on God’s Word guiding us (v. 15-20). Acts 1:20 (quoting Psalms 69:25 & Psalm 109:8); Luke 24:44-45
• So we fully trust in Jesus remaining faithful even when others do not (v.21-26) John 6:64; John 17:12
• So we testify to the resurrected Jesus in our lives (v. 21-22). 1 John 4:2

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

Acts--What Jesus Continues to Do: Introduction

Jesus has only begun His ministry.

Acts 1:1-2

• Background: Originally this book had no title, but since the middle of the second century, it has been known as The Acts of the Apostles -- probably because the apostles are mentioned in verse 2 and named in verse 13. The book actually describes the acts of Jesus by the Holy Spirit through His followers.
• The Author: Luke was a single Syrian physician from Antioch who accompanied Paul until his martyrdom and died himself at age 84. Luke probably wrote Acts about A.D. 62-64, toward the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, where the book abruptly ends.
• The Purpose: To help a man named Theophilus and others see the truth about what Jesus did and taught and how the church spread throughout the Roman world (Luke 1:3-4; Acts 1:8). Theophilus was probably a Roman official because of the title "most excellent" which Luke uses only for Roman officials and governors (see Acts 23:26; 26:25).

Insights to better understand the book of Acts

• The book of Acts picks up where Luke leaves off - Acts 1:2; Luke 24:50
• Acts is a transitional book, showing how the worship of God moved from the Jewish temple to the acceptance of Gentiles that believe in the Jewish Messiah and finally to a predominately Gentile church spread throughout the Roman Empire.
• The main message centers on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Acts 1:3; 26:7-8

Major Themes

• The sovereignty of God in the founding of His church and the spread of the gospel
• The power of the Holy Spirit given to all who believe in Jesus Christ
• The importance of prayer in the life of the church
• The importance of communicating God’s Word
• The importance of mission to all peoples
• The reality of opposition and suffering in the spread of the gospel
• The life and organization of the church – God’s new community of followers

Outline: Acts 1:8

• The witness in Jerusalem—primarily to Jews - Chapters 1-8
• The witness in Judea and Samaria—including the first Gentiles - Chapters 8 -11
• The witness to the remotest parts of the earth—primarily to Gentiles - Chapters 11- 28

Jesus has only begun His ministry.

• Jesus’ ministry is to bring salvation to a lost human race. Acts 1:3; John 1:29; Luke 19:10
• Jesus continues His work through His followers. Matthew 28:18-19
• Jesus works through chosen people. Acts 1:2
• Jesus works through obedient followers. Acts 1:2
• Jesus works through Spirit-filled followers. Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:25
• Jesus works through people from every walk of life and racial background. Acts 10:34-35

Question

Are you a follower that Jesus is continuing His work through?

To Make Disciples, Remain!

John 15

• Remain in Christ
• Remain in the Word
• Remain in his Love

by Paul R. Gupta

Jesus is Alive Again--A Really Big Deal

• Theory #1 – Jesus’ Body was stolen. Matthew 28:2-4, 11-15; John 20:8-9
• Theory #2 – The women went to the wrong tomb.
• Theory #3 – Jesus’ Resurrection was an hallucination. John 20:24-29
• The Truth – Jesus is alive again.
• Jesus predicted it. Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 26:32; Matthew 27:62-64
• Eye-witnesses saw it. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
• History supports it. Acts 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:17; John 14:6; John 1:12