Table of Contents
Introduction
Empowered Workers (Acts 1:1-11)
1)Introduction to the Sequel (Acts 1:1-2)
Jesus gave commands (verse 2), through the Holy Spirit
Jesus chose the apostles (verse 2)
2)Forty Days (Acts 1:3)
3)Wait (Acts 1:4-5)
4)What About The Kingdom (Acts 1:6-8)
Wrong Kingdom View
Witnesses
5)Jesus' Ascension (Acts 1:9-11)
6)Principle
God always offers the ability to do any job He commands of you.
7)Illustration
8)Applications
How often do you take God up on His offer to provide the ability to do?
What are you refusing to do because you think you can't do it?
Active Waiters (Acts 1:12-26)
1)They Obeyed (Acts 1:12-13)
2)They Prayed (Acts 1:14)
The Church is Necessary
3)They Prepared (Selected Laborers) (Acts 1:15-26)
Identifying the Need
Basing Understanding Upon Scripture
Identifying Qualifications
Identify Candidates
Praying
Leaving the Choice to God
4)Wrap Up
5)Principle
Prayer is essential when waiting on God and seeking wisdom for next steps.
6)Illustration
7)Applications
How often are you taking advantage of your privilege to pray? How about with other believers?
How do you use your time when God tells you to wait?
Are you more apt to admire a Christian leader's natural abilities and personality or humility and dependence on God and His word?
Introduction
In Discipleship Journal editor Susan Maycinik writes:
The line between obedience and performance can be a blurry one. Yet it is an important distinction to grasp, because obedience leads to life, and performance to death...
Obedience is seeking God with your whole heart. Performance is having a quiet time because you'll feel guilty if you don't.
Obedience is finding ways to let the Word of God dwell in your richly. Performance is quickly scanning a passage so you can check it off your Bible reading plan.
Obedience is inviting guests to your home for dinner. Performance is feeling anxious about whether every detail of the meal will be perfect.
Obedience is following God's prompting to start a small group. Performance is reluctance to let anyone else lead the group because they might not do it as well as you would.
Obedience is doing your best. Performance is wanting to be best.
Obedience is saying yes to whatever God asks of you. Performance is saying yes to whatever people ask of you.
Obedience is following the promptings of God's Spirit. Performance is following a list of man-made requirements.
Obedience springs from fear of God. Performance springs from fear of failure.1
Empowered Workers (Acts 1:1-11)
1)Introduction to the Sequel (Acts 1:1-2)
Note: the name Theophilus means “Lover of God” or “One loved by God” (Theo, Phileo)
Luke gives a very concise summary of the whole book in the first couple of verses and then spends the rest of the book recording the details of how summary is realized.
The book of Luke was just the beginning of Jesus' acts and teachings (This contradicts those who claim to be red-letter Christians) “...what Jesus began to do and teach”.
The implication of what Luke is saying is that Jesus' work and teachings were going to continue on after his ascension, but they were going to take on another form – that of a work through his apostles and other disciples.
Jesus gave commands (verse 2), through the Holy Spirit...
The ability for the commands to be received and understood by Jesus apostles was a work of the Holy Spirit. He illuminates the mind and heart to receive God's truth.
The antithesis of this were things that Jesus told the disciples earlier that were received merely by human minds. Often they didn't even understand and sometimes had the audacity to try and correct Jesus.
So the ability for man to receive and assimilate what God has to say is a work of God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus chose the apostles (verse 2)
The last part of verse 2 points out the the apostles were the primary recipients of the commands Jesus gave.
They were the 12, now 11, that followed him for 3 years. And they were his chosen ambassadors to the world.
A disciple is one who sits under the teaching and obeys what is taught – conforming to the life of learning under the master.
But when a king would send out a representative, an apostle, he bore the authority of the king. What he spoke was taken as the word of the king.
And so we see these elements in the first two verses:
Jesus work has only begun
Jesus teaching will continue
Jesus gave commands that were to be followed
The understanding (and as we will see, the empowerment) of these commands comes by the work of the Holy Spirit
The apostles are Jesus' chosen instruments to continue his work
2)Forty Days (Acts 1:3)
You might wonder why Jesus spent 40 days showing himself to various people and not just ascending into heaven after a couple. And you may have wondered, not just because you were asked that question in our study this week.
You may have identified a number of significant forties in the Old and New Testament, there are lots of them:
It rained for 40 days and 40 nights in Noah's day
The spies of Israel spent 40 days exploring the promised land
The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and being tempted
But we're not going to look at any of this. The only thing I would like us to consider is a couple of items regarding the length of time and its significance to the apostles.
They needed the affirmation that what they witnessed was in fact true (ever experience something and then wonder if you weren't actually dreaming)
They needed the time to absorb Jesus' teaching from the Prophets that pointed to his fulfillment – suffering, kingdom, etc.
They needed the assurance that even when they didn't see him, he saw them and was near them (example of the time some doubted)
Other things...
The time that he spent with them helped to bolster their faith in him. He proved to them that he was not just a vision or a spirit but that he was in fact flesh and bone.
3)Wait (Acts 1:4-5)
Don't you hate to wait? It is not one of my strong suits.
In the army, there was always an urgency everywhere we went. But it always included a long line and a long wait. Thus the saying, “Hurry up and wait”.
But Jesus' point here is this, nothing I have told you to do or am about to tell you to do is possible in your current condition.
What was their current condition? These were men of faith. They had put all their trust and hope in Jesus. They were full-fledged believers.
But they lacked the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to empower them for the work Jesus had for them.
Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
The Holy Spirit was the one Jesus had promise numerous times. The Spirit of Truth who would lead them into all truth. The Comforter, that would bring them peace and joy in difficulty.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
When Jesus promised that he would never leave them and never forsake them, he was referring to the fact that he would indwell them in the person of the Holy Spirit.
And so they were to wait for an enabling that only comes by God's power through the Holy Spirit.
Other passages you might want to jot down are:
John 14:15-17
John 15:26-27
John 16:12-15
4)What About The Kingdom (Acts 1:6-8)
You might have wondered why the question about the kingdom of Israel comes up in the conversation.
Well, every Jew of their day was awaiting the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, God's promise to David that through his lineage there would be one to sit on his throne and reign forever.
In fact, Jesus' own statements throughout his earthly ministry talked about the Kingdom of God being at hand. Being near. Being here.
Wrong Kingdom View
Every Jew was hoping for an end of the Roman occupation or before that, the Greeks, or before that, whatever other dominant nation there was. But the bottom line is, most took the OT prophecies as a literal time when God would supplant those in power over Israel and place Messiah on the throne.
But they seemed to have missed the spiritual nature of the kingdom. Certainly the religious leaders missed it.
They argued with John about the need for baptism. They were used to circumcising and baptizing proselytes to Judaism. Since they were descendants from Abraham, what did they need baptism for.
But John argued that they needed both a baptism of repentance, acknowledging their sin, as well as a baptism by the Holy Spirit that only Messiah could bring.
Messiah, Jesus, opened the gates to the kingdom. He is now enthroned at the right hand of God the Father. And one day he will return in the consummation of his kingdom.
And thus the interesting response to the apostles. He was not skirting the question, but he was providing the scope of the kingdom's domain:
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the ends of the earth. In other words, this is not a national kingdom, but it encompasses all people groups regardless of their ethnicity.
And you and I are proof of that fact. If you in fact belong to Christ, then he is your king, and you are part of his kingdom and will enjoy the benefits of his eternal kingdom when he returns.
Witnesses
So, instead of being part of an earthly monarchy, these apostles were part of a much grander and infinitely superior monarchy. One to which they were called to go out and conquer. The conquest was not with swords and spears, but with the evidences of who the King is and what he has done to establish his kingdom.
Their only ability to accomplish the command from their king is by the power of the Holy Spirit. You see, all the compelling words in the world, true as they may be, are nothing if not empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In fact, any work that you and I do for God, if not done in the power of the Holy Spirit is effectively a waste of our time. It certainly is not pleasing to God. He can get anything He wants done, using whatever person He chooses, but as a believer, we must recognize that we steal God's glory when we do His work in our own strength.
The gospel message has power, not because of the messenger, but because of the work of the Spirit upon the hearer.
We must obediently witness by spreading the gospel, the whole gospel. And that done in the strength that only God can give. But the results belong to God alone.
5)Jesus' Ascension (Acts 1:9-11)
These apostles have been through a pretty turbulent month and a half. Everything leading up to and including Jesus' arrest, trial, execution – that was grueling and emotionally draining. What a great disappointment.
Then the elation and disbelief at his resurrection. And having him teach and explain things that were only previously shadows in the Old Testament. Now things were beginning to come clear. Now he would be with us forever, right? Well not in the same way.
So as they see him lifted out of their sight, perhaps a sinking feeling came over them. He has given us things to do, but who are we going to ask when we have a question? Who is going to correct our thinking when we get it wrong? How are we going to know when we are doing things right?
But certainly, this was not unexpected. Jesus' had told them he had to go to the Father before sending the Comforter. He had to go and prepare a place for them, but he would return.
Yet, I would have craned my neck as well.
6)Principle
God always offers the ability to do any job He commands of you.
7)Illustration
8)Applications
How often do you take God up on His offer to provide the ability to do?
What are you refusing to do because you think you can't do it?
Even though it may be true, you can't do it, if it is of God, then He is responsible to equip you. He doesn't need our abilities.
Active Waiters (Acts 1:12-26)
We often think of waiting as an idle activity. But it should not be for a believer, at least when he is waiting on God. There is plenty that can and should be done during those times of waiting.
1)They Obeyed (Acts 1:12-13)
The first thing this group did was obey Jesus command to wait in Jerusalem. They returned to the upper room where they were staying.
It names the 11 apostles, as Judas Iscariot was no longer alive.
2)They Prayed (Acts 1:14)
Verse 14 tells us that they joined together, they were unified, with one accord, in prayer with other believers:
the women – we know that Jesus had many women disciples
Mary, Jesus' mother
Jesus' brothers
Just a note on some of these individuals that now comprise the first church.
Before Jesus' resurrection, his brothers didn't even believe in him. It was not until after the resurrection, when he appeared to them, that they believed. James even went on to write the book of James.
Mary's mother, who bore him and cared for him and then witnessed his death and resurrection, is now coming to him in prayer. She had the same needs as any other human being, the need of a Savior, and she needed to submit to his authority in her life.
But all these spent lots of time, devoting themselves to prayer.
These disciples have come a long ways since the garden of Gethsemane. Remember Peter's bold statement regarding standing with Christ. And then Jesus telling them to watch and pray because the spirit was willing but the body was weak.
I think they had learned a great deal about their own weaknesses.
I wonder if some of us do so little praying because we don't realize how very weak we really are?
The Church is Necessary
I have known some individual who felt their faith was deeply personal. And it is not wrong to have a great personal prayer time, in fact, it is essential to a good Christian walk.
But I've also heard people say that they don't need to be a part of a Christian fellowship, a local church. That type of attitude is completely un-Biblical. Throughout the NT we are told to continue gathering with other believers. We need to be held accountable. We need others to help guide the blind spots we have. And certainly we are not using the gifts God has given to edify the body of Christ if we are not actively involved in a local church.
Our group here tonight has no intention of being a substitute for membership in a church. You and I need that accountability, the teaching, the refining, the exercise of our gifts, etc. And we need to be joining together with other believers in prayer – unified in prayer for the work God has set before us.
A church can't make a person right with God. But it's hard to conceive of a person remaining right with God when he has no part in a church.
A coal, taken from a blazing fire, will soon fade and lose its heat. The same is true for a believer who chooses to go the Christian life alone.
3)They Prepared (Selected Laborers) (Acts 1:15-26)
Identifying the Need
There were 120 in the group, and yet Peter felt compelled to bring up the need for another apostle.
Certainly he didn't believe that Jesus chose 12 for nothing or arbitrarily. So he recognized the significance of 12, even though I might not or don't have time to go into it.
He must also have recognized the calling upon the apostles as being a large task. In wisdom, Peter seems to have been perusing the Scriptures, looking at Messianic prophecy in the Psalms.
And he saw the significance of what was fulfilled, even in the evil actions of Judas the traitor.
Basing Understanding Upon Scripture
And he comes across two Psalms of David. Although the Psalms may have had immediate significance in the life of David, his Psalms often had prophetic undertones and meanings.
David certainly was not a vindictive person, as noted by his treatment of Saul and others who wrongfully treated him. He was a man of forgiveness.
But it seems as though these Psalms have a bit different tone. As if he is taking up the offense for God's anointed, Messiah.
Identifying Qualifications
Peter speaks of the qualification in terms of their (the other 11) own qualifications: tenure of following Jesus, been around from the beginning when the forerunner came (John), all the way until he was taken up to heaven.
So he had to have been a consistent follower and one who was a witness to all the events that had transpired, including the resurrection.
Identify Candidates
They identified two men who met those qualifications and their names were put out. They were nominated.
Praying
And then they acknowledged that God needed to make the choice, so they brought the issue to him in prayer. They mention that both seemed to meet the qualifications from what they could see, but they needed God to determine based upon what He could see.
It would have been easy to skip this step and just cast lots. But this group realized that they were unable to make a right decision without Divine wisdom and direction.
Leaving the Choice to God
Then they cast lots. This was a common practice, leaving what appeared to be chance up to the sovereign choice of God.
4)Wrap Up
So why did Jesus leave these apostles 10 days before they would receive the Holy Spirit? The Scripture doesn't tell us.
But the time was not a waste. It was a time to reflect on their own inadequacy and turn in total dependence on God through prayer.
This was a time of testing. And as James tells us, trials test our faith and they develop steadfastness (or perseverance).
I believe Jesus left them simple instructions to follow, wait until you are empowered. But he had also given them 3 years of instruction in total dependence upon the Father. In how to pray to the Father. And how to rely upon God rather than on their own understanding.
5)Principle
Prayer is essential when waiting on God and seeking wisdom for next steps.
7)Applications
How often are you taking advantage of your privilege to pray? How about with other believers?
How do you use your time when God tells you to wait?
Are you more apt to admire a Christian leader's natural abilities and personality or humility and dependence on God and His word?
1Larson, Craig Brian, “Choice Contemporary Stories & Illustrations”, page 182
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