The Charge
Acts 1:1-11
Today we are beginning our new series called Rise Up Church. This will be a journey through the first half of the book of Acts, which really depicts the establishment of the New Testament church, and the cost of this establishment.
Let’s begin with a look at some facts about the book of Acts.
- Who wrote the book of Acts?
a. Caiaphas
b. Peter
c. Luke
d. Paul
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- When was the book of Acts written?
a. AD 20
b. AD 200
c. AD 30
d. AD 62
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- Luke’s writings (Luke and Acts) comprises what percent of the New Testament? (approximate)
a. 30%
b. 15%
c. 10%
d. 5%
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- True or False- Luke was one of the eyewitnesses to the Ministry of Jesus Christ?
True/False
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We are that church, and we continue to accomplish the work set before the church. You are THE church, and this is your history, but it is His-Story.
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Acts 1:1-11
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:1-3
What is the first book?
This is the book of
Luke was not an eyewitness to the ministry of Jesus, in fact he was a gentile, who was an acquaintance and disciple of Paul. Luke was an educated man, a physician.
His writings comprise approximately 30% of the New Testament in just two books, Luke and Acts.
He says in the first book O Theophilus.
Luke wrote the books of Luke and Acts with a purpose.
It is expressed in the first chapter of Luke, verses 3 & 4:
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
One of the most important junctures of our faith walk, beyond the point of salvation, is the assurance of our faith.
As we begin to walk with Jesus, initially we are bold and make a proclamation of our faith in Him. But the further we get from that point of proclamation, we hopefully will grow through discipleship.
If not, the enemy can come in and as He so aptly does in other accounts of the scripture, using His lies, seek to steal your joy, destroy your testimony, and kill your faith.
That is Luke’s purpose for writing these two books, to encourage Theophilus, and by virtue of the fact that we are reading it today, us in our decision of faith, and God’s keeping ability.
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The Gospel of Luke is for the assurance of faith.
The book of Acts is for us to see how they acted on their faith, and how we may do the same.
You will hear this theme many times throughout this series,
That the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is the vehicle by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taken to the nations.
We are commissioned to GO to the nations!
Matthew 28:18-20 says:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Spirit Leads us as we lead others to Him!
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Romans 12:4-8
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Do you know what are your spiritual gifts?
There are several places where these are listed in Scripture:
Romans 12
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4
1 Peter 4
There are a couple of great free resources available to you to help discern what your spiritual gifts are.
One of them is on our website under the resources tab. It is a pdf spiritual gifts inventory that gives you a visual depiction of how you are wired for the work.
Another is at https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/
These are both Highly informative.
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Luke 4 & 5
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
He said do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.
What is that?
Look at Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
This is the Holy Spirit, so let me re-iterate what I said last week.
That is, the church cannot do the work of the Church in the power of Man!
So when He said this to them, they were actually on the Mount of Olives, or Olivet, where Jesus had spent 40 days with them. And before He left them He said to them that not many days from now, you’ll receive the Holy Spirit (looking forward to Pentecost).
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1 Thessalonians 5:1 & 2
1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
When He returns will He find us faithful?
So how do we know what we are to do?
We look to the word every day.
We pray to Him every day.
We walk in faith with others every day.
We function in our areas of giftedness every day.
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Verses 8-11
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Again, we are to accomplish the work to which we are called through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Only In His Power.
What are we empowered to do?
To be His
Dr. Will McRaney says in His book “The Art of Personal Evangelism”, :
“Knowing that God is alive and active in the entire process of evangelism and solely is responsible for conversion, we should feel empowered to be active in sharing our faith. Many of the barriers we have constructed that prevent us from sharing our faith should begin to come down.”
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Romans 8:31-39 says:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Discussion Questions:
- How did you receive your faith? Walk through a moment of sharing your testimony with someone near you.
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- What does your faith mean to those around you?
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- How can you this week be intentionally engaged in the charge to be His witness, to Jerusalem? To Judea? To Samaria? To the end of the Earth?
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