Pastor John W. Brown
Calvary Chapel Central
Phoenix
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ACTS
Chapter 01
WAITING FOR THE PROMISE
A Christian man was livid when he confronted
his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. “How could you
do this?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” said he wife. “I was just standing
in the store looking at the dress. Then I found myself trying it
on. And the next thing you know, tt was like the devil was whispering to
me, “Man, you look great in the dress. You should buy it.”
“Well,” the man
said, “you know how to deal with Satan. You should have told him, ‘Get
behind me, Satan!’”
“I did,” replied his wife, “and then he
said, ‘Boy, it looks great from back here, too!’” So I bought it!
There was once a young,
veterinarian who put himself through veterinary school working nights as a
taxidermist.
When he graduation, he decided
he could combine his two vocations to better serve the needs of his patients
and their owners, while doubling his practice and, of course, his income.
He opened his own office with a
sign on the door saying, "Dr. Jones, Veterinary Medicine and
Taxidermy - Either way, you get your dog back!"
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.
This morning we will begin our study in the book
of Acts!
1.
The book of Acts is a wonderful reminder of the
simplicity of the early church and the tremendously important part the Holy
Spirit is to play in our lives as Christians.
a)
There is a lot of mis-understanding regarding
God’s Holy Spirit!
(1)
It is often mis-taught and misused!
(2)
That is sad because we just can’t walk this walk
without the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit!
B.
It is my prayer that through a careful study of
this book, we will have clear understanding of the pattern - the early church
set for us, and also the “power of the church” – the Holy Spirit.
II.
Background
A.
The book of Acts was written around 61 A.D. by
the Luke the physician, the same author of the Gospel of Luke.
1.
The book is important to us a Christians because
it records the spread of Christianity from the day of Pentecost ‘til Paul arrived
in Rome – that’s a “30 year spead” of our early church history!
a)
The book of Acts is the “playing out” of all
that Jesus did and taught.
b)
It is a time of transition because the Gospel
was first preached to only Jews, but as the Holy Spirit fell upon Gentile
believers – Christianity became separate and distinct from Judaism.
2.
We will see all the major doctrines of the Bible
- here – in seed form!
3.
We will see them “practiced” here in the book of
Acts, long before they were written down in the rest of the books of the New
Testament.
4.
And we will see how - many of our “hero’s of the
faith” got their start.
a)
And we will see how Peter, who didn’t have
enough backbone to stand up for Jesus when He needed him the most – becomes a
“powerhouse” for the Lord!
b)
And finally we will see how that same power that
fired up Peter – is available to us!
III.
Act 1:1-5 NKJV The former account I made, (Gospel of Luke) O Theophilus (“Dear
to God”), of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (The Gospels were only the beginning) (2) until the
day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given
commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, (3) to whom He also presented Himself alive after
His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days (Only reference to the 40 days) and speaking of the things pertaining to the
kingdom of God. (4) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which,"
He said, "you
have heard from Me; (5) for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now."
A.
0907 baptizo
{bap-tid'-zo} Not to be confused with 911, bapto. The clearest example
that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician
Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is
helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a
pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and
then 'baptized' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the
immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second,
the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change. There must be
a union with Him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle! Bible
Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
IV.
Act 1:6-7 NKJV Therefore, when they had come together, they
asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to
Israel?" (7) And He said to them, "It
is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority.
A.
Remember,
the Apostles in these very early stages, were expecting Jesus to overthrow Rome
with force and give control back to Israel.
1.
That is
why they had more than one discussion about who was to be the greatest in His
kingdom!
2.
But,
Jesus tells them that some things were simply not for them to know at that
time.
a)
We, as
modern-day Christians - on the other hand - have history and the rest of the
Bible at our disposal, so we know what Jesus was talking about.
b)
We know
that His physical kingdom will not be established until a thing called “the
fullness of the Gentiles” is complete.
(1)
Rom
11:25 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own
opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of
the Gentiles has come in.
(a)
In
other words, during this time of “spiritual blindness” of Israel – Gentiles
would come to the Lord en-masse.
(b)
This
“fullness of the Gentiles” started on the day of Pentecost and we are still
living in it! It will end with the
return of the Lord!
(i)
But
Jesus knew that there was no way the Apostles could comprehend all of this at
that time, so He simply says, “Leave it in the Father’s hands.”
(a)
You know that is good policy for anything we do
not understand – “leave it in the Father’s hands.”
(ii)
But
Jesus does re-direct them to the part they will play in all of this.
V.
Act 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
A.
Power = “Dunamis” – from where we get our English
word for dynamite!
1.
So here
we see Jesus’ promise of the POWER to live the Christian life.
2.
This
POWER is also what enables us to be effective witnesses for the Lord.
a)
Please
notice that our witness might start local, but it is to spread out all over the
world!
VI.
Act 1:9-11 NKJV Now when He had spoken these things, while
they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their
sight. (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward
heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, (11) who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do
you stand gazing up into heaven? This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as
you saw Him go into heaven."
A.
Jesus
was instantly gone – and 2 messengers appeared, reassuring them that He was not
“permanently” gone!
1.
Rev 1:8
NKJV "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the
Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
2.
Rev
19:11-16 NKJV Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
horse. And He who sat on him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. (12) His eyes were
like a flame of fire, and on His head were
many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. (13) He was
clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of
God. (14) And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. (15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that
with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod
of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of
Almighty God. (16) And He has on His
robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
a)
Again, we
have history and the Bible on our side.
We KNOW that He is not done!
b)
We know
that He will return and His kingdom WILL be established!
VII.
Act 1:12-20 NKJV Then they returned to Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. (13) And when they had entered, they went up into
the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip
and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son
of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son
of James. (14) These all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His
brothers. (15) And in those days Peter stood up in
the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred
and twenty), and said, (16) "Men
and brethren, this Scripture had to be
fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning
Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; (17) for he was numbered with us and obtained a
part in this ministry." (18) (Now this
man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he
burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. (19) And it became known to all those dwelling in
Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is,
Field of Blood.) (20) "For it is
written in the Book of Psalms: 'LET HIS DWELLING PLACE BE DESOLATE, AND LET NO
ONE LIVE IN IT'; and, 'LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS OFFICE.'
A.
Peter is
referencing Psa 69:19-25 NKJV You know my reproach, my shame, and my
dishonor; My adversaries are all before
You. (20) Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full
of heaviness; I looked for someone to
take pity, but there was none; And for
comforters, but I found none. (21) They also
gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (22) Let their table become a snare before them,
And their well-being a trap. (23) Let their
eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake
continually. (24) Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let
Your wrathful anger take hold of them. (25) Let their
dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.
B.
Psa
109:8 NKJV Let his days be few, And let another take his office.
1.
Peter wants to replace Judas as one of the
Apostles.
2.
It is understandable why he might feel this way,
but perhaps a bit premature.
a)
You see the Lord is going to touch a young man by
the name of Saul of Tarsus (Paul), and he will become a mighty Apostle of the
Lord, and many feel that is Peter would have just waited, the Lord would have
filled Judas’ spot!
VIII.
Act 1:21-26 NKJV "Therefore, of these men who have
accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22) beginning from the baptism of John to that
day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of
His resurrection." (23) And they
proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and
Matthias. (24) And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord,
who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen (25) to take part in this ministry and apostleship
from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
place." (26) And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on
Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
A.
I
wonder if Joseph – “called Barsabas” ever wondered if their choice was a godly
one?
IX.
conclusion
A.
The Lord never intended for us to walk this walk
without the help of His Holy Spirit!
1.
It is a gift to all who love Him, but it cannot
be duplicated, imitated, or “faked”.
We say that we depend
on the Holy Spirit, but actually we are so wired up with our own devices that
if fire does not fall from heaven, we can turn on a switch and produce false
fire of our own. If there is no sound of a mighty rushing wind, we have the
furnace all set to blow hot air instead. God save us from a synthetic
Pentecost!
--Vance Havner
One day in New York - what a day! I can't
describe it! I seldom refer to it! It is almost too sacred to name. I can only
say God revealed Himself to me! I had such an experience of love that I had to
ask Him to stay His hand! I went to preaching again. The sermons were no
different. I did not present any new truth. Yet hundreds were converted. I would
not be back where I was before that blessed experience.
--Dwight L. Moody