Untitled Sermon (6)

Acts 1 CSB

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood). “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position. “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

The first sentence of Acts gives us a very important outlook. It's one of the most important things about the whole book which is now beginning Acts. It is all about what Jesus is continuing to do and teach. The mysterious presence of Jesus is all through this whole story. He is announced as king and Lord not as an increasingly distant memory but as a living and powerful reality a person who can be known and loved obeyed and followed a person who continues to act within the real world. Thus he says at the end of the great commission I will be with you always.

In the first couple verses Luke is telling us that Acts is the sequel or the second part of Luke. So this is not two separate stories it is one story and Acts is what happened after the 40 days Jesus spent with the disciples post resurrection. Verse 2 tells us that Luke wrote everything down until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit. What instructions is Luke referring to? And why did he say through the Holy Spirit? The instructions he’s talking about is the Great Commission. The reason he specifically says “through the Holy Spirit” is because the Holy Spirits role in the trinity is to help us in many different ways but the main one is He helps us witness. He is always pointing us to Jesus.

Matthew 28:16–20 CSB

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So we see this and it is the last thing Jesus is telling the disciples and us also. In Matthew we see the very first thing Jesus says to a couple of the disciples

Matthew 4:18–19 CSB

As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

So the first thing Jesus tells them is follow me and I’m going to make you a witness for Jesus Christ. The last thing he tells them in Matthew vs. 18 is that All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

The definition of Commissioning is; give an order or authorize the production of something

So Jesus is telling them that he has the authority and with that authority he’s authorizing us to produce disciples of Jesus Christ. So when we are going down the road and we get pulled over by a cop we yield and pull over not because of the man or woman who is a cop but we pull over because of the fact that he has been given authority by the government. In the same way Jesus is telling them and us that He has been given all authority on heaven and on earth and he is sending us out to witness with our bibles as a badge under his holy authority.

 9   Witnessing for Christ is not something we turn on and off, like a TV set. Every believer is a witness at all times—either a good one or a bad one.

Warren Wiersbe

So yes he’s authorizing us to witness but that is tied to us having a relationship with him. Like the quote says it’s not something we turn on or turn off it’s who we are. So we are all called to be a witness for Jesus. There’s so many different ways to be a witness so I would suggest you pray about what the best way for you to witness is.

Ok so we’ve established that the instructions Luke is talking about in vs.2 is the Great Commission and it tells us that we are all commissioned to be a witness.