The Book of Acts

A good game plan begins with great coaching. When it’s time for the Big Game, the coach puts together a plan… good teams train with purpose… practice with intent, work hard, build strength and endurance… then when it’s game time they racked up a few wins, and they learn from there losses. All teams go through some struggles but good teams with good coaches become better and stronger on the other side. Great coaching produces great teams.

Bill Belichick, Nick Saben, Bo Shembechler, Woody Hayse, John Woodon, Mike Krzyzewski,

Great coaches produce winning programs. Good coaches learn from great coaches.

Bill Belichick, the greatest football coaches of all time, was under another great coach, Bill Parcells. He was the defensive coordinator for the NY Giants, winning 2 Super Bowls before he became the head coach for the Patriots.

Nick Saben, probably the greatest College football coach, was the defensive coordinator for 4 years for the Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick.

Just like coaching, when we hang out with greatness we will become better. Better leaders, better individuals, better workers, better pastors, better parents. Being teachable is oh so important.

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Jeanie Mayo

The book of Acts begins with Jesus, as the greatest coach, meeting with HIS team… HIS followers one last time.

In the book of Acts, Jesus intro’s the book and then drops the mic at HIS Ascension. Here Jesus makes some important commands that were important for HIS followers to listen to and obey.

First, let’s start with a little intro of the Book of Acts…

Who wrote the Book of Acts? LUKE

The book of Acts starts out where the Gospel of Luke leaves off.

The Gospel of Luke is about the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The book of Acts is the church fulfilling the purpose Jesus set out for the early church to do.

Jesus’ purpose is fulfilled under the promised power of the Holy Spirit. This promise will come upon the Apostles and the other 120 believers in the upper room.

Let’s look at the beginning… Acts 1

Acts 1:1–8 ESV

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.” 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.”

PRAY

Acts 1 is the bridge between Luke’s gospel and the foundation of the church. It is a brief pause before Jesus released HIS disciples to spread the gospel in Jerusalem, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.

Here we will discover the purpose, the power and the promise Jesus gave to HIS followers as we are called to participate in HIS ongoing work.

Jesus commanded HIS disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were baptized by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God. They thought HE came to throw out the Romans and reestablish the kingdom of Israel. But their hope for Jesus was far too small, they were focused on temporary changes rather than God’s eternal kingdom.

The 4 important truths from ACTS 1.

The first truth of Acts 1 is that

1) We see the authority of Jesus

Jesus is the one who conquered sin and death.

Matthew 28:18–19 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “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,

Secondly,

2) We see the promise of purpose.

Jesus, who has all authority has given us a singular and clear purpose:

to be HIS witnesses.

Since Jesus has not left us alone, the third truth of Acts 1 is that

3) God has sent HIS Holy Spirit to us.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to follow Jesus and the confidence we need to live by faith.

God has given you HIS purpose, HIS presence, and the power you need to fulfill HIS call.

The final truth from Acts 1 is that

4) We are living in God’s greater story of grace.

While each of us has a different experience, all of us are a part of God’s greater story.

The book of Acts shows us how the church began in Jerusalem, spread through Judea and Samaria, and grew throughout the known world.

We are still caught up in the story of the church today as the gospel continues to reach new people.

We are going to take some time and go through the Book of Acts. I’m not going to rush this… this might be our year long journey. Because the model for a healthy church, a Spirit led, fully set apart… a church living out God’s purpose under HIS promised power so we can carry out Jesus mission to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and throughout the world. It’s the Book of Acts.

I want to challenge you to read through this wonderful NT book.

Today we are going to focus on Jesus’ last moments before he ascended into heaven by answering 3 important questions.

What did Jesus teach about?

Why did Jesus stick around for 40 days?

What did Jesus command HIS followers to do after HE left?

1. What did Jesus teach about?

During Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances, the main subject of Jesus’ remarks was the kingdom of God.

Acts 1:3 ESV

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.

The Kingdom of God was something Jesus consistently taught throughout the Gospels.

When Jesus came to earth, HE brought God’s kingdom, but it was not an earthly kingdom. The promised kingdom is present now only in part.

His kingdom began in the hearts of his followers. When Christ returned to heaven, God’s kingdom remained in the hearts of all believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

God promised that HE would ultimately reign over all and bring about the end of all death and disease. Before that time believers are to work to spread God’s kingdom across the world.

The term “kingdom,” at least in Acts, is used almost synonymously with the gospel message.

Note the change that occurred in the disciples’ lives.

At Jesus’ death, they scattered; they were disillusioned and fearful.

After seeing the resurrected Christ, they were fearless. They risked everything to spread the good news about HIM around the world.

They faced imprisonment, beatings, rejection, and martyrdom, yet they never compromised their mission.

These men would not have risked their lives for something they knew was a fraud. They knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead, and the early church members were fired with their enthusiasm to tell others.

2. Why did Jesus stick around for 40 days?

These men would not have risked their lives for something they knew was a fraud. They knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

Acts 1:3 ESV

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.

“After his suffering” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Christ showed himself and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.

The word “proofs” refers to decisive evidence. Jesus’ resurrection had not been sleight of hand or illusion.

Instead, these were solid, visible, and undeniable proofs of the fact that Jesus was alive. These proofs would form the heart and soul of the witness of the New Testament church.

If Jesus had not truly risen from the dead, then nothing that proceeds from this point on in the book of Acts or the New Testament would make any sense or make any difference in people’s lives.

The reality of the resurrection of Jesus is the convincing proof Jesus firmly established.

Paul reenforced the importance of the resurrection in 1Cor15:14-17

1 Corinthians 15:14–17 (ESV)

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Our faith, our freedom, our new life is all rooted in the reality the Jesus conquered death by conquering the grave. Praise God for undeniable proof Jesus established that HE has risen.

3) What did Jesus command HIS followers to do after HE left?

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

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.”

Jesus said to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.

Jesus said to stay and wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them in just a few days.

With all this Kingdom talk and power talk that Jesus spoke about for 40 days… the disciples had to ask Jesus about their own country, their own situation, their own oppression as a nation. They asked Jesus…

Acts 1:6 (ESV)

6 “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

The average Jew of Jesus’ day was looking forward with great anticipation to the literal coming of the Messiah’s earthly kingdom and with it the restoration of the fortunes and military might that the nation had enjoyed under King David.

Jesus had certainly taught a great deal about his coming kingdom in his ministry with the disciples. The anticipation had been heightened with their Master’s resurrection from the dead, they were fully expecting Jesus to bring in HIS kingdom on earth at that moment.

But the kingdom about which Jesus spoke was first of all a “spiritual” kingdom established in the hearts and lives of believers.

Luke 17:21 ESV

21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

behind it was the earthly kingdom that Christ promised to institute at his return.

The disciples wanted to know Jesus’ timetable for the restoration of the kingdom. Like other Jews, the disciples hated living under the Roman authority.

They wanted Jesus to free Israel and then become their king. Jesus replied…

Acts 1:7 (ESV)

7 “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Jesus is telling us not to get distracted by those events… whether worldwide, national, and personal. God’s timetable is already set, so don’t worry, don’t get distracted just simply trust HIM. God has it all worked out for HIS glory.

If you want changes that God isn’t making immediately, don’t become impatient. Instead, trust God’s timetable.

Remember that HE is wise, good, and all-powerful. Even when things seem chaotic, HE is in control. His perfect will ultimately will prevail.

Then Jesus said that after you wait, after I ascend back to heaven…

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

This is the last recorded statement of Christ on earth so it must be important. The Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke and Acts and is the major point of continuity between the life of Jesus and the ministry of the church.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

God is three persons in one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would still be among mankind

Luke 24:49 ESV

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.”

The Holy Spirit first became available to all believers at Pentecost in Acts 2.

In Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered specific individuals for specific purposes, now all believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them.

Jesus had given them their mission and purpose, and the power by which they were going to accomplish that mission.

Jesus then said to wait and then HE left, ascended to heaven.

Jesus revealed HIS Kingdom, offered the New Testament church undeniable proofs of HIS resurrection and told HIS followers to wait for the promised power to fulfill their purpose.

Then HE left.

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

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.”

The disciples were so stunned by Jesus’s departure that two angels had to snap them out of their shock and remind them of the commission they had just received.

If you are unsure of what God wants you to do, don’t wait around for a sign from heaven. God has told you what to do.

You are HIS witness, empowered by HIS Holy Spirit to make disciples. That is a mission worth living for and worth waiting for.

Take Away:

Jesus wants us to have a clear understanding of HIS Kingdom.

Nobody likes to wait but God’s timing cannot be hurried.

God’s promises are always reliable so be filed with the Holy Spirit.