Acts 1: Living out the Father's Will

Intro:

My wife Jessi brought something up last week from the passage of Scripture we were looking at that I totally did not see. The disciples’ responses demonstrate how many of us handle grief. The disciples had just watched a friend that they had given their lives to follow die. If that wasn’t enough, He was murdered in one of the cruelest ways known to man at that time. This would have been very traumatic. When we are overcome with grief, we need help with :

The Presence of Jesus

The Proof that He will be true to His Word

The Power to continue glorifying his name- and this takes time.

Outline:

Wait: “For the Promise of the Father” (vs. 1-5)

Trust: “It is Not for you to Know the Times or Seasons” (vs. 6-11)

Obey: “They Prayed and Drew Lots” (vs. 12-26)

Summary: Living out the Father’s Will for us involves waiting, trusting, and obeying!

Prayer:

Wait: “For the Promise of the Father” (vs. 1-5)

His Story (vs. 1-3)

In the first book

O Theophilus

I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach

until the day when he was taken up

after he had given commands

through the Holy Spirit

to the apostles whom he had chosen

He presented himself alive the them

after his suffering

by many “proofs”- “The word “proofs” (tekmēriois) occurs only here in the New Testament and looks at demonstrable evidence in contrast with evidence provided by witnesses. In other words, the Resurrection was proven by touch, sight, and feel (cf. Luke 24:39–40; 1 John 1:1).

Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 353.

appearing to them during forty days

and speaking about the kingdom of God- God rules over everything, even though we do not see him on a physical throne.

His Promise (vs. 4-5)

And while staying with them

he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem- they must have made their way back after going fishing

but to wait for the promise of the Father

Which he said

“You heard from me;

For John baptized with water

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit

not many days from now

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

In what ways is God asking me to “wait” for His promise this week?

These men had to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, we do not.

In what ways reflexting on God’s Kingdom help you wait for His promises?

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Luke mentions many proofs. How did your reading go of John this last week? What is God asking your to believe about His story based off of the text?

What is it about waiting that you find the most difficult. If you walk with me and we come up to a crosswalk, I enjoy hitting the button, “Wait”, so I hit it about 5 times or until the light turns! Why

3

Transitional phrase: Just like the disciples, living out the Father’s will for us involves waiting. While we wait, God wants us to reflect on His Story and rehearse His promises as we live for His kingdom.

Trust: “It is not for You to Know the Times or Seasons” (vs. 6-11)

Unknown Events (vs. 6-8)

So when they had come together

they asked him

“Lord, will you at this time restore the “Kingdom of Israel”?- God’s Kingdom does have a physical representation on this earth, in Israel.

He said to them

It is not for you to know

times- “chronous”- duration of times

or seasons - “kairous”, length of times and kinds of times, eg hard times

that the Father has fixed by his own authrotiy- this is not the focus at this moment, there is something more pressing… (but 1 Thess 5:1 will address the times and seasons).

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- probably refering to Rome in this context, which was the centre of civilization and culture during this time period, over 1400 miles from Jerusalem

Unseen Future (vs. 9-11)

When he had said these things

as they were looking on

He was lifted up

and a cloud took him out of their sight

While they were gazing into heaven as he went

behold

two men stood by them in white robes

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

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

In what ways is the Father asking me to trust Him in the unknown events and the unforseen future?

When was the last time I felt like the disciples, looking up wondering what to do next?

3

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

In what ways am I seeking to be a witness for Jesus today? When was the last time I shared my testimony with someone?

2

3

Transitional phrase: Just like the disciples, living out the Father’s will for us involves trusting. When it comes to unknown events or an unforseen future we are to look to his authority as we do what we know is right today. Don’t allow the unknow of what might happen to rob us of what we know we should be doing today.

Obey: “They Prayed and Drew Lots” (vs. 12-26)

Prayer (vs. 12-14)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet

which is near Jerusalem

a Sabbath Day’s journey away- 3k feet

When they had entered

they went up to the upper room- Large groups normally would meet in upper stories because the largest rooms were upstairs (cf. Acts 20:8–9). The lower stories had smaller rooms so that their walls would bear the weight of the upper stories.

Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 354.

where they were staying

Peter

John

James

Andrew

Philip

Thomas

Bartholomew

Matthew

James the son of Alphaeus

Simon the Zealot

Judas the son of James

All of these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer

together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Passage of Scripture (vs. 15-19)

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers

The company of persons was in all about 120

and said

Brothers

The Scripture had to be fulfilled- Peter is making the connection of the sufficency of Scripture to guide their choices and give them direction

Which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand

by the mouth of David

concerning Judas

Who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus

For he was numbered among us

and was alloted his share in this ministry

Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness

and falling headlong (swelling up)

he burst open in the middle

and all his bowels gushed out- this seems to be contradictory to Matt 27:5 “And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.” there are two explanation for this

His intestines became swollen and burst after he hung himself

The tree branch broke, possibly over a cliff and fell upon rocks.

and it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem

so that the field was called in their own language

Akeldama- that is Field of Blood

Pick a Path (vs. 20-26)

For it is written in the Book of Psalms- 2 royal imprecatory Psalms

May his camp become desolate

and let there be no one to dwell in it (Psalm 69:25 “May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.” )

Let another take his office (Ps. 109:8 “May his days be few; may another take his office!” )

So one of the men who (specific requirements)

have accomandied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us

Beginning from the baptism of John unitl the day when he was taken up from us

one of these men must beceome with us a witness to his resurrection- there were more than just the 12 that accompanied Jesus during His earthly ministry

And they put forward two

Joseph- called barsabbas, who is also called Justus

Matthias

and they prayed and said

You, Lord

who know the hearts of all

show which one of these two

you have chosen to take the place

in this ministry

and apostleship

from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place

and they cast lots for them- last time this is mentioned in the Bible.

and the lot fell on Matthias- his stone fell from the container.

and he was numbered with the eleven apostles- both men were equally qualified.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

In what ways is the Father asking me to obey Him through prayer, a passage of Scripture, or picking a path and moving forward?

2

3

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

1

2

3

Transitional phrase: Just like the disciples, living out the Father’s will for us involves obeying. When we are unsure, pray, pick a passage of Scripture, and then pick a path.

Summary: Living out the Father’s will for us invovles waiting, trusting, and obeying!

Song:

Benediction/Looking ahead:

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

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Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

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Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

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