The Book of Acts: Mission Possible

MAIN FOCUS: Mission

Luke’s focus on empowerment for mission (whether experienced at or after conversion), which, for Luke (who emphasizes the Spirit’s activity in mission), is central to the church’s life.

Luke’s focus is on the empowerment for the mission which is central to the church’s life.

The Church has a mission folks!

INTRO: 

Fun fact …. Luke wrote two of the books of the bible.

The Book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke.

Luke’s Gospel reveals what Christ did on earth ….. 

…… and the Book of Acts reveals what He continues to do on earth through His CHURCH (Ecclesia) the people, the body!

How were they to do this? 

Holy Spirit

Give an overview of the first section of the book of Acts: (Acts chapter 1- chapter 4:1-4)

The first section can be broken up into 3 sub-sections ….

Chapter 1 

- Luke connects His first book (Gospel of Luke) by reiterating the end of it 

(Luke 24:50-53). We read Acts 1:1-11 and we see the reiteration. 

- Peter tells them they need to fulfill O.T. prophecy (1:20a / Psalms 69:25) (1:20b / 

Psalm 109:8)

Acts 1:20 (ESV)

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’”

: We would title this section “The Fulfillment” section (What was told by God)

Chapter 2 

- Luke describes the event of the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” 

- Side note: They go from 120 to 3000 being baptized into the faith.

: Peter’s Sermon had around 650 words in it! (roughly 4.5 people per 

  word) 

: We would call this section “The Being Filled” section (What was done by God) 

Chapter 3 - Through Chapter 4:4

- The ministry of the church begins 

- Setting the captives free (Signs and Wonders) 

: We would call this section “The Freedom” section (The reaction to the Power

of God)

What I want to look at today is found in the 2nd section “Being Filled” (What was done by God) 

BODY: 

Main Passage for sermon

Acts 2:1–4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:12–14 “And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”

Acts 2:41–47 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

There are two significant “baptism of the Holy Spirit” that takes place in scripture.

One of them we just read about (Acts 2:1–4 )

The other significant baptism that took place is found in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-34) Jesus’ baptism!

I want to point something out to you today that I am not sure you have ever seen before. 

There is a parallel between Jesus’s baptism at the Jordan and the baptism we read about in Acts 2:1-4.

Get your bibles out because we are going to be looking at a lot of scripture in this section.

Four Parallels (Jesus Baptism and Disciples Baptism)

The first parallel between the two baptisms is ….

Both are praying

(Acts 1:14 “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

They spent 10 days praying.

; contrasted with Luke 3:21 “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,” ).

The second Parallel …

The Spirit descends

(Acts 2:2–3 “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” ;

also in Mark 1:10 “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”

& Matthew 3:16 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;” ).

The third parallel …

The Spirit takes on a physical form

(Luke 3:22 “and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.””

Acts 2:3 “And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.”

The description brings together the association of fire with divine power and the imagery of tongues as languages.

The fourth Parallel …

They began to Preaching.

The ensuing public ministries open with sermons that introduce themes for the rest of the book

(Luke 4:18–27 “Jesus preaches in Nazareth”; Acts 2:14-3:26“Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and Solomon’s Portico”).

CONCULSION:

Reiterate the 4 parallels ….

Prayed for it!

They received it!

They saw it!

They reacted to it.

What’s IT?

Holy Spirit!

Here is where we start to miss this very important aspect ….

We must not be so focused on getting people saved!

Don’t get me wrong, “salvation” is a good thing .

But we need to press on for “the baptism of the Holy Spirit” “Sanctification.”

Salvation, if we are not careful, can become carnal (All about us!): I am forgiven, I feel better, I am IN!

Sanctification, in simple terms, is the process of becoming more holy or set apart for God’s purposes.

For us Christians, it’s the ongoing journey of being transformed by faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, after accepting Jesus.  

Sanctification is about being sourced by the Spirit for the mission of Christ to continue. 

Yes, getting people to the altar to become “Born again” is good and its a start

But we need to stop leaving people “still born” at the altar.

Salvation is not the end result …… its the starting point.

For what? Seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit! (Sanctification).

We need to be seeking and encourage the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

What does this look like?

How do we do this?

We Pray for it

The Disciples spent 10 days praying, peter preached for 10 minutes and 3000 people were saved

Today churches pray 10 minutes, preach for 10 days, and 3 get saved. (John Maxwells book “Partners in Prayer.”)

We Receive it

The church will not be able to carry on the mission of Christ by its own resources.

We must be sourced by the Spirit.

You want to know how one of the ways you can tell you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit?

It will be seen by others.

They are going to see it all over you.

Your reaction to it …… you can’t shut up about Jesus!

You get to preaching!

Does this sound familiar?

Remember the 4 parallels of the two baptism….

Prayed for it!

They received it!

They saw it!

They reacted to it.

Our experience should look just like that of the Disciples and Jesus.

Prayed for it!

Received it!

Others will see it!

Your reaction to it.

Acts 2:47 (ESV)

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is the mission Christ was talking about in the Gospel of Luke and in the book of Acts is how it was going to be accomplished.

Your now just suppose to get saved and then ride out the rest of your years on earth waiting to be taking home.

You have a mission

We have a mission.

ALTAR CALL