The Book of Acts (1-3)

Pre Sermon Announcements

Blessing the Generations (Grandparents Sunday) - In prayer I felt God leading us to host a “Blessing of the Generations” breakfast and service on September 13th. I believe God’s blessing can flow up and down our generational lines!

The Exchange (Next Sunday!) - Jennifer and I would like to extend a personal invitation to you to join us after service next week for what we call The Exchange. It’s our chance to take a minute to greet you personally and hear more about YOU! We want you to know you have a place here!

The Book of Acts Series

[Turn to Acts chapter 1]

Being such a young congregation this is our first series through a book of the Bible. Certainly not our last.

Why the Book of Acts?

"Studying Acts is just as essential as studying the Gospels. It’s full of spiritual wisdom, sound doctrine, and the reality of the Holy Spirit. If you look closely, you’ll see Jesus’ promises fulfilled in real time. Acts gives us clear, living proof of God's truth through the unstoppable transformation of ordinary disciples filled with the Holy Spirit." - John Chrysostom (347–407 AD)

Acts and the Gospel of Luke were written by the physician Luke (Paul’s traveling partner) as one continuous book.

In other words, what God did in Jesus (Salvation) did not stop at the Resurrection!

I want you to hear that today. Salvation is not the end point, it’s the starting line for your life!

Acts 1:1–5 “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 to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””

Theophilus

Theophelis means friend of God or one who seeks God. Anybody have a family member named Theophelis?? Probably didn’t make the latest most popular baby names!

Scholars generally agree that Theophilus wasn't a specific historical person but rather a symbolic name representing any reader who is a friend of God.

So Luke is telling us right from the start, “What you’re about to read is not just stories or history or events. This is God’s hidden message for those who are searching for Him!

God Chasers book by Tommy Tenny

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (FAITH!)

Despite popular belief, scripture is not written to convince you of anything. It’s not given to us to be an ironclad proof for the existence of God.

Scripture is God breathed. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Whatever you hear when you hear these scriptures it can’t just be information you are learning. It must be the Word coming from God set on fire in your heart by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture is not food for thought. Scripture is bread for life.

Acts 1 - The Promise is Yours, when you Wait 

In the OT the promise to Israel was a “promised land”

In the NT the promise to the nations is the Holy Spirit

Jesus tells his disciples to WAIT

Ever try to tell a toddler to wait for ice cream? Wait until this show is over… Wait until I wake up to open presents on Christmas morning?

We don’t like to WAIT!

*When we run ahead of God, we outrun our coverage! That means that you are getting ahead of the grace and power God has provided…you’re outrunning God’s grace for your life.

Isaiah 40:31 “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

GOD WOULD RATHER YOU BE EMPOWERED LATER THAN ENTRAPPED EARLY.

[DEAD PHONE] This is some of y’all spiritually.

You look good…

You got apps…

You got potential… …but you got NO POWER.

Try calling someone with this—nothing happens.

Plug the phone into a charger

Connection brings power.

Power brings function.

Function brings impact.

Principle: Busy doesn’t mean anointed. God is not impressed with your hustle if it LACKS HIS PRESENCE.

Acts 2 - A New Life is Yours, if you will Receive

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 2:38 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

*Receiving the Holy Spirit is just another way of describing the moment where you get out of the way and let God’s power lead and guide your life.

Three things that happen when you let the Spirit of God take over:

New Convictions - things I used to do, now I no longer want to do them, ways I used to think, words I used to say, ways I used to act

New Language - two Greek words for tongues: xenolalia/ glossolalia; we need both a new heavenly prayer vocabulary AND a new earthly vocabulary 

New Fruit (fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5)

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Acts 3 - The Spirit’s Power is Yours, when you Go!

Acts 3:1–8 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Too many of us count ourselves out! We’ve subbed off the playing field. We count ourselves as disqualified. 

But it’s the Spirits mark on your life that has qualified you. 

Expect the divine, supernatural intervention of God! [Expect God to show up in your life!]

It’s true we don’t know how God will work in our lives. The how is not our concern. It’s the who that matters.

You are being prepared for what God has prepared you for. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit.