Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts Intro 10-29-06 Receive Power and Spread the Word

 

The last few weeks, we have been going through Romans.

I am going to start going through the book of Acts.

The book of Acts is about the start of the Christian Church, otherwise known as the book of the Acts of the Apostles or Acts of the Holy Spirit.

The time frame of the book is about 35-40 years, from Christ’s Asuncion to right before the fall of Jerusalem.

The Author is Luke, a Gentile physician and companion of the apostle Paul traditionally identified as the author of Luke, the third Gospel in the New Testament, and of the book of Acts

 

Today we are going to go through Acts 1:1-8, interestingly enough these few verses, especially verse 8, lay out the whole outline for the book of Acts.

*ACTS 1:1-8 *    1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.

He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

5 For John baptized witha water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Luke talks about his former book (being Luke) addressed to *THEOPHILUS, *most probably a real person of that time,

 

However according to the */ New/**/ Bible Dictionary/*  THEOPHILUS means  ‘*dear to God*’ or ‘*friend of God*’.

Some have thought that the name indicates generally ‘the Christian reader whether then or today.

OK if we break this down a little, V1-3 reconfirms where the gospel of Luke stopped and Acts picks up, with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The 40 days before His ascension.

V4-5 Jesus while He is eating with them gives them a command.

They were to wait in Jerusalem after His departure for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon them, as had already told them.

Ref; Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16; and Jn 1:33 also John the Baptist states in;

Mk 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

V6-7 well at this time the Apostles like many of us so often, miss the boat or the point and ask the wrong question.

When are you going to restore the kingdom, meaning when are You going to set up your kingdom on earth as was told in Prophecy?

Isaiah 9:6-7   6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

Jesus did not deny the prophets’ vision, but rather redirected their attention.

God will keep His O.T. promises—in His own time.

We are to know that He will come again and reign forever; we are just not to worry about when that will happen only God knows.

V8 this is not only the theme of my sermon “Receive Power and Spread the Word”, it is also the whole outline for the book of Acts.

When they wait, they will receive POWER via the Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Now for those of you waiting for me to go through an explanation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will still have to wait.

As we get into Acts 2 and so on I will go into this Baptism.

So they will receive power and then they are to spread the word.

Or they were commissioned to witness for Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and throughout the whole world.

Ref also to Mt 28:19-20.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ina the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As I said this is also the outline for the book of acts, as follows;

According to *Willmington's** Bible Handbook**.**  *

 1:8 could be seen as a sort of divine outline for the book of Acts •     Witnessing in Jerusalem (1–7)

•     Witnessing in Judea and Samaria (8:1–9:31)

•     Witnessing to the end of the earth (9:32–28:31)

 

In summary of Acts 1:1-8;

V1-3 confirms what Christ did for us

V4-5 Jesus command‘s to wait and receive the Power of the Holy Spirit.

V6-7 the disciples are confused and Jesus clarifies.

V8 The commission to *Receive Power and Spread the Word*

 

In conclusion these are things we have in fact been talking about over the past few months.

Hopefully, as we go through the book of Acts, we will learn better how to allow God to use us through the power of the Holy Spirit to Spread the Word to the entire world.

Remember *Receive Power and Spread the Word* AMEN!

 

Lets pray.

\\ ----

 

 

 

a Or /into/; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor.

1:13; 10:2 and Gal.

3:27.