Difference Makers for Christ and the Holy Spirit

Steve Rutledge

Difference Makers for the Kingdom of God through the local church • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Acts 1

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Introduction:

tells us:

Luke is continuing his Holy Spirit guided account about Jesus Christ and His followers who will be used by Jesus to build His Church

Luke in his first book shared the instructions Jesus gave by the Holy Spirit to His followers

Luke assures his readers of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as witnessed by His followers

Jesus appearances were unmistakably done giving evidence it was real

Jesus used these occasions to teach His followers further about the kingdom of God

tells us Jesus in the end had about 120 followers

tells us these followers were given the name Christian in Antioch

tells us these followers had a reputation of turning the world upside down

The book of Acts is a historical record of the beginning of the Church, with the Holy Spirit being it’s main character as well as author of the book

The Historical Narrative

The apostles assembled together with Jesus

He used those 40 days to give evidence of His bodily resurrection and strengthen their faith in Him

He used those 40 days to teach them about the kingdom of God

Something they didn’t fully understand or comprehend but they learned as it was unfold before them day by day

1:4 Jesus’ commands His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit - The main essential they lacked. An absolute necessary event for the Church to be born an grow

As disciples of Jesus Christ they met together - Christian fellowship is necessary

Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The word in Acts is used only once in the NT and means ‘to dine together’

The word in the book of Hebrews is associated with religious gathering particularly the synagogue

As disciples of Jesus Christ they gather to hear from Him - Christ’s presence is essential

Matthew 18:19–20 NKJV

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18:19-20

As disciples of Jesus Christ they listen and obey - Christ’s expects us to obey His command

As disciples of Jesus Christ the command is to wait for the Promise of the Father

The coming of the Holy Spirit is something Jesus stressed over and over again

The Holy Spirit taught by Jesus Christ (speak more in closing)

1:5 Jesus explains the purpose and work for the sending of the Holy Spirit

He compares the baptism of John with baptism of the Holy Spirit

John’s baptism gave an outward identification of an inward change of heart of faith and repentance

The Holy Spirit’s baptism identified the disciple as a genuine believers in Jesus Christ. The visible manifestation would be a rushing wind sound and divided tongues of fire

Luke 3:16 NKJV

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:9 NKJV

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 8:9 NKJV

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Romans

It will be an immersion

It will take control

He informs them it will happen soon

1:6-7 Jesus explains and encourages them not to focus on the timing of His coming - Don’t try to calculate the time but work confidently until He comes

The disciples had an important question dear to their heart

Jesus told them to trust and rest in the sovereignty of God

When and how are natural questions for us but God doesn’t promise us an immediate answer. We are simply called to trust Him. He is worthy of our trust!

1:8 Jesus commands them to focus on the main task - As disciples they were simply to become the representatives of Jesus Christ

With this baptism comes His power

With this baptism you become witnesses (plural)

With this baptism you work to share the gospel everywhere

The apostles looked on as He ascended back to Heaven (possibly others note verse 22)

1:9 Verse 8 was Jesus last words to His disciples before His ascension

1:10 The disciples wanted to remain in the moment

1:11 Two angels gave the disciples words of encouragement for moving forward - Jesus is coming again

The apostles assemble together for 10 days holding prayer meetings

1:12 The apostles walk back in obedience to Jerusalem

1:13 They enter their familiar place of fellowship - upper room

None were missing

1:14 They are joined together in prayers petitioning God

The eleven Apostles

The women, probably those who were prominent in serving Jesus both in His ministry and His burial

Mary Jesus’ mother

Jesus’ brothers

They appoint a new Apostle - Peter calls the first business meeting into session to discuss the need of replacing Judas

1:15 Peter begins his role as the lead Apostle

Peter calls a business meeting into session to discuss the need of replacing Judas

1:16 Using Scripture he explains the death of Judas was a fulfilment of the scriptures

The authority of the Scriptures is non-negotiable. It’s truth is absolute and it has the last word

The truth of the Scriptures will be fufilled

1:17 A sad commentary of Judas’ testimony

Jesus knew His heart from the beginning

John 6:70–71 NKJV

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

John 6:700

1:18-19 The sad details of Judas’ death ()

Either Peter speaking or Luke inserting comment share his end and the result

1:20 Peter once again used the Scripture to explain Judas’ death

1:21 Peter recommends one be chosen to replace the position as an Apostle

The person had to be someone who had been together with them from the beginning of joining Jesus’ ministry

1:22a The person needed to be there when John the Baptist was ministering

The person needed to be there now and witnessed His ascencion

1:22b One who was there to witness Jesus’ resurrection

1:23 The proposal of Joseph called Barsabas and Matthias

1:24 They prayed asking the Lord to direct in this matter

Their first decision without Christ being physically there. Surely they were trusting all the promises Jesus gave them about prayer

They acknowledge the omniscience of God which gives Him the ability to see into hearts

They ask for wisdom to discern which one is God’s choice

1:25 They use what appears to be an Old Testament method for making the final decision

Leviticus 16:8 NKJV

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Leviticus

1:26 Matthias was chosen

They await for the arrival of the Holy Spirit ...

2:1 The Holy Spirit comes on Pentecost

A special Jewish holiday

50 days after Passover

A time of thanksgiving for the first of harvest

A day when they were all gathered together in one place

This group was unified as one both in heart and location

They wanted to be with each other

2:2 The Holy Spirit fills the room

2:3 The Holy Spirit fills the people

2:4 The Holy Spirit causes them to speak

He filled all of them

He gave them the supernatural ability to speak another languge

He gave them the words to speak

Lessons to be learned

Wait for the Holy Spirit

Waiting for the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of the night before the cross. ; ; ;

He told them He would pray for the coming of and promised the Holy Spirit would come

He called Him another Paraclete (Helper, Advocate, Comforter)

Someone of His equal

Someone who would work as He worked

He identified Him as the Spirit of truth

He would be

He described His ministry

He would be a permanent indweller in the believer representing the presence of Jesus Christ

He would teach all you need to know and help your memory

He would be an invisible dweller unknown to the world

He would testify of Jesus Christ with the intent to glorify Christ

He would convict the sinner

He would guide and speak the truth in harmony with the words of the Father and the Son

Waiting for the Holy Spirit who continues the work of the Father and the Son

John 15:6 NKJV

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

We do not have the physical presence of Christ with us but we do have the Holy Spirit in us who represents Christ. Therefore to have Christ working through us we must allow the Holy Spirit to have control of us and without that submission we can do nothing of value

John 15:7 NKJV

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

John 15:3 NKJV

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

John 15:8 NKJV

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:8 NKJV

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:9 NKJV

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

John 15:4–5 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

The command to wait for the Holy Spirit demands the necessity of His involvement in all we do as difference makers for Christ

Jesus told them they could bear no fruit or do anything without abiding in Him

With His ascencion He would no longer be physically available

Sinclair Ferguson calls the Holy Spirit, “Jesus closest companion”. The Holy Spirit should be or should become our closest companion as well

Paul refused to speak without the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 NKJV

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The missionaries refused to go where the Holy Spirit said no

Acts 16:6–10 NKJV

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 16:6-10

Sinclair Ferguson calls the Holy Spirit, “Jesus closest companion”

John 14:15–18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

He is the answer to Jesus’ prayer to His Father

He is the other Paraclete in relation to Jesus Christ

John 14:15-

A helper, an advocate, and comforter

He is a permanent indweller

He is the Spirit of truth unknown to the world

He is the Spirit of truth known to us and indwells us

He takes up residence representing Jesus Christ

John 14:26 NKJV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

He teaches all things

He brings to remembrance all the things Jesus said

John 14:

John 15:26–27 NKJV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 15:26

John 16:5–15 NKJV

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 16:

Jesus’ ascension back to the Father was an advantage because it caused the sending of the Holy Spirit

The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the unredeemed

The Spirit of truth will guide into all truth

The Spirit of truth will speak the things given to Him and in harmony with what Christ spoke

The Spirit of truth will glorify Christ

Jesus commands His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit

"Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last."

Wait upon the Holy Spirit for His help and power

-C.T. Studd

This repeated line of British cricketer and missionary to China Charles Thomas Studd's poem, "Only One Life," is so packed with meaning, conviction, as well as encouragement.

Witness through the power of the Holy Spirit

We have lately been more than typically reminded of life's brevity. Three different people, one of whom is a dear friend, and two others who are friends of our friends, have recently received the news that there is cancer invading their bodies. One of them is 19 years old and in the middle of nursing school and the other, a brother in our church, is a young 20-something man who just recently became father to he and his wife's first child.

We all know that death is inevitable at some point, but how often does it really impact our thoughts, decisions, and actions in day-to-day life?

We represent Jesus Christ in this generation

While there's no need for being unhelpfully morbid, there is an aspect where considering the end of our lives (be it soon or many years down the road) is incredibly helpful.

We have a world to reach with the gospel and make a difference

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Fellowship in prayer with fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ

Kevin DeYoung “We are all natural evangelists for the things we love most, and when we love the Lord Jesus, we talk about him.”

Work while watching for the coming of Jesus Christ

The second coming is a wonderful promise

A promise that should cause us to labor knowing it is not vain

A promise that should cause us to love Him above all else 2 Timothy 4:8

A promise that should cause us to live holy lives ;

Be ready through prayer

Prayer meetings many times are the place things begin to happen

A prayer-less church is a powerless church

Be ready to serve wherever the Holy Spirit places you

Next person up mentality

When we are considering the end of our lives and standing before the judgement seat of Christ, so many of the little "trials" of life seem so much less important, and the larger ones seem more purposeful. It encourages us not to live for ourselves, but for the Kingdom that is to come. It also guides us in decision making not to choose the selfish route, but the path that has more eternal value, though it may also be the one that has more foreseeable difficulties along its course.

Gifts are given to be used

One way to discover your gift(s) is to serve

Be ready to share the gospel as the Holy Spirit enables you

Share the gospel resting and believing in its power and the Holy Spirit’s power to change lives

Share the gospel as God gives opportunity being directed by the Holy Spirit

Any person

Any time

Any place

We can be confident, though, that when we live with this eternal perspective, whatever the sacrifices that come our way, in the end we will agree with the final stanza of Studd's poem:

"Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done"; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say 'twas worth it all."

Witness together by the power of the Holy Spirit

The Bible confirms this in - For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Work wherever God sends them

It's long, but we highly encourage reading through the whole of his poem (below). It's well worth it!

Only One Life - By C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,