Acts 1:1-8 Go in Power

Good morning/

Good morning/

How many of you have ever read a history book that talked about your relative?

World history my Sophomore year – Francis Drake – Pirate – French trader for England – Cool.

It was like seeing my story or the narrative of my family in a way I had never seen it before.

It shaped me – gave me a new confidence –

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Today, we start the Book of Acts

It is a historical narrative and it is our family history.

This is your history and my history/ this is our family.

My hope is you will see your story / be shaped by the narrative of your family / And confidence in God

The date of the book

30 AD to 62 AD

It ends with Paul still alive and we know he died by execution around 64 AD

At the hands of Nero – Many Christians died as Nero blamed the fire of 64 on the Christians.

32 year span of History

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Acts is a Historical, Descriptive, Narrative –

This is important that you understand Acts as Descriptive

And not Prescriptive –

Let me show you why

Acts 2:44–45 ESV

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.

Descriptive - The first church took care of one another by selling their land and giving the proceeds to those in need.

Prescriptive - When you become a believer the evidence will be that you sell your land and give the proceeds to the poor.

Principle - When the Spirit fills you, an evidence of this is a generous heart towards those in need.

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Let’s Jump Into Our Family History

Acts 1:1–2 ESV

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.

What Acts could be called

The book of the Acts of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the people of God.

· Jesus is still ruling as King

· Jesus is still doing His ministry on the earth

· Through the church by the power of the Spirit.

· When we read of the greatness of the early church we are really reading of the greatness of Jesus through the early church.

· This is important – The same Jesus then/ Same Jesus now/ Same HS in Jesus/ Same HS in you.

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Acts 1:3–6 ESV

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.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Man, these guys still do not get what Jesus is doing.

Should give us a little comfort when we don’t realize what God is up to.

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So Jesus explains it to them and us in as kind of terms as possible.

Acts 1:7–8 ESV

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.”

The Kingdom is not about a Geo-Political human government.

The Kingdom is about God ruling in the hearts of humanity across the world.

John 18:33–37 ESV

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

· When we confuse geo-politics with the Kingdom of God we end up with murder.

· Crusades / Terrorism – Zealots (Judas)

· We bow to the thrill of power – Herodians

· We become ruled by the law and forget about grace and love. – Pharisees

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We however are citizens of another Kingdom -

John 17:16 ESV

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

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The Spirit Empowers to Expand the Kingdom of God.

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

· Empowerment is not about goose bumps

· Empowerment is not about doing and seeing cool things

· It is not about shaking – jumping – laughing or anything like that.

· It may happen but that is not the point!

The Spirit Empowers to Expand the Kingdom of God.

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We as citizens of the Kingdom of God expand the Kingdom by

GOING

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

· World missions

· Planting churches locally

· Discipling our friends and introducing them to the power and love of Jesus.

DISCIPLESHIP

· Believe what Jesus believed

· Live as Jesus lived

· Love as Jesus loved

· Minister as Jesus ministered

· Lead as Jesus lead

· Disciple as Jesus Discipled.

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We are EMPOWERED by the Spirit to Expand the Kingdom of God.

Through the Word of God

Through the Power of God

Through the Love of God

Through the Grace of God

And through the Sacrifice of God.

We are sent to imitate our King not Cesar.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Narrative of Acts is about Jesus continuing His ministry on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit through His church.

The Narrative of Acts is about Jesus continuing His ministry on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit through His church.

Like the first disciples and others we have been invited into this narrative

We have been invited to allow Jesus to continue his ministry through us

But if we want the Power of the Spirit in our lives we must submit to the Purpose of that power.

The Spirit Empowers to Expand the Kingdom of God.

Are you willing to GO and DISCIPLE?

In your work, in your family, and circle of friends

In your community,

Planting local churches

Serving around the world.

As Jesus said – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world.

WE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT TO EXPAND THE KINGDOM OF GOD!