Between the Gift and the Gifting : Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Introduction

Starting a new sermon series going through the book of Acts. Acts is the Third longest book in the New Testament. Only Matthew and Luke are longer. That being said it is 30% of the New Testament.

This is a continuation on the previous series through the life of Jesus. As acts is the continuation of Jesus Ministry, to Jerusalem, Judea and the world. It unfolds the exciting story of God working to take the Gospel message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:1–3 CSB

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Acts is the second part. Part on is the book of Luke. Luke is a Christian physician, who travels with Paul at times. He is a part-time historian, an eyewitness of many of the accounts in Acts. He is not just a historian his history is theological.

His interest is not just in the events themselves but in the meaning of the events.

I like an earlier writing of the book of acts an place it’s writing between AD 60 and 65.

The book itself is written to Theophilus, “lover of God”. He is a Greek believer, and perhaps a sponsor of Luke’s ministry.

Luke will begin with a retailing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And tell of the disciples a they wait between the Gift that is Jesus Christ and the gifting that is the Holy Spirit still working today.

Wait

Acts 1:4–14 CSB

While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

During the forty days that separated the resurrection and the ascension, Jesus taught the disciples, preparing them to lead the early Church. While he was there he told them to wait.

Wait on the Holy Spirit

They were to stay in Jerusalem for awhile. Which would be a difficult thing to do. You just saw someone get out of the grave. there is no telephone. I need to Go tell my family what I saw. But also this is the same place where Jesus was killed. And tensions were still high.

God has promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not new it is in the Old Testament, but what is new is it is not coming and going. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came and went. Now it is Staying.

Witness

As they wait they witness. I think we can learn from this. Here in the first chapter of Acts is the witness all the rest of the book will be based off of.

Here the group that will be the base of this Church are not thologians. They are fishermen, they are tax collecters. They are regular people who have chosen to follow YHWH and are witnessing the good news of Christ Salvation. We need not understand all the intricacies of God’s mysteries, nor be perfect examples of flawless Christian living. We call all tell everyone what Chrsit has done for us. We can all be witnesses.

Acts 1:8 CSB

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

To what Acts will lay out as Jerusalem, Judea and the ends of the earth.

Or in our case: Laughlin, Nevada/Arizona, and they ends of the earth

Prepare

Acts 1:15–26 CSB

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood). “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position. “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

They prepare themselves for the ministry. To often do we want to just jump right in, but prep work is always important. Some times we have to be careful not to get stuck in prep but we have to go through it. And Wait on the Holy Spirit. While we wait we witness and we Prepare.

Purify

Part of that is Purifying ourselves. In the Old Testament there were baths and ritual washings one did to purify. Now sometimes it is just taking care of your dirty laundry.

Luke doesn’t hide what happened. He just is truthful about the events surrounding Judas. And before they can move on with their work they must deal with the “Judas Issue”.

Sometimes in our churches, in our own lives we have to deal with issues before we can continue with our mission.

Issue of your sin or a sin that has been forced upon you

What issues do you need to deal with today?

And through dealing with issues, not hiding them. But in honest dealing with them, through the teachings of Word of God. We continue to be a witness in a godless world.

Their response was to replace Judas with Matthias. I like this because if we are going to change something, person or behavior, we have to replace it with what is Godly. Open wounds will fester and become infected. This leads to return or even worse situations then you originally wanted to repent of or heal

Next Steps

We are all waiting on the return of Christ. We are all waiting on the New Earth and New Heaven. But the Holy Spirit is here.

You can be a witness.

Clean up your mess if needed, But be a witness.

Bibliography

Gangel, Kenneth O. Acts. Vol. 5. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Harris, W. Hall, III, Elliot Ritzema, Rick Brannan, Douglas Mangum, John Dunham, Jeffrey A. Reimer, and Micah Wierenga, eds. The Lexham English Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012.

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Ogilvie, Lloyd J., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Acts. Vol. 28. The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983.

Got Questions Ministries. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013.

Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004.

Severance, W. Murray, and Terry Eddinger. That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997.