The Bible Series Acts
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I was told that Kevin and Kim’s grandson came running into the kitchen at his home excited about the song playing on the radio. The song was “He is exalted”. All excited he said “Hey mom… it said exalted just like you are!” His mother Alex replied, “the radio said exalted, NOT EXHAUSTED!”
I am glad as we look at a book like Acts and see all God is doing… we can exclaim He is EXALTED… KNOWING our God does not grow weary or tired. God was doing a great work and He still works today… Luke begins his second writing to Theophilus with these words Acts 1:1-2
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
Jesus Began to Do & Teach...
Jesus Began to Do & Teach...
Remember the directives Jesus gave… Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Luke begins by recording Jesus’ final words as He ascends to Heaven… Acts 1:8-9 Jesus parting words set forth a movement! (some may have even thought it was doomed to fail) As Jesus declared to His disciples, “I will build my church...”
As we observe the movement through this book and the New Testament we will observe it with RED ARROWS
They will be somewhat transparent as the church is at times BOLD and other times VERY FAINT
We see clearly in the book of Acts the work Jesus is doing… and He is using His Church while building her up!!!
Acts Overview
Acts Overview
As in Luke we see things laid out for us in consecutive order and detail. (Luke witnessed a great deal of what is recorded first hand!)
Christ ascends up to Heaven but in Chapter 2 we see the coming down & indwelling of the Holy Spirit!!!
This is the birth of the church
This brings POWER & BOLDNESS
This emboldens the people to be witnesses of Christ
The gospel goes forth in might…FORWARD MOVEMENT ---->
Ch 1-7 Church Established in Jerusalem
2 years span
Predominately Jews
Peter is leader
In Ch 7 Stephen is martyred for his faith (8:1 states that Saul was in hearty agreement…)
Consider how these early believers pray when persecution comes… Acts 4:29, 31
“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Ch 8-12 Church Scattered to Judea & Samaria
We begin to see persecution occur more
Spans about 13 years
We see Peter and Philip extending out to share the gospel
Gentiles now begin to be introduced to the gospel! (Chapter 10)
We see Saul become a follower of The Way… first designation of Jesus’ followers.
“I am the Way the Truth and the Life”
As it spreads we see for the first time the title “Christians” (Acts 11:26)
… . And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
We see the followers of Christ becoming a very distinct group...
Towards the end of this section we see Herod inflict greater persecution on the church…
Those who were in Jerusalem… spread back to homes and across the earth
[View Maps] of Acts 2:7-11 (some may have already gone home, others now fled back!)
They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
I love the fact that even before one journey out of Jerusalem took place… Jesus was reaching the WORLD with the gospel. “I WILL BUILD”
Ch 13-28 Church Extended to Ends of the Earth
This section spans about 15 years or so
Gentiles now seem to be the predominant individuals who are being reached with the gospel… it is spreading!
Paul becomes a significant figure in this portion and a prominent leader in the church as an apostle
We see Three Mission Journeys of Paul in this section [SEE MAPS]
1st is crucial key cities with Gospel message and establish a church
2nd Reaffirm the churches and expand planting churches further… (GOD’s Work!)
3rd Encourage, strengthen, instruct
NOTICE: These areas were where people were from back at Pentecost too!
Also as you read through Acts you will study 3 distinct missionary trips, BUT GOD…GIVES A 4th
Paul also has an all expense trip paid for by the Roman government to stand trial as a prisoner before Caesar!
The Narrative Progression
The Narrative Progression
Remember this is a narrative that Luke is writing… as he writes he recaps the progress of the gospel for us at some very key points and gives a “Progress Report” a pit stop so to speak…
Progress Reports:
Acts 2:46-47 The one-mindedness sets them apart, fellowship is from the start… and the Lord is working
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 6:7 it was God’s Word going forth, holding power, the strength of the Jerusalem church was growing
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:31 We see the Lord expanding the reach of the Gospel, God was providing the increase
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Acts 12:24 even in the midst of persecution… God’s Word advances and is not hindered!
But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.
Acts 16:5 we see a spread of the church, we see churches in regions and areas being strengthened in their FAITH… Growth was still occuring! These churches were not playing church, they were BEING the Church.
So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
Acts 19:20 God’s Word cannot be stopped, it holds power… even over the Roman Empire!
So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
Acts 28:30-31 The gospel still goes on… The End is yet to come!
And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
The Focus of the Church
The Focus of the Church
First and foremost as you read Acts… (Some have it shown as “Acts of the Apostles”)
REMEMBER THIS: It is Christ who is building His church!… we see God working, Christ building, and the Holy Spirit enabling and empowering!!!
This is HIS WORK and we have the distinct honor of being a part of it!
Oh, and by the way… He is not anywhere near exhausted!!! Oh but He is to be EXALTED!!!
Jesus said… “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH” look at HIS CHURCH just a little over 30 years after He makes that statement…
This is not the work of just a few… This is the work of Jesus Christ through His Church.
Oh Church… people of Grace Bible…
We cannot limit what God can and will do!!!
He is building His church and He desires to use us!
We need to start BEING the church and stop PLAYING church!
This young church of Acts… look at the enthusiasm, the FOCUS with no formal structure or strategy we see UNITY & PRAYER… with a drive to spread the GOSPEL! Acts 1:14; 2:46-47
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer...
Day by day continuing with one mind … together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
We see FELLOWSHIP, we observe PRAYER, we experience UNITY (one mind) TRIALS came and they prayed receiving BOLDNESS
I feel we have become too busy for our own good...
“We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results.” R.A. Torrey
This young church is demonstrating for us the power that comes from Unity in fellowship and prayer.
Do you know why unity is so crucial in the church today? Because the same Holy Spirit indwells you and me!
The very Spirit of God indwells you and I as believers. 1 John 4:4
… greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
IF God has called you and I to follow Him and to fulfill His commands…THEN He also has empowered us to do so!
Jesus was just getting started!
He wants to use His church THEN and even NOW in Parachute Colorado to reach the lost around us (our own Jerusalem)
He is NOT GROWING WEARY… Let Him empower you for this great work!