ACTS of the HOLY SPIRIT through the Apostles

9-8-2024

 Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

“What are you trying to show us through this book of scripture?”

Truth 1 – Acts is a very detailed, documented, and truthful account of the OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT.

• Prediction of Gamaliel: Acts 5:33-39
• The book of Acts chronicles how could stop this movement
• 2.4 followers as of 2023….That’s % of the planet’s population!  

”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

~Margaret Mead

Truth 2 – The comes to indwell believers, guiding, directing, and empowering them to accomplish “works”.

• It would be more appropriate to title the book The Acts of the through the Apostles!

Truth 3 – The Book of Acts is this side of a bridge…a bridge that connects the Holy Spirit from Creation and the Old Testament,, to us, here today. 

• In the Old Testament, God sent the Holy Spirit to inspire/speak/empower/guide His people.
  • King Saul:  1 Sam 10:6 and 1 Sam 16:14
  • King David famously feared this:  Ps 51:11
  • Samson shows how this sometimes worked: Judges 13:24-25, Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14
• In GOSPELS, did ALL that He did, the HOLY SPIRIT.
  • Acts 2:22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
• And Now, in ACTS, we see the HOLY SPIRIT COME and , allowing others to do these same things also THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT!
  • John 16:7  But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate[a] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
  • Rom 8:9-11 ⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) ¹⁰ And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. ¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
• In Acts, The indwelling Holy Spirit is revealed as the and the great orchestrator, guide, and director.  The Divine Partner And HE WANTS TO LEAD!

Truth 4 – Walking in the Spirit means that we & the Holy Spirit… even when it is difficult and/or uncertain.

• Acts 20:22-24 ²² “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. ²⁴ But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

The Great Commission: 

Mt 28:19-20 ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Great Commandment:

Mat 22:36-40 ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

1 Corinthians ch 13

2 Cor 11:23-27, 32-33

Am I ?  

Am I letting Jesus ?

Am I the place where the Great Commission and the Great Commandment ?

Am I moving out of my comfort zone to others and by extension, ?

1 – What does your bank statement say about your faith or lack thereof?

2 – Does your calendar show evidence of how much God means to you?

3 – If persecution began of Christians in this community tomorrow, would there be enough evidence of your faith to find you guilty?

Ministries:

Our faith MUST extend beyond our .

Ministries:

Luke’s primary goal in writing this little book was to record the beginning of a movement of , one EMPOWERED by the , and it provides evidence that …not viper bite nor shipwreck, not persecution nor jailing, not government mandates nor riotous mobs will stop it!