Acts 1: The Marching Orders of the Church

JESUS REVEALED HIS PLANS AND PROMISED HIS POWER FOR THE WORK OF HIS CHURCH WAS TO ACCOMPLISH. HIS PLANS AND PROMISES SHOULD STILL MOTIVATE HIS CHURCHES TODAY.

WE LOOK TODAY AT THE FIRST CHAPTER OF A STORY THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, THE PLAN THAT THE LORD HAS FOR HIS CHURCHES TO BUILD THE EARTHLY CHURCH UNTIL HIS RETURN.

THE FOUR GOSPELS ARE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES DOES.

MUCH INFORMATION IS REVEALED TO US IN THIS BOOK, WHICH AT 28 CHAPTERS IS TIED WITH MATTHEW AS THE LONGEST BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK IS LUKE AND HIS GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF ACTS ARE TWO VOLUMES, PART ONE AND TWO OF THE WORK OF JESUS.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE WORK OF JESUS WHEN HE WAS ON THE EARTH, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS FROM HEAVEN.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

IN LUKE WE SEE CHRIST REVEALED HISTORICALLY, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE CHRIST REVEALED MYSTICALLY.

LUKE BEGINS WITH JESUS COMING TO THE EARTH WHILE ACTS BEGINS WITH HIS RETURN TO HEAVEN.

LUKE ENDS WITH THE DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM, WHILE ACTS ENDS WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL IN ROME.

IN LUKE WE SEE CHRIST FOR US, AND IN ACTS WE SEE THE NEW COVENANT IN ACTION WITH CHRIST WITHIN US.

THIS TWO VOLUME SET IS 28% OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, MORE THAN ALL THE WRITINGS OF PAUL COMBINED.

WE KNOW THAT LUKE WAS A COMPANION OF PAUL AS WE SEE THE TRAVELS OF PAUL IN ACTS 16 & 20 & 21 & 27 & 28, IN THE 2ND, 3RD, & 4TH MISSIONARY JOURNEYS WHEN LUKE USES THE 3RD PERSON PLURAL “US” IN HIS DESCRIPTION.

PAUL HIMSELF CONFIRMS THIS IN COL 4:14 & 2 TIMOTHY 4:11, AS LUKE WAS STILL WITH PAUL WHEN HE WAS IN THE ROMAN JAIL.

LUKE WROTE THE BOOK OF ACTS IN THE LATE FIRST CENTURY.

ACTS SEEMS TO BE MAINLY ABOUT THE LIVES OF PETER AND PAUL AND THE TWO LESS SEEN CHARACTERS OF STEPHEN & PHILLIP.

IT IS A BOOK OF VICTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH LEADERS OVER PERSECUTION THAT WAS COMMON IN THOSE DAYS.

WE SEE CHRISTIANS IN THE EARLY CHURCH NOT WITH HALOS BUT WITH THE EVERYDAY PROBLEMS AND DIVISIONS OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE EARLY CHURCH.

WE SEE THEIR FAILINGS AND SHORTCOMINGS. THESE ARE HELPFUL TO SEE BECAUSE IF THE LORD CAN DO SO MUCH WITH THESE VERY HUMAN MEN, HE CAN ALSO USE US AS WELL.

WE ALSO SEE SOME SURPRISES COME TO US IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

IN CHAPTER 6 WE SEE THE OFFICE OF DEACON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WERE ESTABLISHED TO FREE UP THE APOSTLES TO DO THE IMPORTANT WORK OF PREACHING.

BUT IN CHAPTERS 7 & 8 WE SEE IT IS THE DEACONS WHO DELIVER THE GOSPEL.

IN CHAPTER 7 WE SEE SAUL OF TARSUS WATCHING THE STONING OF STEPHEN, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE LORD CALLS THIS STRONG PERSECUTOR TO BE AMONG HIS STRONGEST EVANGELISTS.

ACTS IS NOT A “HOW TO” BOOK. WE ARE NOT TOLD HOW TO SPEAK IN TONGUES, OR HOW TO HEAL, OR HOW TO PERFORM MIRACLES. WE ARE NOT TOLD HOW TO EVANGELIZE NOR HOW TO PLANT A CHURCH.

ACTS IS THE STORY OF HOW THE LORD CONTINUED HIS MINISTRY TO HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS SAINTS, BY MEANS OF HIS SPIRIT.

THE WORK OF HIS SPIRIT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE EVENTS OF ACTS. IT REMAINS ACTIVE IN HIS SAINTS EVEN TODAY.

WHILE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ACTS IS TO REVEAL THE CONTINUED TEACHING OF JESUS THROUGH OTHERS, THE BOOK ALSO DEFENDS PAUL AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE FACE OF JEWISH ATTACKS AND ROME.

THE BOOK IS A FULFILLING OF THE COMMAND OF JESUS IN 1:8 TO PREACH THE GOSPEL EVEN TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH.

THE KEYS TO THE BOOK OF ACTS ARE FOUND IN ITS TEACHING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THIS PHRASE FOUND 45 TIMES,

ON THE POWER THAT THE SPIRIT BRINGS, FOUND 11 TIMES,

AND THE OVERALL PURPOSE KEY OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO WITNESS.

IN THE FIRST TEN CHAPTERS, WE SEE THE WORK OF PETER AND OTHERS AS THE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED, PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED, AS WELL AS THE ENTRY OF GENTILES INTO THE EARLY CHURCH.

THE LAST 18 CHAPTERS REFLECT FOR US MAINLY THE WORK OF PAUL AS THE CHURCH IS EXTENDED THROUGH HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS AND PAUL SUFFERS MUCH PERSECUTION AND IS FINALLY IMPRISONED.

ACTS BECOMES A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOSPELS AND THE EPISTLES.

IT REVEALS THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE WORK AND COURAGE OF THE APOSTLES AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AT PENTECOST.

AT THE END OF THE GOSPELS THE APOSTLES WERE AFRAID AND IN HIDING AND WERE DOUBTFUL AND IN DESPAIR.

IN ACTS THEY STAND BEFORE PRIESTS AND PRINCES AND KINGS, BOLDLY PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD.

THE BOOK BRINGS THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE OF JESUS TO “BUILD HIS CHURCH” WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN.

THE BOOK OF ACTS DESCRIBES FOR US HOW GOD USED ISRAEL TO BRING THE GENTILES INTO HIS CHURCH.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT IT WAS NOT THE OBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL THAT RESULTED IN THE GOSPEL BEING EXTENDED TO THE GENTILES.

IT WAS THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL THAT BROUGHT THIS RESULT OF THE GOSPEL EXTENSION TO THE WORLD UNDER THE COMMAND OF JESUS.

IT WAS ALSO THE JEWS WHO INSISTED THAT PAUL BE ARRESTED WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LAST MISSION TRIP IN CHAINS TO ROME.

AFTER THESE THOUGHTS CONCERNING THE DETAILS OF THE FIRST CHAPTER, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO CONSIDER WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TRUE MESSAGE OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS IMPORTANT BOOK.

LET'S LOOK ONCE MORE AT THE STRONG TEACHING GIVEN BY CHRIST IN VERSES 1:6-8

THESE VERSES ARE AMONG THE LAST WORDS JESUS SPOKE ON THE EARTH.

HIS PROMISE TO HIS CHOSEN FEW IS FOUND IN VERSE 5 JUST BEFORE WHEN HE GRANTS THEM THE COMMAND TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR NEW BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

WHILE THERE WERE QUESTIONS AMONG THESE FEW BLESSED MEN CONCERNING THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM, THESE QUESTIONS WERE CENTERED AROUND THE THOUGHT OF THE EARTHLY KINGDOM THEY WANTED TO SEE.

THEY WANTED TO NOT ONLY KNOW WHAT BUT ALSO WHEN.

THE RISEN JESUS QUICKLY AND KINDLY REARRANGES THEIR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS.

FIRST HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT FOR THEM TO KNOW THE TIME WHEN THE KINGDOM WILL ARRIVE.

HE CLEARLY TELLS THEM THAT SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS WITHHELD FROM ALL MEN AND IT RESTS ONLY WITH THE FATHER.

BUT NEXT HE PROVIDES THE ANSWER TO WHAT HE EXPECTS OF THEM AND HOW HE INTENDS TO PROVIDE THE MEANS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO MEET HIS EXPECTATIONS.

POWER WILL BE GIVEN TO THEM AS THE HOLY GHOST ARRIVES AND FROM THAT TIME FORWARD THEY ARE TO BE WITNESSES TO HIM IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE THOUGHTS THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE CONCERNING THIS COMMAND AND POWER GIVEN TO MEET IT.

FIRST:

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT INTENDED FOR US AND THAT WE ARE NOT TO KNOW.

FROM THIS MOMENT UNTIL TODAY, MEN HAVE CONTINUED TO CALCULATE THE TIME OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGDOM.

NO MAN HAS EVER BEEN CORRECT IN HIS CALCULATIONS.

MANY DEVOUT LEADERS HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE ARRIVED AT SOME SPECIAL WISDOM TO KNOW THE TIME.

ALL WHO TRY TO SET THE DATE ARE WRONG.

WE ARE NOT SENT INTO THE WORLD TO BE PROPHETS.

JESUS NEVER USED SUCH WORDS IN HIS COMMAND.

IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT A VEIL HANG BETWEEN US AND GOD CONCERING HIS RETURN.

EACH GENERATION IS TO LIVE ALL OF LIFE EXPECTING THE RETURN TO BE TODAY, AND TO BE ALWAYS AND FOREVER   READY.

WHEN JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY HE USED THE PHRASE  “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE.”

THIS IS HOW WE ARE TO PRAY, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM IS ONLY WITHIN HIS WILL, NOT OURS.

IT IS NOT PROPER TO DWELL ON THIS MATTER.

IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN HE DECIDES AND NOT ONE MINUTE SOONER.

NO AMOUNT OF STUDY  OR PRAYER WILL REVEAL TO US THE MOMENT DECIDED. JESUS WAS CLEAR THAT THIS KNOWLEDGE IS NOT FOR US, SO WE SHOULD NOT WASTE ONE MOMENT OF OUR SHORT TIME HERE TRYING TO KNOW SOMETHING THAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY TOLD US WE CANNOT KNOW.

WE SHOULD REST ONLY IN THE LOVE PROMISED THAT HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR NEVER FORSAKE US.

THIS MATTER SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN AN ISSUE OF FAITH, NOT SIGHT. REMEMBER HOW JESUS ANSWERED THOMAS IN JOHN 20:29 WHEN HE SAID THAT THOMAS BELIEVED BECAUSE HE SAW, BUT BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET BELIEVE.

SECOND:

THERE ARE SOME THINGS FOR US TO RECEIVE.

THE SAVIOR TOLD THE ELEVEN THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE POWER AS THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVED, AND IT DID ARRIVE AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY GRANTED THE POWER PROMISED.

WHEN EACH OF US SAID YES TO JESUS CHRIST WITH OUR HEARTS, MINDS AND OUR BODIES, THIS SAME HOLY INDWELLING OVERCAME US AND RESTS WITHIN US FROM THAT MOMENT UNTIL OUR LAST MORTAL BREATH.

WHILE WE MAY NOT BE GIVEN THE MIRACLE POWER GRANTED TO THE ELEVEN, EACH OF IS GRANTED THE POWER TO DEFEAT SIN IN OUR OWN LIVES AND TO CONVEY TO OTHERS HOW TO DO SO.

WE ARE EACH QUICKEND (MADE ALIVE) IN THE SPIRIT AT THE MOMENT WE ACCEPT THE GIFT OF HIS GRACE.

WE ARE GIVEN MORAL POWER TO RESIST TEMPTATION, TO SPEAK AND INFLUENCE OTHERS WITH OUR TESTIMONY, AND TO BE EXAMPLES OF DEVOTION, LOVE AND PATIENCE.

THESE ARE THE PHYSICAL GRACES GIVEN.

SPIRITUAL GRACE AND POWER IS ALSO GIVEN TO US.

WE BECOME ONE WITH GOD, UNITED WITH HIM AS ONE BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AND ARE FOREVER HIS CHILD.

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND ITS ANSWERS IS THE STRONGEST FORM OF OUR SPIRITUAL POWER, FOR IT IS COMMUNION WITH GOD ONE ON ONE.

THIRD:

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR US TO BE.

NOTICE THAT JESUS DID NOT SAY “HERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO”. HE SAID WE ARE TO BE WITNESSES.

WE ARE TO WITNESS TO ALL WE MEET IN WORD AND DEED THAT WE ARE HIS.

WE ARE TO WITNESS ONLY HIS GOSPEL TO THE WORLD, AND TO WHAT HE HAS DONE IN OUR OWN LIVES.

WE ARE TO SAY:

“HERE I STAND AS PROOF OF WHAT THE LORD CAN DO.

I AM HIS SERVANT, SAVED AND MADE WHOLE BY HIS BLOOD,

REDEEMED FROM SIN FOREVER ONLY BY HIS POWER,

AND I AM A LIVING MONUMENT TO HIS LOVE.”

WE ARE TO WITNESS THE GOSPEL ONLY AND ARE TO STAND READY TO DEFEND IT AND CONTEND FOR IT WHEN CALLED TO DO SO.

WE MUST NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE POWER OF THE EXAMPLE WE ARE TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS DESCRIBED IN JOHN 13:35.

WE SHALL BE KNOWN AS HIS BY THE LOVE WE SHOW ONE TO ANOTHER.

WE HAVE BECOME PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE HIS HIGHEST HONOR WHICH IS TO LIVE FOR HIM AND NO OTHER.

SOME ARE CALLED TO DIE FOR HIM AND THEY ARE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER UP THEMSELVES.

WE ARE CALLED AND BLESSED TO LIVE FOR HIM.

THIS FIRST CHAPTER OF ACTS IS THE POINT AT WHICH ALL FOUR GOSPELS COME TOGETHER.

MATTHEW ENDS WITH THE RESURRECTION AND THE GREAT COMMISSION.

MARK ENDS WITH THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE ASCENSION.

LUKE ENDS WITH THE NEED TO AWAIT THE POWER TO COME.

JOHN ENDS WITH THE PROMISE THAT HE WILL COME AGAIN.

ALL THESE ARE THE DIVINE PLAN AND EACH IS A FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WORK JESUS BEGAN AND EXPECTS US AS BELIEVERS TO CONTINUE UNTIL HIS RETURN.

SOME PEOPLE LOOK BACK TO THE TIME PRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS AS A TIME THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST TIME TO LIVE DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH.

I SAY IT WILL BE A FAR BETTER THING TO BE HERE AT THE END OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH.

SO LORD, YOUR CHILDREN ARE IMPATIENT, SO PLEASE HURRY THE RAPTURE.