Acts 1:4-26 | Anchored Part 2
Acts Part 2
Recap:
Jesus has risen from the dead
He appeared to a lot of people over 40 days than ascended to heaven
We begin this week with Jesus last command to His disciples:
Acts 1:4-26
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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
Jesus is preparing to leave. To return to the Father
While he was with them can be translated while He was eating with them
Jesus reminded them that He had promised the Holy Spirit would be sent
Before Pentecost:
Luke 24:49
And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
John 14:16-18
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
John 15:26-27
“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — He will testify about Me. You also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
How do we receive that today?
After Pentecost:
1st Corinthians 12:13
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Past tense. Done deal.
We were all baptized
We were all made to drink
Quote from Dr. R.C. Sproul:
"Salvation is of the Lord from beginning to End. Yes, I must believe. Yes, I must receive Christ. But for me to say 'Yes' to any of those things, my heart must first be changed by the sovereign, effectual power of God the Holy Spirit. Soli Deo Gloria."
Holy Spirit is given at salvation
All believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit
Made to drink means there is no option, no 2nd filling needed
Christians need to stop seeking
a separate experience with the Holy Spirit
apart from their salvation and recognize what has already happened.
When someone asks you, “Have you received the Holy Spirit”, you can say yes. At salvation. This is what the Bible teaches.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”
Even up to this moment, Jesus disciples fully expected Him to take over the local and national government.
Jesus shut that down and told them it’s none of their business
Jesus also let them know what was their business:
Power will be given to them when they receive the counselor, God the Holy Spirit, the helper, when He comes
Witness to Christ will come from this to all the world
Authentic evangelism is ALWAYS Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-directed.
Never is this an independent act of the disciple
The Ascension
9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 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.”
Jesus is taken up into heaven right in front of them
Two angels appear and let them know He is gone
They also let them know this is how He will return
Matthew 24:30-31
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Solid eschatology
United in Prayer
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away.
Mount of Olives is east of Jerusalem, and about 200 feet higher in elevation than the city
Half a mile away. This is the furthest jews were allowed to travel under religious jurisdiction without “working”
13 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. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Whirlwind time period. So much had happened in the last 47+ days
Jesus had entered Jerusalem loved and honored
He had been brought up on charges He did not commit
He had been beaten brutally, and put on a cross, the worst way to die
Darkness had enveloped the earth for three hours before he gave up His life (Luke 23:44-46)
Temple curtain covering the Holy of Holies had been ripped open from TOP to BOTTOM (Matthew 27:51)
Others came back to life AFTER Jesus gave up His life, and walked into Jerusalem and presented themselves (Matthew 27:50-53) Jesus hadn’t even come back yet
Disciples watched a spear puncture his lungs and heart sack
They had put Him in a grave (cave) guarded by soldiers
Jesus had come back to life and appeared first to a woman (Mary)
Then He appeared to the others
For forty days He talked about Heaven and their calling
Disciples:
Peter- One of the top three, denied Christ verbally 3x, preached first sermon at Pentecost, crucified upside down
James- Also called James the greater, One of the top three, denied Christ by desertion, brother of John,
John- Brother of James, one of the top three. Wrote Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John, and Revelation
Andrew- Peter’s brother. Fisherman, the first follower of Jesus. Was John the Baptist’s disciple. Not chosen to be one of the top three
Philip- From the same area as Peter and Andrew. Brought Bartholomew to Jesus
Thomas- Known as doubting Thomas. Said he wouldn’t believe until He felt the holes in Jesus' hands and side.
Bartholomew- Also known as Nathanael. Jesus said there was no deceit in him. Was the one who said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Matthew- The tax collector. Dirty. Everyone hated him. Jesus called him, and he followed immediately. Wrote the first gospel, Matthew.
James the son of Alpheus- Also called James the less. Brother of Jude. Present in the upper room and at Pentecost
Simon the Zealot- fanatical nationalist. Hated the Romans. Only mentioned 3x. Jesus called him, everything changed
Judas the son of James- Also known as Thaddeus. Brother of James the less. Also a zealot. Fierce nationalist.
Matthias Chosen
15 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,
16 “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.
Supposed room before pentecost.
120 disciples together
Scared and nervous
Judas fulfilled prophecy
His deceit was not missed by Almighty God
17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. 19 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”). 20 “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. (Psalm 55:12-15)
21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 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.”
A man is to be chosen who had been a part of the whole ministry
Literally, one who had chosen to follow, serve and sacrifice with no recognition. Huge.
23 So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Justus and Matthias. Godly men who had labored quietly for years
God’s plan for Matthias was to become an apostle
God’s plan for Justus was to remain where he was
I know we are all available to be Matthias. Chosen because of our years of service. Sacrifice. Hard work.
But whom among us is ok with being Justus. Not even ok, who volunteers for this position?
Here am I, Lord! Choose me to be…unseen. (for your glory!)
Here am I, Lord! Choose me to be…the forgotten one. (for your glory!)
Here am I, Lord! Choose me to be…disregarded by all. (for your glory!)
Discipleship Group Questions!
1.) Who is this passage about?
Jesus, the disciples
Judas Iscariot
Other men and women disciples not named
Call them out by name
2.) What is this passage about?
Answering a call
Obedience without reward
3.) What must you do to obey the precepts in this passage?