Resources Acts 1 - 4 : 20 The Acts of the Apostles The Church Started Week one We will over the next three weeks be looking at the Acts of the Apostles. An overview of the first nine chapters is the plan and it will hopefully go something like this .... OHP 1 Today we will be looking at Acts 1 - 4 : 20 'The Church Started' We will be looking at the following outline ... OHP 2 and dealing with the three main issues ..... By way of introduction, let me place the book of Acts in it's historical setting and look at it's overall themes and purpose. It is an historical book. Written by Luke - a doctor and companion of Paul on a number of his missionary journeys. It is the same Luke who wrote the third gospel and it is if you like a follow up to that gospel. The teachings of Jesus written about and shown in his gospel are taken up and followed, continued by the apostles. It is a book that quite simply, yet graphically and in much detail outlines for us the actions of the Apostles, the beginnings of the early church and provides for us an excellent overview and setting for all the epistles of Paul and others that follow. It's primary purposes are to provide a history, an account of the beginnings of Christianity, the early church, the spread of the gospel. It provides a defence of the Christian faith - to within a Jewish, Roman and Greek culture and background. It shows the triumph of the Christian faith in adversity - not only Christ's death and resurrection, but the believer and the church overcoming persecution. It leaves us with a guide on how to deal with specific situations - leaving behind principles which continue with the church in every age. So we come to ... The Saviour's Commission - Acts 1 : 1 - 9 Written with different emphasis in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John but all with the same over riding theme - of going, being sent out ... My witnesses Acts records it .... beginning in your home city of Jerusalem, then the outer regions then on to Samaria, followed by the other countries - even to the ends of the earth. And this is what the Book of Acts records for us ... the fulfilment of the Saviour's commission to his followers. Butt firstly, they had to wait ... ( but while they waited - note what they did - v 14 read and enlarge ) ... wait in Jerusalem ... and then, at the right time - go and be my witnesses - a main theme in Acts. A number of times you will come across this statement - 'we are witnesses, you are witnesses ...' What where they to witness about ? Everything they had seen and heard while being with Jesus ... witnesses to the resurrected, living Lord Jesus, witnesses to his final words and ascension in to heaven ... The call for the believer is yes to go ... and be a witness for Jesus. The Saviour's commission to you and I is no less or no more than to the first followers of Jesus. Testify, be a witness of what you have seen, heard, know, have experienced. Wherever you go ... be my witness says Jesus. A major challenge for us all .... enlarge How can we be a witness - it's so difficult in our day etc Well the disciples were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. He will empower them and enable them to be witnesses. ( The Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of all believers at new birth - enlarge ) The Spirit's Coming - Acts 1 : 12 - 2 : 13 It would be the power of the Holy Spirit that would enable the believers to be the very witnesses that Jesus commanded them to be. The Holy Spirit would fill the believers - filling implying 'control' ( enlarge ) The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in a most dramatic way, evident for all who were present in the room to know of the event, and the results of the event enabled the disciples to communicate with people in all the various languages that were around. The Holy Spirit was the very presence of Jesus himself. Jesus had to leave, saves John ... it's for your good that I am going. If I don't go, then the Counsellor ( the HS ) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. The HS, the third person of the trinity, equal with God the Father and God the Son. Dwelling with them in eternity, with them in all of creation and the outworking of God's purposes on earth. The HS who would indwell all believers and do a specific work - The very presence of God / Jesus with the believer at all times. 'I will never leave you' 'the Spirit of Truth will be with you' 'He will guide you, teach you, remind you of everything I have said' 'My peace I leave with you' Through the work of the HS conviction will come. Mankind will never be convicted of their sin and the need of repentance - unless by the work of the HS. ( enlarge ) The disciples were given a great task, but they were given the very presence of Jesus himself to accompany them in this work. You and I have a great task ahead ... we too ( as believers ) have the very presence of Jesus, dwelling within us. So let's take a look at The Sudden Changes - Acts 2 : 14 - 4 : 20 The promise of Jesus fulfilled / the promise of the Father fulfilled, with the coming of the Holy Spirit. His promise to them that he would not leave them alone, he would not leave them as orphans. 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you' And we see in their lives 'Sudden Changes' as a result. These were the disciples who six weeks earlier had all deserted him. These are the disciples who denied him ,doubted him, hid in fear of their lives and even went back to their old day jobs - perhaps wondering if it was all over. But it wasn't ... it was just beginning. The church was about to be 'Started' established. What changed them ... They met the risen Lord Jesus ... he was dead ... but he was alive ... read again 1 : 3 ( enlarge ) They were no longer fearful ... in fact, they were meeting together, they were praying, they read from the scriptures, the scriptures were taught - there were about 120 of them. They waited and rested on the Lord and when the Holy Spirit came the changes in their lives and ministry were so sudden that they shocked all who knew them. Peter preached .... to a hostile, barracking crowd ... 2 : 12 ff ( Use highlighted section of chapter two to enlarge and challenge ... ) The disciples were changed, people were changed ... 3000 added on that day alone ... They devoted themselves to ... apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer. They shared all that they had together, they met each others needs, they met daily in the temple courts and in their houses. They were glad and sincere in heart, they praised God with their lives ... the Lord added to their number every day ... Sudden changes .... What about the crippled man we spoke of earlier sudden changes leading to him worshipping and praising God. When people saw what happened ... they flocked to the event ... what did Peter do ? did he run and hide in fear? did he think things are getting out of hand? No, he simply told them the good news - the gospel and what they needed to do in response. ( enlarge ) The events caused such a stir, that Peter and John were brought before the religious authorities - they were put to jail for the night. They spoke boldly to all the leaders under the power and control of the Holy Spirit who was within them. As a result of the message the church had now grown to about five thousand - men. The Church had Started ... The Saviour's Commission was being fulfilled. The Spirit had come and indwelt all who believed. The result was Sudden Changes as the promise of Jesus was lived out. The over ridding message of these early chapters is this - That Jesus Christ is alive and well. What are you doing with that information ....... believers? ..... those who don't believe? Back to top of page

Orrell Park Baptist Church

Home · About OPBC · Christianity Explained · Visitors Orrell Park Community · Church Activities · Coming Up · Resources