Promises, Promises, Promises Series

PROMISES, PROMISES, THE PROMISES

Acts 1:4-11

INTRODUCTION:

A. Promises

1. They flow so easily

a. But how soon we forget - Parents, how may of us can remember when we promised our children something, of which we did not follow through on, just to hear them say – “But dad, you promised!”

b. Quit an indictment, don’t you think?

2. May promises are made today but it seems to few are kept.

- I think we can look at the 50% divorce rate and see that many are not keeping their promises

3. That word “promise” has become “cheep” in may people’s vocabulary.

4. So much so that often when one hears another make a promise they just shake their heads and mumble: Promises, Promises, Promises!

B. However, this is not true when it comes to God!

1. For instance, God made a promises that a Savior would come in Genesis 3 and we see the fulfillment of that promise in Luke 2 – that is just one example, I know

2. But God has made plenty more of them, in fact Peter has told us that we have been given exceeding great and precious promises:… 2 Peter 1:4

3. God has always made good on His promises and He always will

C. Here in our text for this morning we see three of those precious promises.

1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit To Be Sent

2. The Promise of Power To Be Had

3. The Promise of Jesus’ Return

D. May we learn to trust God, believing in His promises and stand to sing with the hymnist Kelso Carter

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Throu’ eternal ages let His praises ring

Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God

PRAY

As I read the text before us this morning I cannot but be amazed at the love of our Savior who has given us so many precious promises, one of which is

I. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE SENT, Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

A. This is not the first time the disciples had heard about this precious promise

1. In John 14 the Apostle John records some words of Jesus – the first ones are of another precious promise – the promise of heaven

2. But that is a different story, what needs our attention this morning is found in John 14:16-17 where Jesus states, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

a. Here Jesus is promising to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the disciples

b. He could promise the Spirit because it was the same Spirit that was with them in Himself!

3. Again we read in John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

a. Jesus was speaking about how the world hated Him and how it would hate them, but he did not want them to worry becasue He was going to provide for them

b. The Holy Spirit would be sent to them, but first He must go to the cross!

4. God sealed His promise of the Spirit with the death, resurrection, and ascension of His only begotten Son!

B. Now to Our Text

1. Jesus as been raise from the dead and is about to ascend back to His Father and He repeats the promise with a command.

2. The promise was that they would be baptized with the Holy spirit

a. An interesting choice of words – baptized – to be immersed into

b. The giving of His Holy Spirit would be total and complete.

3. The command – go to Jerusalem and wait for it!

a. No explanation of how they would know

b. Seems it would be self evident of His coming

4. Notice the Holy Ghost is capitalized – this is a proper noun, a person, not a force, a state of being, or “it”. He is God!

C. We see the promise fulfilled in Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…