Are You In A Receiving And Giving Mode? (In That Order)

Are You In A Receiving and Giving Mode? (In that order)

Acts 1:1-8NKJ

Peanuts cartoon:

Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I would have made a great evangelist." Charlie Brown answers, "Is that so?"

She says, "Yes, I convinced that boy in front of me in school that my religion is better than his religion."

Charlie Brown asked, "Well, how did you do that?" Lucy answers, "I hit him over the head with my lunch box." (Pause)

The greatest proof a non-believer can ever receive comes from men and women who are turned on to the Gospel! Turned on to the Word of God.

It’s so easy to think, “O, it just the book of Acts or one of the other 65 books of God’s word.” However, the Bible is the only book breathed on by God Himself. God needs individuals without pretense, and without apologies, just turned-on to Jesus Christ mixed with the living active word of God!

“Individuals who believe, receive and just trust that Jesus Christ gives them what they need to carry on.” P.H.

Acts 1:1-8NKJ The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Think about this thought for a minute, Jesus died on a cross while believing in everything He taught and did. Wow!

Acts 1:1aNLT In my first book I told you, Theophilus

What book is the writer speaking of? The Book of Luke. What Jesus did on a daily basis was recorded.

Acts 1:1bNLT…about everything Jesus began to do and teach.

Jesus did and taught- Most of us teach and sometimes apply the teaching; however, Jesus did the miraculous and then He taught. (He did it Himself before He expected others too.)

James the half brother to Jesus said, When a person doesn’t apply what they hear, they forget it. (James 1:22-23)

Jesus’ ministry was His Fathers ministry. Therefore, when you follow Jesus’ teaching you’re fulfilling the Father’s will.

His main mission was to show us His Father!

I love verse 2, because Jesus was faithful with His Fathers plan until the end!

Acts 1:2NLT Until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

Further instructions: Meaning remember My teachings, remember the crucifixion, the resurrection; Moreover, follow the Holy Spirit I promised you!

In other words verse 2 says to every believer, “I’m giving you further instructions; What to expect and then I’m giving you power to live!”

Acts 2:38-39NKJ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This Outpouring of the Spirit … is not a Special Blessing … for a Special Few .... in a Special Age.

It Is For All … All who have truly repented … And believe in the gospel. It is for all … All who have found remission of sin … in the blood of the Lamb.

The promise is for you ....and for your children ....and for all … whom the Lord our God will call.

What a precious gift... What … a precious Promise.

Acts 1:3NLT During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and He proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.