Gospel Of The Holy Spirit

GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Our Christ, our responsibility

9-1-02

Acts 1:1-15

Join me today in the Book of Acts.

Luke started this book … for at least two reasons:

· First, as an extension of the Gospel of Luke … that presented Jesus as the Christ … and told of his life and teachings… and

· Second, as a history of the Church.

Luke was one of the world’s most renowned historians.

And as a history … this has become and unending story.

His story stopped just short of the execution of Paul … and Peter. But the story continues.

The Church is still growing.

People are hearing and responding to the Gospel wherever it is proclaimed accurately and clearly.

Each of us will add to today’s chapter… as we live our lives … and witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some refer to the Book of Acts as the gospel of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a look:

Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, (This refers back to the Gospel of Luke) O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Luke wanted to be sure that many, many people witnessed the resurrected Jesus.

Matthews tells us that the Jewish leadership put out a story that disciples had stolen the body.

However, the testimony of the round-the-clock palace guards was not mentioned.

Luke attempts to remove all doubts by reminding us that Jesus appeared many times and many places to many people under differing circumstances.

Actually, many more than 500 saw … spoke to … and listened to Jesus between his resurrection and his ascension.

The law only requires 2 or more witnesses to establish a FACT.

4 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.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

As a history ... it starts with the birth of the Church—at Pentecost—and continues upward ... and onward ... through the epistles.

It’s a timeline... upon which we can hang each epistle ... like the branches of a tree ... each one at the right place ... at the right time ... for the right reason.

THE KEY VERSE: 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The book breaks along the divisions of verse 8:

· Chapters 1-7, work of the HS in Jerusalem

· Chapter 8-12, work of the HS in Judea and Samaria …

· The remainder, Work of the HS unto the uttermost part of the earth.

That includes the church at Alligator Point ... and everywhere we, as believers, find ourselves.

Jesus still holds his churches in his hand ...

He still walks among the candlesticks ...

He still has messages for his churches ...

The Holy Spirit is still active giving power to believers ... and glory to the Son.

This is a story, which will not end until the RAPTURE!

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We SHALL receive POWER ... when the HOLY GHOST is come upon us... and WE SHALL BE WITNESSES.

If there is no SHALL in your life … you better start praying.

You may have a loose connection … either

· In your salvation circuit … or

· In your Lordship circuit.

If you are NOT witnessing…

If you don’t feel the Power of the Holy Spirit…