Gospel Acts.
John 21:24-25
The book of Acts is a continuum of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospel in action. Again, Acts is a continuum of the gospels. The apostle John, John the beloved, and each of the gospel writers actually wrote exactly what they saw, lived and experienced.
John 21:24-25AMP This is the same disciple who is testifying to these things and has recorded them; and we know [without any doubt] that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were recorded one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Actually the world couldn’t contain all the recorded testimonies. Why? Because the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is a gift that keeps on giving.
We, (CECC) have become the gospel in action. In, John 21:3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
These men were discouraged, because Jesus was crucified, and it seemed like the 3 years of personal discipleship was for vain.However, Jesus came to ask His disciples one question: Do you love Me? Yes. Feed My sheep. Some of the last words of Jesus. Feed my sheep, Make disciples of all men.
Therefore, please realize the gospel of, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John flow into the book of (Acts), or the book of action, and this I believe is still being written today!
You’re saved, filled with the Holy Spirit.
You’re a gospel carrier; a good news carrier.
You’re anointed, you’re gifted, and you’re powerful!
Again from the text, John proclaims in, John 21:24 that the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ is true!
September, 1938, a man who lived on Long Island was able one day to satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing for himself a very fine barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked- “Hurricane." After shaking the barometer very vigorously several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument, and on the following morning, on his way to his office in New York, he mailed the letter.That evening he returned to Long Island, to find not only the barometer missing, but his house also. The barometer’s needle had been right. There was a hurricane!
Q&A, Is the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ true, authentic, and solidified in and through your life?
Jesus was born of a virgin birth, He lived obedient to his parents, At age 30, Jesus discipled 12 men, Taught his Father’s word, Performed miracles, Ministered to everyone, especially sinners. He was falsely accused and was placed on a cross, He died, 3 days later, Jesus arouse from the tomb, for 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection he was seen by over 400 people, He performed many miracles, and after 40 days, He acceded, presently, He sits at God’s right hand, interceding.
How can you make a difference? “Live the gospels, and you’re living the book of Acts!” P.H
American businessman, motivational speaker, Joel A. Barker, tells the story of a wise individual - who was a writer - who would go to the beach to do his writing. Before he began his work, he would go for a walk along the shore, One day, during his daily walk, he spied an individual doing what appeared to be dancing to the day! Smiling to himself, he began to walk faster so that he could catch up with this amazing individual! As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man; and, he wasn’t dancing- he was reaching down to pick something up; and, gently throwing it into the ocean. Getting even closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up; and, replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean.” The writer said, "I guess I should have asked, ’Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?’" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And, if I don’t throw them in they’ll die" came the reply! "But young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!” The young man listened politely; then, he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, far past the breaking waves. ’It made a difference for that one,’ he said!”
How can you make a difference? Again, You do the Gospels, and you’ll live the book of Acts.
The gospel of, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are books of love, grace, miracles, faith, healing, deep compassion. It is 4 books that point us to Messiah. Jesus is Lord of new wine, and new wine skins, He’s the God who forgives the most rank sinner. He’s the Lord of the prodigal. And because He’s Lord of the gospels, He is surely Lord of the book of action, (Acts).
There is deep Revelation at the end of the gospels, and at the beginning of Acts. Luke, the writer of Acts pens in:
Acts 1:3AMP To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God.
The four gospels could have been the end, but it’s not. It’s the beginning. The gospel leads to Acts. The book of action.
You see, it’s not enough to hear the gospel message. It must produce change. You must act on it. -The gospel must always lead to Acts.
Acts 1:8NKJV “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.”
Notice, The Holy Spirit was promised in the gospels by Jesus, but couldn’t come until the gospel was fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled the gospels. “-It is finished,” is the greatest words ever spoken.
John 14:16-17AMP And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
“So every time you hear the good news, every time it enters your heart, you must let it turn into Acts. -Otherwise, it’s not complete. The gospel always leads to Acts.” P.H
Again, the book of Acts could never exist on its own. Acts, must always begin with the gospel.
Jesus proclaimed Isaiah 61, in Luke 4. Isaiah 61:1NKJV The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
Isaiah 61, is fulfilled as God’s church proclaims the gospel. Because of Jesus, the gospel we preach is alive. It contains salvation, it contains everything needed to be victorious!
The book of Acts becomes infectious, because of all the many Acts of Messiah throughout the gospels. Jesus paved the way.
As we live, speak and breath the gospel, we become part of the Acts of the apostles.
So you could never produce the Acts of God, or the Acts of godliness on your own. Your Acts must always begin with the good news/Gospel.
Remember, its the good news that prepared 120 to receive the Holy Spirt: Acts 2:1-4NKJV “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Pentecost arrived as the gospel were fulfilled! The church of the living God was birthed after Pentecost.
John 21:25TPT “Jesus did countless things that I haven’t included here. And if every one of his works were written down and described one by one, I suppose that the world itself wouldn’t have enough room to contain the books that would have to be written!”
Notice, the book of Acts doesn’t come with an ending in the last verses. Acts 28:30-31AMP And Paul lived there for two full years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31 preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness and boldness, unhindered and unrestrained.
Paul had much to write, say and teach. Because of Jesus we have a lot to teach, do and say!
James 2:17-26NLT So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
Your ‘Acts’ must always begin with the good news. -There is victory in Jesus!
The mission today, let the gospel produce the Acts of God in your life. Therefore, let all your Acts proceed from the good news!
Get wholly into the gospel, and you will enter the book of Acts.
The gospel of mercy will produce acts of mercy. The gospel of resurrection will produce the Acts of resurrection.
So let the gospel produce its Acts in your life and let the Acts of your life be birthed in the gospel… -The gospel must always bring forth Acts. P.H
Like the new barometer, God's word is always alive, quick and powerful. -It’s always right!
Duane V. Maxey- What the Bible points out is always true. People may think there is something wrong with what the Bible says, and they may write scorching letters to the faithful preachers of God’s Word. Still, the indications and predictions of the Bible will and have come to pass. Many of those who are angered by the truth will one day discover their grievous error. The storm of God’s final Judgment will strike, and all that they have will be swept into eternal destruction!
Revelation 20:15NIV Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Benediction. Come to the God of the gospel, so you can do His mighty Acts/Actions.
