Living Acts Chapter 29
Start series by saying “Turn to Acts 29, please. . .” They can’t, there isn’t one!
We are responsible to LIVE Acts 29. Each day we get up, and we pick up a pen and paper, and we write our verse of chapter 29. What does it say? Does it look like the first 28 chapters?
Most of our churches are NOT living Acts 29.
- California church sitting on $2 million property, no services on Sunday, because only 1 person besides (working) pastor comes to church.
- Another church I heard about where the laymen were pushing for an outreach program, and the pastor said “I just don’t think it’s necessary.”
- A member of a church spoke to me recently, telling me that they had a new family coming to church, and asked the pastor if he’d do a Bible study with them on their level. “That’s just not my thing – I don’t feel comfortable with it.”
- A friend of mine grew his church rapidly – and then split off the denomination where he was. . . took in a bunch of new members against the church by-laws so he could get it passed.
THAT’S NOT Acts 29!
Acts 1:1 ¶ 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."
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
There are 5 things you need to remember if we are to live in Acts 29:
1. We are the continuation of Jesus’ ministry. “Of all that Jesus both began to do and teach. . .”
This is why we are called - “The body of Christ.”
Look at what Jesus did, you’ll see what the church did.
- You see him preaching, they preached.
- you see Him praying, they prayed.
- You see Him filled with the spirit, they were.
- You see Him healing, they did.
- He even raised the dead, and they did.
- You see Him showing compassion, they did.
- You see him sacrificing his life, they did.
And now, 2000 years later, can it be said that we are doing what Jesus did? Whatever Church History IS, it SHOULD be the record of a group of people that carry on where Jesus left off!
2. We have a message that is certain. “Presented himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days and speaking. . .” (V. 3)
The truth of our message does not rest on experience. It’s a thousand miles from only a subjective “You ask me how I know he lives, He lives within my heart.” He’s alive, and has proved it WITHOUT a DOUBT!
3. We have a Spirit that is empowering us.
“...you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (V. 5)
If you are not entirely sanctified (I Thes. 5:23-24), you need to become so. Surrender control of yourself to Jesus Christ.
I’ll say more about this next Sunday.
Ephesians 5:18 tells us “be BEING filled with the Holy Spirit. . .” It’s not just a one-time event, it’s an event followed by a process of STAYING full, staying in touch, staying dependent. . .
4. We have a mandate to spread the Gospel until he comes. 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."
5. We have a King who is returning.
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
John A Boor- I had an opportunity to work in a bakery while going to high school. I remember one particular day when the telephone rang and one of the ladies went to answer it. She put down the phone like it was hot and yelled, “He’s coming!” I wondered what in the world was going on. The ladies ran for their hair nets and men ran for clean aprons and clean caps. The boss told me to sweep the floor, and cover all the containers. There was a wild and excited look in his eyes. Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I thought to myself, “Who is coming?” Suddenly through the front door entered a man in a suit with a case under his arm. As I observed him he began to walk around and check the bakery for any health hazards. I then realized that he was the state inspector for the Board of Health. After he left everyone breathed a sigh of relief and went back to work. One of the ladies told me that all the places of business always watched out for each other. The first one to see the inspector coming would then call the other business. They had a system of warning. When Jesus comes again there won’t be time to prepare a speech on all the good things we have been involved in. There won’t be time to tell him how our neighbors and friends hindered us in His service.
If we will keep these things fresh in our hearts, we will live in Acts 29!
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HANDOUT
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Living Acts Chapter 29
Acts 1:1 ¶ 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."
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
*refers to the book of Luke, the companion volume of Acts.
1. We have responsibility to _______________ Jesus’ ministry. “Of all that Jesus both began to do and teach. . .”
Look at what Jesus did, you’ll see what the church did.
- You see him preaching, they preached. (Acts 2, 3, 8, 10, etc)
- you see Him praying, they prayed. (Acts 2, 4, etc.)
- You see Him filled with the spirit, they were. (Acts 2, etc.)
- You see Him healing, they did. (Acts 3)
- He even raised the dead, and they did. (Acts 9)
- You see Him showing compassion, they did. (Acts 2:44-45)
- You see him sacrificing his life, they did. (Acts 7)
2. We have a _______________ that is certain. “Presented himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days and speaking. . .” (V. 3)
The truth of our message does not rest on ________________ alone. He’s alive, and has proved it WITHOUT a DOUBT!
3. We have a _____________ that is empowering us.
“...you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (V. 5)
4. We have a ______________ to spread the Gospel until he comes. 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."
5. We have a ___________ who is returning.
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
