Have you ever wondered how the church began? What happened to Jesus after he rose from the dead? Why did He leave and send the Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit and why is He so important? Why does it matter to the church today? Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven – Acts 1v1-11 -Verses 1 &2. The Book of Acts was written by Luke as commissioned by a man named Theophilus to research and report on the life of Jesus Christ and beginning of the church. Luke’s Gospel focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus. Acts begins where the Gospel of Luke ended and continues the story of what happened to Jesus’ followers and the movement that became Christianity. Jesus dominated the four Gospel accounts, but the Holy Spirit dominates the book of Acts. The “Acts of the Apostles” could be called the “Acts of the Holy Spirit!”
- Verse 3 speaks of convincing proofs of Jesus’ resurrection over a period of forty days. 40 days significant in scripture. Period of testing or proving.
-Verse 4: Promise of the Father from the book of John Chs.14&16) In John’s gospel, Jesus spoke extensively about the coming promised Holy Spirit. -Verse 5: Echoes JOHN The Baptist Matthew 3v11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. -Verses 6&7: The disciples were starting to come around but still were earthly kingdom focused, not Gospel kingdom focused. They did not understand the nature of the Kingdom of God. -Verse 8 is a repeat of the great Commission which is found in all 4 gospels. Matthew 28v19-20; Mark 16v15; Luke 24v47; and John 20v21. -Verse 9: What happened to Jesus after he rose from the dead? 40 days – revealed himself to many people, final teachings and instruction to the disciples. -Jesus did not die again after he rose from the dead. Jesus ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He intercedes for us. -Verse 10&11: Two angels appear – Great question. Remember, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Looks ahead to the second coming. Messengers & interpreters. HOLY SPIRIT WOULD LATER FULFILL THAT ROLE FOR US. Second Coming: Daniel 7v13; Matthew 24v30; Mark 13v26; Luke 21v27; John 14v3 and Revelation 1v7 What’s the Point? The Ascension holds a lasting message for those of us who remain. Christians are witnesses. The Holy Spirit is at the centre of our witness. The Holy Spirit is essential to the work of God and the work of the church in the world today. When we forget the Holy Spirit, we forget God. Mark 13v11; John 14v26; 16v7,8; 16v13