ACTS: THE UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT OF GOD

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

 Acts 1–2 

Why is it important to study the book of Acts? Some view it as a history lesson of the early church. While certainly true, that is not its only value to modern day believers. The book of Acts is a definitive statement of mission for the church. It not only tells us what did happen, it tells us what should be happening in the life of the church today.

1. The message and the messenger

Vss 1:1–11 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3to 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. 4And 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; 5for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8But 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.” 9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11who 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.

• The purpose of the book is to reveal the work of Jesus through the Acts of the Apostles
• Jesus gave them a clear directive of what He would do and what He expects us to do (vs 8)
• We are promised a secure future because of the work of Christ
• The message is the Gospel, the messenger is us
• Oswald Chamber said, “If Jesus Christ is only a teacher, then all he can do is to tantalize us, to erect astandard we cannot attain to; but when we are born again of the Spirit of God, we know that he did not come only to teach us, he came to make us what he teaches we should be.”[1]

2. The preparation for the messenger 

Vss 12-14 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

• The disciples gathered together for a time of prayer with a few others as they trusted Christ to fulfill His promise
• Peter explains the difficult journey they had experienced in the death of Christ, and now the absence of Christ
• They choose another to replace Judas who had experienced the same ministry the others had at the side of Christ
• Sitting with Him is the preparation we need before going for Him
• But we must remember, as J. Vernon McGee said, “There is no way that we can duplicate this period today. Remember that this is in a time period, a time capsule, between His ascension into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit. You and I do not live in that time period. It cannot be duplicated. We are not waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit; He came over nineteen hundred years ago.”[2]

3. The fulfillment of the promise

Vss 2:1-8 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

• The Holy Spirit appeared which proved Jesus’ promise that the presence of God would forever be with His people
• The unity experienced in those first few moments was the catalyst to a worldwide movement
• This is the beginning of the New Testament church and the mission of His followers
• Every person who has accepted Christ as Savior has the exact same gift as every person from Acts 2

4. The beginning of the work

Vss 36-41 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38Then 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. 39For 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.” 40And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

• As Peter preached, God began to move in the hearts of the hearers
• Through the work of the promised Holy Spirit, people were drawn to Him

• The mission of the church is described

Vss 42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

• They cherished the Word

“The man who is in the direct line from the Apostles is the man who preaches the doctrine of the Apostles, the man who has the spirit of the Apostles in him.”[3] – David Martin Lloyd Jones

• They longed for His presence
• They were together in unity
• They met the needs of others
• They worshipped together
• They reached others with the Gospel

[1] Martin Manser, ed., Christian Quotations (Martin Manser, 2016).

[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 1-14), electronic ed., vol. 40 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 21.

[3] Tony Sargent, Gems from Martyn Lloyd-Jones: An Anthology of Quotations from “the Doctor” (Milton Keynes, England;  Colorado Springs, CO;  Hyderabad, AP: Paternoster., 2007), 10.