H2O Church
This is our annual walk through the book of Acts. In this talk, we'll be looking at the significance of the Kingdom of God, the giving of the Holy Spirit, and the Ascension of Jesus.
This is the story of the early believers in Jesus. These guys rocked the world, growing from 120 to 5-8 Million in 300 years, while experiencing about 13 waves of persecutions, by various emperors from the Roman Empire and STANDING TALL, proclaiming “Jesus is Lord” and refusing to say “Caesar is Lord.” In fact, the more Christians were put to death, the more the church grew. The story ends up with Christians facing gladiators and lions in the Roman coliseumand not backing down. All they had to do was deny that Jesus was Lord, but they refused, and hundreds & thousands died.
“There is no greater drama in human record than the sight of a few Christians, scorned or oppressed by a succession of emperors, bearing all trials with a fierce tenacity, multiplying quietly, building order while their enemies generated chaos, fighting the sword with the word, brutality with hope, and at last defeating the strongest state that history has known. Caesar and Christ had met in the arena, and Christ had won.” Will Durant
Acts 1:1 ESV
The Author of Acts=Luke.
The recipient of Acts= “most excellent Theophilus.”
Acts 1:2 ESV
Luke, vol. 1, was “about all that Jesus began to do and teach UNTIL the day he was taken up to heaven."
Luke, vol. 2 (ACTS) is all about that Jesus did, AFTER He was taken up to heaven.
Acts 1:3-5 ESV
Things you need to know about the Holy Spirit
(1) The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Trinity, thus, GOD.
(2) Only special believers given a SPECIAL TASK received the Holy Spirit in the times of the Old Testament.
(3) A NEW and DIFFERENT work of the Holy Spirit is predicted, as we look forward to the New Testament. (Joel 2:28-29)
4. The Coming of the Holy Spirit was predicted through the ministry of Jesus and called The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11)
(5) The Holy Spirit is poured out on the church once Jesus ascends to be enthroned as Lord of all. (Acts 2:22-23, 32-33)
"This is the good news: we are no longer waiting for the Holy Spirit - He is waiting for us. We are no longer living in a time of promise, but in the days of fulfillment." - Billy Graham
Acts 1:6 ESV
Genesis 12:1-3 ESV
Acts 1:7-8 ESV
John 14:12-13 ESV
Acts 1:9-11 ESV
The Ascension of Jesus changes everything because Jesus now runs the universe.
To the disciples of Jesus, His ascension into Heaven was to sit at the right hand of God the Father; it was HIS CORONATION AS KING OF THE UNIVERSE. The ascension of Jesus doesn’t mean we get LESS of Jesus; it means we get MORE.