Beacon Hill Church

Acts is not simply the historical record of the beginning of the Christian church, but it is a guide to the work and power of the Holy Spirit to expand the Christian message and establish the church.


The author of Acts is Luke. Acts is volume two of Luke’s two-volume series on the origins and expansion of Christianity. Volume one is the Gospel of Luke. (see Luke 1:1-3 and Acts 1:1-2)

· The Gospel of Luke tells us what Jesus did, and Acts tells what He expects His followers to do, both then and now through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.


The theme for the book in Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)

IN HIS LAST WORDS SPOKEN ON THIS EARTH, JESUS HIGHLIGHTS TWO THEMES: POWER AND PROCLAMATION

· POWER: Characterized by supernatural healings, deliverances, miracles and spiritual warfare.

· PROCLAMATION: The cross-cultural proclamation of the message and subsequent expansion of the Christian faith.

According to Ephesians 2:2 the devil is known as the “prince of the power of the air”


This world never rightfully belonged to Satan, but to its Creator

Through the fall of Adam and Eve sin entered the world and the dominion of sin, and of Satan began.

· Strongholds have resulted and through these strongholds of sin, Satan succeeded in usurping power and control of human beings and the natural order.

· The situation changed radically through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

WHAT ARE “THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”?

AND TO WHOM IS HE GIVING THEM?


· Keys represent the authority over the power and dominion of the evil one, which comes through the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ.


· Jesus is passing on to His church His authority or control to bind and to loosen on earth.

The Holy Spirit quickens the Word, illuminates the Word, just as He inspired the Word.

The “sword of the Spirit” is “the Word of God”. It is not that simply that Spirit is the one who supplied the Word. But, the Spirit is the one who gives the Word its effectiveness, its cutting edge.