April 24, 2022
Morning Service

Well, here we are the first Sunday after the resurrection.  His resurrection is one of the most astounding events in history, and you and I share in this event. We have chosen to follow the teachings of Jesus, and His Apostles.  Their teachings are in our Holy Bible.  The most marvelous book of all time. It is truly the Infallible Word of God, to mankind. Since we are a part of this history I want to stir up a desire in your heart to read this book that we have started a study on Sunday evenings, the Book of Acts.

Greg mentioned the big let down, when they saw Him on Calvary, and then the joy that they experienced knowing He had arisen.  NOW WHAT?

Now, Since Dr. Luke wrote this book, and his gospel, I thought it might be good to hear from him this morning.

·        (Luk 1:1)  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, (Luk 1:2)  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; (Luk 1:3)  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, (Luk 1:4)  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

·        (Act 1:1)  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (Act 1:2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (Act 1:3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Act 1:4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (Act 1:5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

And, they waited in the upper room until the day of Pentecost, and this is when they were all (120) baptized with the Holy Ghost.  A significance has been found in the fact, that the law was given from Sinai, on the fiftieth day after the deliverance from Egypt. Compare Exodus 12 and Exodus 19. In the Exodus, the people were offered to God as living first fruits; at Sinai, their consecration to him as a nation was completed. The typical significance of the Pentecost is made clear, from the events of the day recorded, in the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 2. Just as the appearance of God on Sinai was the birthday of the Jewish nation, so was the Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian Church.

We found that in chapter one,

1.      He taught the Apostles for 40 days, and then ascended into heaven.

2.     They chose another to fill the office of Apostle that Judas held, Matthias.

Chapter two;

1.      On the day of Pentecost, the 120 that waited in the upper room were baptized with the Holy Ghost, to receive the power to witness of the resurrection of Jesus. 

2.     Peter preaches the first sermon.  3000 were added to their group.  Acts 2:38 the plan of salvation.

3.     They actually started a type of commune. Being rejected by their families.

 

Chapter three;

1.      Starts out with Peter healing a lame man.

2.     We see Peter preaching another sermon, his second.  In each of his sermons, he brings great conviction to their hearts, on how that they were the ones that crucified God’s Son, or Christ.

Chapter four;

1.      We see the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders.  Put the Apostles in jail.

2.     However, there were 5000 that believed Peter’s message concerning the resurrection of Jesus.

3.     The leaders recognize that a miracle has happened on the lame man.  So all they can do is threaten the Apostles, and let them go, for they feared the people.

4.     When the Apostles were re-united with the other followers they told them what the religious leaders told them, and they all together prayed that they would receive power to preach the Word with great boldness.  And the place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost again.

5.     They also continued in their communal type of living. Selling what they had and bringing it to the feet of the Apostles.

Chapter five;

1.      Here we see the story of Ananias, and his wife Sapphira. Great fear came on the church.  They lied on how much they sold some property for.

2.     (Act 5:12)  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.  This was a very exciting time for the church, many people believed.

3.     The Apostles were thrown jail again, and were told not to preach or teach in this name anymore.  However, and angel of the Lord releases them, and tells them to go speak this gospel message in the temple.  And they do.

4.     The Jewish leaders find the cell empty, and find them in the Temple, and say to them “did we not tell you not to speak in this man’s name?”  Peter and the other Apostles answered “we ought to obey God rather than men.”

5.     Then Peter preaches to them another convicting message. After the council had threatened, and beaten them, (Act 5:41)  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Act 5:42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Chapter six;

1.      The choosing of the first deacons. The people chose 7 men.

2.     Stephen is taken, and false witnesses make accusations against him.  And then this happens; (Act 6:15)  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

This brings us to where we are at tonight.  Chapter 7, Bro. Sam will speak on the sermon that Stephen delivers to the council.  Longest sermon in the Bible. 

We must continually point people to this Glorious book, and the truth that we find in it.