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Acts 1:6-8
Sunday Morning Bible Study
May 11, 1997
Introduction
We've seen how the book of Acts is a continuation of Luke's gospel.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared many times to the disciples over a period of forty days.
He's now giving His last farewell instructions before ascending back into heaven.
He's told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
:6-8 The power of the Holy Spirit
:6 Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
restore - apokathistemi - to restore to its former state
It used to be that Israel had a king, and was it's own, independent nation.
But because of their sin and rebellion, God allowed them to lose their kingdom.
The restoring of the kingdom refers to the idea that the Messiah will one day set up His government and rule over Israel, in fact, over the whole earth.
Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
This is in fact what Jesus will do at His second coming, when He comes again with His armies from heaven, conquers the antichrist and the united nations of the world, and sets up His kingdom on earth.
But the apostles were still a little confused, not quite aware that Jesus was going to go to heaven for a while before coming back to establish His kingdom on earth.
:7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.
put - tithemi - to set; to fix, establish
power - exousia - power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
This isn't talking about the Father "putting" the power to restore the kingdom into anyone's hands.
We could translate this as, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has established by His own authority"
It's just like Jesus said earlier,
Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Can we know when Jesus is coming back?
1. Jesus wants us to know when we're getting near.
After giving a whole list of things to look for before His second coming, Jesus said this,
Mt 24:32-33
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.We ought to be able to have an idea when it's near, by the signs of the times.
In other words, it's valuable to study prophecy, so we can have a better idea of how close we are.
When He comes, the exact time is going to be a surprise.
Mt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Lesson:
Live as if Jesus is coming tomorrow.
You might say, "How foolish, expecting something to happen that may not happen in your life!"
But Jesus told us to live as if it would be tomorrow:
Mat 24:45-51
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? {46} Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. {47} Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. {48} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; {49} And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; {50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, {51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Which servant thought that the Lord was delaying His coming?
It was the "evil servant".
And his life proved that this was what he believed.
What does your life prove about what you believe about Jesus' second coming?
:8 But ye shall receive power
Jesus now redirects the disciples back to the main thing.
They're a little distracted in thinking that Jesus is now going to set up His kingdom.
They need to get back to work, preaching the gospel.
Review: We talked last week about three different ways that the Holy Spirit relates to us:
He is alongside us - to comfort, convict, and encourage us.
He is in us - we become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and He dwells in us when we receive Jesus as our Savior.
He comes upon us - giving us power in our lives to do things we'd be unable to do without His help.
Now Jesus is talking about what happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.
Lesson:
Power = Ability
power - dunamis - strength, power, ability
It comes from the verb dunamai - to be able; to be able to do something; to be capable.
I think it's important to understand that this is a very common word, of the 210 times it's used in the New Testament, it's translated simply "can", "cannot", "may", "be able", or "able" 203 of those times.
We often hear people talk about how this word is the basis for our word "dynamite", and then go off talking about the power of God as if it's like dynamite.
I think that's a misunderstanding of the Greek language.
It's not talking about explosive power, it's talking about power in the sense of "ability".
If I have the strength and coordination to pick up a chair, I have the "dunamis" to pick up the chair, the ability to pick it up, that's all.
I think it's important to understand that there are many Greek words that are translated "power", and it's important to see what this word doesn't mean. (I'm only picking out three out of six words that are often translated "power")
It's not "bia" which means "force" or "oppressive power".
It's not "exousia" which means "liberty of action" or "authority" (the word translated back in verse 7 as "power")
It's not "ischus" which means "strength" or "power" in a physical sense. (I think this is the concept we have in mind, but it's the wrong one)
Instead, it's the idea of ability, the ability to do things for God. It's the ability to do what God wants to do through you.
Illustration
If I was to take a glove and command it to play my keyboard, frankly I'm not going to hold my breath.
It doesn't have the "ability" (dunamis) to accomplish it.
But if my hand "fills" the glove, then whatever my hand does, the glove does to.
Suddenly my glove has the ability to play the piano, just like my hand.
When the Holy Spirit fills our lives, we are "enabled" to do whatever the Holy Spirit wants us to do.
Lesson:
What does the Holy Spirit give me the ability (or power) to do?
The miraculous.
(Acts 2:4 KJV) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Acts 5:12 KJV) 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.
The ministry.
(Acts 2:41 KJV) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
(Acts 4:31 KJV) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
The melodious.
Eph 5:18-21
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; {19} Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; {20} Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; {21} Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.All these things flow out of our lives as we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
It might be something as small as the ability to pick up a piece of trash in the parking lot, or something as incredible as laying hands on someone and they are healed by God.
When God fills you, He enables you.
Lesson:
How do I receive this power?
We're going to see in the book of Acts, there are no formulas, but there are many ways to receive the power.
1. Waiting & Prayer
Jesus told the disciples to wait (Acts 1:5), and we know that part of what they did when they waited was to pray.
(Acts 1:14 KJV) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
(Acts 4:31 KJV) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Though we're going to see that God used the laying on of hands, the initial outpouring came by waiting and prayer.
Jesus didn't lay His hands on the apostles.
They just received it directly from heaven through prayer.
2. Laying on of hands.
Several times we see the Lord using the apostles to lay their hands on people to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: {15} Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: {16} (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) {17} Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
There are times that God wants to use other people in our lives to help us come into the power of the Holy Spirit.
He'll use someone to "lay their hands" on us, either physically, or by just using their lives.
The important thing is that though God may use the medium of another person, it's always to get the person receiving it to be dependent upon God, not upon the other person.
3. The Word
During one instance, the Holy Spirit fell on the people right in the middle of a Bible Study!
(Acts 10:44 KJV) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
I believe that the Lord still can pour out His Spirit as we are immersed in His Word.
4. By Faith
There are times when we don't see any particular thing being used, but it still happens anyway.
We understand that the filling of the Holy Spirit primarily comes through faith.
John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. {38} He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {39} (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)If you are thirsty for more of God, then Jesus asks you to come to Him to receive.
He asks you to believe that He will fill you with the Holy Spirit.
It can be done as simply as taking a breath, breathing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
:8 after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you
Lesson:
The power comes from the Holy Spirit.
Every once in a while I hear that someone is "disappointed" in me somehow.
I'm sorry for the times when I've let you down, if I've been unfaithful to what the Lord has asked me to do.
But I find that every once in a while, we are looking to people to fulfill our needs, to fill our emptiness, when the only one who can do that is God.
Illustration
I remember once when a particular sister was having a panic attack, and began to call every pastor she could think of for help.
But nobody was available, everybody was away from the office.
She felt like the Lord said to her, "Hey, I'm still here!"
Illustration
Let's say that you have gone out and bought a nice new microwave oven.
And you're just thrilled with all that it can do.
You can hardly wait until you cook dinner with it.
You can hardly wait until you make popcorn with it.
So you go up to your friend and say, "Gosh, can you make this thing work?" And you hand them the plug to hold.
Nothing happens.
You go to another friend and stick the plug in their ear.
Nothing happens.
It's not until you put the plug into an electric socket that you're ever going to do anything with that microwave oven.
It's not until you come to God for power that you will find things working in your life.
He is the one to give you power.
(Zec 4:6b KJV) … Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
:8 and ye shall be witnesses unto me
Lesson:
The Spirit gives us the ability to witness.
This seems to be one of the primary things that happens when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, he stands up to preach to the crowd, and 3,000 people get saved (Acts 2:41)
When Peter is arrested for healing a man, and brought before the rulers,
(Acts 4:8 KJV) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
And from there he preached to them.
Keep in mind, this is Peter, who had denied the Lord when confronted by a young servant girl, not boldly witnessing to the rulers!
This shows us that it really was the Holy Spirit at work, and not just that Peter was a bold, eloquent preacher!
Do you have a desire to tell others about Jesus Christ?
You need the power of the Holy Spirit.
You can't be a witness without it.
Illustration
A garage man in Mangum, Oklahoma, answered the distress call of a woman motorist, whose car had stalled. He examined the car and informed her that it was out of gas. "Will it hurt," she asked, "if I drive it home with the gas tank empty?"
What a silly question!
Yet we can't be a witness for Jesus without the Holy Spirit either. The car won't even start.
:8 both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Here's an outline to the book of Acts.
By the end of Acts 7, the gospel has gone throughout Jerusalem.
When the first persecution comes with the death of Stephen, the church is scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.
With Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas begin their first missionary journey, taking the gospel to the "uttermost" parts of the earth, with the book of Acts ending with Paul being in Rome.
Lesson:
Growth begins at home.
I think healthy growth, whether personally, or as a church, starts at home.
God wants us to take care of the home front first.
Then we are to expand and reach out.
Warren Wiersbe writes,
No matter where we live, as Christians we should begin our witness at home and then extend it "into all the world."
Dr. Oswald J. Smith used to say,
"The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home."