Acts the Thriller
Acts the Thriller
Many of us love to read thrillers. The kind of books you pick up and start and you do not want to stop because you want to know what happened next. Well we have a best seller and thriller in the book of Acts. It lives up to its name of Acts. It is full of acts inspired by the Holy Spirit; unbelievable miracles, plots, intrigues, persecutions and triumphs.
Dr. Luke has done it again. This sequel to the first book of Luke (the Gospel of Luke) is very exciting and I can’t wait to study it in detail. First, I encourage you to read it non-stop as you would read any other thriller. You will have a new level of appreciation and love for Acts.
Let’s get into the introduction of the book of Acts.
Acts 1: 1-8
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. At the beginning, we are referred back to the Gospel of Luke. “In my former book”. The book is clearly the gospel of Luke. This opening establishes the same author and we can see Dr. Luke was addressing the same person, “most excellent Theophilus” Check it out in Luke 1: 3-4. The goal of Dr Luke is that by writing and Theophilus reading, it will build up his faith (“that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”). I pray that the same will be our aim and accomplishment as we study Acts that our faith will be built up in God.
2. The book of Acts therefore is a continuation of the gospel of Luke. It is a continuation of what “Jesus began to do and to teach”. Yes, Jesus ascended to heaven but He is still doing the work he came to do, “to seek and to save that which was lost”. Aren’t you glad the work of Jesus is continuing even to this day? Let’s not miss this most important thing in all creation. Today is still the day of salvation from our sins and alienation from God. Has Jesus found you or are you still hiding from him with all kinds of excuses?
3. The work of Jesus will be continued in his physical absence from earth by the Holy Spirit. Thus it is important that we and the disciples must wait and “be baptized by the Holy Spirit”. We will see in Acts 2 when the appointed time has fully come for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God in the person of the Holy Spirit will do all the work when we follow and obey his instructions. Do you feel you are doing all the work and heavy lifting? It may be that the Holy Spirit is not operating in His fullness in your life. We need the Holy Spirit who is God Himself. Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing”. What is it you are struggling with right now or the decision you are about to make? Pray and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you.
4. The book of Acts is a display of the “power” and works of the Holy Spirit. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”. The thrill of Acts is the power of the Holy Spirit. Amazing things took place and still taking place as the power of God rests on us believers. Fasten your belt as we get into Acts.
5. The purpose of Dr. Luke was to document for us in the book of Acts, the acts of the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the spread of the Church of Jesus from “Jerusalem (Acts 1-7, and in all Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-9, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 10-28)." As we study the entire book, keep this in mind.
6. In Acts, we will see that Dr. Luke wrote to defend the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles; to provide guidance for the Church laying down some timeless principles and to show the triumph of Christianity in a hostile and bitter persecutions. The story has not changed and Acts is still being written today with the same goals of Dr. Luke. We must defend the Gospel using tested principles applied by those who have gone before us. We must live a life of faith and total dependence on the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to live except by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you have another plan, please let us know.
7. In Acts, we encounter two main characters, namely apostles Peter and Paul. God will use them in different ways to accomplish His mission of salvation and planting His Church. Peter will be leading the spread of the gospel to the Jews while Paul will be called to the Gentiles.
Are you ready for the thrill and to be changed? Yes, but don’t run. Let’s wait and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Holy Father, I thank you for the opportunity to learn about your wondrous works of salvation. As we embark on this study, fill us with your Holy Spirit. We confess our sin of depending on our might and money to do the things you have asked us to do. Lord, forgive us and let your Holy Spirit once again endue us with “power” to accomplish all your purposes in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Many of us love to read thrillers. The kind of books you pick up and start and you do not want to stop because you want to know what happened next. Well we have a best seller and thriller in the book of Acts. It lives up to its name of Acts. It is full of acts inspired by the Holy Spirit; unbelievable miracles, plots, intrigues, persecutions and triumphs.
Dr. Luke has done it again. This sequel to the first book of Luke (the Gospel of Luke) is very exciting and I can’t wait to study it in detail. First, I encourage you to read it non-stop as you would read any other thriller. You will have a new level of appreciation and love for Acts.
Let’s get into the introduction of the book of Acts.
Acts 1: 1-8
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. At the beginning, we are referred back to the Gospel of Luke. “In my former book”. The book is clearly the gospel of Luke. This opening establishes the same author and we can see Dr. Luke was addressing the same person, “most excellent Theophilus” Check it out in Luke 1: 3-4. The goal of Dr Luke is that by writing and Theophilus reading, it will build up his faith (“that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”). I pray that the same will be our aim and accomplishment as we study Acts that our faith will be built up in God.
2. The book of Acts therefore is a continuation of the gospel of Luke. It is a continuation of what “Jesus began to do and to teach”. Yes, Jesus ascended to heaven but He is still doing the work he came to do, “to seek and to save that which was lost”. Aren’t you glad the work of Jesus is continuing even to this day? Let’s not miss this most important thing in all creation. Today is still the day of salvation from our sins and alienation from God. Has Jesus found you or are you still hiding from him with all kinds of excuses?
3. The work of Jesus will be continued in his physical absence from earth by the Holy Spirit. Thus it is important that we and the disciples must wait and “be baptized by the Holy Spirit”. We will see in Acts 2 when the appointed time has fully come for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God in the person of the Holy Spirit will do all the work when we follow and obey his instructions. Do you feel you are doing all the work and heavy lifting? It may be that the Holy Spirit is not operating in His fullness in your life. We need the Holy Spirit who is God Himself. Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing”. What is it you are struggling with right now or the decision you are about to make? Pray and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you.
4. The book of Acts is a display of the “power” and works of the Holy Spirit. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”. The thrill of Acts is the power of the Holy Spirit. Amazing things took place and still taking place as the power of God rests on us believers. Fasten your belt as we get into Acts.
5. The purpose of Dr. Luke was to document for us in the book of Acts, the acts of the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the spread of the Church of Jesus from “Jerusalem (Acts 1-7, and in all Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-9, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 10-28)." As we study the entire book, keep this in mind.
6. In Acts, we will see that Dr. Luke wrote to defend the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles; to provide guidance for the Church laying down some timeless principles and to show the triumph of Christianity in a hostile and bitter persecutions. The story has not changed and Acts is still being written today with the same goals of Dr. Luke. We must defend the Gospel using tested principles applied by those who have gone before us. We must live a life of faith and total dependence on the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to live except by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you have another plan, please let us know.
7. In Acts, we encounter two main characters, namely apostles Peter and Paul. God will use them in different ways to accomplish His mission of salvation and planting His Church. Peter will be leading the spread of the gospel to the Jews while Paul will be called to the Gentiles.
Are you ready for the thrill and to be changed? Yes, but don’t run. Let’s wait and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Holy Father, I thank you for the opportunity to learn about your wondrous works of salvation. As we embark on this study, fill us with your Holy Spirit. We confess our sin of depending on our might and money to do the things you have asked us to do. Lord, forgive us and let your Holy Spirit once again endue us with “power” to accomplish all your purposes in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
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