1:1-10
Power through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses
After Jesus' resurrection, He "showed Himself" to the apostles (vs 3). It was during one of these occasions (vs 4) that He gave this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (vs 4-5)
After this command, the apostles asked, still anticipating, that Jesus would "restore the kingdom to Israel" (vs 6). But Jesus responded that it is not for them to know when the kingdom would be restored (they still did not understand that the kingdom Christ was bringing was different from what they were expecting). He told them what they needed to focus on what to be His witnesses. He said "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you wil be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth."
[Could this be what Jesus meant by saying that they will do greater things then Him? It was prophesied that Jesus would do miracles (heal the sick and give sight to the blind (Isaiah 61) ). We are told that miracles were done to authenticate His mission, His identify and His authority (REF: ) and He rose from the dead. How are we to top that? AND for what purpose?]
Jesus is telling us here that our mission is to continue His mission of spreading the gospel. Jesus' ministry was confined to a very specific area, primarily Galilee. He is telling His apostles that they would receive the power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses beginning in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. And this is what we saw happened and witnessed through the Scriptures. They Holy Spirit came on them and Peter and the apostles began spreading the good news of the gospel first in Jerusalem and then later to Samaria and then through Paul's m;issions to the "ends of the earth". And it is this reason that the message has reached us today....because this was Christs intent and it happened as the result of the power of the Holy Spirit!
1:10-26
Waiting and Praying Collectively
We see that the apostles and other disciples had been at the Mount of Olives and they returned to Jerusalem to the upstairs room that they were staying. And they all joined together "constantly in prayer" along with "the women" and "Mary the mother of Jesus" AND "with His brothers". [James must have been included. Why now? Because, Jesus appeared to James following His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).
What do you think they were praying for? For God to move? God already had a plan which had been known but not revealed through the forshadowing of the various feasts. It doesn't tell us what they were praying for but I can imagine! They were probably praying for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. They were perhaps asking how His kingdom would be established. They were probably talking with God about their fears and lack of understanding. They were praying collectively to encourage each other....to knit together through the holding on of hands....to talk with God their Father as Jesus had modeled for them....to connect with their Father collectively to acknowledge their obedience and to encourage one another by praying the Scriptures.
[Does prayer change God? I think God has a plan and a purpose that will not be derailed. I think we become involved in His plan by submitting to His will. I think He works out His plan through those that seek Him and lay their wills down at His feet. I think prayer changes US by conforming our will to His will and by changing our perspectives.]
Appointing a Replacement for Judas
vs 21 "Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
A requirement for the apostolic ministry was to be:
- present the whole time Jesus went in and out among them
- beginning from John's baptism (assuming meant a witness to Jesus' baptism which showed His authority and blessing from the Father)? OR does this mean disciple of John the Baptist and readying themselves for the coming of Messiah?
- Continuing through Jesus' ministry up to His ascension
- Particularly a witness to His resurrection (because His resurrection makes all the difference)
Power through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses
After Jesus' resurrection, He "showed Himself" to the apostles (vs 3). It was during one of these occasions (vs 4) that He gave this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (vs 4-5)
After this command, the apostles asked, still anticipating, that Jesus would "restore the kingdom to Israel" (vs 6). But Jesus responded that it is not for them to know when the kingdom would be restored (they still did not understand that the kingdom Christ was bringing was different from what they were expecting). He told them what they needed to focus on what to be His witnesses. He said "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you wil be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth."
[Could this be what Jesus meant by saying that they will do greater things then Him? It was prophesied that Jesus would do miracles (heal the sick and give sight to the blind (Isaiah 61) ). We are told that miracles were done to authenticate His mission, His identify and His authority (REF: ) and He rose from the dead. How are we to top that? AND for what purpose?]
Jesus is telling us here that our mission is to continue His mission of spreading the gospel. Jesus' ministry was confined to a very specific area, primarily Galilee. He is telling His apostles that they would receive the power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses beginning in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. And this is what we saw happened and witnessed through the Scriptures. They Holy Spirit came on them and Peter and the apostles began spreading the good news of the gospel first in Jerusalem and then later to Samaria and then through Paul's m;issions to the "ends of the earth". And it is this reason that the message has reached us today....because this was Christs intent and it happened as the result of the power of the Holy Spirit!
1:10-26
Waiting and Praying Collectively
We see that the apostles and other disciples had been at the Mount of Olives and they returned to Jerusalem to the upstairs room that they were staying. And they all joined together "constantly in prayer" along with "the women" and "Mary the mother of Jesus" AND "with His brothers". [James must have been included. Why now? Because, Jesus appeared to James following His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).
What do you think they were praying for? For God to move? God already had a plan which had been known but not revealed through the forshadowing of the various feasts. It doesn't tell us what they were praying for but I can imagine! They were probably praying for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. They were perhaps asking how His kingdom would be established. They were probably talking with God about their fears and lack of understanding. They were praying collectively to encourage each other....to knit together through the holding on of hands....to talk with God their Father as Jesus had modeled for them....to connect with their Father collectively to acknowledge their obedience and to encourage one another by praying the Scriptures.
[Does prayer change God? I think God has a plan and a purpose that will not be derailed. I think we become involved in His plan by submitting to His will. I think He works out His plan through those that seek Him and lay their wills down at His feet. I think prayer changes US by conforming our will to His will and by changing our perspectives.]
Appointing a Replacement for Judas
vs 21 "Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
A requirement for the apostolic ministry was to be:
- present the whole time Jesus went in and out among them
- beginning from John's baptism (assuming meant a witness to Jesus' baptism which showed His authority and blessing from the Father)? OR does this mean disciple of John the Baptist and readying themselves for the coming of Messiah?
- Continuing through Jesus' ministry up to His ascension
- Particularly a witness to His resurrection (because His resurrection makes all the difference)