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The Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritActs chapter 1-4Acts chapter 1-4

Topics IndexTopics Index Jesus tells His Disciples to wait! TheJesus tells His Disciples to wait! They obeyedy obeyed.. And so received the Promise of the Holy SpiritAnd so received the Promise of the Holy Spirit To give them Power to be a Witness To give them Power to be a Witness To the International Jews at the Feast of PentecostTo the International Jews at the Feast of Pentecost To gather a Harvest of 3000 souls of menTo gather a Harvest of 3000 souls of men To start Christianity with a BIG BANG!To start Christianity with a BIG BANG! The healing of the lame man & 5000 more soulsThe healing of the lame man & 5000 more souls Persecution by the Priesthood & resulting boldness!Persecution by the Priesthood & resulting boldness! The Financial plan for the Church.The Financial plan for the Church. Great unity.Great unity.

Jesus commands them to wait!Jesus commands them to wait!ACTS chapter 1 verse 4-5

””4 4 And, being And, being assembled assembled together with together with them, comman-them, comman-ded them that ded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.not many days hence.””

Wait for the promised Holy Spirit!Wait for the promised Holy Spirit!

8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Did they wait? Yes! They Obeyed!Did they wait? Yes! They Obeyed!

““Then returned Then returned they unto they unto Jerusalem from Jerusalem from the mount the mount called Olivet, called Olivet, which is from which is from Jerusalem a Jerusalem a sabbath day's sabbath day's journey. journey. ””

Acts 1:12Acts 1:12

Why wait in Jerusalem?Why wait in Jerusalem?

The Mount of The Mount of Olives that Olives that overlooks overlooks Jerusalem, is Jerusalem, is just across the just across the valley of valley of Hinom, next to Hinom, next to Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

Because that’s where they were!Because that’s where they were!

In an Upper Room in JerusalemIn an Upper Room in Jerusalem13 And when they were come in, they went up 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, & into an upper room, where abode both Peter, & James, & John, & Andrew, Philip, & Thomas, James, & John, & Andrew, Philip, & Thomas, Bartholomew & Matthew, James the son of Bartholomew & Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, & Simon Alphaeus, & Simon Zelotes, & Judas the Zelotes, & Judas the brother of James. brother of James. 14 These all continued 14 These all continued with one accord in with one accord in prayer & supplication, prayer & supplication, with the women, & Mary with the women, & Mary the mother of Jesus, the mother of Jesus, & with his brethren. & with his brethren.

Chapter 2. --Fasting & praying!Chapter 2. --Fasting & praying!1”And when the day of 1”And when the day of Pentecost was fully Pentecost was fully come, they were all with come, they were all with one accordone accord in in one placeone place. . 2 And suddenly there 2 And suddenly there came a sound from came a sound from heaven as of a rushing heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it mighty wind, and it filled all the house filled all the house where they were where they were sitting”sitting”

The received the Holy Spirit!The received the Holy Spirit!““And there appeared unto them cloven And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ”tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ”

ACTS 2:3.

Jews heard it & came together.Jews heard it & came together. 5 “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem

Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”

7 “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?”

8 “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”

So Peter witnessed to them...So Peter witnessed to them...14 “But Peter, 14 “But Peter,

standing up with standing up with the eleven, lifted the eleven, lifted

up his voice, and up his voice, and said unto them, said unto them,

Ye men of Judea, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that and all ye that

dwell at dwell at Jerusalem, be Jerusalem, be

this known unto this known unto you, and hearken you, and hearken

to my words”to my words”

And what were the

results of his witnessing?

Peter socked it to them with a convicting sermon & salvation

A harvest of 3000 souls!A harvest of 3000 souls! 41”41”Then they Then they

that gladly that gladly received his received his word were word were baptized: and baptized: and the same day the same day there were there were added unto added unto them about them about three thousand three thousand souls.”souls.”

Teaching, Fellowship, Prayer!Teaching, Fellowship, Prayer!42 And they continued stedfastly in the And they continued stedfastly in the

apostles' apostles' doctrinedoctrine and and fellowshipfellowship, and in , and in breaking breaking of bread, of bread, and in and in prayersprayers..

The Church started with a bang.The Church started with a bang. 4343”And fear ”And fear

came upon came upon every soul: every soul: and many and many wonders wonders and signs and signs were done were done by the by the apostles.” apostles.”

Real Christian Communists.Real Christian Communists.44 “And all that believed were And all that believed were togethertogether, ,

and and had all things commonhad all things common. . 45 45 And And soldsold their posses-their posses-sions andsions andgoods, and goods, and partedparted them them to all men, to all men, as every as every man had man had need.”need.”

They Shared They Shared ALLALL Things! Things!46 "And they, continuing daily And they, continuing daily with one with one

accordaccord in the temple and breaking bread in the temple and breaking bread from house from house to houseto house, , did eat their did eat their meat with meat with gladness and gladness and singleness singleness of heartof heart.”.”

The Ecclessia had started.The Ecclessia had started.47 “Praising God, Praising God,

and having and having favour with all favour with all the people. And the people. And the Lord added the Lord added to the church to the church (Ecclessia)(Ecclessia) dailydaily such as should such as should be saved.”be saved.”

ACTS Chapter 3.ACTS Chapter 3.1 “Now Peter and

John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.”.”

2. “And a certain lame man…2. “And a certain lame man… from his mother's womb from his mother's womb

was carried, whom they was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of laid daily at the gate of the temple which is the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that alms of them that entered into the temple; entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter & 3 Who seeing Peter & John about to go into the John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”temple asked an alms.”

And Peter fastening his eyes upon him...And Peter fastening his eyes upon him...

““..with John, said, Look on ..with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to unto them, expecting to receive something of them.receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”and walk.”

Walking & Leaping & Praising!Walking & Leaping & Praising!7 “And he took him by 7 “And he took him by

the right hand, & lifted the right hand, & lifted him up: & immediately him up: & immediately his feet & ankle bones his feet & ankle bones received strength. received strength.

8 “And he leaping up 8 “And he leaping up stood, & walked, & stood, & walked, & entered with them into entered with them into the temple, walking, & the temple, walking, & leaping & praising God.”leaping & praising God.”

saw him walking & praising.saw him walking & praising.9 “And all the people saw him walking and 9 “And all the people saw him walking and

praising God10 And they knew that it was he praising God10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms which sat for alms at the Beautiful at the Beautiful gate of the temple: gate of the temple: & they were filled & they were filled with wonder and with wonder and amazement at that amazement at that which had happenwhich had happen-ed unto him.”-ed unto him.”

Peter preaches to the crowd.Peter preaches to the crowd.12 “And when Peter saw it, he 12 “And when Peter saw it, he

answered unto answered unto the people, Ye the people, Ye men of Israel, men of Israel,

why marvel ye why marvel ye at this? or why at this? or why

look ye so look ye so earnestly on us, earnestly on us,

as though by our as though by our own power or own power or

holiness we had made this man to walk?”holiness we had made this man to walk?”

5000 saved & join the Church! .5000 saved & join the Church! .

9 “Howbeit many 9 “Howbeit many of them which of them which heard the word heard the word believed; and believed; and the number of the number of the men was the men was about five about five thousand.”thousand.”

And what were the results of Peter’s witnessing? 5000 more souls joined!

ACTS 4: The Priests get mad.ACTS 4: The Priests get mad.1 “And as they spake un1 “And as they spake un

to the people, the priests, to the people, the priests, and the captain of the and the captain of the temple, & the Sadducees, temple, & the Sadducees, came upon them,”came upon them,”

2 “Being grieved that they 2 “Being grieved that they taught the people, and taught the people, and preached through Jesus preached through Jesus the resurrection from the the resurrection from the dead.”dead.”

Peter & John thrown in jail.Peter & John thrown in jail.3 “And they laid 3 “And they laid

hands on them, hands on them, and put them in and put them in hold unto the next hold unto the next day: for it was day: for it was now eventide.”now eventide.”

Why were the Why were the priests so amazed priests so amazed at Peter & John?at Peter & John?

Were they highly educated?Were they highly educated?No! It was the work of the Holy Spirit! The

religious leaders were amazed! Acts 4:13

““Now when they saw the Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that John, and perceived that they were uneducated they were uneducated and untrained men, they and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized marveled. And they realized that they had been with that they had been with Jesus.”Jesus.”

They had power and boldness!They had power and boldness!They marveled because they saw that They marveled because they saw that

same power in Peter and John that Jesus same power in Peter and John that Jesus had when He walked the earth. They were had when He walked the earth. They were bold, despite the fact they hadn't had a bold, despite the fact they hadn't had a formal education. They just went ahead formal education. They just went ahead and witnessed anyhow, and they had and witnessed anyhow, and they had tremendous power! It was obvious they tremendous power! It was obvious they had been with Jesus: They had the had been with Jesus: They had the Master's power to do the Master's work!Master's power to do the Master's work!

The Priests Sadducees.The Priests Sadducees. The religious The religious

leaders that leaders that observed observed them couldn't them couldn't understand understand why they had why they had so much so much courage and courage and so much so much nerve and so nerve and so much much boldness!boldness!

For they had been with Jesus!For they had been with Jesus!"They perceived that

they’d been with Jesus."

Peter & John knew whatPeter & John knew whatJesus taught, they knewJesus taught, they knewhow Jesus practiced. how Jesus practiced. They knew Jesus! TheyThey knew Jesus! Theydidn't have anything didn't have anything else but Jesus and else but Jesus and boldness, but they really got results.boldness, but they really got results.

The final analysis of the priests:The final analysis of the priests:They couldn’t They couldn’t

deny the proof!deny the proof! Acts 4:14Acts 4:14

““And seeing the And seeing the man who had man who had been healed been healed standing with standing with them, they could them, they could say nothing say nothing against it.”against it.”

““We can not deny it!” We can not deny it!” Acts 4:16 ““Saying, ‘What shall we do to these men? Saying, ‘What shall we do to these men?

For, indeed, that For, indeed, that a notable miracle a notable miracle has been done has been done through them is through them is evident to all evident to all who dwell in who dwell in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem, and we cannot we cannot deny it.’”deny it.’”

Peter’s Transformation.Peter’s Transformation.Think a bit about Peter. This was the same Think a bit about Peter. This was the same

man who some weeks earlier had denied man who some weeks earlier had denied Jesus. Now he is deter-Jesus. Now he is deter-mined to witness, no mined to witness, no matter the cost. He is matter the cost. He is speaking boldly before speaking boldly before huge crowds of people. huge crowds of people. What has brought about What has brought about such a transformation?such a transformation?

The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit!!

The The FirstFirst Crisis of The Church. Crisis of The Church.Peter and John being thrown into jail. Peter and John being thrown into jail.

What type of a crisis was it? Internal or What type of a crisis was it? Internal or external?external?

It was an outside attack. Persecution!It was an outside attack. Persecution!Question: What was the Question: What was the resultresult of this of this

crisis? crisis? WhyWhy did the Lord allow them to get did the Lord allow them to get tossed into jail? Why couldn't He have tossed into jail? Why couldn't He have spared them from that apparent defeat spared them from that apparent defeat and that terrible shame and reproach?and that terrible shame and reproach?

They called out to God. They called out to God. Acts 4:24

24 “So when they heard that, they raised 24 “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.”earth and the sea, and all that is in them.”

The disciples The disciples got together got together to share what to share what had happened had happened & praised the & praised the Lord together.Lord together.

They spoke with boldness. They spoke with boldness. Acts 4:31

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”

Were they scared stiff now because they Were they scared stiff now because they had been told not to speak in this Name had been told not to speak in this Name any more, and not to preach Christ?any more, and not to preach Christ?

No! They spoke the Word of God with No! They spoke the Word of God with boldness.boldness.

One in heart & soul! One in heart & soul! Acts 4:32 ““Now the multitude of those who Now the multitude of those who

believed were of believed were of one heart and one one heart and one soulsoul; neither did anyone say that any of ; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, the things he possessed was his own, but they had but they had all things in commonall things in common.”.”

God has a marvelous plan for His God has a marvelous plan for His believers --this Book of Acts!--A blueprint believers --this Book of Acts!--A blueprint for a way of for a way of life! This is life! This is the the pattern pattern for missionsfor missions! !

Acts! A Pattern for Missions. Acts! A Pattern for Missions. This is the way His followers ought to live

and act and spread the message! This is a pattern, an example, and it's still going on! God has a spiritual pattern for His followers: Prayer, praise, study, teaching, doctrine, and witnessing activity.

Financial Plan for Missions. Financial Plan for Missions. What was the result, economically, for the What was the result, economically, for the

believers? They may not have had all they believers? They may not have had all they wanted, but none of them lacked anything wanted, but none of them lacked anything they needed. See Acts 4:34they needed. See Acts 4:34

““Nor was there anyone among them Nor was there anyone among them who lacked.”who lacked.” (See Acts 4:33) (See Acts 4:33)

““And with And with great powergreat power gave the gave the apostles apostles witnesswitness of the resurrection of of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and the Lord Jesus: and great gracegreat grace was was upon them allupon them all..

What are Apostles? What are Apostles? The apostles became powerful witnesses The apostles became powerful witnesses

as a result of all they were going through as a result of all they were going through and because of the moving of the Holy and because of the moving of the Holy Spirit in their lives.Spirit in their lives.

““Apostle” is Apostle” is a person sent by anothera person sent by another; a messenger; ; a messenger; an envoy. This word is generally used as an envoy. This word is generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom Jesus designating the body of disciples to whom Jesus primarily entrusted the organization of the believers primarily entrusted the organization of the believers and the dissemination of the gospel, "and the dissemination of the gospel, "the twelvethe twelve“, “, as they are called. as they are called. (Matthew 10:1-5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1).(Matthew 10:1-5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1).

Closing Prayer. Closing Prayer. Thank You Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit. We ask

You, Lord Jesus, for a "renewing of the Holy Ghost!" (Tit.3:5). Please give us all a greater measure of Your Holy Spirit, that Your mighty power can fill and inspire us! We can’t do all of the things you want us to by our own power or will, but we know You can work through us, as You have done through your followers over the ages. You tell us "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit!" (Zec.4:6). Empower and inspire us. Please give each of us a greater measure of love, and greater power to witness. Amen!

And NOWAnd NOWWEWE are the LATTER are the LATTER

or last Church!or last Church!The Last Ecclessia!The Last Ecclessia!

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