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Acts Series

Power 120. Acts Series. The Book of Acts has it all! M ind boggling miracles powerful healings anointed preaching angelic visitations escapes from prison life-and-death situations courtroom dramas action , mystery, and adventure!

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Acts Series

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  1. Power 120 Acts Series

  2. The Book of Acts has it all! • Mind boggling miracles • powerful healings • anointed preaching • angelic visitations • escapes from prison • life-and-death situations • courtroom dramas • action, mystery, and adventure! • Acts isn’t boring & it will grab your attention quickly • It possesses everything you need for a great read, and the best part—it's all true.

  3. In essence this is a story of changed lives. • When we last saw the disciples of Jesus, they were running scared and disillusioned. • Peter had even denied he knew Jesus. • Now, their lives have been changed. • They not only admitted they knew Jesus, but they willingly died for Him. • Peter, James, John, Thomas and the rest had been transformed from: • cowardly to courageous • argumentative to articulate • and selfish to selfless

  4. This is the story of how 120 believers in an upper room in Jerusalem 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection transformed the entire world. • As Paul’s accusers later said, These are the ones who have turned the whole world upside down, and now they have come here (Acts 17:6)! • Acts is the thrilling story of how all this happened. • That is why I have titled this series Power 120. • It was the power of the Holy Spirit that filled the 120 in the upper room. • It was a rushing wind which has been literally heard in every nation on the planet.

  5. Goal • My goal is not for us to only study this book but to actually live it! • This study should give you a power boost to complete God’s will for your life. • Often when I am weary or discouraged, I will read the Book of Acts. • My faith is built up and encouraged. • Its action packed pages will impact you! • It’s easy to get excited about your faith when you read this book.

  6. But, you have to believe that we have the same Holy Spirit they possessed. • And that He is still working in the same way now. • Incident in a College Doctrines class. 2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. • I remember saying, Doctor, where I come from “All” means “All” and that includes the book of Acts. • The power gifts manifested in this book are for us today just as they were in the 1st Century.

  7. Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Malachi 3:6a – For I, the Lord, do not change. • The Lord has not changed and neither has the way He works through us. • So, what you read in these pages is available for every believer today. • All Scripture is profitable for doctrine…(2 Tim. 3:16). • Are not the 4 Gospels in essence history books as well? • Should we not base our doctrine from it? • YES!!!

  8. Another incorrect idea some fall into when studying Acts is that this is the pinnacle of the Church. • No, if anything, it is the pattern which we are to follow until Jesus returns. • This is the beginning and God desires that we move beyond this to new levels. • The end is going to be even more glorious than the beginning. • One way this is going to happen is that not just the leaders are going to manifest the miraculous. • But, it is going to be all believers of all ages.

  9. Theme & Order • Both the theme and the order of the book are found in one verse: Acts 1:8 – But 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. (NIV) • Let’s look at the theme first. • There are 2 parts to it: • Missionary/Evangelism • Power Ministries

  10. Missions/Evangelism • It is not easy for us today to comprehend how radical these words were to the 1st Century Jew. • Although the disciples had witnessed brief glimpses of Jesus ministering to Gentiles: • Samaritan Woman at the well • Syro-Phoenician Woman’s daughter • Roman Centurion’s Servant • Their idea of advancing the Kingdom of God was limited to Jews only. • But, in these words, Jesus gives the scope of their task—to the remotest part of the earth (NASB).

  11. Most scholars believe that in the 30 year span of the book, over 100,000 Jews were saved. • This is not including all the Gentiles. • They laid a good foundation for us to build upon. • Today the Christian Faith is the largest religion in the world and is found in every country on earth. • Obviously, the early believers did what Jesus wanted them to do. • In the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church grew rapidly in those 1st 30 years.

  12. Some of the growth examples Luke cites: • The original core group was 120 • 3,000 more came on Pentecost • People were being added to the Church daily (2:47) • Then, 5,000 plus women and children were added (4:4) • Multitudes were being saved (5:14) • Addition changed to multiplication (6:1) • Jewish leaders were being saved • Samaritans came to Jesus • An Ethiopian was saved • Entire towns became followers (9:35)

  13. A great number of Gentiles came to the Lord (11:21) • A Roman proconsul on Cyprus believed • Large multitudes of Jews & Greeks accepted the faith (14:1) • The Church increased in number daily (16:5) • Prominent Woman followed Jesus (17:12) • A ruler of the synagogue became a Christian with his household (18:8) • So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (19:20)

  14. Power Ministries • The 2nd part of the theme of the book. • This is why they were so successful. • The early believers obeyed the Lord’s command to go and tell others. • Then He confirmed their word by the signs that followed (Mark 16:20). Hebrews 2:4 –And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever He chose.

  15. Luke also mentions many examples of supernatural manifestations to validate the Gospel: • On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 were attracted by the miracle of tongues. • 5,000 were saved by observing the healing of the lame man by the Gate Beautiful. • Many were added when Peter’s shadow healed some and demons were cast out. • Samaritans opened to the Gospel because of miracles performed through Philip’s ministry. • Many believed in Joppa because Peter raised Dorcas from the dead.

  16. The proconsul believed because of the power encounter between Paul and Elymas the Sorcerer. • The Word spread in Ephesus because many were healed when handkerchiefs from Paul were laid on them. • The signs validate or confirm the message. • The signs do not save us, but they open hard hearts that would not ordinarily be open to the Gospel. • Nigerian Chief’s Handkerchief

  17. Order Acts 1:8 – But 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. (NIV) • Not only are the 2 major themes of Acts seen in this verse, but the order of the book is here as well. • Acts chronicles how the Gospel spread from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and then to the ends of the world. • It started in Jerusalem and is still spreading!

  18. Acts is an unfinished book. • It ends abruptly. • It ends on a note where you are wondering what’s next. • It was probably done that way to let us know that the story is still being written today. • We are living in Chapter 2011.

  19. Who is Luke? • Before we start examining the passage, let’s answer the question of who Luke is. • This is what we know about him: • He is the only Gentile writer in the entire Bible. • Authored Luke as well as Acts (2 volume set). • As far as the number of words is concerned, he has the most of any writer in the New Testament. • The Gospel of Luke tells us what Jesus did, and the book of Acts tells us what He expects of His followers—both then and now.

  20. He was a medical doctor. • This is evident in the descriptive details he uses when describing the medical conditions of those who were healed. Colossians 4:14 – Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. • Well-educated – the only place in the New Testament where classical Greek is used. • In Greek I, you don’t tackle Luke’s writings because his sentence structure is very complex. • His writings show his attention to details & facts. • Archeologist finds anchors (Acts 27)

  21. Traveling companion of Paul. • Luke joined him during his 2nd missionary journey. Acts 16:6-10 – Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

  22. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. • Notice what happened in verse 10. • There is a transition from 3rd person to 1st person. • In other words, Luke begins to use we. • He probably joined them in Troas.

  23. Let’s look at the 1st verse: Acts 1:1 – In my first book [Luke] I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach. Who is Theophilus? • There has been much debate on this question.   Luke 1:1-4 – Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

  24. 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. • You can see Luke’s careful investigation of the facts concerning Jesus’ life and ministry here. • So, both Luke and Acts were written to Theophilus. • Who is he?

  25. Let’s look at what we do know: • His Name – Theo = God Philus = Love • Translation: Lovers of God. • This has led many to believe that his 2 volume set was written to all believers who are lovers of God. • Most Excellent Theophilus– This was a title addressed only to Romans of high nobility. • More than likely he was a Roman who had recently come to the Lord. • And Luke gave him a carefully researched story of Jesus and the spread of the Gospel.

  26. This certainly fits into what the New Testament’s main focus is. • Consider these facts: • 56%+ of the N.T. explains the origins and growth of the Christian Faith (Gospels & Acts) • 38% - Nurturing the existing church (Epistles) • 6% - Revelation • A major emphasis of the New Testament is explaining why and how unbelievers can become believers.

  27. Conclusion • In the Book of Acts Luke picks up where he left off in the Gospel of Luke. • Actsexplains through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit how the Gospel spread rapidly. • My prayer is that this study will change your life. • And, encourage you to step out in your faith to share the love of Jesus with others around you. • This is what Power 120 is all about. • The Holy Spirit’s empowerment!

  28. Power 120 Acts Series

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