Sermon Tone Analysis

I’m exhausted!

(I’m exhausted picture inserted here)

Have you ever felt so tired, physically, emotionally or even spiritually you wondered how you could press on?

tonight we are looking at what is needed, what is promised and what is given for us to be able to have the power to go on.

Let’s say for 3 1/2 years you left everything behind, you were busy busy busy feeding, healing, talking, walking, studying doing things that make no sense, and you were told this is only the beginning, would you be tired, wondering how you would carry on?

The Apostles did!

How about you, the end of the day you want to come in, relax, but there is cooking, cleaning to do, maybe garden work if during spring or summer.

Can we get tired, exhausted in our work for the Lord?

If you were told there was power from out of this world that help you to accomplish everything that needed to be done and it was of no cost to you except obedience would you be interested?

- I know it is a rhetorical question.

Tonight we are going to look at the promised power to go on (Act1:4-5) but first let’s stop just for a few minutes for a side trip to (Act1:3)

With this being a bible study and you being good bible students in wanting to dig into the word may we consider this verse.

So let’s get into this verse.

Who are the “these” noted, that Jesus presented Himself to?

Is it the Apostles?

Think we better prove out our thinking.

First, whoever “these” are we can know they are witnesses (Lk24:48; Lk24:33)

And if you look back a little further you would see

So, we know it is “these” and “These” were witnesses, and what did we learn from (v.33)? - they were gathered with the eleven (apostles) and others.

So it is more than just the Apostles, but wait, there is more.

“These” some are identified (Act1:13-14)

So who is named now, the 11 (v.13) and what more do we learn in (v.14) they were in one accord in prayer, then we also see others named in (v.14) so the “these” seems to be growing

“These” were then numbered (Act1:15)

So what is the number of “these?”

There are some who will say it was only the 11 in the room and that is who the “these” are; you can read the scripture in context and draw you own conclusion.

Now, go back and look at (v.3) there is still more to learn.

The “these”

Were people who saw the resurrected Christ

Heard the resurrected Christ teaching

Specifically teaching to things pertaining to what?

Things pertaining to the kingdom of God

The book of acts is like the 2nd act of a play, it is the continued story, Act 1 was about what Jesus did and taught, the 2nd act, which is endless, goes on to tell the story of the Christian Church.

The book of Acts goes on to tell how the work of Christ is carried on by the Church today.

This passage will speak to the church that will be empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit that was promised before.

Heck I have to go back, I only gave you (Lk24:48) that showed that “these” were witnesses but in context there is more to know before we go on.

They were told they were going to have to wait, and that is where we are tonight in this passage they are gathered together in one accord in prayer as they are waiting on the promise

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

This is a the passage that many will refer to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit is different that baptism for remission of sins.

may we keep in mind who He is speaking to here?

Who was the promise made to?

Again, if you were to look back to Luke you would see “these” again

Jesus spoke to the Apostles and said the promise

From the Father was for them, the baptism of Holy Spirit with power was for for the Apostles, and we will get to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit next week, but this baptism is not a common baptism, it is with power that was for them and we will even get to the reason why as we study Acts.

Do you know why?

This power that is needed, this power that is provided to carry on is nothing new, it is found in the O.T. as well as the N.T.

Promised Power in the Old Testament

God is the truing God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Spirit in the Old Testament was given to fulfill specific tasks.

There is sufficient evidence, proof of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament just as much as in the New.

In the prophesy of Joel (Joel2:28-29; Joel2:27)

As you may know, but if not, you will see when we get to Act2 that this passage is quoted by Peter on Pentecost, now in keeping it in context I should back up another verse.

The Holy Spirit was going to be in the midst, was going to be among them, regardless of station or position, there were extraodinary things that were going to happen.

Prophesy of Isaiah (Isa44:3; Isa32:15-17; also brought in Mt9:37)

God was going to pour out His Spirit.

And add to that one this

When the Spirit was going to be poured out on the dry and weary land it was going to be a fertile land where the work and service of righteousness was going to happen.

And that goes to what Jesus said.

The dry and weary land, Israel, that was going to become fertile ground for the gospel when the Holy Spirit was going to be poured out, made to be among them.

Well we can’t leave out some others

Prophesy of Ezekiel (Eze36:26-27)

what do you see here, what is prophesied?

- Spirit within, power to walk in following His commands!

But wait, there is more

Prophesy of Zechariah (Zec12:10; also brought in Act2:37)

What do you learn from this one?

- This is the Spirit of grace and supplication that will pierce your heart when you look to the cross and you see Christ.

When people understand he fulfilling of the O.T. prophesies in Jesus, just as Jesus said in Lk24:44, then when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happens they will be pierced and ask

Promised power in the New Testament

You have seen the promised power in the Old Testament and the New Testament is not short of the promise nor the power displayed.

John the Baptist preached on it (Mt3:11; Mk1:7-8; Lk3:16; Jn1:33)

John in Mk1:7-8 says will baptize with Holy Spirit

I think I want us to look at what more we can learn from John

So this Holy Spirit was going to be seen; this is the one that will baptize with the Holy Spirit, this is the Son of God and we know he was speaking of Jesus.

This fullfillment we see in Act2:1-4 when the Holy Spirit comes and is poured out, but as for now, they hung on the words of Jesus, again may we be reminded

Jesus asked for it (Jn14:16-17)

what do we learn in this verse, I think it is important.

- It was asked for, it was promised to be given, He would be a helper forever, the Spirit is the Spirit of truth and that this Spirit abides with and in you!

Jesus said to thirst for it (Jn7:37-39)

Jesus did not stop there, Jesus spoke in great length and in prayer for the apostles about the Spirit that would be the Helper, the Spirit of truth to them.

Jesus told apostles Spirit would be a reminder to them (Jn14:26)

He will teach them all things and remind them of all things He had said to them.

Jesus told them the Spirit would bear witness (Jn15:26-27)

The Spirit will testify of Jesus so that they too will testify since they had been with Him from the beginning and were witnesses of all things.

Jesus said the Spirit would convict the world of sin (Jn16:7-11)

Not only will the Spirit convict the world of sin, but of righteousness and judgment concerning sin.

Jesus said the Spirit would guide the apostles (Jn16:12-13)

He will guide them into all truth who will only Speak what the Father says

Jesus said the Spirit will glorify Him (Jn16:14)

The Spirit will take from Jesus and disclose to them!

So they were told to wait, who would not want to wait for all that?

Power to accomplish the task that was at hand, to fulfill the great commission (Mk16:15) and told there were to start (Act1:8) but that is for next week.

So, we have John the baptist speaking of Spirit, we have Jesus speaking of the Spirit, but wait there is more.

Peter speaks of the outpouring of Spirit (Act2:33)

What do we see, learn here from this verse?

- Spirit received from the father to Christ and Christ poured it forth, and they could both see and hear.

Peter offers the gift of the Spirit (Act2:38-39)

remission of sins, gift of Holy Spirit, so the power to go on, not just for them but for all (be careful to qualify this)

The promise, eloquently said by J.W. McGarvey

“That we are right in referring the word promise, in this sentence, to the promise of the Holy Spirit just made by Peter, is evident from the fact that this is the only promise made in the immediate context.”

David Lipscomb says