I recap my recent sermon, Catalyst. We're going to dive back into Acts 1:1-8 and see what it reveals to us about the nature of our Christian Mission and analyze what we can do to fulfill that calling. Check out the website at https://harvest-bible-podcast.simplecast.com/ Follow me on Twitter @HarvestPodcast And on Instagram @hb_podcast
In Episode 4 of the Harvest Bible Podcast I am delivering some bonus content for our series on the book of Acts. This is based off of a sermon I recently gave on Acts 1:1-8. I answer the question, what should be influencing our path in life? What can I do to make sure the influences in my life are working to my spiritual benefit.
I analyze Acts 1:1-8 from 3 perspectives:
Please contact me with your comments and questions at hmbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Lord Bless!
HBP E4 Catalyst - Recap
Hey everyone and welcome back to the harvest Bible podcast with Micah Hess. This is a show where we look for meaning, purpose, and scriptural clarity in our faith. Today’s episode is going to be a little different than the previous episodes. I want to take a little bit of time and go back into Acts 1:1-8 and share some bonus content with you about those scriptures.
I’m really thankful that recently I had the opportunity to share a slightly longer version of this message with my local congregation. And the message I delivered was about Acts 1:1-8. This gave me the chance to dive further into these opening verses of Acts, and it was really enlightening for me. I think it will help us set the stage so to speak for the rest of our series through the book of Acts here in the Harvest Bible Podcast. So think of this episode as some bonus content about Acts chapter 1.
Over the next 20 minutes or so, we’re going to focus on 3 components of Acts 1:1-8.
So stick with me and by the end you should have an expanded understanding of what it means to be a witness for Christ and what you can do to fulfill that calling.
Before we read Acts 1:1-8 though we need to start by engaging in a brief moment of introspection. I want to ask you what path is your life taking you on, Who are you becoming? When you look in the mirror and see who you are today, how does that person compare to the you of a year ago, or better yet, five or ten years ago? What influences in your life are causing those changes? Of all the things and messages out there vying for your attention what are you allowing to shape your thoughts and goals in life? Are you aware of what’s influencing you or is the culture subtly shifting your thought process and development? This is important to think about because the influences in our lives determine what’s important to us. And what’s important to us will define our path in life.
For me, Ten years ago I was a senior in high school. The closest thing I had to a plan for after that was to avoid going to college at all costs. And yet 6 years and a boatload of student loans later there I was, opening the big yellow envelope in the mail from Wright State University that had my bachelor’s degree in it.
Looking back at that part of my life, I’m not exactly sure how I got from point A to B. But I can definitely see where God placed a few special instances and experiences that certainly pushed me in that direction and influenced the decisions I made to begrudgingly continue my education. Back to the point though, the last decade of experiences has largely shaped who I am today. Now what does who I am today say about the influences I have brought and kept in my life? Maybe even more importantly what should be influencing my life? How should the influence of God be affecting my identity as a follower of Christ?
Contrast two views - maybe do this first?
Acts 1:1-8 read from NASB
The Core Text:
That takes us to the core text of the message today. Acts 1:1-8, I’ll go ahead and read it from the NASB.
1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
These first eight verses are more than just an introduction into the “The Acts of the Apostles.” This was the final advice and direction from Jesus before ascending to the right hand of God. It was a turning point in the organization and identity of the Church. Up to now the disciples had depended on Jesus initiative and direction to know where to go and what to do. Jesus was the driving force of the plan of God on earth as he laid down his life as the ransom sacrifice. The disciples hadn’t understood why they did everything that they did, but they knew that they could trust his judgement and direction, even if they couldn’t see the big picture.
Notice how in the very first verse of Acts, Luke (the author) refers to his previous book, the Gospel of Luke, as the account about all that Jesus did and taught until he was taken up to Heaven. Jesus's ascension is also included in the Gospel of Luke at the end of chapter 24. In the book of Luke the ascension is the capstone of his successful completion of Jesus First Advent. But here in the book of Acts the ascension of Christ takes on a whole new meaning. In Acts 1:9-11 it describes the scene from the viewpoint of the disciples as Jesus quietly left the earth behind and was lifted up to the right hand of God. This isn’t the end of Jesus or the end of the Gospel work. Instead this was the beginning of the development of the body of Christ. Jesus was gone but the Gospel work was just getting started. Take note of how Luke subtly slips a hint about this into verse 2 when he says that Jesus was taken up to heaven, only after giving orders to the disciples.
During his ministry Jesus tried to give the disciples an idea of how important their work in God’s plan would be. He talked about the Holy Spirit and its role in developing them in John 14 through John 16. (John 14:16,17,26,27 and John 16:7-12.) But what Jesus was saying just wouldn’t come into focus without the Holy Spirit. In verse four Jesus makes it very clear that the disciples are to wait until they have received the Holy Spirit before leaving Jerusalem. This is because the Holy Spirit is the most vital and necessary component to fulfill Jesus’ command to be his witnesses. For us, the Holy Spirit is the catalyst for a mature and lasting christian transformation. If we want to talk about what it means to be a Christian, it is impossible not to mention the role of the Holy Spirit. You see because it’s the energy that fuels us to continue down the narrow way. The grit that helps us push back against the influence of the world and overcome our sinful tendencies. Without the guiding hand of that power and influence of God, it is impossible to successfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We’ll talk more about this later.
In verse 5 of Acts 1, Jesus' words help set the expectation for the upcoming spiritual immersions of the disciples. John’s baptism in water was symbolic of repentance (Matt 3:11). Preparing the hearts of the people to receive the one who was greater than he. This baptism of spirit that Jesus is preparing the Apostles for is something much more transformational, this is the baptism of a new beginning. Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:5? Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Unless you experience a new begettal of the spirit from above you won't enter into the Kingdom of God. That kind of change, the change that Jesus is talking about here doesn’t come from the outside and work its way inward. Meaning that there is nothing I can do on my own, without the power, influence, and energy of God, which will result in the transformation needed to carry out this final instruction from Jesus. The Christian transformation that happens, is happening in us, starts from the inside and works its way out. Because you aren’t just dunked into a pool of Holy Spirit water. You are born of it. Being begotten by the Holy Spirit created a new creature within you and it’s up to you to nurture it and let it temper and shape your character into something that reflects the great captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ. (Heb 2:10)
The Apostles still couldn’t quite wrap their heads around all of this. It’s evident that they still couldn’t see beyond the physical here and now with the question that they ask Jesus. Does your coming exaltation to the right hand of God mean that now is when you will reclaim the throne of Israel and restore Israel to prominence and glory on the World stage? Jesus responds with a three part answer.
Now I want to spend just a minute clarifying what Jesus was talking about here when he told them to be his witnesses.
What we read in Acts 1:8, Mirrors what is said in Matt 28:19-20, Luke 24:46-49. All these carry the same idea of the Christian Commission being missionary based. That is an important and legitimate part of the mission of the body of Christ, I don’t want to take anything away from that. But we know there is more to it than that, you don’t just decide one day that you’re going to go on a mission trip to a remote part of Central America or Africa. Not without the message you are spreading having worked a drastic and meaningful change in your own life. Yes, the disciples were to work to spread the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth but it wasn’t and still isn’t only about missionary trips. It goes deeper than that. It's about the Holy Spirit being the catalyst for our individual transformation which allows us to be witnesses for Christ in every aspect of our lives. The book of Acts is all about how the disciples did just that
Just to give us a more rounded sense of the mission of the Church and why the Holy Spirit needs to ignite a transformation in us, let's turn to Col 1:24-29. Colossians helps us grasp why our individual part in the body of Christ is so important. Starting in verse 24 it reads:
“24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
These scriptures talk about our individual trials and sufferings within the context of something bigger and more meaningful. They give us a more complete vision of the mission given in Acts 1:8. Paul said in verse 28 of colossians that he proclaims Him (Christ) to every man. That’s the Apostle Paul taking the command to be a witness literally. All of those witnessnessing missionary journeys weren’t the end game of the transformation that happened in St. Paul. The missionary journeys were instead an outgrowth of the transformation that started on the inside when Jesus said to him, “Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou me?.” Acts 9:4 KJV.
Here in Colossians Paul is pointing out one of the greatest revelations in God’s plan for mankind to date! There is an opportunity to deny yourself in this life and follow Christ so you can be a part of the Gospel of Restoration and Reconciliation. To let the Holy Spirit work within your fleshly body so it can be resurrected as something spiritual. That’s what, “Christ in you, hope of glory,” means!
Then in verse 29, that’s why he can shake off the trials and hard work. Because it’s not according to his power that he strives but according to the power of Christ, which he says - works mightily within me………..That’s one of those scriptures you can lean on. Knowing that the same power and influence that transformed him, is also working in you and me. All we have to do is let it. There is a lot of earthly physical inertia we have to overcome to make way for it to work within us, but we can do it. With Jesus as our Advocate, the Holy Spirit will transform you just as it did Saul of Tarsus. So what does this mean for us as witnesses for Jesus? It means that Jesus’ command is not just an instruction to fulfill a duty but to be truly and deeply changed and transformed.
Transformation Part I: A Foundation for Change
But how do I start the process? How can I let the power of the holy spirit begin to form my identity in Christ? I’m going to give a 3 part suggestion on how to do that. Are you ready for it? If you're drifting on me, now’s a good time to hop back on the train. Step number 1 is you have to lay a foundation for change. And this isn’t something you do one time and you’re done. The laying and maintaining of this foundation will help you through the natural ebbs and flows of your spiritual development.
So no matter if you’re at the starting to think about Christianity or you’re further down the road in your christian walk, set Christ at the center of your life and make him your foundation. Follow the example of the Bereans as pointed out by Luke in Acts 17:11. “they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” The Bereans had familiarized themselves with the word of God through scripture to lay a foundation to receive the Message of Christ. Learn how to use the bible as a how to manual for life.
There’s even more to it than just reading your bible though. Recognize that God is leading you on a journey and he is giving experiences to shape and develop you in ways that won’t be obvious until you’re able to look back at them from a distance. The lows and valleys in your life will look peaceful and serene when you peer back from the mountain tops later. Just remember to look for the lessons God is teaching you. God will use your experiences in ways you can’t even think of now.
Laying this foundation is…. Tricky to say the least. 100 years ago biblical literacy was an ingrained part of our culture. Everybody knew the biblical story of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Now as a society we’ve pushed scriptural salvation by the wayside and everyone is experimenting with their own alternate salvation stories. A popular one that comes to mind is health and wellness. Don’t misunderstand me, being healthy and active is a good thing! In college, before I had two kids I loved going to the gym. Afterall, we should take care of the bodies God has blessed us with. The danger comes in when we start to make an idol out of this stuff. Too much of even a good thing can turn it into an idol. And when that idol, no matter what it is, fitness, social media, work, family or whatever, Is an idol that’s never satisfied and will always demand more from you. So while you’re maintaining that spiritual foundation, don’t let the world creep in and dictate what your priorities are.
Turn back to John 3 for a moment so we can see the tenacity of Nicodemus. Even though he just couldn’t wrap his head around what Jesus was saying, he didn’t give up. He wanted to know, who is this guy and is he for real? His heart knew that there was something special about Jesus. But the messiah in the Jewish psyche was nothing like this meek and lowly healer. Jesus tells Nicodemus in verse 6 though, if you want to really understand this, you’re going to have to be begotten by the spirit from above. Because it will open up an incredible new way of seeing the world. A new dimension will be opened up to you for understanding and exploration.
Transformation Part II: Coming into focus
This takes us to the second step of how do I let the Holy Spirit change me? John 3:6-8 tells us that there is a new mindset that a Christian has after being begotten with the Holy Spirit. If you want to conform to the image of Christ then you’re going to have to refocus everything in your life. This will take some work because we are born as earthly beings, earthly things are what grab our attention. Naturally we prioritize the physical world over the health of our spiritual selves. Without the Holy Spirit the plan of God just seems like the wind. Here one minute and gone the next. We see it’s power during the storm, but when the storm’s over it's gone. But we can come to understand it. When you refocus your life to prioritize your spiritual health you’re creating an environment within you that has all the components the Holy Spirit needs to operate and influence your heart and mind.
Don’t be discouraged if this doesn’t come naturally. For many of us it won’t. Just remember what we need to do. We need to constantly be looking to Jesus to redefine what we use to define ourselves. For the disciples their expectation of the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Israel defined what they thought Jesus would accomplish as the Messiah, and what they thought their role in supporting the Messiah would look like. That’s why Col 1:24-29 is so important. It reveals to us the spiritual and sacrificial nature of our calling to follow in the footsteps of Christ. How we can sacrifice the flesh to glorify the spirit. That’s a game changer when it becomes your measure of success.
Once we’ve redefined what success is, we can begin to redefine the standards by which we live our lives. Success is no longer about what we achieve, what we get, or what we have. But instead our success is defined by the transformation we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us. When that happens you are no longer controlled by the world and the things it has to offer. All of that stuff we have is just a blessing from God to be enjoyed, but none of it is what defines us. The culture and society around you lose their dominance to define you and then you are ready to receive an identity in Christ. It is then and only then that you can begin to see your part in God’s plan for the Body of Christ.
Transformation Part III: Carrying your witness & and the Message forward
Which brings us to the final step. The command to go forward and be a witness for Christ. After you’ve laid a foundation of faith and focused your life around your spiritual priorities, nothing short of yourself can stop you from carrying out the course or mission that Christ is leading you on. This pivotal step will be repeated or continued for the rest of our Christian walk. Every member of the Body of Christ will have a slightly different role and calling to fulfill the command to witness. But through time and experience you will learn to recognize and follow your spiritual senses and leadings, give them priority when they come into view.
And if you’re not sure how or where you should be letting your light shine, that's ok. That’s really one of the great liberties of the Gospel message. It’s not about what you can or can’t do, but about what pours out from your heart as it’s transformed. You have the liberty and freedom to use your individual gifts and talents to do as you see best in service to God. And eventually, He will show you where you need to be. It’s just going to take some time and experience.
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Let’s take the last few minutes here to look back to the theme text and see what ideas we can take away from it about being witnesses for Christ. These suggestions are just meant to broaden your idea of what it means to be a witness for Christ so that you can expand your spiritual influence, it is by no means comprehensive.
Let’s start right in Acts 1:1. Luke talks about the previous account of everything Jesus taught and did. Boom right there. Everything that Jesus taught and did during his ministry was a reflection of his love and loyalty to God, even at the cost of his own well being. The challenge for us is finding a ministry that utilizes our talents and will bring out those same qualities of love and loyalty in us. But if you want to develop a deeper understanding about anything, including the plan of God, find a way to teach it. Teaching a subject will force you to express it in a clear and concise manner. It will bring you face to face with questions that will make you probe into the deeper meaning of the subject. So take what you learn in the school of Christ and let your ministry be a reflection of the scriptures you’ve learned and experienced. Teach and do the will of God.
Again if you don’t know where to start, that's ok. Start where you are comfortable. You don’t have to show up at work and pass out Bibles to everyone. Start at home and see where you have an opportunity to do something that will give you a chance to bring up Jesus or God with your family. Find a devotional or kids bible story book or something you can read together as a family. Use your faith to build community within your family. Another easy way is to start with your spouse. I’m not talking about converting a spouse that doesn’t share your faith, but you can be a witness for Christ to your whole family just by extending the grace and patience you’ve received from God to your interactions with them. As I have recently learned, anyone who has children will have plenty of opportunities to practice patience. Reflect the grace and patience you’ve received from God to others.
Now take a look at verse 2 in Acts 1. Notice how it references the ascension of Christ to the right hand of God. This was after his suffering as Luke points out in verse 3. There’s a clear reference to a scriptural principle that we’ve already alluded to today. The crown doesn’t come without a cross. In fact you have to carry the cross first, before you get a crown. There is an important perspective we need to remember here though. The relationship we have with God is that of a Father and son. That means that the things you go through aren’t just suffering for the sake of suffering, but they are experiences that are hand tailored for your growth. And overruled by God for your benefit. See Rom 8:28.
Knowing that about the nature of your experiences will hopefully help you to wear your scars out on your sleeve. As human beings we often find comfort in familiarity. Simply by letting others know that you understand, because you’ve shared your thoughts and struggles with them. It can have a healing effect. If you can show someone how you’ve been wounded by sin and healed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your life, that is a powerful witness for Christ.
Those are just a few ways that you can fulfill Jesus' command. If you take away one thing from all of this though I hope it’s that you can be a witness not only by telling people about what Jesus has done for you, but by living a life that’s constantly being developed by the Holy Spirit working within you. Realizing that nothing about our Christian identity or mission is complete or even sound unless we are allowing the power and influence of God in our lives to transform us. Without that, we’re just victims of today’s degrading culture. Again the Holy Spirit is the catalyst which makes the christian transformation possible in us. So let’s encourage anOd help one another along that journey as we have opportunity. Let’s read Isa 61:1 in closing. This was a part of the mission of Christ at his first advent and will be the mission of the completed Church, the Christ head and body, at Jesus second advent. So keep this scripture in mind as you carry your witness forward.
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;