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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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“EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT TO BE HIS WITNESSES - 1” (2013 GBC THEME REVIEW) (Acts 1:8)
(1/13/13) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert BRIEF CONTEXT OF ACTS A. The Book of Acts (“Acts of the Apostles”)
is an inspired narrative in sequence that follows the Gospels (Mt, Mk, Lk,
Jn). B. It begins with Christ’s final promise to
His apostles and Christ’s ascension to the Father. C. It includes the coming of the Holy Spirit,
the birth of the Church, the account and ministry of the apostles (mostly
Peter and Paul), and example, purpose, ministry, and missions of the early
Church. D. Without question, it gives insight into
the “empowerment by the Spirit” for the Church. BRIEF CONTEXT OF ACTS 1:8 E. Acts 1:8 very well could be called the key
verse of the book of Acts. It was Jesus’ last promise and orders to the
apostles before ascending to heaven (cp. Ac 1:2). F. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would
be sent from the Father, even as Jesus had foretold them during His earthly
ministry (Ac 1:4-5 cp. Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). G. The apostles were still under the impression
that Jesus would restore His kingdom to Israel (Ac 1:6). To which Jesus
replied, “It is not for you to know
times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Ac 1:7). H. It was at this point Jesus told them what
should be their main concern, “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” (Ac 1:8). I. It was this promise and mandate that the
apostles were to concentrate upon, engage in, deliver to the church, and be
followed until Christ comes back (Ac 1:9-11). J. The key verse to the book of Acts (Ac
1:8) teaches concerning the apostles’ (i.e. church’s) empowerment, indwelling
of the Holy Spirit, purpose of evangelism, and scope of global missions. I. THE CHURCH’S EMPOWERMENT A. It is Divine Empowerment 1. Jesus told the apostles that they would
receive power to accomplish His purposes. Their power would come from the
Holy Spirit, the Divine Helper, who was going to be sent to indwell believers
permanently. The power was to enable them to be Christ’s witnesses to the
world by testifying to His death and resurrection. 2. “Power” is the Greek word du,namis which carries the basic meaning (duna) of being able or being capable of doing
something. D,unamis is the root for
our English word dynamite and infers to dynamic power. It universally means
to have inherent power, that is, either residing in or being possessed. a) In the OT it was used for warriors,
armies, and military power (Ex 14:28; 15:4; Nu 2:3ff cp. Is 42:13). b) At times it was used for the power of
words or deeds (Ac 7:22). 3. Power gets it ultimate exaltation when it
is ascribed to the person and works of God. It is God’s inherent power and
therefore divine power. a) In Creation - In both the Hellenistic and
Biblical idea of du,namis, its
power made the whole of human life, existence, and the entire cosmos. Of
course, the Bible reveals that du,namis
is not the power of a cosmic principle, but the power of an omnipotent God
(Ro 1:20; He 1:3). b) In Miracles (Ps 77:14; 106:8) c) In Deliverance (Ex 15:6; Dt 3:24) d) It is used of Jesus (Mt 13:54; Mt 26:64;
Mk 5:30; Lk 4:36; Ac 2:22; 10:38 cp. Lk 1:35) e) It is used of the powers of heaven (Mk
13:25; He 6:5) B. It is Salvation Empowerment 1. “Power” (dunamis)
is used to show God’s power in salvation. Ro 1:16 teaches that the gospel is
the power of God for salvation. The gospel is the truth of salvation and when
a sinner believes it, he is saved by the power of God (1Co 1:18). 2. The power is in the person and work of
Christ on the cross. To die and atone for the sins of man to bring him
salvation requires divine power. A sinner’s sins are forgiven and his
condemnation paid for. In addition, the believer is given a new divine nature
and is changed (2Pe 1:3). Therefore in regard to our salvation, Christ is
called the wisdom and power of God (1Co 1:23-24). 3. The believer is not only saved by the
power of God, but the believer and his salvation are kept and protected by
the power of God (1Pe 1:3-5; Jude 1:24). C. It is Evangelistic Empowerment 1. The context of Ac 1:8 would strongly
suggest that the apostles were given power to be “witnesses” for the Lord.
Though the term “witnesses” will be explained later and has several aspects,
the main idea is in reference to evangelism. It was for evangelism that the
apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit. 2. In 1Th 1:5, Paul testified that they
preached the gospel in “power.” The power was by and through the Holy Spirit
who brought “full conviction” upon the hearts of the Thessalonians. The
church’s enablement is that they can evangelize with power because it is
dependent upon the Holy Spirit who convicts (Jn 16:8) and awakens (Ep 2:4-5)
the hearts of the spiritually dead. 3. Ac 4:33 states that the apostles were
empowered to evangelize with “great power” (duna,mei
mega,lę, Eng. mega). They were commanded not to testify
to the resurrection of Christ by the Sanhedrin (Ac 4:15-18). In Ac 4:31, when
the church gathered and prayed, they were, “ filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak the word of God with boldness” (parręsi,a
- freedom, confidence, or boldness to speak). In Ac 4:33 we see their
prayer was answered and they continued in their bold witness. It is the Holy
Spirit’s empowerment that enables the church to evangelize with boldness. 4. The church is empowered to evangelize in
even the words that it speaks. Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy
Spirit would teach them and bring Jesus’s teaching to their remembrance (Jn
14:26). This referred to the apostles’ preaching and to their inspired
writings of the Scripture. But in a general sense, the Holy Spirit
illuminates and teaches the church God’s truth and wisdom so that they can
evangelize with truth and wisdom (cp. Ep 6:19-20; Col 4:3-4). D. It is Renewed Empowerment 1. The Holy Spirit imparts life and power to
the believer that enables him to live the Christian life and serve the Lord.
Without the Holy Spirit and His power, the unsaved man is not able to
understand spiritual truths nor serve the Lord (1Co 2:14; Ro 8:7-8). 2. With the Holy Spirit, the believer is
empowered to: a) Live the Christian life (2Pe 1:3) b) Possess power, love, and discipline (2Ti 1:7) c) Change with power (Ep 3:20) d) Live in the power of the resurrection (Php
3:10) e) Serve with power (Col 1:28-29) f) Overcome weaknesses (2Co 12:9) g) Be strengthened with power (Ep 3:16) h) Never be separated from God (Ro 8:38-39). |
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