{"id":31761,"date":"2024-07-05T22:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T05:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/song_of_songs-8_1-14-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-25T22:16:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T05:16:31","slug":"acts-1_1-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/acts-1_1-11\/","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s Power and Purposes for Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 1:1-11\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

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Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

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Today we begin the book of\u00a0Acts.\u00a0 Written by a Christian physician called Luke in approximately 60-70 A.D. as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke,\u00a0Acts\u00a0is such an important book in that: (1) it gives us a detailed account of what happened to Jesus\u2019 followers after Jesus ascended to heaven; (2) it gives us a historical backdrop for understanding the letters of Paul, which would make up much of the New Testament; (3) it shows us what the early church looked like and the incredible faith, courage and perseverance they displayed in the face of great uncertainty and persecution; and (4) it takes us on a tour from Jerusalem to the various nations where the church spread.\u00a0 Even more, the book of\u00a0Acts\u00a0is filled with powerful lessons for us today.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a01:1-11.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Acts<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/em>1<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(NIV)<\/strong><\/em>
\n1<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse\u00a01:\u00a0 The \u201cformer book\u201d Luke is referring to is the Gospel of Luke, which Luke also wrote to Theophilus.\u00a0 Little is known about Theophilus.\u00a0 The name \u201cTheophilus\u201d (meaning \u201clover of God\u201d) was a common name both among Jews and Gentiles living in the region.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However, the fact that Luke refers to Theophilus as \u201cmost excellent Theophilus\u201d (Luke\u00a01:3) suggests that Theophilus may have been a person of wealth and high social status, and possibly someone who helped to finance and publish Luke\u2019s writings.<\/p>\n

Acts<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01<\/em><\/strong>:2-4a (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.<\/em>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.<\/em>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0On one occasion, while he was eating with them\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 2-4:\u00a0 Here Luke speaks of Jesus as having physically risen from death, giving \u201cmany convincing proofs that he was alive\u201d (v3) and appearing to people for 40 days, including eating with them on various occasions (see also Luke 24:30-31; Luke 24:40-43).\u00a0 For the earliest followers of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus was never a legend, a myth or a figure of speech, but a historical fact.\u00a0 So strong was the disciples\u2019 belief in Jesus\u2019 resurrection that they would each sacrifice their lives for it.\u00a0 In fact, the entire Christian faith stands upon Jesus Christ actually living, dying for our sins and physically rising again.\u00a0\u00a0If you have questions about the validity of Christianity, a good place to start is the resurrection of Jesus.<\/strong>\u00a0 To examine the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, check out this message called \u201cResurrection: Fact or Fiction\u201d:\u00a0https:\/\/www.thrivechurch.ca\/weekly-sermons\/2019\/4\/7\/april-7-2019-resurrection-fact-or-fiction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Acts<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01<\/em><\/strong>:4b-5 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n4<\/sup><\/em>\u2026he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.<\/em>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 4-5:\u00a0 Jesus told his disciples something similar in Luke 24:49: \u201cI am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.\u201d\u00a0 Whether\u00a0Acts\u00a01:4-5 is referring to the same or a different incident, it is clear that Jesus wanted his disciples to stay and wait in Jerusalem at least until they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit that his Father had promised.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0 Jesus didn\u2019t want to leave his disciples unequipped for their mission.\u00a0 His intent was that they would live in this world empowered by His Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Like Jesus\u2019 earliest disciples,\u00a0you and I were not made to run on our own power, but to live this life and represent Jesus in this world while relying on a power source much greater than us: the Holy Spirit.<\/strong>\u00a0 We need the Holy Spirit just as much today as the earliest disciples did.\u00a0 Without the Holy Spirit we are powerless to do anything of value in God\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n

Acts<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01<\/em><\/strong>:6-8 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”<\/em>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.<\/em>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0But 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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 6-8:\u00a0 Being Jewish themselves, the disciples were looking forward to Jesus \u201crestoring the kingdom to Israel\u201d (v6), that is, restoring the nation of Israel to a place of prominence and political independence after years of being under Roman rule.\u00a0 The disciples wanted to know when Jesus was going to do that.\u00a0 But based on Jesus\u2019 response, Jesus and the Father had different plans.\u00a0 Rather than focusing on the political restoration of Israel as a nation, Jesus and the Father planned to use the disciples to bring the message of Jesus to all nations.\u00a0 In fact the story that progresses in\u00a0Acts\u00a0can be summarized by this one statement in verse 8: \u201cyou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth\u201d (v8).<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0God\u2019s agenda is not just to set up a political kingdom in one place on earth, but for the church to tell of Jesus in every place to every person on the planet and to every nation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01<\/em><\/strong>:9-11 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.<\/em>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.<\/em>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 9-11:\u00a0 When Jesus had risen from the grave, at his empty tomb some female followers of Jesus met two men in gleaming clothes who announced Jesus\u2019 resurrection.\u00a0 They asked the women, \u201cWhy do you look for the living among the dead?\u00a0 He is not here; he has risen!\u201d (Luke 24:4-8) \u00a0Now here at Jesus\u2019 ascension into heaven, Jesus\u2019 followers are once again met by two men dressed in white who ask them, \u201cWhy do you stand here looking into the sky?\u201d\u00a0 Then they announce that Jesus, who has ascended to heaven, will return one day.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0If you want to make the most of your time on earth, don\u2019t keep standing there looking at the sky, but get moving with the purposes Jesus has for your life: to worship Him, to grow more like Him, to serve Him, to lead others to Him, and to love His church.<\/strong>\u00a0 Until we die and go to heaven or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first, may we spend ourselves on the purposes Jesus has called us to.<\/p>\n

Father, thank You for the way Your heart beats for every person on this planet, and for every nation.\u00a0 Thank You for how You want to involve us in Your mission to reach the entire world with the message that Jesus died for us and rose again.\u00a0 Thank You for Your Holy Spirit whom You have given us to be our power source.\u00a0 Holy Spirit, I surrender to You and ask You to please fill me today.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today we begin the book of\u00a0Acts.\u00a0 Written by a Christian physician called Luke in approximately 60-70 A.D. as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke,\u00a0Acts\u00a0is such an important book in that: (1) it gives us a detailed account of what happened to Jesus\u2019 followers after Jesus ascended to heaven; (2) it gives us a historical backdrop for understanding the letters of Paul, which would make up much of the New Testament; (3) it shows us what the early church looked like and the incredible faith, courage and perseverance they displayed in the face of great uncertainty and persecution; and (4) it takes us on a tour from Jerusalem to the various nations where the church spread.\u00a0 Even more, the book of\u00a0Acts\u00a0is filled with powerful lessons for us today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a01:1-11.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Acts\u00a01:1\u00a0(NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31761"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31764,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31761\/revisions\/31764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}