Acts 1:1-5

¹ In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Intro

The Book of Act was written by Dr. Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke.
Theophilus, assumed as a Roman Official is the primary recipient of Acts.
The name Theophilus literally means the one who [friendly] loves God.
Interestingly, Bible scholars teach that the Book of Acts was also written for all believers who love God.

There are confirmations and commands that Christ personally presented to the disciples.
These days, non-believers would argue that the commands of God are archaic.
Archaic? Yes! And they are still very relevant or applicable in the present generation.
Some Bible Translations have been updated or revised.
Contemporary words, present day names of places, things or even idiomatic expressions were used.
Yet non-believers find another loophole saying, “those contemporary words are not in the original Scriptures. It is misleading, it is not biblical.”
How, then, would you address a situation that is not written in the Bible?
Non-believers cannot accept and understand the laws of God because they do not have the Spirit of God to explain to them.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14 it teaches…
¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Many things that God has revealed but non-believers would consider them as foolishness.
The more we grow in our faith in Christ the more revelations we receive.
When our faith in God grows, its manifestation is obedience to God’s laws.
Hebrews 8:10 teaches…
¹⁰ I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…
The commandments of God were not given to non-believers but to God’s people.
God put the laws in the mind and wrote them in the heart of His people.
Believers know for sure what God requires with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Christ Jesus, the Son of God personally came to teach and for His people to audibly hear what God requires of His people.

1. Confirmation

¹ In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach…

Luke wrote in his Gospel about the life story and the teachings of Christ.
When Jesus was still on earth the Holy Spirit was not yet given to the disciples.
A while back, we can recall that Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14…
¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
So, how did the Apostles understand and accept the teachings of Christ?
Our passage in Act 1:2, it says…
² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
Since the Apostles have not received the Holy Spirit yet during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Holy Spirit helped them understood and accepted Christ teaching.
The revelations and teaching of Christ is easier for disciples to understand and accept these days because the Holy Spirit has been given to all believers.

³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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.
The resurrection of Christ was unacceptable to non-believers then and even at present.
Still, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that would convict a person’s heart to believe and trust Jesus, His death and resurrection.
In Matthew 6:30-33 the Lord Jesus teaches…
³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Several times, the Lord Jesus told the disciple, “you of little faith.”
Faith in God grows as we continue to obey the commands of the Lord.
The more we obey God the more we understand that His commands are meant for the betterment of our life.
The more we obey Christ’s commands His promise of life to the fullest is experienced
In John 10:10, the Lord Jesus teaches…
¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Household Chores

I personally, know this young person who went to study in another city. His parents sent him money every month and he practically lived on his own. With limited budget, he needed to be wise and cook his own food. He has no problem about it because he learned from his father. Each time his father cooked meal for the family, he was there to help him. When he got married and had his own family, he has no problem adjusting to family life. When he became a father himself, he understood fully well that those commands of his parents were preparation for his own family life.

Many believers obey God’s commands because they understand the benefits of obeying. The power and love of Christ is more experienced when believers obey His teachings.The apostles confirmed that Christ is the Son of the Living God when they obeyed the commands Christ has given them.

2. Command

⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Christ instructed the disciples to go and make disciples but they were scared to go out.
The Lord Jesus said to wait until they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples.

The case of baptism with the Spirit of the first group of disciples was very unique because Christ was still with them in His human form when they trusted in Christ. The first group of disciples believed in Christ, and Christ knows who believed in Him but they have not received the Holy Spirit until after Christ ascended to heaven.
The next generations have different experience compared to the first group of disciples. The next generations of disciples then and up to now received the Holy Spirit at the moment they put their trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.
When the Christ said “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit,” was it a different experience from accepting the Holy Spirit?

Water baptism is to be immersed with water while to be baptized with the Holy Spirit is to be immersed with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is also a testimony that one has been made a new creation. But how does one know that he has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The believer who is baptized is washed, cleansed and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. There is a change and there is courage boldness to share the gospel.Those are immediate but there are also other manifestations of being baptized by the Spirit.
But why is it that not all believers have the courage to go and make disciples?

Born Again

When we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we are born-again as children of God. A new born baby cries at birth but does not know how to speak until after many months of listening to the mature people. Newly born again Christians need also to listen and learn from mature Christians.
Not all babies can speak after one year perhaps it takes two years before a baby can speak. When a child starts uttering some words parents are very happy. When a child obeys and helps in household chores parents become happier all the more.

That is also the process in our spiritual life. When a believer starts joining the ministry, that is a sign that, the believer has left behind his infancy-like spiritual life. When a disciple starts making disciple, it is also an indication of coming to the higher level of spiritual maturity.

The spiritual maturity in a person’s life is not based on age or how old a person is. Spiritual maturity is accelerated as faith in God grows bigger and stronger. Faith that grows bigger and stronger is clearly evidential in the more obedience to God.

For believers to obey a godly command, we need godly effort. The baptism of Holy Spirit is maximized or put into realization when we ask God to help us by His grace to obey His commands..

Present day disciples do not experience the baptism of the Spirit, that, the first group of disciples had experienced. That was a unique experience exclusively for them only as first disciples. A disciple can experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit more personally when the disciple starts sharing the gospel and making disciples. In obedience to the commands of Christ, the baptism of the Spirit is more confirmed.

What is the latest command God has told you lately.

When God speaks, you can hear it very clear and very personal. Keep praying that God would make it clearer to you what He wanted you to do. Read you Bibles and listen carefully to the small voice of the Holy Spirit.

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