ADULT STS LESSON 177 PREPARATION FOR THE SPIRIT’S DESCENT
MEMORY VERSE: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). TEXT: Acts 1:1-26
Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, began with a brief recourse to his gospel. In his gospel, he narrated the acts of Christ, but in Acts of the Apostles, he recounted the acts of the Holy Ghost through the apostles. Thus, he provided a link between the gospel of Luke and Acts. The introduction reveals that the two books were addressed to the same person, Theophilus. Theophilus whose name means “lover of God” represents all the lovers or friends of God. Hence, true believers should see every book of the Bible as messages written to and for them. “All scriptures is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4). Luke summarised his gospel as “all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). The doctrines that Jesus taught were confirmed by the miraculous works that followed and proved Him as a Teacher come from God (John 3:2). He was a Prophet mighty in deeds and words (Luke 24:19). From Jesus’ pattern of ministry, we observe that He practised what He taught. Our deeds ought to conform to our teaching. The best ministers are those who teach the word of God and do it. Jesus had revealed that those who “teach” and “do not” are like the Pharisees and shall not have inheritance with Him in heaven. Jesus understood that He would soon leave the world and allowed no idle moment in His life, but worked tirelessly and relentlessly to accomplish the Father’s will and work (John 4:34). He was always going about His Father’s business and pursued it with consummate passion. His commitment was to “…work the works of him that sent [Him], while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). So, believers should always live and work with the consciousness of the brevity of life.
CHRIST’S POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCE AND PROMISED POWER FOR WORLD EVANGELISATION (Acts 1:1-8; John 20:1-8,20; Mark 16:1-20; Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 10:40-44; Luke 24:49; Joel 2:28; John 7:39; 16:7-15; Isaiah 44:3,4)
Jesus’ earthly ministry, which began after His baptism and temptations terminated at His ascension – a period of three and a half years. This period was characterised by consistency in ministry, constancy of purpose and conformity to the Father’s will. He continued “Until the day in which he was taken up…” This teaches that believers should not be weary in well-doing. Paul explained that only those who by patient continuance in well-doing and seeking God’s glory will be rewarded with eternal life (Romans 2:6-11). Jesus also laid the foundation of all that were to be taught and done in His body, the Church. He gave “commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen”. His apostles were to carry on and continue what He began, did and taught. Luke reports here that Christ “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…” (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:38-45). The earliest convincing evidence of His resurrection was the empty tomb (John 20:1-8). The post-resurrection appearances also laid a most solid foundation for the faith of the early disciples. The Lord’s post-resurrection appearances were real physical appearances and not apparitions. The apostles saw Him literally: He walked, talked, ate, drank and even showed them the marks of His wounds. Aside fulfilling Bible prophecies, these appearances authenticate His preeminence, supremacy, divinity, lordship and sonship Acts 2:22; 1 Timothy 3:16; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 2:36; 10:36; Romans 10:8,9; John 20:28). The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ made significant impact on the disciples’ lives. At His death, they were disillusioned, fearful and cowed. After witnessing the event of Christ’s resurrection, their faith was strengthened. He stayed forty days on earth, strengthening and confirming the faith of the disciples. This was an act of love, self-denial and compassion on His disciples. It serves as a proof that believers have a High Priest that is touched with the feeling of their infirmities. Leaders ought to follow in His steps and willingly sacrifice personal interests and comfort for the care of the flock (Hebrews 4:14, 15). Luke recalls that Christ gave the apostles command to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Ghost, the promise of the Father, which Joel and other prophets foretold (Joel 2:28; Ezekiel 36:25-28; Acts 1:4,5). The enduement with the power of the Holy Ghost is important in the evangelisation of the world for which Christ died. First, the Holy Spirit helps true disciples by constantly comforting them. Second, He helps to bring to remembrance all that Christ had said, thereby, preserving the truth and veracity of His message (John 14:26). Third, He empowers believers to preach the gospel convincingly and effectively (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Fourth, He enables believers perform miracles as confirmation of the divine approval of His message (Acts 6:6,7). In short, He gives courage, boldness, confidence, insight, supernatural ability and authority to believers. While the Lord Jesus focused on the immediate assignment of witnessing in preparation for His future kingdom, His disciples interrupted Him with a political question. They asked Him unanimously, “…wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). From this, it is evident that the disciples had a wrong conception of Christ’s kingdom because they conceptualised the Messiah as an earthly conqueror who would free them from Rome’s political rule. Jesus replied that it is the Father who sets the time-table for all events, including the time the kingdom would be restored to Israel. From Jesus’ response to the disciples, we learn that, one, we should be good listeners and avoid distracting our preachers and teachers. Two, we should avoid carnality and preoccupation with mundane things. Three, we should avoid foolish and unlearned questions capable of generating strife (2 Timothy 2:23). However, Christ refocused their attention on the most important task of world evangelisation currently revealed in God’s time-table. He prioritised the need to equip them for the task for which He died and rose again, saying, “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
CHRIST’S ASCENSION AND PROMISED RETURN (Acts 1:9-11; Mark 16:19,20; Luke 24:50-53; John 3:13; Ephesians 1:20; 4:8; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Psalm 68:18)
Having commissioned the apostles, the Lord ascended to heaven. “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). This event was unique and kept the apostles gazing until the angels began to speak with them. The ascension of Christ is significant in many ways. It brings His earthly ministry to a climax, asserts His power over nature, demonstrates His victory over hostile human and spiritual powers and universal lordship (Ephesians 4:8; 1:21,22; 1 Peter 3:22). It was through His ascension that He arrived heaven as our great High Priest who is continually interceding for us at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:24). His ascension is a preview of our anticipated resurrection and ascension to heaven. Thus, it inspires an upward look of faith and expected literal return of the glorified Christ to take the blood-washed saints to heaven at the rapture (Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:28); assures believers of the coming of the Comforter, who Christ promised would come only after His departure; marked the conclusion of His earthly ministry and His eternal exaltation at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33-36; 5:30,31; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 12:2). Christ’s ascension underscores the continuation of His work on earth by His followers (Acts 6:1,2,8; John 14:12). While the apostles gazed steadfastly toward heaven, two angels appeared to them and queried their continuous gaze, but reassured them that “this same Jesus” would come again in like manner as He had gone to heaven. Christ told His disciples on several occasions that He would return to the earth after His death, resurrection and ascension. And that His second coming will be as visible as His first ascension (Acts 1:10-12). The promise of His second coming should comfort and encourage us to be diligent, blameless and ready (John 16:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8); and awaken us to the responsibility of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20).
CHRISTIANS’ PREPARATION FOR THE SPIRIT’S OUTPOURING (Acts 1:12-14; Jeremiah 4:1; Hosea 6:1- 3; Psalm 78:34,35; Deuteronomy 30:2,3; Isaiah 55:6,7; Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; Luke 11:9-13; Acts 15:8,9; Joshua 3:5)
After Christ’s ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and assembled together at the Upper Room in obedience to the Lord’s command that they should not depart from Jerusalem but “wait for the promise of the Father…” (Acts 1:4). The command to wait was to get them prepared for the promised outpouring of the Spirit for the enormous task of taking the gospel to the four corners of the world, a mission the Lord knows can only be accomplished with power of the Holy Ghost. Yet, the power would not come until they were prepared to receive. Human preparation precedes God’s visitation. God’s command to Jacob was to return to Bethel “…to make there an altar unto [Him]”. The movement towards Bethel necessitated putting “away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments” before God’s visitation and blessings (Geneses 35:1-5,9). In Hosea 6:1-3, God instructed backslidden Israel to return unto Him for the promised revival and restoration. Impatience and lack of heart preparation for divine equipping is the bane of those who rush into ministry, banking on happenstance for success. Waiting requires obedience, trust, patience and unceasing prayer and praise to God who has promised to pour down the needed blessings into our lives. The disciples, realising that human ingenuity only cannot accomplish divine purpose, humbly exemplified unalloyed commitment, consecration and total surrender to the will of God. They were steadfast and resolute in prayer as they waited for the promised blessings.2
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…” (Acts 1:14). Obviously, the problem of strife, selfishness, position-seeking, competitive spirit and other traits of the unsanctified life had been dealt with as they demonstrated love and unity and had intimate fellowship with one another. Sanctification, a definite Christian experience by grace, is required of all believers who desire the Holy Spirit baptism. The disciples in the Upper Room prayed passionately, perseveringly and fervently until their fears were replaced with faith, their sorrows transmuted into joy and their weakness turned into strength. Their prayers opened the heavens and released the outpouring of God’s power in accordance with His will (1 John 5:14). From the foregoing, to receive the infilling or baptism of the Holy Spirit, a believer needs to know and accept the divine purpose for the promised power; obtain the sanctification experience; consecrate his or her life entirely to God; hunger and thirst for it; ask in prayer; and receive by faith (Isaiah 44:3; Luke 11:13; Mark 11:24). The Holy Spirit’s baptism is indispensable for success, effectiveness and fruitfulness in life and ministry. The experience opens the door to supernatural and miraculous works in a believer’s ministry. The disciples in the Upper Room were not only praying but also reading the Scripture. Thus, Peter recalled a portion from the Psalms regarding the fall of Judas Iscariot and requisite replacement for him. “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate… and his bishoprick let another take” (Acts 1:20).
The criteria for nomination were faithfulness and consistency in following Christ from inception of His earthly ministry, from the baptism of John to the moment of His ascension. Based on these, Joseph and Matthias were appointed and well-fitted for the office, necessitating guidance and direction from the Lord “who knowest the hearts of all men” (Acts 1:15-26; Matthew 26:24; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Exodus 18:21; Romans 8:14; Luke 6:12-16). Believers learn that novices are not to be appointed to leadership positions in the church, but such as have been proven to be faithful, dependable, committed, consecrated, consistent, holy and diligent in the service of the Lord. The disciples desired of God to “shew whether of these two thou has chosen”. Dependence on God to choose His own servants is commendable and worthy of emulation by all Christian leaders. The replacement of Judas was determined by lot, which “fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (verse 26). The Church was still at infancy and depended on the Old Testament practice of casting of lots in the choice of leadership, even after prayer (Leviticus 16:8,9; Joshua 14:2). However, after the Holy Spirit came, there was no record that they ever needed to depend on this method again (Acts 6:1- 5; 3:2-4). Thus, New Testament believers pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance on all issues of life, including choice of leaders (Romans 8:14; Luke 6:12-16). It is unfortunate that Judas, who received the same calling and ministry with the apostles, by his personal choice ignored the warnings of Christ, hardened his heart and betrayed his Master. His sin of covetousness and love for filthy lucre was his undoing. To avoid the pitfalls of backsliding and derailing from the faith, believers should continually shun evil companions, engage in daily self-examination, watch and pray, abide in Christ, maintain daily, regular quiet time and be faithful in preaching the gospel.
Questions for review:
1. Who is the writer of the Acts of the Apostles and what is his purpose of writing?
2. How is Christ’s resurrection relevant to the Christian faith?
3. Why did Christ promise to fill sanctified believers with the Holy Spirit?
4. State the purpose of Christ’s ascension.
5. What is the primary purpose of the Spirit’s outpouring for the Church?
6. In what specific ways can a believer prepare for baptism with the Holy Ghost?
7. Mention scriptural principle that should guide the church in the selection of leaders.
