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Pastor's Sunday School Blog

Sunday School Lesson

“The Risen King’s Ascends”

November 19, 2017

Acts 1:4-14

Pastor’s Notes:

The Church, the believer that operates apart from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit will fail God’s ultimate purpose.

Human initiative may accomplish good, however, apart from the power of the Spirit, it becomes what man can do verses what God can do.

If our activity will have real eternal significance then we must not get ahead of God and wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to lead.

Two baptisms: (1) The baptism of the Spirit which occurs at the moment of salvation (the believer is immersed by the Spirit into the “Body of Christ.” (2) Water baptism which represents the believers experience; a symbolic act of one’s conversion and one’s commitment to follow Christ. Also called the believer’s “profession of faith.”

Don’t get so caught up with eschatology (“Lord, are you restoring the kingdom at this time”), that you miss what is important to the work of the Kingdom, the Gospel proclamation.

The date of His coming is not important. What is important is one’s readiness for His appearing.

If one is filled with, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he will be a witness of Jesus Christ.

The believer’s witness is both local and global.

Once again, while worship is vital to the believer, real worship cannot occur apart from a redemptive witness … since obedience and commitment are how we exemplify the depth of our love (worship) then to attempt to worship absent obedience is a futile act. To appreciate and adore God is to obey God.

The angels told the disciples in the same manner they had seen him depart He would return. He ascended visibly and physically, therefore, when He returns it will be visible and physical.

May we pray for the powerful activity of the Holy Spirit among us and through us.

Jesus promises to send His Spirit to empower the disciples (Acts 1:4-5).

The Lord never intended for the believer to operate in the power of the flesh, but under the direction of the Holy Spirit. (See: John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26-27).

While the Holy Spirit is given to every believer, not every believer operates in the power of the Holy Spirit (See: Ephesians 5:18).

The baptism of the Holy Spirits occurs simultaneous with salvation; it is the work of the Holy Spirit immersing the believer into the “body of Christ.” Water baptism occurs secondary to salvation and is a symbolic act representing one’s conversion experience and commitment to Christ.

When did the church begin? It seems the Church began with the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost.

Jesus prophesies the spread of the Gospel throughout the earth (Acts 1:6-8).

If you are doing the “what,” you won’t have to worry about the “when.”

What does the Bible say about “knowing” when the Lord will return? While we may know in general, by the signs of the times, we cannot know specifically/exactly.

What is important is not when Jesus will return, but the coming of the Holy Spirit, for it is the Holy Spirit Who will provide the power to accomplish the Lord’s commission for His Church.

“witness” – one who shares his or hers experience with Christ, by word of mouth, and by the life he lives.

The scope of our witness is local and global, “Jerusalem – ends of the earth.”

DISCUSS HOW OUR GREAT COMMISSION CELEBRATION OFFERING HAS HELP FBC ATKINS TO ACCOMPLISH THE COMMAND OF ACTS 1:8.

Jesus ascends to heaven, where He exercises Divine authority (Acts 1:9-14).

While it is important to “look up” we must always “look out.” If all we do is look up anticipating the return of the Lord we will fail to accomplish why we are here … to be witnesses. Our worship should always lead to our work and our witness.

Jesus return will be the same as His ascension: bodily and visibly

DISCUSS … We need to spend more time praying for the power of the Holy Spirit than developing programs … AND this is the reason we have altar call at the beginning of the service; to pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit …

Theological Theme: After the ascension of Christ, He was seated at the right hand of God, and given authority (See Ephesians 1:20-22).

Christological/Christ Connection: Jesus came from heaven to fulfill the Father’s will. After completing His Divine task He returned to heaven where He was seated on the right hand of God. One day He will return to rule over all of God’s creation.

Missional Application: Believers have the responsibility share by message and ministry the Gospel of Jesus Christ, locally and globally.


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201 N Church St
Atkins, AR 72823

www.atkinsfbc.com

(479) 641-2693

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