a) They were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)
b) They bore witness for the Lord Jesus (Acts 2)
c) They displayed power through signs (Acts 3)
d) They had the power to face persecution and continued to preach the word (Acts 4,5)
3. The next generation
a) Seven men of good reputation were appointed (Acts 6)
b) Do we see the same power in the next generation/church?
Full of faith and power
1. First notation (Acts 6:3, 5)
a) Full of faith
b) Full of the Holy Spirit
c) Good reputation
d) Full of wisdom
2. Second notation (Acts 6:8)
a) Full of faith
b) Power
The example of Stephen
1. Defending the kingdom of God
a) Facing the opposition of some from the Synagogues of Freedman (Acts 6:9-15)
i) They disputed with Stephen
ii) Unable to resist him
b) Defending the faith (Acts 7:1-50)
i) Spoke of the history of Israel
ii) References to the prophetic books
c) Full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55)
i) A glimpse of heaven
ii) Seeing God and the Lord Jesus
d) Stephen is hailed as the first martyr of the church ( Acts 7:57-58)
i) Cast him out of the city
ii) Stoned to death
2. Mindful of the Lord’s teaching
“23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24
a) Desiring to follow Christ
b) The challenge of losing our life
The example of Philip
1. Further expansion of the kingdom of God
a) The Jerusalem church
i) The Apostles had fulfilled part of the Lord’s vision in Jerusalem
ii) They formed the Jerusalem church
b) Persecution of the church (Acts 8:1-3)
i) There arose great persecution through Saul
ii) The church was scattered to Judea and Samaria
iii) As a result, many went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4)
c) Philip ministering to the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-7)
i) He preached Christ to the city of Samaria
ii) Multitudes also heeded and saw the miracles of Philip
iv) He preached about the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 8:12)
v) He also baptised men and women
d) This power of the Holy Spirit was working in expanding the kingdom of God
i) Peter and John went to Samaria to verify the work of Philip (Acts 8:14-17)
ii) They, too, went preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages (Acts 8:25)
2. Mindful of the Lord’s vision
a) The harvest
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
b) The great commission
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
c) The Lord’s plan
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Encouragement for all today
1. The challenge to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit as individuals and as a church
2. To manifest the power of the Holy Spirit in our life and ministry
3. Mindful of the Lord’s teaching and vision
4. To follow the Lord and fulfil His vision to expand His kingdom in the world