The spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741 May 11, 2011

2. We are beginning a study of the Book of Acts on Wednesday nights . The Book of Acts is written by Luke , who also wrote the Book of Luke. Acts picks up where Luke left off, and continues the Work of Christ on the earth. Today, Jesus works through His church , which is the body of Christ .

3. Acts 1 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given Commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: According to BKC Theophilus was likely Luke's patron , financing him while he wrote. Anyone who gives his or her full time to ministry must be financed by somebody.

4. Acts 1 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given Commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: The verb began indicates that Acts continues the account of the ministry and teaching Christ began on earth. He is still working and teaching through His people today. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

5. 3 To whom (apostles) also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. On the evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples, who were assembled in the upper room. He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."

6. That is the Promise of which He now speaks, for which they are to wait in Jerusalem. Romans 8 24 For we are saved by hope (confident and pleasant expectation; faith) : but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope (have faith) for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it .

7. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. This occurred on the Day of Pentecost , and we will study it in chapter two. Since that day, every believer is baptized into the body of Christ in the moment of salvation .

8. 1 Corinthians 12 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ . 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

9. Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel? 7 And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His Own Power. The Kingdom of God will be established on the earth, when Jesus will reign for 1000 years. Nobody knows when !

10. 8 But 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. We do not have to operate in human strength or human wisdom in serving God. God's Holy Spirit dwells in us: To lead us step by step to do God's Will; To empower us to be able to do all that God Wills.

11. "Be witnesses unto Me." Everything that God has us to do is for this purpose . To spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are anointed by the Holy Ghost to tell men and women, boys and girls, " God loves you ." God loves you so much that He gave Jesus to die in your place for your sins. He shed His Blood to wash away your sins.

12. God's Holy Spirit within us produces in us the virtues of God . Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4 And even these are partial lists. Let us submit ourselves to the Lord every day, that we may be effective in spreading the Gospel.

13. Fifth Sunday , May 29, after Sunday morning worship Church Fellowship and Dinner at Constitution Hall in Fort Oglethorpe No evening Service Pure Heart Music Ministry will be here Sunday morning, June 5 to lead us in worship. I will preach afterwards.