This study was first taught on December 11, 2016

Topic: Understanding the Acts of the Apostles_2.1: Connectivity

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Background
In our last meeting, we began another mini-series, “Understanding the Acts of the Apostles”. Our focus, through this mini-series, is to bring us to a comprehension and appreciation of what, how, and why, the apostles of old acted as they did, with a view to providing those of us who are the ‘apostles’ of today, with valuable lessons that we can learn from and follow suit. We defined “Acts” as the actions, activities, deeds—including working of miracles—, and ministry; while we described an “Apostle” as someone who has been called, chosen, sanctified, and sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ, to do the work of God. Thus, our goal is to comprehend and appreciate what kind of actions, activities, deeds, and ministry is acceptable before God, for those of us who have been called, chosen, sanctified, and sent by the Lord, to engage in; how we are to go about such Acts; and, what is involved in engaging therein. To this end, we began to look at the first of four considerations that would help us understand the Acts of the Apostles—Continuity. Our study of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, must indeed, enable us to see what the Apostles of old did, and how they went about it; and, to continue from there.

Like the apostles of old, we have been called, chosen, sanctified, and sent out by the Lord to continue both to do and teach what He (the Lord) began both to do and teach, as documented in the Gospels. To be engaged in anything else, is to be engaged in something other than the Acts of the Apostles. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in this present age, we must faithfully continue from where the Early Church, and the Church since then, have left off. Like a link in a chain, this generation must link up with the appropriate chain of God’s work through the ages, and maintain the integrity of that ‘chain’—the work of God for all ages. We, therefore, cannot claim to be continuing in the work of God, if we are not continuing in the steps of the Apostles of old, as is written in the word of God, particularly, the Book of the Acts of the Apostles! We must, thus, be prepared for the kind of treatment, the apostles of old received in their day—persecution, derision, abuse, and so on; we must perform miracles for the right reasons—to demonstrate the glory and goodness of God to a dying world; we must teach the truth that is in God’s word; and, we must, as stewards of God, care for the flock of God, and not act as overlords/owners of the flock.

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:1-2
We now proceed to the next consideration that will help us understand the actions, activities, deeds, and ministry of the apostles, so that we can effectively continue from where those who had gone before us and who offered acceptable service unto God, left off. This next consideration will enable us see how the Lord Jesus continues to do His work through us today and for generations to come, and thus maintain the standard that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

While the Lord Jesus was here on earth—before His crucifixion—, He communicated directly with His disciples, and gave them necessary instructions. But after His resurrection, His communication with His disciples was no longer direct; it was now through the Holy Spirit—and has been since.

But before we delve into the Holy Spirit’s role in the work of God, let us take very careful note that the Lord communicated INSTRUCTIONS, not suggestions; and, COMMANDMENTS, not matters for debate and deliberation. Thus, every disciple of Jesus Christ receives instructions and commandments, which must be carried out—not thought over with a view to contributing our own input, neither is it to be made a subject for debate and deliberation within himself or with others!
The Holy Spirit is our link, connection, or the Connector between the resurrected Christ and those He (Christ) sends to do the work of God. Hence, if we are to maintain the integrity of the ‘chain’ of God’s work, the connectivity of the link between the Lord and His missionaries—those called, chosen, sanctified, and sent—must be the Holy Spirit. He it is Who must be the go-between, between those sent and the Lord Who sent them—not a man!
Genesis 1:1-3; Luke 1:35; 3:21-22; 4:18-19; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 9:14; Romans 1:4; Acts 9:3-17; 10:9-21; Matthew 10:18-20; John 14:18, 22-26; 16:12-15; Acts 1:8, 15-26; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; John 16:7-11; Acts 2:1-4ff; Romans 8:26; Acts 13:1-4; 8:26-29; 16:6-10.

Conclusion
We have used the word ‘connectivity’ to depict not only a medium, as in the means of communication, but more importantly, the Medium, as in the Person Who does the communicating, to the Lord’s disciples/apostles, after His resurrection; and, also, the Helper who is actively involved and engaged in the performance of the work of God. Our connectivity to Christ, the Early Apostles, and the original work of God, is thus, the Holy Spirit. Any other connectivity is no connectivity at all and will lead us to engaging in anything but the Acts of the Apostles—dead works. The Holy Spirit has always been involved and engaged in the work of God, even from the very beginning, and particularly in the work of the Lord Jesus here on the earth—from start to finish!

The Holy Spirit was presented to the apostles by the Lord during the discourse that took place just after the Last Supper. The Lord told the apostles that He would come to them through the Holy Spirit, Whom He referred to as “another Helper”. The Holy Spirit is thus the link or connection or the Connector between Christ and the Church, especially, those the Lord has sent to do the work of God, pretty much the same way a head is linked to the body through the spinal cord. Hence, if we claim to be doing the work of God, which is what the Acts of the Apostles is all about, it must not only be a continuity of the work the Lord Jesus initiated; but, it must also come by the Holy Spirit!

Indeed, there is nothing worthy of note that we can do without the Holy Spirit. We would all be on our own, without the Holy Spirit, and nothing we offer (by way of service and worship) would be accepted by the Father; and, we will not get anything right—what we would have will be a mess, even though some may believe that we are doing okay. Let us note that even though the disciples all gathered in one place, and with one mind/purpose; it was not until the Holy Spirit came that that gathering was known as the Church. Thus, in the absence of the Holy Spirit, we have anything but the Church of God gathered! Besides, the Holy Spirit is the One who helps us to pray as we ought to; He it is Who appoints us to our field of service, as He did, Barnabas and Saul; and, He is the One who directs us as to where to go, and who to go to, as He did Philip, and, Paul and his companions.

Indeed, all our communication with the Lord Jesus is through the Holy Spirit! But more importantly, because the Holy Spirit is the connectivity between us and heaven, and is actively involved and engaged in doing the work of God here on earth, we commonly refer to the Acts of the Apostles, as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, by the hands of the Apostles; and that is exactly what the work of God ought to be in our hands—the Acts of the Holy Spirit, done by our hands!

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