27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 01 01-05 THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 06 Acts 01 01-02 Apostles, whom He had chosen
📖 Acts 01:01-05
06 – 09Jun2022 – *Apostles, whom He had chosen* - _Acts 01:01-05_ - THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Bible reading: _Acts 10:39-43_
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You chose the apostles for a particular purpose. We too have been chosen to fulfil Your purposes. We together, as the church, have to fulfil Your purpose. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
*_Acts 1:1-2 The former account 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 He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,_*
We consider the significance of the phrase, *_…He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen._* Luke gives the names of the eleven apostles, chosen by the Lord Jesus.
_Acts 1:13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: *Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James*._
Paul, too considered himself an apostle.
*_Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),_*
The apostles and the prophets have a significant part in the building up of the body of Christ.
_Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but *fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit*._
The church is the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit because we are built up on the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone.
The understanding of the church is not only for this age but also for the age which is to come. *_Revelation 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb._*
Peter, as an apostle, explains the task that has been given to the apostles in the home of Cornelius.
_Acts 10:39-43 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. (40) Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) not to all the people, *but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. (42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead*. (43) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."_
Jesus has also chosen each of us and we are sent by God, which is the understanding of being an apostle. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that we, in the body of Christ, are apostles. Nevertheless, we must be careful, knowing who are the apostles.
_Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as *He chose us in Him* before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,_
We have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love. It is not possible for our limited human mind to grasp the plans of God for each of us but we must receive this blessing in faith, in Him.
*_John 15:16-17 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (17) These things I command you, that you love one another._*
We have been chosen to bear fruit.
Whenever we speak of fruit-bearing the imagery that must come to mind is that of a full-grown tree, lush and laden with fruit, providing shade, shelter and nourishment to the birds, animals, humans and to all of creation. We are to be a blessing to the world around us. This is why we have been chosen.
Our fruit must remain, which tells us that we are to bear fruit continuously. When we ask for anything in His name, it will be given to us. Some have taken this part of the verse out of its context. We must be careful to remember that asking anything in His name is in the context of bearing fruit that remains. We will not ask for ourselves but for the good of others, since that is what fruit-bearing is all about.
As fruit-bearing people, we are to love one another, which is not difficult to uphold, since we understand that our life is for others, not for ourselves.
_John 17:16-18 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (18) As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world._
We are chosen and sent out by God into the world but set apart from the world.
*My astonishment*
```“Lord Jesus, You have chosen me, before the foundation of the world… for Your purpose. This truth astonishes me!”```