Acts

Luke 2.0

What was the point of Luke?

Luke 1:1–4 (NIV)

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Acts 1:1–3 (NIV)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Acts is part 2 to Luke. Luke has a clear purpose. Since Luke doesn’t state a purpose in Acts we should apply the purpose of part 1 to part 2.

Here’s why that’s important.

Luke: Jesus WAS with us

Acts: Jesus IS with us

How is Jesus with us? (Example)

Jesus is so united with His church, through the Holy Spirit, that He is alive on earth.

When the True Church is filled with the Holy Spirit, Christ walks upon the earth. Water balloon: 2 balloons (one filled), a container 2 balloons, one with water and one with nothing

Why do we call this one a “water” balloon?

Because the balloon isn’t simply a vessel. To be filled with water changes the very essence of the balloon. In fact, once this balloon is filled with water it’s more water THAN BALLOON.

When the True Church is filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s more Jesus than it is anything else.

That’s my claim, let’s see if it’s in the scripture

The church filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit promised to everyone who would repent and be baptized.

Acts 2:1–4 (NIV)

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Peter preaches telling the people they killed their Messiah.

Acts 2:36–39 (NIV)

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

After being filled with the Holy Spirit the church engages in the miracles of Jesus

Acts 3:1–8 (NIV)

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Acts 9:32–35 (NIV)

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Peter resurrects a disciple named Tabitha. The church is so full of Christ that it’s kind of difficult to see where Peter ends and Jesus begins. Just like the unity Jesus had with the Father during His ministry.

But it’s not just Peter it’s the whole church. This isn’t a passing of the mantel from Christ to the ONE.

The church didn’t just join Jesus in His miracles but in His persecution In ch.5 the Apostles joined in the persecution of Jesus. Chapter 6 - 7 Stephen (a deacon) preaches repentance and is murdered for it.

Stephen is stoned and Paul is introduced. Acts 8:1 “1 And Saul approved of their killing him.

Remember Luke is writing to the Gentile who loves God, so what do we get next?

The salvation of the Apostle to the Gentiles. (Again makes sense if you take the purpose from part 1) What do we see from Paul? Jesus is alive! I saw Him!

Acts 9:4–6 (NIV)

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 13:29–32 (NIV)

29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors

Acts 22:6–8 (NIV)

6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.

Acts 26:9–18 (NIV)

9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Paul goes place to place saying I’ve seen the risen Messiah, it is Jesus, turn to Him and be saved.

The gospel Paul preached was not about a dead Messiah but a living one that people had access to through the Holy Spirit that was inside of them.

Acts 26:28–29 (NIV)

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

What is the limit? We are not God

Ch:8 Simon the Sorcerer tries to buy the Holy Spirit. He can’t because the apostles are not making God move but responding to it. Acts 8:21 “21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.” Ch:14 People try to worship Paul and Barnabas as Gods and they rushed out into the crowds and tore their clothes demanding they stop. Jesus never stopped people from worshiping Him.

Ch:19 Some Jews tried to use the name of Jesus like a spell to cast out demons, but Jesus isn’t a force to be called upon.

15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

How does Luke end part 2?

Acts 28:28–31 (NIV)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Application

If a water balloon is more water than it is balloon, in essence more substance than it is vessel… what is a Christian? What is a church? What it’s supposed to be is more Jesus than it is vessel.

The vision is for Theophilus (the gentile who loves God) to see Christ in His church, then to be Christ to the world John 14:6-9

John 14:6–9 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The whole world is screaming, if I could see Christ I would believe! The truth is, if we would fill ourselves with Christ we could say, I’m going out with Sam Miller for breakfast Friday, why don’t you join us and you will see Christ for yourself. Come to our small group and you will see Christ.

Come have dinner with me and my family and you will see God.