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Introduction
As we study Acts together I want to encourage us not to study this book like it is some distant removed history that is interesting but has nothing to do with us.
No instead, this book is a family book for us church.
This book is not just the history of the church, it is not just a history of our spiritual family but it is also a history of the mission of the the church, and this is a mission that continues with us today.
One of the things that I hope studying the book of Acts does for us is that it causes us to better serve our King as we understand the mission and study the history of the mission of the early church.
I. Luke’s Message Continues
A little bit of introductory matters here
Reading v.1-2 it is clear that we are picking up in the middle of a story.
This is volume 2 if you will of a 2 volume work by Luke.
Luke, the author of the gospel according to Luke is the same author of the book of Acts.
A little about Luke
We know that he was a doctory
Luke would have been educated and presumably wealthy.
He made trips with Paul and was loyal to him even while the apostle was in prison
Acts 28
Notice places where Luke includes himself in the narrative, these are referred to as the “we-sections”
Where the gospel was planted on European soil ,
From Philippi to Jerusalem after the conclusion of the last missionary journey 20:5-15 and 21:1-18
The Third from Jerusalem to Rome by sea 27:1-28:16
During these times of ministry Luke has plenty of opportunity to absorb Paul’s teaching, and to write a personal log of his experiences that he would use later while writing this book.
ring these times of ministry Luke has plenty of opportunity to absorb Paul’s teaching, and to write a personal log of his experiences that he would use later while writing this book.
During these times of ministry Luke has plenty of opportunity to absorb Paul’s teaching, and to write a personal log of his experiences that he would use later while writing this book.
But more than anything we see that Luke is a humble man who has a passion for the life changing gospel, his sensitivity to the disadvantaged, his heart for prayer, and his concern for the nations.
Luke is the first volume
Listen to the introduction to his first volume
Writing to Theolphilus, “lover of God”.
This is probably a new believer or maybe someone who is seeking, someone asking questions about the faith.
What was dealt with in the first volume?
The first coming of Christ, His life, His ministry, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension
In the first volume Luke told us of the unfolding plan of redemption.
How God’s promises of redemption and restoration find their fulfillment in Christ.
He is the the Son of David
He is the Savior of the World
He is the Fulfillment of all the OT hopes and promises as we looked at some of that this past month
Luke speaks of eyewitnesses and of an orderly account of all that has taken place.
Brothers and sisters, this is a reminder to us that our faith is not hope in some abstract ideas or hope built on some philosophy, it is not based on someone’s wild imagination but on historical revelation.
Jesus Christ really did live
He died
He rose bodily from the grave
He appeared to witnesses
He ascended
He is ruling and reigning today
He has send His Spirit to empower His people
These are facts, not this not some fantasy
Other religions like Buddhism, Islam do not depend upon historical
The implication is that that this s
II.
Jesus’ Ministry Continues
Notice in v.1 and 2 we are told about the previous book
The implication is that this book is about the ministry that is still to come.
Notice Jesus is mentioned all through 1-11
What Luke is helping us to see is that Acts is simply the continuation of Jesus’ ministry.
Luke tells us about the finished work of Christ, the work that He accomplished while He was bodily here on the earth, the obedience to the Father even to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Acts tells us about the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ through the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Both books are unfolding the plan of God’s redemption and restoration of lost sinners that was promised in the OT.
Something I will point out notice v.1 all that Jesus began to do and teach
Jesus did and He taught
Jesus’ deeds illustrated His words and His words explained His deeds.
Jesus leaves the church with the same ministry.
Brothers and sisters we are to in the power of the Holy Spirit do and teach.
It is not enough just to do.
We can do all that we want and yet we have to teach, we have to proclaim the gospel for the Kingdom of God to spread.
We also must not just teach, we must not only share the love of Christ with others but we must show the love of Christ to others by the way that we live.
The words and works of Jesus go together and we see that in Acts as well.
caring for physical needs 3:1-10
proclaiming the gospel 3:18-20
Brothers and sisters the ministry of deeds and words go together, and when done by the power of the Holy Spirit for the good of others and to the glory of the King they produce a pleasing aroma of worship to God.
In the book of Acts we see the ministry of Jesus continuing through His church.
Is that true for us today?
Are we faithfully taking part in the mission?
To build on this truth that we see in this passage let’s look at how it is communicated to us in another way.
Notice the ascension of our Lord.
In some ways this reminds us of Elijah when he passed off the mantle to Elisha.
The disciples had been with the greater prophet and now Jesus was giving them the privilege and responsibility of doing his work and proclaiming His Word after His home going.
The ministry of Jesus is to continue through the church, and it will continue because He is the exalted King who rules and reigns.
You see the ascension of Jesus reminds us of who He is.
v.2 tells us that Jesus was taken up and in v. 9 the text says he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight.
This cloud reminds us of the Son of Man vision in
Daniel 7.
This glorious exaltation demonstrates Jesus’ promotion from earth to heaven and it prefigures His return which will be visible, glorious, and climactic.
Some of the early church fathers viewed as being ultimately fulfilled in the ascension of the totally righteous Lord Jesus and His entrance into heaven
Psalm 24.
This is a picture of the scene in heaven.
But what was the scene on earth?
The disciples gazed into heave like children gazing at a balloon as it drifts away.
Notice v.10 and 11
But we also get more of the story if we look back to Luke’s first volume,
The first and second volume overlaps a little here.
Luke 24.
Brothers and sisters, that should be our response to our ascended Lord, one of worship, joy, and obedience.
The ministry of our risen Lord continues because He is the risen King.
Because to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations, and languages should serve him.
The good news of this risen King spreads and advances through His Spirit empowered witnesses.
III.
The Church’s Witness Continues
Notice v.6-8
The disciples show that there is a lack of understanding about Jesus’ Kingdom that He came to establish
Jesus directs them to the global nature of His Kingdom and their part in the mission in the advancement of His Kingdom into the nations.
What does Jesus call His followers to?
To be His witnesses.
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