Final Instructions

Why did Luke write Luke?

Luke 1:1–4 NASB95

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

Why did Luke write Acts?

Acts 1:1–2 NASB95

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

You should not believe this w/blind faith.

Investigate it

St Jerome quote: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”.

So we should understand why this was written.

Have you ever had your eyes or more properly stated your mind play tricks on you?

Dear hunting story when I was about 14.

This is what the disciples were dealing with and let’s be honest, it is what we deal with today as well, individually and as a society.

Let’s look at today’s text:

Luke 24:36–49 NASB95

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:6–11 NASB95

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

BLUF: You are not enough. God is.

V. 36: Christ spoke comfort

He doesn’t deal with us as we deserve

V. 37: They were just explaining all that had happened on the road and over dinner.

Have you ever had God ‘show up big’ in your life only to doubt and fear later?

V. 38: Why are you troubled?

What if Christ was sitting beside you this morning and asked you “why are you troubled?” What would you say? Would it catch Him off guard (if He wasn’t all knowing) or have you talked to Him about it before?

When we are troubled, thoughts arise in our hearts:

Sometimes the trouble is the product of our thoughts and sometimes our thoughts are the product of the trouble.

Troublesome thoughts (about Christ) are often b/c we don’t really know who Christ is:

Being humbled or chastened only to believe Christ is here to punish us or hurt us

Or we don’t get what we want and think He doesn’t want what is best for us

Remember, emotions are a bad measurement of truth.

Matthew 13:14 NASB95

14 “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

All troublesome thoughts are already known by Jesus.

V. 39-43: Christ proves Himself to the disciples

shows His body

eats with them

Apologetics note: if disciples stole the body of Jesus and simply said that He rose from the dead, why are they so slow to believe Him here?

V. 44 Don’t stress if it takes you more than one time to get it.

it isn’t an excuse but a reason

Oh, how hard it is ta act in faith, they had been told of this many times but still hesitated.

V. 45: Opened their minds: explained things that were previously misunderstood or hidden

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 NASB95

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

So many things ‘close our eyes’:

pride, lust, love of the world, anxiousness: basically being conformed to the world but we are called to be different

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Everything must be passed through the lens of scripture

only a right understanding of scripture will ensure right action to be possible...

V. 46: Notice He doesn’t say, “man I am glad that is over, the worst decision of my life...”

He is telling the what must be preached, this is the gospel according to Jesus.

Explaining the N.T. as a fulfillment of prophecies from the O.T.

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Start in Jerusalem (I am sure they didn’t want to hear that)

Christ’s grace and mercy are available to all

V. 47: repentance: O.T. to return, N.T. a change of life (choices) based on a change of mind and heart

must comprehend repentance and forgiveness before a Christian life is possible

man impenitent is man unforgiven - anonymous quote

This requires action

John 14:23 NASB95

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

V. 48: witnesses

first hand account, someone who sees what happens

Greek word for martyr, there is always a cost

Witnesses are empowered by the Holy Spirit

Commanders don’t let their soldiers go to battle unequipped, neither does Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is a far better evangelist than we are.

Does He guide you in your conversations with people?

Acts Here

VV. 50-53

Why did Christ let them witness the ascension?

Resurrection could be proved with His appearance but the ascension could only be proved with witnesses.

Jesus isn’t trying to keep us in the dark

You are not enough

God is