1 Supernatural Foundations Luke 1:1-4 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 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. I. God wants me to be confident. A. Set up. 1. Luke writes this for a man named Theophilus. 2. Most excellent title of respect 3. Theophilus is probably some kind of Roman official because of the title most excellent which Luke uses only for Roman officials like Felix (Acts 23:26) and Festus (Acts 26:25), the governors of Judea. 4. Apparently Theophilus had some knowledge of Jesus and the church, but it was not clear and certain and complete. 5. Luke s aim was to give him a faithful account of what Jesus did and said and then of the progress of the church in the world. 6. One man He wanted him to know. 7. He wrote the books of Luke and the Acts. 8. His immediate purpose in writing them was to help a man named Theophilus. 9. See the truth about what Jesus did and taught. 10. And how the church spread throughout the Roman world. Luke 1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. B. There were some things Theophilus was not certain of. 1. He had some knowledge but needed more. 2. He had some understanding but needed more. 3. He had some truth but needed more.
2 4. Some things were set in his head but some things were a little foggy. 5. Dr. Luke wanted him to know the certainty of the things he had been taught. Illustration So he had been taught some things but needed more assurance more conviction more faith. So the account was written so Theophilus would grow in his faith. Grow in his confidence. Grow in his conviction. Grow in his certainty. God wants you to be confident. God doesn t want you to be unsure or double minded or undecided. He wants you to be confident. Cynicism and uncertainty and lack of understanding and doubt are enemies of faith. Certainty, Conviction, Faith This is how the Apostles endured hardship and trials and persecution. This is how you drive on and do not quit. This is how you live for God in a godless culture. This is how you endure when everything seems to be against you. This is how you anchor in. This is how your foundation is set. This is how you make hard decisions. 1. Some of you are not certain but you can be certain. 2. Some of you need some certainty in your life. 3. When you feed yourself the wrong things you will get sick. 4. Feed yourself the right things. C. Know this. 1. God reveals truth. 2. God s word is the truth. 3. The Bible is given to us so that we can know God. I. God wants me to be confident. II. I will pick up where Jesus left off.
3 Acts 1:1 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 A. The key word for understanding the relevance of the book of Acts is the word began. 1. Luke says, 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 2. The gospel of Luke ends (in Luke 24:51 53) with the ascension of Jesus into heaven. 1. And Luke says that the story he told, ending with the ascension of Jesus into heaven, was the beginning of the teaching ministry of Jesus. 2. It was the beginning of the deeds of Jesus. B. Jesus work is final. 1. I don t want to minimize the finality the once-for-allness of the saving work of Jesus on the cross and in his resurrection. Hebrews 10:12 JESUS - had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God 2. When Jesus cried, It is finished, the debt was paid, the sins were covered, the wrath was removed and Satan was mortally wounded. 3. I don t want to minimize that in any way. C. I want to say that this was only the Beginning 1. What Jesus did on the earth in his tough, compassionate, loving, healing deeds 2. What he said on the earth in his truthful, authoritative, convicting, comforting teaching was only the beginning of his doing and his teaching. 3. This is absolutely crucial for understanding the purpose of the book of Acts 4. And who we are as a church. 5. Because the clear implication is that now 6. NOW that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father he is not finished. 7. He is not done with his work and with his teaching. 8. He is not dead and he is not absent. 9. He is alive and he is present. 10. He is doing and he is teaching. D. The book of Acts is not just the acts of the apostles; it is the acts of the risen, living, enthroned Jesus.
4 1. The incarnation of the Son of God into human flesh, the once-for-all sacrifice of himself for sin on the cross, the mighty resurrection and ascension to the Father s right hand is just the beginning of what Jesus came to do and to teach. 2. And the rest of what he came to do, he does now in this age until the end. 3. That is the point of the book of Acts and that is why we exist as a church and that is what this age is all about. 4. The book of Acts is not just the acts of the apostles; it is the acts of the risen, living, enthroned Jesus. Matthew 16:18 I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. E. This is Luke s point. 1. Jesus began his doing and teaching until he was taken up to heaven. 2. Now he goes on completing his doing and teaching. 3. He goes on building his church just like he said he would. 1. That is what the book of Acts is about. 2. And that is why it is so relevant for us today. 3. Jesus is still alive. He will always be alive! 4. He is still speaking and working. 5. He is building his church. 6. Wherever people come under the authority of his name and receive his forgiveness for sins and trust his power. 7. That is what we long to see happen more and more in this city and among all the unreached peoples of the world. F. Luke wants Theophilus to know that the work of Jesus just began so his work continues. 1. Jesus began to do a work. 2. Jesus began he started. 3. He initiated. 4. God initiates things. 5. He is the started and the inventor and the initiator. 6. He is the Alpha and Omega. a. In this case he began things. b. Why did he begin things? c. He began things so that his body would continue them. G. Know this what God starts he finishes.
5 1. He doesn t do things half way. 2. He doesn t leave things incomplete. 3. He was working through Luke to bring Theophilus to completion. H. The first work that Luke want s Theophilus to know about is the work Christ started in him. 1. It is the same work that Paul writes to the Philippians about. Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. I. The second work that Luke want s Theophilus to know about is the work of pouring into others. 1. Every follower of Christ is called to pour into others. 2. This is for everyone. I. God wants me to be confident. II. I will pick up where Jesus left off. III. I can understand God s words to me. Vs. 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen A. In this case Luke is referring to the instructions that Jesus gave the apostles 1. Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 2. It was given through the Holy Spirit.
B. First until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen 1. Then he gave them a commission or a command. 2. It was through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke, and the apostles received, the word of commission. 3. To be the instrument of Jesus as he works and speaks in the world, the apostles needed a command, or commission, or an authorization that came with the authentication of the Holy Spirit. 4. When Luke says that he gave them command through the Holy Spirit, it might mean simply that Jesus was prompted by the Holy Spirit to give the Great Commission to preach (Acts 10:42; Luke 24:47) and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). But I think Luke means for this to have relevance for the way the apostles themselves received the command, not just the way Jesus thought of it. C. That is what I suggest Luke means when he says that Jesus gave them a commandment through the Holy Spirit. 1. It was through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that he spoke, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that they received, the word of commission. 2. The Spirit helped them in those days before Pentecost to understand the command and to accept the command and to be glad with the command. Illustration Today the Holy Spirit is helping us hear that Jesus is not finished working. And through the Holy Spirit we are hearing and understanding the word of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14, 16 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 16 But we have the mind of Christ. 6 1. The problem is not intellectual ability. 2. We must have the Holy Spirit speak words to us. 3. Confirm in us the work of God. 4. We live in a consumer mindset where it is what have you done for me lately instead of the what is the spirit inspired instruction you have for me 5. Unless you go counter culture you cannot hear the Sprit. 6. You must learn to slow down and seek the Lord for yourself and get the word in you.
7 Transition So to be the instrument of Jesus as he works and speaks in the world, the first thing the apostles needed was a commission that came with the authentication of the Holy Spirit. That s the point of verse 2. Spirit inspired instruction The Next thing is Spirit inspired proof God wants me to be confident. I will pick up where Jesus left off. I can understand God s words to me. IV. I will live like Jesus is alive. Acts 1:3 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. A. Do you find that interesting? 1. I find it remarkable. 2. Jesus presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. 3. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days. B. They all saw him crucified. 1. Hung on a cross. 2. Gruesome and public. C. Then they saw him alive. 1. Why not get into a public place and present yourself to everyone. 2. Do it once and do it big. 3. Why not that way? Question Why would you go through the effort to give them many convincing proofs that he was alive? Maybe 1. They were traumatized and needed healing. 2. Fear and doubt are powerful weapons against faith. 3. They needed verification for their faith and verification because of what was ahead.
8 4. Believing that Jesus is alive is indispensable for living a life of faith in him. a. How can you follow Jesus if you re convinced that he is alive? b. You can t live that way. D. By raising Jesus up from the dead it proves to the world that HE is victorious once and for all over death. 1. If death cannot hold you back, then there is NO ENEMY that has power over you. 2. If he is alive that means that he is triumphant. The ultimate victor. E. You can t be an authentic instrument in the hands of a living Christ, if you do not think he is alive. 1. Until the apostles were profoundly persuaded that Jesus had broken the power of death and that he was alive with indestructible life, and therefore could never be defeated and that his cause was unstoppable until then, the apostles were ready to go back to fishing for a living. 2. But for forty days Jesus appeared to them again and again. 3. And Luke 24:39 40, 42 43, tell us the sorts of things he said and did: See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have... And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Romans 8:11 F. So when forty days of appearances and conversations and meals were past, the apostles were beyond doubt. 1. They had many infallible proofs and at the level of persuasion they were ready for their ministry. 2. God is victorious over death. G. If I am convinced that Jesus is alive then I am convinced that with God all things are possible. 1. Don t you see. 2. The last foe was defeated. 3. Death has no more sting. 4. Death has no more victory. 5. We don t just live and die. 6. If by faith - we are united with him then we will live forever with him.
9 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (NIV) Don t you see this changes everything. 1. We need a deep mind-persuading, heart-gripping verification that Jesus is alive and triumphant over all his enemies, and that his cause is unstoppable. 2. We need what they had. 3. We do especially if we are going to be instruments in the hands of the living Jesus who today continues working and teaching to build his church. By the power of his Spirit God raises dead things to life.