Title: Be A Acts 29 Believer

Main Point: Let the works of the Holy Spirit continue through you that were started in Acts.

1. Every believer has communication with the Lord.

2. Every believer has divine guidance.

3. Every believer has power for service.

TEXT: Luke 24:49-53 

JESUS’ LAST MOMENTS ON EARTH:

1.    The command to stay with it.

a.    Luke 24:49

2.    They were led by Jesus to the ascension place. 

a.    Luke 24:50a 

b.    Jesus ascends from a place of relationship and miracles.

3.    The approach of Jesus ascending.

a.    Luke 24:50

b.    Jesus’ parting gesture was to bless, not chastise, all the disciples that were there. 

c.     Numbers 6:24-26

4.    The ascension happened during His blessing over them.

a.    Luke 24:51

b.    Jesus ascends as King, Savior, and High Priest. 

5.    The reality and visibility of the ascension.

a.    Acts 1:9-11 

b.    Important to know: This was physical and bodily.

c.     The ascension is not symbolic—it is historical and literal.

d.    In Scripture, a cloud often represents the glory of God: Shekinah.

e.    This gives us certainty and great hope.

6.    The ascension was necessary.

a.    John 16:7

b.    No ascension, no Pentecost.

7.    The worshipful response was surprising and powerful.

a.    Luke 24:52-53

This is different that the responses the disciples had previously:

b.    At the cross they had fear.

c.     At the tomb they had confusion.

d.    At the ascension they had joy.

8.    The ascension meaning for the church today.

Because Jesus ascended:

a.    We have a heavenly advocate.

b.    We have access to God.

c.     We have authority in His name.

d.    We have the promise of power.

e.    We have a coming King.

AFTER THE RESURRECTION:

Luke 24:10-12 

1.    Missing the connection when it matters.

a.    Luke 24:13-16 

b.    There was not an expectation of Jesus showing up.

c.     Revelation 3:20 

2.    Missing the nearness when we need it.

a.    Luke 24:17-18

b.    Their situation caused them to be disappointed. 

c.     John 1:14 

d.    Luke 4:21

e.    James 4:8 

f.      Jeremiah 29:13 

3.    Missing the relation of what they know versus experiencing Jesus. 

a.    Luke 24:19 

b.    His identity.

c.     His calling. 

d.    His work. 

e.    His reputation. Isaiah 61:1

f.      Luke 24:20 

g.    His rejection.

h.    His death.  

i.      His mission.  Luke 19:10

j.      This is where the disconnect happened. 

4.    Missing the point of belief in Christ.

a.    Luke 24:25-26 25 

b.    Romans 10:16-17

c.     2 Corinthians 5:7

5.    Finding Jesus in Scripture.

a.    Luke 24:27 

b.    Ephesians 1:17 

6.    Finding spiritual discernment in your heart.

a.    Luke 24:28-32 

b.    Hebrews 4:12 

c.     1 Kings 3:9

7.    Finding the need for Christian fellowship.

a.    Luke 24:33-35

b.    Matthew 18:20 

c.     Luke 24:36-40 

8.    Finding they were being prepared for mission.

a.   Luke 24:44-49

JESUS PAID IT ALL:

1.    Simon a Cyrenian, became a symbol of following Christ.   

a.    Luke 23:26 

b.    Simon—in essence—was a disciple of Christ. Carrying the cross, walking the same path.

c.     Luke 9:23

2.    Jesus addressed the women who were following Him.

a.    Luke 23:27-31 

b.    This would mark Jesus’ third lament for the city of Jerusalem.

c.     Luke 13:34-35; Luke 19:41-44

3.    Jesus shows us His heart in the midst of degradation.

a.    Luke 23:32-38 

b.    Isaiah 53:12 

c.     With infinite love and mercy, Jesus cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” 

d.    The example of Jesus in this moment is incredible: no resentment; no anger, no retaliation for those responsible. 

4.    Jesus saves one while one was seeking physical rescue.

a.    Luke 23:39-43

b.    He followed the crowd, demanding a sign: If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. 

c.     Jesus accepted the one because of his belief. 

5.    Jesus yielded His spirit into God’s hands.

a.    Luke 23:44-49 

6.    Jesus was buried by a council member who was a dissenter. 

a.    Luke 23:50-56

b.    Up to this time, Joseph had been a secret disciple of the Lord Jesus. Although a member of the Sanhedrin, he did not agree with their verdict in the case of Jesus. 

c.     In burying the body of Jesus, Joseph also buried himself, in a sense. That act separated him forever from the nation that crucified the Lord of life and glory. 

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS RIGHTEOUSNESS:

1. Jesus was taken by the entire religious group to Pilate.

a. Luke 23:1 

b. Romans did not allow Jewish leaders to execute.

2. Pilate hears the accusations of two lies and one truth. 

a. Luke 23:2-3

b. FACTCHECK: Perverting the nation—False.

c. Luke 20:19 

d. FACTCHECK: Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar—False.

e. Luke 20:25 

f. FACTCHECK: Saying that He Himself is Christ, a King—True but misrepresented.

g. Luke 22:66-70 

h. John 18:36 

3. Pilate knew the truth at this point.

a. Luke 23:4-5 

b. Religious leaders got mad and protested.

c. Luke 23:6-7

d. Pilate pushed off the decision due to a technicality. 

4. Jesus gave the example of there are times to remain quiet. 

a. Luke 23:8-11

b. Herod was looking for some kind of show.

c. Jesus was mocked and treated with contempt. 

d. Luke 23:12 

5. Pilate declares Jesus innocent.

a. Luke 23:13-17 

6. Pilate found out you cannot reason with evil. 

a. Luke 23:18-23

b. Be careful who you are standing next to in a crowd. 

c. Crowd chooses an insurrectionist over the Messiah.

d. Luke 23:19,25 

e. Barabbas represented human will.​

f. Jesus represented God’s will. 

g. Luke 23:24-25 

h. They chose the kind of savior they wanted, not the one God sent.

i. This mirrors the heart of the Gospel: Guilty go free because the innocent takes their place.