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November 16th

The bible reading today is in the first three chapters of Acts.

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:1-2‬

Dr. Luke was the author of his own account of Jesus’ life and work. He was not one of the 12.

Perhaps he was among the 70 that followed Jesus and that Jesus sent to Judea and Perea during the last year of his earthly ministry.

He was a Gentile. And Luke spent at least 10-12 years with Paul on his missionary journeys...as he recorded in his book of Acts.

Luke addressed this Acts account to a man of influence in Rome, named Theophilus. Perhaps Luke won him to Christ when he was in Rome ministering to the imprisoned Paul.

He starts by attesting to the truthfulness of the resurrection of Jesus. There nothing in history that is better evidenced than the resurrection of Jesus.

It was attested to by people who lived 50 and 60 years after the fact and they were willing to go to “their deaths” testifying to seeing him...touching him...eating with him...speaking to him...listening to him...and watching him eat fish and honeycomb and then watched him ascend into the heavens from which angels would say...” the same way that you have seen him leave he will come back one day in lime manner.”

Fact is I agree with Charles Spurgeon...“Jesus rose from the grave alive, never to die again. That is one of the great cornerstones of our faith. Let us fall back on that well-evidenced truth every time we begin to doubt and fear.”

Luke started his record of the 30 years following the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus left? Yes!

What happened next? The answer is found in the book of the “acts of the Holy Spirit”.

D Martyn Lloyd Jones said of Acts...to his church...“Live in that book...I exhort you...it is a tonic...the greatest tonic that I know of in the realm of the Spirit.”

The book of Acts teaches us that the ministry of Christ lived on...after his ascension...in and through the birth and growth of the Church...the body...the community...of Christ in the world.

And you know what? Chapter 28 is not the final chapter. Christ’s ministry is alive and well through his church today...through you and me and our church families being filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit each day...we truly are Acts 29...Jesus is still working and saving lives today...here and around the world.

One last thought today...“And when they had entered Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying...Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:13-14‬

Jesus had told them to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the promised Spirit. They all did. They walked in obedience to Jesus. And they lived in one accord for 50 days in Jerusalem before Pentecost.

This was notable. Many times we read in the gospels of jealousies and resentments and arguments and accusations and anger among the twelve followers of Jesus. Now they experienced unity.

What made the difference? The resurrected Christ in their lives...in their faith...was greater than any difference.

Did we catch it? The disciples were walking in fresh obedience...renewed fellowship...and a longing to pray like their Master taught them...and right after that they chose Matthias to take Judas Iscariot's place as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus going forward.

Lord help us to walk in obedience to you. Help us to live in unity with one another for the sake of the gospel. And help us to pray with new faith. Because we too have kingdom decisions to make this day.

Have a great day