Thoughts From Acts 1 - Part 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. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8

        When Jesus died on the cross He exclaimed, "It is finished." What was finished? The redemption of mankind by His death on the cross for us who by faith receive it. It's sort of like when our last child moved out we could say "we're done." But were we? Only that part of raising children was finished. Now we are involved in training grandchildren.

       Luke starts out with saying that in his previous book he documented what Jesus began to do and teach. Obviously, when Jesus cried out "It is finished" only that part was - he is still at work today doing and teaching. It's cool to think that when Luke penned this 2000 years ago, he was foreshadowing that Jesus would be doing through you and me and teaching you and me today. As I demonstrate and speak Christ to my hometown, Knoxville, Memphis, Atlanta, California and in September, South America, I through the Holy Spirit am continuing the work of Christ.

       Unlike Muhammed, Buddha, and others who are in their tomb, Jesus is alive and still working, and it's a good thing because in our own power we would mess everything up. The disciples, after spending three years being taught by Jesus, still didn't get it. They still thought that Jesus came to deliver them from the Romans and set up an earthly kingdom, the very thing He wasn't doing. No wonder he replied something like, "wait for Pentecost to go out and speak because without me living in you, you will get it all wrong."

      I pray today on our 45th anniversary in Memphis that Jesus would continue to work through my wife and me. He's only just begun.