Well, good morning.
It's good to be back with you.
!
Amen.
My name's Tom Zentz.
My wife, Carrie, and I have been at Maranatha for 41 years.
And I look out here and there's people I don't know.
And we talk and just marvel at the things that God's doing and the fruitfulness that
He's brought to our church.
And we're very grateful.
It's our joy.
And to Christ be the glory, right?
Right?
This morning we have the privilege of maybe peeking into the Word of God to see how that happens.
And it's not because we've figured out something unique.
So I hope that you can pick that out a little bit later.
I have the privilege of wrapping up our study in the Gospel of Luke.
It's been very good, hasn't it?
You know, Pastor started this January of 2022.
So it's been a while.
Some of you weren't even attending our church then.
But it's been a blessing.
And this morning as we look at the final verses of chapter 24, we're going to be looking at
one of the most powerful texts in the Scriptures.
The record of the resurrected Christ appearing to His fearful followers, convincing them of
the Scriptures, not just the Scriptures, but of God at work.
He's going to commission them to global action, to be His witnesses.
Witnessing the victory that Christ secured at the cross and over the grave.
And then we'll conclude with His celebratory ascension.
Let me begin by praying.
Our Father, You are so kind.
Who has shown more love than You?
No one.
And there is no God like You.
In Your sovereign plan, You had in store for Your Son to suffer and die on our behalf.
We don't understand it.
And we don't deserve it.
But we are grateful for Your mercy.
We're grateful for the transformation that You bring into our lives.
Thank You for Your Word.
Thank You for Your Spirit.
This morning as we look into Your Word, we ask that You would open our eyes.
Help us to see the areas that You want us to be transformed in.
The areas that You want to empower us.
Lord, as we've been challenged by the music and as we will be by Your Word,
help us to be Your witnesses.
To tell others who are hurting and broken,
how they can be made whole because of what You, Jesus, have done on the cross.
And because of Your victory over the grave.
Lord, thank You for the way that You have blessed.
We appreciate our pastors.
We pray for Pastor Andrew as he continues to heal.
Give him a swift and complete healing.
Lord, this morning there may be someone here who does not know Jesus.
Whose life is just turned upside down.
And I pray, Father, that Your Spirit would show them from Your Word
the need for repentance and the offer of forgiveness of sins.
We're so grateful how You restore lives.
It's for Your glory, Jesus.
And we praise You in Your name.
Amen.
In a moment, we're going to be looking at Luke chapter 24,
but I want to invite you to open your Bibles first to Luke chapter 1
to give you a little bit of background.
You recall that as we're in the Gospel of Luke,
it might not be so obvious, but the author is Luke,
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
And the Gospel of Luke is really just book 1 of a lengthier version
of what he was writing to a man named Theopolis.
Book 2 is the Acts of the Apostles.
And so this morning, we are finishing up the end of book 1 or part 1 of this lengthy book.
And there in chapter 1, if you'd follow along with me in verses 3 and 4, we read this.
It seemed good to me also, that's to Luke, having followed all things closely for some time past,
to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
that you may have certainty regarding the things that you have been taught.
This morning, let me just share with you what I've been looking at this text about.
We don't know who really Theophilus was.
We can guess.
He was called most excellent Theophilus, probably somebody of importance,
probably in the Roman political system.
We don't know if he was a new believer,
and if Luke's trying to encourage him in his faith.
We don't know if he was somebody seeking to know more about Jesus,
and Luke's trying to show him who Jesus is.
But what I think that Luke is trying to accomplish from books 1 and book 2
is to help Theophilus understand what's happening in his world today.
Because see, when Luke is writing the scripture,
this is decades after the ascension of Jesus Christ.
And what's happening in his world at this time is,
there's a group of these uneducated, untrained, average people
and they're turning the world upside down.
And so I would submit to you that Dr. Luke is writing to give an accurate,
fact-checked, orderly, unique, and persuasive explanation to Theophilus
and to all who read part 1 and part 2 of this lengthier book,
how this uneducated, ordinary group of people are doing this.
How are they so effective at transforming lives?
How are they turning the world upside down?
And I would submit to you that what he says in the book of Luke,
the gospel of Luke,
is that this explanation is not that they just figured out something.
It rests solely on the foundation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Christ.
Would you imagine for a moment that you are Theophilus there in chapter 1?
You received this part 1 of this letter from Luke.
And this is the very first time you're reading through this.
You can imagine as you're following the events of the birth of Christ,
and it's like, wow, just as the scriptures foretold.
The prophets said this is going to happen.
And it is.
It's amazing.
And then you read about how Jesus is doing all these wonderful miracles.
And you hear about the words that he spoke with such authority.
You see the stories of lives changed.
And then all of a sudden you get to this unfair,
this treasonous treatment of Jesus Christ,
even from his own followers.
And you see that it leads to his suffering,
and it leads to the cross.
The very first time you're reading this, just imagine that.
I could see Theophilus just kind of looking up to heaven going,
what are you doing?
This isn't fair.
This isn't right.
But he continues to read.
And then he reads of the resurrection in Luke 24.
And he reads about the accounts of those that encountered the living Jesus Christ,
the one who is risen indeed.
And he says, oh, I think I'm beginning to get it.
Jesus Christ is no longer dead.
He's alive.
He's risen indeed.
And he's actively building his church.
One of those occasions that we heard about last week
was when Jesus approached those two on the road to Emmaus.
Remember that?
And Jesus comes alongside of them and begins talking with them,
asking about what's happened.
And what does he do?
Jesus begins to open their minds
to understand that from the very beginning of Scripture
to the very point there that they have of Scripture,
it all focused on Jesus the Christ.
And their hearts burned within them.
And remember what happened when they got back to their home in Emmaus?
Jesus is like, can we eat?
He liked to ask that question.
Can we eat?
And they started eating.
And as soon as he broke bread,
they recognized him.
And then what?
He just disappeared.
And immediately, they're excited.
Immediately, they just said, we got to go back.
And so they make the seven-mile trip back to Jerusalem
as fast as they can.
And they come to the place where the disciples are at
and they have to knock on the door.
John tells us they have to knock on the door
because those doors are locked.
So, the disciples, they were terrified.
Well, let me read it for you.
On the evening of that day, this is John 20,
the first day of the week, the doors being locked,
where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them.
Now, friends, I mean, one moment,
they're there talking.
The doors are locked.
And in another moment, the Lord Jesus Christ is there.
That had to be terrifying.
And you and I could be like, oh, come on.
You know, guys, you should know better.
But if that were you and me,
we would be terrified as well.
And so the disciples were thinking that they saw a spirit.
Their lives had been shattered just three days earlier.
The one for whom they've given up everything.
He was taken, he was tortured, and he was killed.
Their dreams, their hopes were crushed.
And then that very morning, earlier,
they heard these reports trickle in.
Somebody has seen Jesus.
They've seen Jesus.
And more and more reports were coming in.
They saw Jesus alive.
Even Peter saw the resurrected Christ.
In fact, when the two from Emmaus
made their way back to the house,
and they were allowed to come into that locked room,
they wanted to share,
we've seen the Christ.
Before they could even say anything,
the rest of the group was saying,
we got news for you.
Peter saw him.
He's really alive.
And they're going like, yeah, yeah, we know.
We saw him too.
And right then,
that's where we come into verse 36 of Luke chapter 24.
Would you follow along as we talk about the appearance
of the resurrected Christ?
As they were talking about these things,
Jesus himself stood among them.
And then in verse 36, I would say this.
He's going to comfort them.
He gives them his comforting words.
As they were talking about these things,
Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,
peace to you.
And they were startled and frightened and thought they were seeing a spirit.
The words, peace to you,
you're familiar with these words, I believe.
It's a familiar Hebrew greeting, shalom.
But here it signifies something more.
This word signifies wholeness, a completeness, a unity, and a harmony.
I had in some previous notes,
Pastor Andrew one time saying,
when you know Jesus, K-N-O-W, you know peace.
When there is no Jesus, there is no peace.
You see, when life becomes fractured,
when life just doesn't make sense,
the peace of God invites us to have the whole,
the complete, the unified perspective
with our good and loving Lord.
We don't see it.
But by faith, we trust that he is good.
And he is in control.
By faith, we trust that God
is ruling over all the circumstances.
And this is the peace.
This is the wholeness.
This is the wellness
that he brings into the lives of broken people.
Jesus is the prince of peace himself.
We read in Romans 5.1,
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have what?
Peace.
We have this wholeness.
We have this completeness.
We have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus not only offers the disciples his peace,
he invites them to use all of their senses
to recognize who he is.
He wants them to believe that he is indeed
the risen living Lord standing before them.
We're going to look briefly
at some of these convincing proofs.
We could spend a whole hour on these.
And it would be tempting
because it's really cool.
But I just want to go through them quickly.
His convincing proofs, verse 38.
Jesus says this in verse 38.
He said to them,
Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
He's inviting them to use their ability to hear.
Hear me.
I want you to hear me.
Why are you troubled?
Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
This is not like some Jacob Marley ghost
from Christmas past
that's moaning and wailing.
This is Jesus in his resurrected body
speaking normally
just like we would talk to one another.
He's addressing them
about their troubled and doubting hearts.
He's calling them to faith
just as he does us when we're troubled.
When life is turned upside down.
And then he adds this.
He says,
See and touch me.
Look at the marks on my hands and my feet.
He invites them to use their senses.
Jesus says,
See my hands and my feet.
That it is I myself.
And I don't want you to miss this.
When Jesus says,
It is I myself.
These are powerful words.
In fact,
He's inviting them to hear
that He is calling Himself
the I am that I am.
And they had heard this before.
Following Jesus,
they heard Him say,
I am the bread of life.
I am the light of the world.
I am the door of the sheep.
I am the good shepherd.
I am the resurrection and the life.
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life.
And now once again,
He says to them,
It is I myself.
It's me.
I am the Lord.
I am your living Lord
right here in person.
Touch me and see.
For a spirit does not have
flesh and bones.
What was Luke's profession?
He was a doctor.
Dr. Luke wants his reader to know
by what Jesus said
that this new resurrected body
is still flesh and bones.
How can flesh and bones
enter a locked room?
I don't know.
I don't.
Apparently this resurrected body
is not limited like ours is.
John MacArthur calls this feature
of the resurrected body
adaptability.
Jesus wanted to be in a locked room.
So He was.
I imagine that if I want to be
in Cincinnati
and I have a resurrected body,
I would be.
It's not limited
like our current bodies.
This may be a stretch,
but in your next two blanks,
I put taste and smell.
We eat fish once or twice a week
in our home.
I think that's no exaggeration.
Right, dear?
We lived in Japan for a decade.
We love fish.
And so when Carrie makes fish
in our kitchen,
I can smell it.
And I like it.
Some of you don't.
But fish smell.
And I think what Jesus is doing
when He says,
do you got something to eat?
And they offer Him broiled fish.
He's inviting them
to use more senses.
Taste and smell.
Verse 41.
And while they still disbelieved for joy.
I think that means
they just couldn't believe
this was happening.
It's like, wow.
And they were marveling.
And He said to them,
have you got anything to eat?
And they gave Him a piece
of broiled fish
and He took it
and He ate before Him.
And we were laughing,
my wife and I,
when we read that passage.
I mean, you can imagine
all the disciples
in that locked room,
Jesus says,
you got anything to eat?
And so they gave Him fish
and they're all just
watching Him eat.
Yeah.
In the same way
that Jesus revealed Himself
to the two in Emmaus
at that house,
when was it that they understood
who He was?
It was after He ate.
It's like,
oh, it is.
It's Him.
I would submit to you
that the appearance
of the resurrected Christ
gave them peace within.
Peace within.
And now we come
to verses 44 and 48.
I have entitled this
The Assignment
of the Resurrected Christ.
In almost the same manner
that Jesus revealed Himself
to the two on the road
to Emmaus,
He does this for those
that are in that locked room.
follow along in verse 44
as Jesus,
He calls them
to understand the Scriptures.
He said to them,
these are my words
that I spoke to you
while I was still with you,
that everything written about me
in the law of Moses
and the prophets
and the Psalms
must be fulfilled.
And then He opened their minds
to understand the Scriptures.
And can't you just hear
Cleopas and that other disciple,
the two on the road to Emmaus,
remember,
it was at the house
and on the way there
that they heard Jesus
do this same thing
and they're going like,
oh, here it comes.
Here it comes.
He's going to talk about
who He is
from the whole beginning to end.
I'm sure they were really excited.
And Jesus does.
He reveals.
The Scriptures focus on the Christ
and He is the Christ.
Everything is unfolding
according to God's plan.
Just as it had been written out.
Aren't you glad you have the Scriptures?
Do you know the perspective we have
is divine?
And I don't mean that
in any bad way.
When we read the Word of God,
God has allowed us
to see events
from His perspective.
We get to see
because if we're in that situation,
if you're Jonah,
you're Jonah
and it's dark
and it's smelly
and you're in a fish.
When you read the Word of God,
you see God's perspective
on the situation.
Some of you here
are in desperate situations.
Some of you are in needs
and your life is fractured
and broken.
Can I tell you,
you need God's perspective.
You need God's peace.
You need the wholeness
that He gives and offers.
You need to understand
the Scriptures.
It's all about Jesus.
He causes them,
He desires for them also,
secondly,
to believe the Scriptures.
Verse 46.
Verse 46 says,
And He said to them,
Thus it is written
that the Christ should suffer
and on the third day
rise from the dead.
Jesus is calling them
to believe,
to believe even the difficult parts
of the Word of God.
I'm reading through Leviticus.
Oh, it's hard.
It's hard to understand some.
But I believe it.
And I believe it points
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And friends,
the Scriptures are there for you
to believe and to obey.
Verse 47.
Let me back up one thing.
The Word clearly states
that Christ would suffer and die.
And how many times
did Jesus tell His disciples that?
We're going to Jerusalem.
There I'm going to suffer
and I'm going to be killed.
And three days later
I'm going to rise from the dead.
You can read and hear
the Word of God
and it just passes over your head.
You and I are called
to read the Word of God
and to believe it
and to trust in it.
Even when life doesn't make sense.
Even when the words are difficult.
Jesus says,
I'm here.
I'm standing before you
just as I told you.
So believe.
believe.
And then He does something
quite subtly.
Jesus is going to command them
in a way that
we're not used to commanding.
There in verse 47,
He's going to command them
to proclaim the Scriptures.
Let me read it for you
and explain what I mean.
Verse 47.
And that repentance
for the forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed in His name
to all nations.
Beginning from Jerusalem,
you are witnesses of these things.
Having lived in Japan
for a decade or so,
one of the cultural differences
is that over here,
we're fairly direct.
Not fairly.
We're direct.
If you need something,
you just need it,
you say it.
Not in a lot of Eastern cultures.
They get the point across,
but they say it indirectly.
And here we read,
forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed.
We have six kids.
They're older now.
But imagine that
when they were teenagers
and we were having guests,
they're going to stay the weekend
and we're going to have those guests
stay in one of my kids' rooms
and Carrie and I,
we go up to the room
and it's a horrible mess.
And I turn to my teenager
and I say,
this room should be clean.
Is that a suggestion?
No, it's not, guys.
I'm saying,
clean the room.
Now, as pressing as it might be
that company's coming
in that illustration,
what Jesus tells his disciples here
is it has eternal ramifications.
The forgiveness of sins
based on the completed work
of Jesus Christ.
He is the only remedy for sin.
Lost, sinful mankind
needs to hear about Jesus Christ.
We know family members
and co-workers
and you do too.
Neighbors
and they're still chained by sin.
Sin still dominates their lives.
What they need
and the only one who can free them
is Jesus Christ, right?
The assignment
of the resurrected Christ
gave them purpose.
We not only have the peace of God
that makes us whole,
we now know what we're to do
and we are to be about
the business of telling people
about Jesus Christ
and sharing the good news
of the gospel.
Next we turn to verses 49 and 50
and we see the authorization
of the resurrected Christ.
Follow along as I read
verse 49 please.
And behold,
I am sending the promise
of my Father unto you.
But stay in the city
until you're clothed
with power from on high.
And he led them out
as far as Bethany
and lifting up his hands
he blessed them.
This phrase,
I'm sending,
points to the authority
of Jesus.
The authority to bestow
the Father's promise
of the Holy Spirit.
And this is the Holy Spirit
that gives us power
from on high.
Matthew says the same thing.
Little different words.
And you're very familiar
with Matthew's account of this
in chapter 28.
This is verses 18 through 20.
And Jesus came
and he said to them,
All authority in heaven
and on earth
has been given to me.
Go therefore
and make disciples
of all nations
baptizing them
in the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
There's the authorization.
Teaching them to observe
all that I've commanded you
and behold
I am with you always
to the end of the age.
What right do you
and I have
to talk to somebody
whose life is just
burdened by sin
and their life is ruined?
What right do we have
to say to them
friend
there's another way
and his name is Jesus
and the path
you're walking on right now
it's not the right way.
In fact
if you keep following
that path
it'll lead to more
more harm
and eventually death.
What right
do we have
to tell somebody that?
God of all creation
who took upon
human flesh
who's called
the word of God
is standing before them
right now
and he's saying
I'm giving you
that right.
You have that authority
because any other way
it leads to
destruction.
Paul
writes it this way
in Romans 1 16
for I am not ashamed
of the gospel
for it is
the what?
The power of God
unto salvation
to everyone
who believes
to the Jew first
and also to the Greek.
and then
Dr. Luke
in part 2
of his book
Acts chapter 1
he puts it this way
these are very familiar
verses
he reveals this promise
of the spirit
at Pentecost
as one of power
in chapter 1
verse 8
but you will receive
power
when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you
and you will be
my witnesses
in Jerusalem
and in all Judea
and Samaria
and to the end
of the earth.
You see
for the disciples
in that locked room
frightened
fearful
the authorization
now of
of the resurrected
Christ
gave them
power within
they had peace
within
they had purpose
within
now they have
power
within
and then we come
to this concluding
scene of Luke's
gospel
the ascension
of the resurrected
Christ
guys this is one
of the most
overlooked events
in the life
of Jesus Christ
its impact
however
is significant
please follow along
as I read
verses 51
to 53
this is the
ascension
of the resurrected
Christ
while he blessed
them
he parted from
them
and was carried
up into heaven
and they
worshipped him
and returned
to Jerusalem
with great joy
and were
continually
in the temple
blessing God
Luke
here concludes
his gospel
and what he's
going to do
is
chronologically
truncate
over a month
into a few
verses
in Acts chapter
one
he gives a little
bit more
explanation
so I want us
to see that
so in Acts
chapter one
what we read
is this
in the first
book
O Theophilus
and here he is
addressing Theophilus
again
in the first
book
that's the
gospel of Luke
O Theophilus
I have dealt
with all that
Jesus began to
do and teach
until the day
he was taken
up
that is the
ascension
that's where we're
at at the very
end of Luke
24
after he had
given commands
see I told you
it wasn't
suggestions
it was
commands
after he had
given commands
through the
Holy Spirit
to the apostles
whom he had
chosen
he presented
himself alive
to them
after his
suffering
by many
proofs
appearing to
them during
40 days
and speaking
excuse me
and speaking
about the
kingdom of
God
and while
staying with
them he
ordered them
not to
depart from
Jerusalem
but to
wait for
the promise
of the
father
which he
said you
heard from
me
for John
baptized with
water
but you
will be
baptized with
the Holy
Spirit
not many
days from
now
but you
will receive
power
when the
Holy Spirit
has come
upon you
and you
will be
my
witnesses
in
Jerusalem
and in
all Judea
and Samaria
to the end
of the earth
and when he
had said
these things
as they
were looking
on he
was lifted
up and a
cloud took
him out of
their sight
so what's so
significant about
the ascension
it was much
more than the
disciples just
looking up into
the sky watching
Jesus in a cloud
going up and up
and up until he
disappeared
you see Jesus
was returning
as king of kings
and lord of lords
what we
couldn't see
what the
disciples
couldn't see
on earth
was that in
heaven
oh there was
a celebration
there was a
victory
I'll call it a
dance
there was a
party
Jesus Christ
appeared to
them in that
locked room
and they didn't
realize
what he had
just done
he had just
rose from the
dead
he had
defeated
Satan
he defeated
death
he defeated
hell
the power
of sin
he is the
victorious one
standing right
there in front
of them
he's God
in the flesh
and now he's
going back
and it's a
celebration
it's a
coronation
and it's
going to be
an amazing
event that he
was going to
all they saw
was sky
Paul put it
this way in
Philippians 2
verses 9
through 11
therefore God
has not just
exalted
but God
has highly
exalted
him and
bestowed on
him the name
that is above
every name
so that at
the name of
Jesus every
knee should
bow in
heaven and
on earth and
under the
earth and
that every
tongue should
confess that
Jesus Christ
is Lord to
the glory of
God
and not
only is
Jesus
returning to
a coronation
to that
celebration
he's returning
to the holy
of holies
as our
great high
priest
Hebrews 4
14 says
this
since we
have a
great high
priest who
has passed
through the
heavens
Jesus the
son of God
let us hold
fast our
confession
Hebrews chapter
8 verses 1
and 2 says
now the point
and what we're
saying is this
we have such
a high priest
one who is
seated at the
right hand of
the throne of
the majesty in
heaven a
minister in the
holy places in
the true tent
that God the
Lord has set
up not man
friends aren't
you glad that
Jesus Christ is
actively praying
for you as
your high
priest
that's 1
John chapter
2
he intercedes
on your behalf
and my behalf
when the
accuser says
Tom
look
he's at it
again
Lord Jesus
is saying
I've already
paid for that
I've completely
covered that
isn't that
amazing
that is the
repentance of
sins
repentance and
forgiveness of
sins that we
are witnesses
of
and not only
is Jesus
return at this
point returning
as king of
kings to his
coronation not
only is he
returning as a
great high priest
to the holy of
holies guys he's
just returning
home he's going
home remember
what the father
said at his
bad Jesus
baptism this is
my beloved son
hear him
the father and
the son love
each other
Jesus had just
gone through
a terrible
separation from
his father
at the cross
and now in
victory he
stands and
now in victory
he returns
home
in fact
Peter puts it
this way in
1 Peter 3
there in verse
21
through the
resurrection of
Jesus Christ
who has gone
into heaven and
is at the right
hand of God
with angels and
authorities and
powers having been
subjected to him
Jesus is with his
father
it's a
home going
now I want
you to note the
response of the
disciples as they're
hearing all of
this they're still in
the locked room
they were taken
out later
40 days later
to the
ascension
and look what it
says in verse
52 and 53
after Jesus
rose up in the
clouds they
worshipped him
and returned to
Jerusalem with
great joy
and were
continually in the
temple blessing
God
for those
confused and
broken disciples
angels the
ascension of the
resurrected Christ
40 days later
would give them
hearts filled with
praise within
they celebrated the
victory of Christ
over death and
sin
Jesus their Lord and
Savior is risen
indeed
amen
I think what Luke is
saying to Theophilus
and to all the
readers of Luke and
Acts is this
the appearance of the
resurrected Christ to
his disciples it gave
them peace within
life was
torn apart
but the peace of God
brings it back and
makes it whole
the assignment of the
resurrected Christ gave
them purpose within
we now know what
we're here to do
you know what you're
here to do
it's a matter of
obedience isn't it
the authorization of
the resurrected Christ
gave them power
within
you and I
if you believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ as
your Savior have the
Holy Spirit within
there is no more
power that you need
you have the power of
the word of God
the power of the
spirit of God
proclaim the good
news and let God
work
and the ascension of
the resurrected Christ
it gave them hearts
of praise within
well I had to ask
myself as I was
reading this
how did the disciples
really respond to
receiving this peace
this purpose this
power and this heart
of praise
did it really make a
difference in their
lives
there's a lot of
passages we could go
to we could go to
Acts chapter 2
you could look at
1st John chapter 1
but I want us just to
take a moment to see
something and Dr. Luke
is going to be also
recording this in
chapter 10 of his
second book of Acts
in Acts chapter 10
follow along as I just
go through verses 34
to 36 this is the
background is where
Cornelius and his
family are going to
come to trust by faith
in the Lord Jesus
Christ and in that
context it says this
verse 34 so Peter
and guys this is the
same Peter that
denied the Lord Jesus
Christ that said I
don't know him
I swear I don't know
him now it's the same
Peter what a what a
remarkable story of
God's grace and mercy
so Peter opened his
mouth and he said
truly I understand
that God shows no
partiality but in
every nation anyone
who fears him and
does what is right is
acceptable to him and
as for the word that
he sent to Israel
that's the scriptures
preaching good news of
peace through Jesus
Christ he is Lord of
all you yourselves know
what happened throughout
all Judea beginning from
Galilee after the
baptism that John
proclaimed how God
anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and with power
he went about doing good
and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil for
God was with him and we
are what we are his
witnesses of all that he
did both in the country of
the Jews and in Jerusalem
they put him to death by
hanging him on a tree but
God raised him on the
third day and he made him
to appear not to all the
people but to us who had
been chosen by God as
witnesses who ate and
drank with him after he
rose from the dead and he
commanded us to preach to
the people and to testify
that he is the one appointed
by God to be the judge and
the living and the dead and
to him all the prophets bear
witness that everyone who
believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through
his name I think they
understood I think the
Theophilus was starting to
see oh it's not about the
disciples it's about Jesus
Christ and what he does
through ordinary people who
obey the word of God and
proclaim the name of Jesus
guys that's that's a
challenge for us there are
people that you know whose
lives are shattered they need
to be made whole and you
can't do it but you know
somebody who can and that is
the Lord Jesus Christ and
that's our calling isn't it
to tell people about Jesus
may the Lord help us do that
this week let's pray
father we have the incredible
privilege first of all of
being called your children
thank you for the wholeness and
the oneness that we have with
you through Jesus Christ with
humility we just say thank you
Lord that you we pray that you
would give us opportunity and
boldness even this week to
testify of the good things that
Jesus has done but not just the
good what he has done at the
cross and through the
resurrection the forgiveness of
sins that's available Lord
perhaps there's someone right now
whose life is just all messed up
everything's falling apart I
pray that the good news of
Jesus Christ that through that
word you would make them whole
through their repentance and
trust in you Lord that you would
bring salvation
thank you for your work here at
Maranatha
thank you for the commitment to
the word of God and the
preaching of the word of God
and we ask that you would
continue to glorify yourself
Lord be pleased to use us we
pray this in Jesus name amen
thank you you're dismissed