Introduction to Acts through Revelation

Father, thank You for inspiring the books of Acts through Revelation. It is the record of what Jesus Christ did to launch His church. He was busy and active, orchestrating events throughout the first century. He did not ascend to heaven to go on vacation. He ascended into heaven to sit upon His throne and to lead men and women of every generation in the church age to tell others about what He has done to rescue them from their sin. Thanks to His labor of love, the church grew and spread across the Mediterranean and the world. On these pages, Jesus expounded upon His teachings in the gospels, giving us everything we need to know to walk a fulfilling life in obedience to Him. Father, help me now to understand each passage of the books of Acts through Revelation. Open my eyes so that I might see, unplug my ears so that I might hear, all I need to know to be a worker in Your Kingdom that honors and glorifies You. Amen.

Moments before He gave up His life on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.”[1]

What is finished?

Father, He came into this world on a mission that You had given Him. He was born of a virgin. He obeyed Your Word perfectly. He proved that He was Your Son by His miracles. He taught us what it is like to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. He received Your wrath, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, for the forgiveness of sin for all who believe in Him. His words on the cross were His report to You that His work was completed. He had been a faithful servant.

After declaring His work was completed, He gave up His life. On the third day, He rose from the dead, giving hope for all who believe in Him that there is life after death. He commanded His disciples to tell the world all about Him. He ascended into heaven to return to the glory He had before He created the world[2] and to prepare a place for all believers to dwell with Him forever.[3]

How do we know all of this?

The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible, known collectively as the “The Gospels” describe Jesus’ life and ministry for us. I discussed these books in Take Every Passage to Prayer: Volume 2, The Gospels.

Unanswered questions from the Gospels

Now what? What happens next?

It is time for Jesus’ disciples to follow Jesus’ example and carry out His instructions to complete the job given to them.

How will they do that? How does a disciple of Jesus Christ build the Kingdom of God? How does a believer make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded them?[4]

The New Testament books of Acts through Revelation address these questions. In these books we learn about how Jesus started the church, what problems the church encountered, how the church should function, and how believers should behave as representatives of that church. The New Testament concludes with the hope of eternity when the struggles of this world will end as believers enjoy eternity in paradise.

Why were the books of Acts through Revelation necessary?

The life of Christ, as revealed through the gospels, demands the sequel that answers the question, “What does Jesus do after He ascends into heaven?” The sequel must answer the question, “What became of the disciples who walked with Him for three years?” The sequel must answer the question, “Did Jesus have any impact on this world after He ascended into heaven?” The sequel must answer the question, “Did Jesus’ teachings have an impact on this world?” The sequel is the books of Acts through Revelation in the New Testament.

Let’s imagine for a moment a 21^st century conversation in a world without the books of Acts through Revelation.

Child           “Daddy, who was Jesus?”

Father         “He was supposedly the Son of God who lived, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven a long time ago.”

Child           “How do we know that really happened, Daddy? That seems hard to believe.”

Father         “We have the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They all say that it happened.”

Child           “If He was the Son of God, why did He leave us? Wouldn’t He still be doing things in this world?”

Father         “That’s a good question, son. People have been trying to figure that one out for 2,000 years. He taught us many good things, like how we can love one another. He said He came to die for our sin. However, He disappeared and then we never heard from Him again. His followers returned to their former lives as fishermen and tax collectors. It’s almost like He never came at all. History has forgotten Him. Hey, be careful with that! Don’t drop the sun god idol. We’ve asked you not to play with that.”

Child           “I’m sorry. Don’t we have dozens of idols in this home?”

Father         “We have one for each god that we worship. We cannot afford the misfortune that will come to us if an idol breaks!”

Child           “Wasn’t Jesus a god too? Why don’t we have an idol for Jesus?”

Father         “Well, no one ever took Him seriously as a god. Most people now believe He died like everyone else, but His friends made up a story about Him resurrecting and ascending into heaven. He has had no impact on this world, and nobody is following Him today. It’s really kind of a sad story when you think about it.”

Child           “He wasn’t much of a leader. I mean, like, no one followed Him.”

Father         “That’s good insight, son. That’s the same conclusion historians have come to.”

Child           “If He was who He said He was, then millions of people would have followed Him, and His ways would have changed the world.”

Father         “Another good point. You are smart like your mother. We have no record of anything happening after He allegedly ascended into heaven in Bethany.”

If there were no Acts through Revelation:

• Followers of Jesus would not know how to respond to persecution. They would quit.
• Followers of Jesus would not know how to respond to false doctrine. They would be deceived.
• Followers of Jesus would never have seen the evidence of the transformed lives of the apostles once they had encountered the risen Jesus. Jesus’ ways would seem powerless to transform anyone.
• Followers of Jesus would have no idea how to share the gospel with others. There would be no evangelism or ministry.
• Followers of Jesus would never be encouraged by the successes of the first century church. Believers would be discouraged in their walk with God.
• Followers of Jesus would have no idea how to disciple others in their faith. Every Christian would be cut off in their spiritual infancy and never mature.
• Followers of Jesus would have many unanswered questions about doctrine. Christianity would seem confusing, and most believers would quit.
• Followers of Jesus would experience problems in the church and be clueless how to resolve them. The church would become divided and then break into so many smaller groups before it disappeared altogether.
• Followers of Jesus would have no idea they have been spiritually gifted and equipped to serve God. They would avoid ministry because they feel they are not cut out for the work.
• Followers of Jesus would be immersed in the human tendency to be “religious” and to follow worthless and powerless legalisms.
• Followers of Jesus would not understand they are sons and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords. There would be no sense of honor in being a believer.
• Followers of Jesus would most likely be a sorry bunch of whiners and complainers without the encouragement by the New Testament writers to be thankful, joyful, and grateful because of what Christ has done for them.
• Followers of Jesus would have no idea what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are, and they would live worldly lives.
• Followers of Jesus would have no concept of eternal rewards for those who persevere in the faith. People would give up faith for the temporary rewards of this world.
• Followers of Jesus would not follow Jesus at all. After all, He never proved Himself to be a leader who had any impact on this world.

Ah, but praise the Lord God Almighty! We have the books of Acts through Revelation to empower believers in every generation to carry out Jesus’ command to share the gospel and disciple people in their walk with God throughout the world.

Graduate From School, People!

Father, You are an intentional God. You do things for a reason. You have purpose. You have objectives. You have an agenda. The books of Acts through Revelation were inspired by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a purpose: to prepare believers for the work of building the Kingdom of God. These books are a school and, like all schools, purpose to graduate students to apply what they have learned in a lifestyle of ministry.

Unfortunately, many believers are perpetual students who never intend to graduate. Graduation means they would have to “get a job” in Your Kingdom, sharing the gospel or ministering to people in need who have messy lives. Instead of endeavoring to share the gospel with their neighbors or to serve the homeless on cold winter nights on the street, they justify sitting through the 10^th class they have had on a book in the New Testament.

• Age 30 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning Romans.”
• Age 40 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning Philippians.”
• Age 50 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning Colossians.”
• Age 60 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning Ephesians.”
• Age 70 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning Galatians.”
• Age 80 – “I’m not ready to share the gospel or touch lives for Christ. I’m still learning 1 Timothy.”

“My son, give an account for Your work to build the Kingdom of God while you were on earth!”

“Well, I, uh, went to church, and, I, uh, continuously studied Your Word.”

“’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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ I did not say, ‘Therefore, do nothing else but study the Word every day of your life until I call you home.’”

Father, we, Your people, should consume the content of the books of Acts through Revelation during a season of our lives. We should prayerfully meditate on every verse, as we endeavor to do in this book as well. However, there does come a moment when a new season arrives. School comes to an end and we, Your people, go out and do what we have been taught to do in the New Testament.

Father, train Your people well, using Acts to Revelation to equip them for the work You have prepared for them to do. Tell them when they are ready to transition from student to worker who serves Your Kingdom. Send them out into the mission fields of their families, their friends, their neighbors, their community, their employers, their city, their state, their nation, and foreign lands. Yes, Father, may we continuously return to Your Word for a refresher on how to live the Christian life. However, lead Your people away from the mindset that they are somehow fulfilling the Great Commission by continuously studying the New Testament safely within the walls of the church without ever having to step foot outside into the hurting world. Amen.

[1] John 19:30.

[2] John 1:1-3.

[3] John 14:2-3.

[4] Matthew 18:16-20.