Acts 28 - Unfinished Stacy Davis - www.delightinginthelord.com May 11, 2017

Acts 27:42-28:6 - Unfinished Faith - “refuge” - small island 20 miles long, 60 miles from . Paul stays here 3 months

God has a plan and God finishes what He starts Creation - Genesis 2:1 God enables, empowers and directs His servants to help Him finish Moses - tabernacle (Exodus 39:32) & writing of the law (Deut. 31:24) Solomon - house of the Lord (1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 8:16) Nehemiah - wall around temple (Nehemiah 6:15) God’s Redeemed Through John 4:34, John 17:4, John 19:30 God Works in each of us through the Holy Spirit: Philippians 1:6

Complete: epiteleo - bring to an end, execute, perfect

-Satan tries to hinder God’s plan from being completed - Snake fastened to Paul. Paul shakes it off looking to Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Finisher: teleiotes - Jesus is the teleiotes of our faith, the ultimate example accomplishing with the end in view - a process

Acts 28:7-10 - Unfinished Ministry Paul heals Publius’ father and many others

Acts 28:11-16 - Unfinished Journey Paul travels to 3 more cities before finally “coming to ” Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Acts 28:17-29 - Unfinished Salvation for the Jews and Gentiles v. 20 “Hope of Israel” - Jesus Christ

Romans 3:21-24 :1, 11-15, 25-27 Parable of Great Supper - Luke 14:15-24 Acts 28:30-31 - Unfinished Church God is still building His church today

Paul’s Words to Timothy near the end of his life: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “I (Paul) have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith….”

Application: How are you finishing the course God has set before you? Are you allowing God to finish His perfect work in you? Are you allowing God to use you as He finishes His work of building the church?