Sunday, January 27, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
A Study in Acts Week 3
Acts Chapter 3
Verses 1-10 – One of the characteristics of the healings recorded in the New Testament is that they occurred immediately. The only exception was when Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).
First the man could only see formless people walking around. The second time Jesus touched him he was healed completely. Perhaps Jesus healed the occipital lobe of the brain, which receives images first, then healed the rest of it: the parts that use the information to move the eyes, navigate through space, direct hand motion, remember what had been seen, recognize objects,etc.
Here Peter heals a crippled beggar. The man had asked for money, but neither Peter nor John had an;y to give. Instead, they gave him something more precious than money or healing. They brought him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Verses 11-16 – Here Peter speaks to the Jews in the Temple. They had come to find out what was going on.
Peter used the words ‘The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’. These are the same words that God used in Exodus 3:6, 15, when God introduced himself to Moses.
This miracle happened because God had glorified Jesus (given great honor and power). He had given power to His disciples to act in His name.
Peter tells them that Jesus’ blood was on their shoulders, but that thought they had killed Him, God had raised Him.
Peter acknowledges that the men had acted in ignorance (“…for they know not what they do.”). He explained how all of this had been prophesied by “…prophets long ago (verse 21).”
He implored them to repent and realize that Jesus was their awaited Messiah.
Three things Peter said would happen if they would turn to Jesus: 1) God would forgive their sin (verse 19); 2) He would give them peace (times of refreshing-verse19) and 3)He wold send Jesus, Messiah (the anointed one).
He does the same for us when we repent and turn to Christ, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
Verses 17-26 – Now Peter recounts the words of Moses from Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 & 19. This was to remind them that the one who received the Old Covenant had predicted the Christ of the New Covenant. He tells them that all of the prophets had pointed to this same Christ.
As we will see in Chapter 4, this sermon did not sit well with our old friends the priests and the Sadducees.
Verses 1-10 – One of the characteristics of the healings recorded in the New Testament is that they occurred immediately. The only exception was when Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).
First the man could only see formless people walking around. The second time Jesus touched him he was healed completely. Perhaps Jesus healed the occipital lobe of the brain, which receives images first, then healed the rest of it: the parts that use the information to move the eyes, navigate through space, direct hand motion, remember what had been seen, recognize objects,etc.
Here Peter heals a crippled beggar. The man had asked for money, but neither Peter nor John had an;y to give. Instead, they gave him something more precious than money or healing. They brought him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Verses 11-16 – Here Peter speaks to the Jews in the Temple. They had come to find out what was going on.
Peter used the words ‘The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’. These are the same words that God used in Exodus 3:6, 15, when God introduced himself to Moses.
This miracle happened because God had glorified Jesus (given great honor and power). He had given power to His disciples to act in His name.
Peter tells them that Jesus’ blood was on their shoulders, but that thought they had killed Him, God had raised Him.
Peter acknowledges that the men had acted in ignorance (“…for they know not what they do.”). He explained how all of this had been prophesied by “…prophets long ago (verse 21).”
He implored them to repent and realize that Jesus was their awaited Messiah.
Three things Peter said would happen if they would turn to Jesus: 1) God would forgive their sin (verse 19); 2) He would give them peace (times of refreshing-verse19) and 3)He wold send Jesus, Messiah (the anointed one).
He does the same for us when we repent and turn to Christ, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
Verses 17-26 – Now Peter recounts the words of Moses from Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 & 19. This was to remind them that the one who received the Old Covenant had predicted the Christ of the New Covenant. He tells them that all of the prophets had pointed to this same Christ.
As we will see in Chapter 4, this sermon did not sit well with our old friends the priests and the Sadducees.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
A Study in Acts Week 2
Acts Chapter 02
Verses 1-4 – Pentecost was 50 days after Passover. This was the day the Jews commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses. For the Christian, this is the third in the series of important events: 1) the crucifixion; 2) the resurrection and now 3) the giving of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t it interesting that we have 3 major events to begin the Christian experience?
The Holy Spirit was not a wind. For want of a better description, Luke records that His coming was like a wind. Likewise, he tells us that, although the Holy Spirit was not a tongue of fire, His anointing of each person present seemed like fire. This is reminiscent of the burning bush when God gave the Ten Commandments.
When we trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who stays in us and fills us all.
In this instance, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the power to speak in different languages. That was because there were people gathered there from all over the world and in order for them to understand what was happening, they would have to hear the proceedings in their own native tongues.
The Greek word translated tongues in verses 3, 4, 11, and 26 is glossa. It means language, as in my native language is English. It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew lashon.
In Verse 8 the word used is the Greek word dialektos. It means a specific dialect of a language, such as Cuban is a dialect of Spanish, Mexican is another. In our country we have Southern dialects (Y’all spoken here), New Jersey dialects, etc.
There was a phenomenon practiced in Judaism and many pagan cultures for which the Greek word was glossalalia. It presented itself in a kind of mystical babbling, suggestive of shamanism, and was very much like what some denominations practice as speaking in tongues today. This word is not used in the New Testament.
Note that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in chapter 2 of Acts was for the purpose of communicating with the people gathered. Today, the Holy Spirit empowers us to tell the Good News and always magnifies Christ above Himself. He tells us that Christ is sufficient, and that we do not need some outward sign or wonder that He brings salvation to all who will receive it.
Verses 5-13 – Men from every nation were gathered, and when each person heard the believers speak, he heard them in his own language. Their response was, “These are illiterates from Galilee! Why can we understand them in our own language?” Some of them scoffed and others accused them of being drunk.
Verses 14-21 – Peter explained what was happening and proclaimed that it was all connected to the “Day of the Lord,” that is the Good News of Christ. He spoke from Joel 2:28-32.
Verses 22-36 – Peter reiterates that he is referring to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The people who killed Jesus were Roman, but their reason for executing Him was to quiet the Pharisees, Sadducees and the priest who accused Him of blasphemy. Peter quotes from Psalm 16:8-11 to remind them that David had said God would not let His Holy One’s body be destroyed in the grave.
Verses 37-41 – The people wanted to know how they could avail themselves of this Good News. Here Peter told them to repent, receive baptism in the name of Jesus and receive God’s gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit. You receive the Holy Spirit as part of your “salvation package.”
Three thousand people repented, were saved and received the Holy Spirit that day!
Verses 42-47 – In the first church, they met together, ate together, learned together and grew together. Theirs was a life of doing, not just hearing the preaching.
On a related subject, you have heard the expression, “That’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.” You may have wondered, “What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?” It was the broken bread of the Bread of Life.”
These people performed miracles. Remember, miracles are not things that happen for which there is an earthly or scientific explanation. A miracle is an event that God gives that cannot happen otherwise. The parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of Jericho, the virgin birth were all miracles.
The greatest miracle of all is the miracle of a soul set free by repenting of sin and accepting God’s gift of salvation. When one is saved, there should be something like a burning in the heart as the Holy Spirit takes up residence there. He should then inspire us to become doers, and not just hearers of the Word.
Verses 1-4 – Pentecost was 50 days after Passover. This was the day the Jews commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses. For the Christian, this is the third in the series of important events: 1) the crucifixion; 2) the resurrection and now 3) the giving of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t it interesting that we have 3 major events to begin the Christian experience?
The Holy Spirit was not a wind. For want of a better description, Luke records that His coming was like a wind. Likewise, he tells us that, although the Holy Spirit was not a tongue of fire, His anointing of each person present seemed like fire. This is reminiscent of the burning bush when God gave the Ten Commandments.
When we trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who stays in us and fills us all.
In this instance, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the power to speak in different languages. That was because there were people gathered there from all over the world and in order for them to understand what was happening, they would have to hear the proceedings in their own native tongues.
The Greek word translated tongues in verses 3, 4, 11, and 26 is glossa. It means language, as in my native language is English. It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew lashon.
In Verse 8 the word used is the Greek word dialektos. It means a specific dialect of a language, such as Cuban is a dialect of Spanish, Mexican is another. In our country we have Southern dialects (Y’all spoken here), New Jersey dialects, etc.
There was a phenomenon practiced in Judaism and many pagan cultures for which the Greek word was glossalalia. It presented itself in a kind of mystical babbling, suggestive of shamanism, and was very much like what some denominations practice as speaking in tongues today. This word is not used in the New Testament.
Note that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in chapter 2 of Acts was for the purpose of communicating with the people gathered. Today, the Holy Spirit empowers us to tell the Good News and always magnifies Christ above Himself. He tells us that Christ is sufficient, and that we do not need some outward sign or wonder that He brings salvation to all who will receive it.
Verses 5-13 – Men from every nation were gathered, and when each person heard the believers speak, he heard them in his own language. Their response was, “These are illiterates from Galilee! Why can we understand them in our own language?” Some of them scoffed and others accused them of being drunk.
Verses 14-21 – Peter explained what was happening and proclaimed that it was all connected to the “Day of the Lord,” that is the Good News of Christ. He spoke from Joel 2:28-32.
Verses 22-36 – Peter reiterates that he is referring to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The people who killed Jesus were Roman, but their reason for executing Him was to quiet the Pharisees, Sadducees and the priest who accused Him of blasphemy. Peter quotes from Psalm 16:8-11 to remind them that David had said God would not let His Holy One’s body be destroyed in the grave.
Verses 37-41 – The people wanted to know how they could avail themselves of this Good News. Here Peter told them to repent, receive baptism in the name of Jesus and receive God’s gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit. You receive the Holy Spirit as part of your “salvation package.”
Three thousand people repented, were saved and received the Holy Spirit that day!
Verses 42-47 – In the first church, they met together, ate together, learned together and grew together. Theirs was a life of doing, not just hearing the preaching.
On a related subject, you have heard the expression, “That’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.” You may have wondered, “What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?” It was the broken bread of the Bread of Life.”
These people performed miracles. Remember, miracles are not things that happen for which there is an earthly or scientific explanation. A miracle is an event that God gives that cannot happen otherwise. The parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of Jericho, the virgin birth were all miracles.
The greatest miracle of all is the miracle of a soul set free by repenting of sin and accepting God’s gift of salvation. When one is saved, there should be something like a burning in the heart as the Holy Spirit takes up residence there. He should then inspire us to become doers, and not just hearers of the Word.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
A Study in Acts Week 1
Acts Chapter 01
“Scholars” disagree about who wrote the book of Acts. I think that’s incredible, since the writer picks up right where he left off at the end of the book of Luke.
In Luke 24:49, Luke quotes Jesus as saying, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Acts is divided into 6 sections: 1) The growth of the church; 2) The spread of the Good News in Samaria and other parts of the region; 3) How Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, a Syrian city; 4) The gospel reaches more countries; 5) How the Good News reached Europe and 6) Paul reaches Rome.
Verses 1-3 – Acts begins with the writer telling Theophilus about what he wrote in his former book, the book of Luke. He says that he had written about what Jesus did and preached. Then he picks up where he left off with Jesus words, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
It is unreasonable to think the writer could have been anyone but Luke.
Verses 4-9 – The disciples demonstrate once again that they did not understand what Jesus had told them would happen at the cross, and what His kingdom was about.
Jesus tells them again about the “power from on high” that would be theirs
In verse 9, Luke retells the accension found in Luke 24:50-53.
Verses 10-11 – The two men in white clothes see, to have been angels with a message. They testified that Jesus would come back in the same way He left.
Verses 12-14 – The disciples went back to the room where they were to wait for the Holy Spirit (although they didn’t know exactly who or what they were waiting for). Luke lists all of the disciples except Judas. In the rest of Acts, the only ones he mentions are Peter, James and John.
Women were first allowed to pray with men in verse 14. Until then, they had to be separate from the men.
Verses 15-20 – Peter addressed the group concerning Judas. He reminded them that Judas was predicted in Psalms 69:25 and that he must be replaces as predicted in Psalm 109:8.
Verses 21-36 – Two men were discussed to replace Judas, Joseph and Matthias. (Joseph was also called Barsabbas (son of the Sabbath) as well as by his gentile name, Justus).
The phrase “cast lots” was the customary way to involve God in the process of decision making. They wrote each man’s name on a stone, put the stones in a jar and shook the jar until one stone fell out. The man whose name was on the stone was considered God’s choice.
This all took place after praying about the matter. The stone with Matthias’ name fell out, and he was chosen.
This was the last New Testament record of this type of decision making. After the Holy Spirit came, the disciples no longer needed to cast lots. Instead, they allowed the Holy Spirit to guide their decision making.
In our church, we vote. It is important that we steep our voting in the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If we do so, our vote will be a uniting event. If there is divisiveness in a vote, you can be certain the Holy Spirit was not guiding. Too often we vote based on our opinions about something, rather than on the basis of the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The result is division, which is NEVER the will of God.
He is a God of unity, not of division. If there is no unity, there should be no vote.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
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