The same Jesus who's been taken up will come in a like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Psalm 139:710 says, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? And that power would be what would begin to banish the fear, the troubling, doubt, that they had, coupled with the Word of God that they were to have. Instead, they turned the world upside down. We've just read it. Or: "The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and the ropes which were on his arms became as flax" (15:14). He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43years. It's an interesting way that they did. Friday. For example, Numbers 14:24 says of Caleb, "My servant Caleb, because he has a different Spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into this land." And we have by and large absorbed their mechanistic view of things. It doesn't lie within man's own power to risk his life and stand up for the truth of God and denounce sin. When did that become true? And you have to understand that and realize that, that's what they were doing during that period of time as well. They were with Him and they asked Him in verse 6, "Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" People should see God in the firstfruits. Before or after this instance. They need to see within us, Jesus Christ. The Sadducees were more focused on the Five Books of Moses than the history and prophets. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:24). But after Pentecost the power of the Spirit spread out to light the whole world. John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Those in the Spirit are indwelt by the Spirit and are enabled by him to fulfill the just requirement of the law. There are no more decisive turning points in redemptive history that must happen before Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. Then I finally figured out, "Oh, I got to do this myself. Now, it was all beginning to come together. 145 views, 2 likes, 6 loves, 16 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Crossroads Baptist Church: Crossroads Baptist Church Live 02/05/2023 Whoever believes in Jesus has everlasting life. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? But it was a very intense period of time of Jesus appearing to them both in Galilee and Jerusalem, teaching them from the Scriptures, appearing to them in larger groups, perhaps even, more smaller groups, and in some of the ways they're talking like He did to Peter, on the Sea of Galilee, having meals with them. The Jewish authoritiesthe Sanhedrin, the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadduceesthat authority was intact in Jerusalem, running the temple, running the religious side of the culture and the social life of Judea under the Roman cap, and it too was a very, very powerful force you didn't run up against. What does a search warrant actually look like? And if those are the weapons of our warfare, then we can handle them. Not completely unraveled, but the doubt and the disbelief has an impact. He used Deborah and the tribe of Zebulun (the mountain may have been in their land) in the sermon. I was standing there gazing, not quite knowing what to do. Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. And so I made a certain few inquiries, I got on the bus, didn't miss it. If they got it at Pentecost, with what power then did the twelve these wonders if not with Holy Spirit? These accounts of like what we have read in the gospels and others for a 40-day period. The Jewish authorities of their day had a very thorough doctrinal review process and Peter's would not have passed, which is why they ran smack in trouble with the Jewish leadership from this point forward because they were applying new meaning to old Scriptures that no Jew had ever heard before. What we read about back in Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28:19Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:American King James Versionof the gospel being taken to the world. It was a mighty, powerful machine, the most powerful that the world in that day had ever seen. The Feast of Pentecost, or Shavuot in Hebrew, was just starting in Jerusalem as the book of Acts begins. Chapter 4 takes as its starting point the gift of speaking in tongues from the narrative of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13. . Mark chapter 16, verse 9, now, "When He rose early on the first day of the week," speaking of Christ's resurrection. The Day of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter in Western branches of Christianity. Why were Jesus' disciples so disheartened and fearful after His death? On that day of Pentecost, people who had been doubtful were moved to speak powerfully, to repentance, to belief, and to action. How was Simeon able to have the Holy Spirit upon him prior to Pentecost? So here's my answer to why the experience of the Old Testament saints is valuable for us today. What do we do now? They were going up against a lot, just as we go up against our world today, and ourselves, and what Satan might throw at us. Surely for a Christian the only reason to study or be artistic is for God's sake. Prior to Pentecost, the Apostles and disciples gathered in fear, behind locked doors. They thought that Jesus Himself didn't actually know that asleep people wake up? Hadn't He told them that He'd come back to life again? But I had to go to St. Louis about 100 miles north of my hometown and pick up what they called an express bus, that would go through the larger cities. But by doing so, when you read the account, you understand that they knew the Scripture, and they applied Scripture to their choice and their decision to replace Judas. They had been told to be there, to wait in Jerusalem until that day. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.". No, He said wait till, wait in Jerusalem, and so they were there and they continued. " They were able to do the things Jesus gave them authority to do and they found it amazing. It wasn't a common manifestation of the Spirit, but it was real then and it is today. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. The world we grew up in and live in does not see things this way. So there is going to be a gap. Their disbelief would extend not only to the idea that the dead could come back to life, as He did, but then they doubted the truth of these witnesses. We can accomplish the work of God, and we can then be the firstfruits who follow the Lamb and who know their God and do mighty deeds and mighty exploits. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Is the promise of "power" in Acts 1:8 only for the apostles or for Christians in all ages? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Really. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Because Ruth saw in Naomi, God, an example that she wanted to be a part of. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. And because both were working together, the mission and the vision, there was a remarkable picture being described here by Luke, of the Church at peace. Jesus continued: "Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. He spent days and days, and weeks and weeks doing that, bringing new dimension of understanding to the Scriptures that they had never had. The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. The church today is so sleepy that some of us have even fallen behind the Old Testament saints in our appropriation of what the Spirit has to give. The religious leaders are "astonished" and marvel that such common and unlearned men can have such a sweeping command of their topic, and such serene courage. 20:22), which also tends to disrupt the theology of some! And not for the reality that the 1st century world would have known and experienced, that other dimension. That Numbers 32 and verse 23, is correct. How was the Holy Spirit being seen (perceived) in Acts 8? And the tomb was empty, and the disciples had seen Jesus, and the authorities were beside themselves trying to figure it out, looked for the body. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. But then two angels appeared and they said to them, in verse 11, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? But that was a life lesson that I had to learn. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Eighth, some OT believers were enabled by the Spirit to do extraordinary feats of power to help God's people. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren. I have my own Star Trekkian-type of way to imagine how Jesus ascended. Doubt, some of them doubt, what did they doubt? It was their life. Not only apostles, but even the prophets of the Old Testament, who are lower than apostles, had a degree of presence of Spirit in themselves, through Whom they prophesied (needn't to give references, for they are so numerous!). 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! They thought that the body had been ferretted away by the disciples, someone had stolen it. This is the underlying message Jesus gave to his disciples in today's 2nd Sunday of Lent year A Gospel (Mt 7:1-11) which narrates the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, after having announced to them his Passion and Death on the cross. So it's something for us to examine in our own way, see how much of that is being demonstrated in our life. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Two things we can summarize to show what was the key to bring about this scene that we see here at the end of chapter 2 in Acts. Jesus took all believers out of Hades ten days before Pentecost, when He ascended into the third heaven. That power would come in the form of the Holy Spirit. And you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Where do we go from here? United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Think about that among our own relationships with each other. None of the benefits enjoyed in the pre-Pentecostal days were taken away. Picture a huge dam for hydroelectric power under construction, like the Aswan High Dam on the Nile, 375 feet high and 11,000 feet across. It is I. Don't be afraid.'" And in the book of Revelation, John reports an experience similar to Daniel's. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.". Judges 5:14 talks about the tribe of Zebulun either being scribes or having a commander's staff. That's the famous road to Emmaus experienced from the book of Luke, "and they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either." And we must live knowing that way. It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.". The Victory over Fear On the day of the Pentecost, The Spirit of God came to them, filled their minds and their hearts and their entire being. The world sees a mechanical process of evolution and natural selection. Did they doubt themselves? Jesus was crucified during the Passover celebration. At the end of John, you remember, John says, there were so many other things that He did in his life and no doubt probably part of that 40-day period that it would take volumes to teach it, and to record it during this period. In other words, I'm not teaching or requiring anything new. He had a lot to come back, he was at the back of the pack. These are the days of Pentecost, the days of the fullness of the Spirit, the days of worldwide mission. and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting and in carving wood, for work in every craft.'". Historically, Pentecost ( Shavout) is a Jewish feast celebrating the giving of the Torah and the summer wheat harvest. Third, the OT believers enjoyed the constant presence of God's Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Expand And He leaves them on the Mount of Olives, which is a very, very significant geographic feature there on the east of Jerusalem across from the city, and through the Kidron Valley and up on this Mount called Olives. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? We are going to be taking giant steps toward creating that kind of Church that we read about here in the book of Acts, that has been imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit, and changes are being made. The appearance of Jesus' face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Again, I think that is an example of using an . That is how the mission of the Church is done and that is how then that vision of a community, of a Church, of a people who are rooted in the Word of God, who actually do care for one another, is accomplished; by no other means, by no other means. Would it make any difference for our lives today if we knew the answer? The Essential 100 Bible Challenge14The Cross Of Christ. But ten billion kilowatts were added to enable the church to take the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to every tongue and tribe and nation. Or is this authority that I mentioned just about Jesus' own power he gave them and isn't about Spirit in themselves like when he said to Peter to cast net into water and pulled out much fishes? I've got to find out where that next bus leaves, and what time." Old Testament believers enjoyed the presence of God's Spirit wherever they went. And when those come in, how do we process them? What was on their mind? 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