After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream about the coming famine, Pharaoh says, "Can we find such a man as this in whom is the Spirit of God?" So there was still this not fully developed confidence and faith in what had happened, and so He goes even further and asks for some food. Then I finally figured out, "Oh, I got to do this myself. So at 9:00 on Pentecost morning, while the disciples were praying, "a sound came from heaven like a rush of mighty wind . Answer: In Luke 10:17, when the seventy came back from visiting the towns in Israel, they said, " Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. 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. And yet Peter does, and he gives a bold sermon. Jerusalem was swelled with pilgrims, at this point in time, and this added to the drama of the moment. They need to see within us, Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified during the Passover celebration. And it is in that, we reach the real nexus, the real critical point of our life before God, where we recognize that, with the Holy Spirit, we are taking on the very nature of God, the divine nature. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. But on that morning as they gathered, made their preparations, put on their clothes, walked to the location where they all were gathered, and they were about 120 disciples as chapter 1 of Acts tells us, they no doubt had a lot on their mind. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. Did they doubt themselves? I think it will make a difference. Now, it was all beginning to come together. That is what caused people to see something in those disciples and to want to be a part of it. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." So it was a bodily appearance that He made completely to them, and He showed them His hands and His feet. That's what He did. The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to Gods law; indeed, it cannot. The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Prior to Pentecost, the Apostles, though often zealous and willing to make sacrifices to follow Jesus, were also slow to understand and often confused. What does a search warrant actually look like? On the day of Pentecost Peter said that in these last days "your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:17). What was possibly on the disciples' mind the morning of Pentecost? Articles that are published in our magazine or scripting for our television programs goes through a very, very thorough review process. But they saw Him for a period of time, and that's how I like to imagine it. '", And so Luke's account gives us a very specific instruction, how He told them, You wait in Jerusalem and then you will receive the power from on high. And that is what they were doing as they waited for that period of time to come about. 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." I won't believe unless I do this! Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Really. And God will expose sin, ours to ourselves, sometimes to others. And it was the high priest and those people who had engineered His death, and they knew the power that they did have. Labor in the Word, meaning to read the Word, and to learn it, and to soak it in and drink it in; and to live the Word, this past year. It's God's Spirit that is the only thing that we can have to overcome those fears, because really, it's all the Church of God has ever had. When you look and you understand what was taking place, here are people who've been terrified, they had been doubtful, unbelieving to one degree or the other during this previous 50-day period. You ever been in that type of situation where you don't know what to do next? We've just read it. I can't think about it more than five minutes without saying, "So what?" What is "the gift" of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38? And so she was the first to see the empty tomb and have that appearance, and she goes and tells them. And I can't help but think that knowledge for its own sake or art for art's sake is a very callous and unloving motto. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. 7:50; 19:9). When did the disciples become born -again? Being mentally separated from other people (because of being ashamed of lost of their 'cause') made them being afraid of people. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, Put your finger here and look at my hands! . Beginning with Easter Sunday (e.g., Luke 24:32,45) and most likely throughout the forty days before ascending, the Lord instructed and formed the Apostles in the Gospel. Synopsis: When Jesus walked on the water to join the disciples in their boat, the Gospel mentioned that they were afraid - twice. So here's my answer to why the experience of the Old Testament saints is valuable for us today. It was their life. It is I. Don't be afraid.'" And in the book of Revelation, John reports an experience similar to Daniel's. The elixir, the antidote to our faith, to every one of our problems, if we could see a miracle; and we like signs, but miracles, well, they're a little harder to come up with. Jesus began to teach them, we read, from the Law of Moses, from the prophets, the Scriptures about Him, to explain to them what had happened. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. You know, before we ever get to that rushing wind that came in, it's good to think about this question, because it has a direct application to you and I today. Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarryor waitin the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-31). Where do we go from here? Verses 40 to 47 is a summary of one of the most remarkable periods of the church experience. They sailed on it in the moonlight and wrote songs about it. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. God not only designed how he wanted his tabernacle built, he also equipped the craftsmen to do it. And not for the reality that the 1st century world would have known and experienced, that other dimension. And what happened? We often think a miracle would be just what we need. People should see God in the firstfruits. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. And then going on here, in verse 44, "He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms concerning Me.' Otherwise how would they ever overcome their natural hostility to God? United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. And you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." We will handle them by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Even as the reservoir was filling, part of the river was allowed to flow past. If they got it at Pentecost, with what power then did the twelve these wonders if not with Holy Spirit? Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Sixth, OT believers experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit as a power to be bold in denouncing evil and declaring righteousness. Every generation of God's people have done that. They'd likely not seen it. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! 1. I am not comfortable with that speculation. A fellowship, a community, prayer, sharing food together, much like we do today. This means that the disciples could not have Christ in them, as we born again believers have, until the day of Pentecost. We can take on that nature and we can live. The Christian aeon is a renewed order, a new creation. And we can have the power to believe that, and to grow together and develop together as a bride of Christ, and accomplish His work and His purpose and His will. A Church that was grounded in the Word of God. In Colossians chapter 1, Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:American King James Version, Paul writes, "To them, God will to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." In other words, Peter says, we have entered the last days: the Messiah has come, he has accomplished redemption on the cross, he has risen and ascended to the right hand of God, and the interval before he returns in glory will be marked by an incomparable outpouring of the Holy Spirit on men and women, old and young, slave and free, near and far. John the Baptist had promised: The one who comes after me "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3:16). "Also for this very reason, giving all diligence into your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, the divine nature. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Learning and labor which do not lead people in love to God are not prompted by the Spirit of Christ. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? They thought that the body had been ferretted away by the disciples, someone had stolen it. The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!. Christ in you, the hope of glory. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren. I wouldn't bother with the question if I didn't. Seventh, the saints of old experienced victory over fear by the presence of the Spirit. And as we've seen, even when they were confronted with the miracle of Christ's resurrection, and they recognized that they still had to deal with the hostility of the world around them, in a kind of a two-pronged government called the Roman Empire and the Jewish society, plus their own human nature, and themselves. That's an important trait for a firstfruit, for a firstfruit to have in their life, and in their approach to life. But on that 50th day, from the morning after Christ's resurrection, a lot had happened. Week 8 to Pentecost. [Darris McNeely] On the morning of Pentecost 31 AD, what do you think was going through the minds of the assembled disciples in Jerusalem? We get on to verse 40, the wrap-up: "With many other words, he testified and exhorted them saying, Be saved from this perverse generation, that those who were, who gladly received his word were baptized; about 3,000 souls were added to them. And so they had become a part of something that again, they were still trying to understand. When Nicodemus was bewildered about Jesus' demand for new birth by the Spirit, Jesus responded (John 3:10), "Are you a teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand this?" INTRODUCTION Jesus told the disciples to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before doing ministry. But we do not debate and discuss biblical topics. Those in the flesh are devoid of the Spirit and cannot submit to God's law or please God. Four verses later Moses says, "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them" (v. 29). Has 90% of ice around Antarctica disappeared in less than a decade? We have to live as well, knowing that there is a God, and to live our life that every day counts. They had hoped He would overcome the power of the Roman government and establish a new kingdom, and now their hopes of this vanished. How to increase the number of CPUs in my computer? With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! And I was going to go out to California, my first trip to California, visit my brother for about three weeks. Surely for a Christian the only reason to study or be artistic is for God's sake. 3. Reading the Holy Scripture. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? And you have to understand that and realize that, that's what they were doing during that period of time as well. At least part of the answer to that is found in the teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 1214, which we will soon begin to study in an evening series. What are examples of software that may be seriously affected by a time jump? And I think there was and is today a special touch or filling of the Holy Spirit that elevates the work of an artist or a musician or a craftsman from mere technical skill to divinely empowered ministry that exalts God and builds faith. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Again, nothing like this had been a part of their frame of reference before. But when was it first true? 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. We can deal with them. In light of Acts 10:44-48, were the disciples in Acts 2 praising/exalting God in tongues (contrary to the view that they were "preaching" in tongues)? It was the Roman soldiers that had carried out the death of Christ and had sealed the tomb and a Roman guard had been placed there. Matthew records that "when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. Now all of a sudden, as Peter steps forward, and of course, you know the story of Peter. If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. And this dramatic miracle, but beyond that, 3,000 people being added to the Church, and then a community being developed. We give ourselves to that devotion, to that devoted study and the process of taking on the nature of God. That is what caused them to banish their fear, trouble, doubt, and unbelief: Christ in them through the Holy Spirit. Jesus continued: "Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. They didn't know. It goes on, "When He had spoken these things," in verse 9, "they watched and He was taken up in a cloud, received Him out of their sight. Hadn't He told them that He'd come back to life again? I have my own Star Trekkian-type of way to imagine how Jesus ascended. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. An eyewitness account, there was a lack of belief that put them in the situation here that they did not understand and didn't believe that had actually happened. Zechariah's prophecy in chapter 14 shows that Christ will, on that day, set foot on the Mount of Olives. 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. Well, Pentecost is like the dedicatory opening of the Aswan High Dam. Life, that a doubt every once in a while creeps in, sometimes an unbelief, fear, bonds of trust might be tested. And of course, one of the most dramatic scenes in all the Bible occurred with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered disciples, and the speaking in tongues, and a mighty rushing wind that we find it hard to imagine what it was like, because it's not part of our custom to try to pray that down today like some other denominations and religious forms do. Peter says, "In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy." And Numbers 27: 18 says, "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Take Joshua the son of Nun, in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him.'" It wasn't there and so a lot had happened in that 50-day period that brought them to that morning of Pentecost. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. The disciples had seen Jesus reach out across ethnic and religious divides birth in His parables and in real life. 157 views, 3 likes, 4 loves, 3 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mora Grace Lutheran Church: Music used with permission from CCLI "And He said to them, 'Thus it is written, thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and the remissions of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. They had come up against the two most powerful authorities of their day in their world. 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. But they were frightened and they thought that they had seen a spirit. It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Fifth, the OT saints believed that craftsmanship and artistic ability in the service of God was a gift of the Holy Spirit. And so Christ gives them teaching and He gives them understanding. Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. He had a long way to come to be the one to stand up and to give the sermon on this day, but he did it. 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. These are the days of Pentecost, the days of the fullness of the Spirit, the days of worldwide mission. And we can be about the work that we see that the Church did then and has always done, of taking the message of salvation and of repentance to life, to people who need that message. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.". They sold their possessions, they divided among them, they shared among those who had need. The country folk downstream depended on it. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.". After the disciples received the Holy Spirit, received Christ in them, they began to operate under the strength and ability of Christ in them. They were with Him and they asked Him in verse 6, "Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" A: Yes, repeatedly Jesus assured them that although He would be put to death by His enemies, He would come back to life by the power of God. There are two groups of humans: those in the flesh (born of the flesh) and those in the Spirit (born again of the Spirit). rev2023.3.1.43269. Our sins will find us out. It's an interesting way that they did. The disciples stood gazing, and they didn't know what to do. If you go back to Matthew chapter 28, chapter 28 and verse 16, let's just read a few of the accounts of that period following the resurrection, that the Gospel accounts tell us and there's more there. Every now and then in extraordinary circumstances of need the Spirit enables ordinary Christians to perform amazing feats of rescue far beyond their ordinary capacitylike lifting a car off of a pinned husband or escaping from a raging rapist. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. And they did, and thousands were added to the Church that day. Every minister's dream, to give one sermon and thousands of people get baptized and join the Church in one day, every minister's fantasy. And what was the key to that? Did they experience fear, doubt, and disbelief as we sometimes do? And had they seen anything near that type of an ecstatic demonstration, it might have been in a form by someone doing something by their form of religion that they didn't identify with. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? That Numbers 32 and verse 23, is correct. ; 39:29) and Joel (2:28) prophesied and longed to see. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died .John 4:11-14 Come on. They had a lot of fear. Where is it being manifested in the church today? Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Evidently, God only gave a brief taste of prophetic powers to the seventy elders. Why were Jesus' disciples so disheartened and fearful after His death? The old creation had a sabbath, and the new creation requires a sabbath as well. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: And I looked, and, see, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Mercedes Artico Leather Repair, Articles W