BOOK
BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday February 28, 2016
THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 1:1-5
The Book of the Acts of the Apostles
is written by Luke, and is more or less, a continuation of his Gospel account.
In this book, he attempts to enlighten us about the beginnings of the Christian
Church, and its gradual spread to nearby and distant lands. His book of Acts
chronicles the sudden explosion of missionary activities, led by the Apostle
Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and other prominent early Church workers.
In Luke’s Gospel account, he
emphasized the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT in the life of CHRIST JESUS.
However, in the Book of Acts, he emphasizes the role of the HOLY SPIRIT, in the
growth and development of the early Christian Church in its infancy.
In the first century, the world was
rife with myths, mystery religions and magic, and it was probably because of
these confusions that Luke set out to more accurately record the facts of the
origins of Christianity. He was intent on proving, through his Gospel account,
and through this Book of Acts, that Christianity is not rooted in such myths
and fables, but rather, has its roots in history, beginning with the birth of
the Messiah in Palestine.
Perhaps more than any of the other
Gospel writers, Luke proves to us most successfully, that JESUS was both 100
percent human, and 100 percent GOD (the Hypostatic Union). He also wanted the
world to know that CHRIST’ Gospel was actually being spread by eyewitnesses of
HIS life, who actually saw HIS miracles performed, and, who actually heard HIM
speak on many occasions. And shortly after their quest to spread the Gospel began,
those early followers and eyewitnesses became widely known, first, as
“Adherents of the Way”.
The Book of Acts takes us from
Jerusalem, into many cities within the Roman Empire, including Asia Minor and
Europe. Luke gives us vivid and dramatic depictions of the trials and triumphs
in the lives of these early missionaries. We can see very clearly that GOD is
with these missionary teams as they traveled throughout the world as it was
known at that time, spreading the Gospel.
In the three decades that are covered
in the Book of Acts, we see the Christian message being spread diligently and
vigorously, as Christian churches (mostly House Churches) begin to pop up in
every major population center in the Roman Empire. The locations of these house
churches were secretly guarded as to prevent their discovery by the Emperor
Nero and those antichrist opponents, who vigorously sought to destroy the work
of the believers, and eradicate the very idea of Christianity from
civilization.
This book also stresses the fact
that, whenever GOD gives us a task to do, HE always gives us the “power” (“exocea”
– authority) necessary to carry out and complete that task, to HIS OWN satisfaction,
not ours. Oftentimes, GOD has already prepared us, long in advance, for the
work HE will call us to do at some future date. However, part of the
human struggle, is that, we are often unaware of GOD’s plan for us, and, when
HE makes it known to us, we then, either have a problem in the “waiting to get
started” and often find ourselves getting ahead of GOD, or straying from HIS
plan, or, we have “a fear of taking the steps that are necessary” (going with
HIS plan), to move into the unknown, where JESUS is.
Remember, Samuel anointed David
King, while he was still a shepherd boy, and long before he actually got to sit
on the throne of Israel (15 years). And then there is Moses, who was called by
GOD to free Israel from bondage in Egypt, 40 years before he was actually
instructed to re-enter Egypt to begin the exodus of HIS people from their
miseries.
Here we see, in the opening lines of
the Book of Acts (Acts 1:4), JESUS instructing HIS Disciples not to leave
Jerusalem until GOD had sent them the HOLY SPIRIT, with which, they would be
spiritually baptized and empowered. The HOLY SPIRIT would forever be their
Protector, Comforter, Counselor, and Guide, as they moved forward to fulfill the
commission of CHRIST, while, at one and the same time, fighting the great
spiritual battle that JESUS also fought with satan. The HOLY SPIRIT would forever
represent the power of GOD that HE would infuse into every Christian who
believed and desired to do HIS will, and HIS works in the world (Acts 1:8).
JESUS’ ASCENSION BACK INTO HEAVEN
Acts
1:6-11
The Disciples expected JESUS to
immediately set up the “Earthly Kingdom” that had been spoken of by the ancient
Prophets since the dawn of creation. In verse 7, we see that JESUS does not
deny the Prophets’ visions, but rather, diverts their attention back to the
task at hand. HE tells them that GOD will keep HIS Old Testament promises, in
HIS own time, but right now, they were to concentrate on bringing CHRIST’s
message to the world.
It is still the duty of every
Christian today, as “Adherents of the Way”, to carry out the “Commission of
CHRIST”, by spreading the Gospel to any and everyone who is willing to listen.
And JESUS promises us that, when we do, “lo, I AM with you always, even unto
the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20b - KJV).
Shortly after this final meeting
with HIS disciples, JESUS was taken up into Heaven while they were watching,
and HE soon disappeared into the clouds. As the group of stunned men strained
their eyes to see what was taking place before them, two white-robed men
suddenly stood in their midst, and delivered one of the greatest promises from
GOD of all times. The men said to them in unison, “Men of Galilee, why are you
standing here staring at the sky? JESUS has been taken away from you into
Heaven. And someday, just as you saw HIM go, HE will return!”
THE
DISCIPLES REPLACE JUDAS ISCARIOT WITH MATTHIAS
Acts
1:12-26
After the apostles left the Mount of
Olives where they had watched JESUS ascend back into Heaven, they all went back
to “the upper room” where they had sat with JESUS to receive HIS private
teachings, and to eat the final Passover meal, during HIS last week of life
here on earth. They all assembled together continually for the next several
days, with several of the faithful women who served JESUS during HIS ministry,
including Mary, the mother of JESUS, and also JESUS’ brothers (Vs.12-14). And
just as men always do, they soon started to inject their own “human thinking” (human
ingenuity) and “emotions” into the plan of GOD where they are not needed.
Taking up at verse 13, on an
occasion when about 120 believers were meeting together, the Apostle Peter
stood up and addressed the assembly. With the best of intentions, an emotional
Peter took it upon himself and decided that they needed to replace the fallen
apostle, Judas Iscariot, with another man of their own choosing. He even cited
a scripture that he thought would justify his actions, the one we now know as
Psalm 109:8.
He talked of how Judas had betrayed
JESUS in the Garden of Gethsemane, and had received 30 pieces of silver as
payment for his treachery. He then used the money (or rather the Pharisees did)
to buy a potter’s field (“Akeldama”, which means “Field of Blood”), where,
ultimately he hanged himself in a misguided attempt to extricate himself from
his guilt and misery.
Peter felt so, and he apparently
convinced the others that, it was incumbent upon them to elect a replacement
using their human ingenuity and efforts to try and do what only GOD is
qualified to do for HIMSELF. JESUS never instructed HIS avid followers to
choose anyone to replace Judas as HIS disciple, but here in this passage we see
them first choosing two men from among them, and then, after praying, they cast
lots to see who would win the position in JESUS’ inner circle.
This was all for naught, however,
and as history now shows us, JESUS, just like HE had chosen them to be HIS
closest disciples, would later HIMSELF, choose the Apostle Paul, a bold and
relentless figure of the tribe of Benjamin, to be perhaps, HIS most prominent
disciple of all. HE would later use Paul to tirelessly organize and spread the
idea of Christianity, even to the Gentiles nations, and throughout the Roman
Empire in the first century. And now, through his biblical writings and Church
instructions given to him by CHRIST, he is still able to reach “the lost” today,
even in the far corners of the modern world.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
