timeline_of_acts.docx |
As the church grew, the disciples gradually began to understand what Jesus had meant when He said, "It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you but if I go, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7).
Although Jesus Himself departed, God became present in each one of them, making His activity in the world more widespread than ever before!!! Acts 4:8 "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ....
The word "filled" seems to be used as both and adjective describing that they were operating out of the filling of the Spirit and as a verb/action as in Acts 4:31 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit....". It is also a command as in Ephesians 5:18 "Instead be filled with the Spirit". The lexicon for Eph 5:18 clearly shows that this is a verb (an action). The other two references do not indicate the part of speech but the definitions are very similar in nature. But even used as an adjective describing the condition of their person could also mean that Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit could only be filled with the Holy Spirit if he only had previously submitted to the filling of the Holy Spirit....meaning, he sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Consider also Acts 6 in the discussion of the choosing of the Seven. A need arose to take care of the widows from the other lands who were being overlooked in "the daily distribution of food". In order to allow the Apostles to remain focused on "prayer and the ministry of the word" (vs 4), they choose 7 men among them (meaning they were Greek Jews according to the notes) to handle this ministry. These men were required to be "known (witnesses) to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" (vs 3). This means to me that even though they either weren't all Baptized in the Holy Spirit or that they were all Baptized in the Holy Spirit but did not remain or seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit or operate out of the filling of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion it is the latter. I think we need to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit and continue to seek to live in obedience to His leading and promptings and to be filled with Him so that we are not filled with ourselves and our human nature. Acts 6:7 "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith".
As you read through acts, a common development was the increase in the number of followers. This is the first occurrence noted in which members of the Jewish religious leadership became followers since the resurrection of Jesus as a result of the teachings of the early Church. LAN: The word of God spread like ripples on a pond where from a single center, each wave touches the next, spreading wider and farther. The gospel still spreads this way today. You don't have to change the world single-handedly - it is enough just to be part of the wave touching those around you, who in turn will touch others until all have felt the movement. Don't ever feel that your part is insignificant or unimportant. [This reminded me of something similar I felt compelled to share in the My Life Mission class. I compared our testimony to dropping a pebble in the water, it may seem small and insignificant but the ripples spread out, touching others.] In Stephens' response to the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:9), he noted the summarized account of Joseph saying that his brother's had sold him into slavery. "But God was with him and rescued him from ALL his troubles." You would have thought this meant that God delivered Joseph from his troubles. But if you know the account of Joseph, he wasn't rescued from slavery. Bot God was assuredly with him and guided him through this long ordeal. Joseph didn't doubt or complain.....there is no citation of him even having a crises of faith. Joseph is a great role model for showing what trusting God really looks like. How did Stephen demonstrate that Joseph was "delivered from his troubles". Vs 10 "He gave Joseph wisdom an enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh King of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace." God made Joseph an overcomer IN his circumstances NOT FROM his circumstances.
"Wonders and Miraculous Signs" is a theme throughout the book of Acts.
In Stephen's response to the Sanhedrin, he spoke of Moses. Vs 36 "He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert". We know this was to show authenticate the leadership of Moses and what he was saying to the Egyptians. It wasn't meant just for the amazement of the people. It was purposeful. [Q. vs 22 said that Moses was powerful in speech and action. Wasn't Moses noted for having a stutter? What does this mean?] The book of acts says that the apostles did wonders and miraculous signs. Like Moses, this was to authenticate their authority to continue in spreading the good news that Jesus began. In fact, the apostles asked for this to happen. Acts 4:29-31 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." But this wasn't limited to the apostles. Both Stephen and Philip were among the seven selected to care for the Greek widows. These men had to be "known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom". Acts 6:6 "They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them". Shortly after in vs 8 we read "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." Acts 8:6 "When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said". Obviously, these men were gifted for a specific purpose and it came with great responsibility and costs! Acts 7: 39- 43 Stephen, in his response to the Sanhedrin spoke of hoe the people had rejected the message of Moses. Vs 39 "But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They asked Aaron to make "gods who will go before us." In other words, gods that they can see....visible, easily grasped yet powerless to save.
God's response to their celebration....Vs 42 "But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies." Then Stephen quoted from the book of Amos 5:25-27 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon." In other words....If we are choose to look to anything else for our security and strength, God will allow us to make this choice and we are left without His guidance and protection. Acts 7:37-38 "This is what Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people. He was in the assembly [ekklesia] in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers and he received living words to pass on to us"
LAN: Stephen used the word 'ekklesia' (translated assembly) to describe the congregation or people of God in the desert. This word means "called out ones" and was used by the first-century Christians to describe their own community or assembly. Stephen's point was that the giving of the law through Moses to the Jews was the sign of the covenant. By obedience, then would they continue to be God's covenant people. Strong's study notes: 1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564/kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. [The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord"(kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."] See additional reference The Church not only survived the 1st century but it has survived until this day!
Why? Because the Church was a movement and was naturally propelled because the first disciples witnessed an event – the resurrection of the Christ. Because the focus of the Church wasn’t on a building but a growing gathering of new believers and followers that “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Because the Church not only looked inward, ministering and taking care of one another but in maintaining an outward focus, intentionally going out into their community despite threats of persecution, imprisonment and death. Because the Church “enjoyed the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47). The Church was known for their love and sincerity in caring for the people in their community by showing their generosity to anyone in need (Acts 2:45, 4:35). How? The Church filled with the Holy Spirit, prayed and asked God to “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). Read The Believers Prayer You and I are Christians because of the boldness of the 1st Century believers. The 1st Century Church prayed bold prayers despite bold threats and efforts to distinguish the movement. What kind of prayers do we pray? Are they bold prayers to be enabled to speak God’s word with great boldness? Do we ask God to stretch out His hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders….not just for our personal benefit and spiritual seeking amusement…not just within the walls of our churches and home group meetings but out in our community so that unbelievers cannot deny the working of God among them and through us. Are we willing to be filled with the Holy Spirit and pray for boldness so that we will take risks and move out beyond our comfort zone into our community, in our sphere of influence? You and I are responsible in this generation to hand the Church off in good shape to the next generation. |
LukeDoctor and Greek Gentile Christian; close companion of Paul. Categories
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