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Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word
Before we begin, only if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.
1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown and forgotten sins];” NKJV (New King James Version); we call this REBOUND; read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
Amazing Facts about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
Amazing Facts about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We are looking at the promises of God to those believers who desire to glorify the Lord. Those believers are also willing to follow the directions of the Lord.
1Co 14:40, But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner or let all things be done in order.
Let’s begin in Ac 1:1-8, The first account I composed, Theophilus [Dr. Luke], about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up [ascension] after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over {a period of} forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
And gathering them together [the early church], He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” {He said,} “you heard of or from Me; for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” [This is the prophecy of the coming of the Baptism of Fire that John the Baptist was to reveal to the new church]. And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” [Is this going to be the time of the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel when God would bring in the Millenniual Kingdom for the Jews?] He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs [time period] which the Father has fixed by His own authority; [Or the time of the Kingdom of God to be set up and the place of the dispensations but really it is none of their business] but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
The word for witness is the Greek noun martures which where we get the English noun martyr from, meaning witness, one willing to give his life for someone or something.
Ac 1:9, And after He had said these things, He was lifted up and while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Notice, here is where your ascension and descension and session are all about to be mentioned and supplied. The Cross is the sinner’s hope, the believer’s comfort, and the backslider’s rebound and recovery. The first step of descension in Christianity follows the first turn of our eye from our Lord Jesus; the Author and Finisher of faith. A life of holiness can only spring from a life of faith. The joy of the Lord, and in the Lord, is our only true and legitimate strength.
Neh 8:10, …For the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Ac 1:9, And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
This lifting up is a reference to our LORD’s ascension into heaven following His resurrection and His position at the right hand of the Father. When He arrived in Heaven He heard those words from the father: “Sit down at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
This quotation is a reference to the Doctrine of the Session.
The Ascension is the doctrine of Christology that pertains to the transfer of our Lord’s true humanity from planet earth to the third heaven in a resurrection body. When our Lord received the title that He did, which was to sit down at right hand of God the Father, He was in ultimate glory of everything He ever imagined.
Ac 1:10-12, And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
These men or angels had been sent to reveal to the Apostles the truth of what was before them?
Ac 1:13, And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James {the son} of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas {the son} of James.
Ac 1:14-17, These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with {the} women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”
Notice that in this passage the Lord is identified as “this same Jesus” — Jesus is the title of His humanity. It was the humanity of Christ that Ascended.
In verse 12, they were standing on the Mount of Olives looking up. Jesus will be returning to the same place, says Zec 14:4.
The Church-age is the period when Christ is absent from the earth. Everything that Jesus wants us to know we have in the Word of God. 2Co 2:16 says the Word of God is the mind of Christ. And the Word of God contains our instructions during His absence.
There is a list of the people present, there’s the eleven Apostles. This however would be a great mistake they were about to make. They thought they had the right, the power and the authority to do such a thing, namely choose someone to replace Judas Iscariot.
Only God has the authority to choose who would be an Apostle, a Prophet, An Evangelist, a Pastor-Teacher. This was not open for discussion. These are the individuals God used to protect members of the human race from worshipping the wrong blessings of God.
First, the Apostle is given to reveal the one in authority who lets us all know divinely inspired Scripture is the ultimate authority of the Word of God.
Secondly, the Prophets were given to establish the ones who had a little less of the authority that the Apostle Paul had but not quite the same authority as an Apostle.
Thirdly, the Evangelists whose role was to present the Gospel to the unbeliever the gospel message.
Finally, there were the Pastor-Teachers who must operate in such a way that the Pastor has authority over all the believers and equipped them all for the work of the ministry.
Ac 1:16-17, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”
Peter is mentioned first because his leadership is obvious.
Thomas is mentioned, even though he failed 40 days before in the matter of the resurrection. This did not keep him from being on the roster of Apostles. To each of these is given Apostleship, the gift of absolute dictatorship for the next 50 years or so while the Church is being established.
Now, there were supposed to be 12 Apostles. So, someone had to take the place of Judas and the question was who was going to be the replacement. This is a sovereign choice of God the Holy Spirit, according to 1Co 12:11. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to appoint spiritual gifts.
The twelfth one is not even saved yet. Saul, later known as Paul, and for five more years he will not be saved, but there is going to be an attempt to elect another as replacement.
Notice a few important principles. in Ac 11:14, “These all continued with one accord.” This means they were in harmony with one another and were all in fellowship with God. Yet in spite of that of that they got involved in a fantastic decision because it doesn’t depend upon the filling of the Spirit or their walk with the Lord, it depends upon their knowledge of doctrine. So, there is an area of sin into which people fall through ignorance of Bible doctrine but they can recover if they choose to.
Ac 1:15-17, And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together) and said [who else but Peter makes the big mistake], “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”
In verse 17, when Peter says, “For he was numbered with us.” This is a foreshadowing of what we have today. Always among born again believers there are a certain number of unbelievers numbered with them, identified as Christians though many times they are not, because they have not accepted Christ as Savior.
Now, in verse 17, Peter is assuming that certain individuals were a part of this ministry” and identifies Judas to be one of those twelve. But, in reality no one knows who is saved and who is not.
Ac 1:18, Now this man (Judas Iscariot), acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
Ac 1:19, And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called the Field of Blood.
Why?
Because in Ac 1:20-22, “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, And let no man dwell in it’; and, ‘His office let another man take.’ It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Ac 1:24-2:4, And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Ac 2:5-15, Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
Ac 2:17-24, “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy. And I will grant wonders in the sky above, And signs on the earth beneath, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know This Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Ac 2:25-35, “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were “For David says of Him, ‘I was always beholding the Lord in my presence; For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. ‘Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will abide in hope; Because Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou wilt make me full of gladness with Thy presence.’ “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,” Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”’
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
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