Church in the home Wednesday evenings 28th Apr. 2010
The Day of Pentecost
See also …
http://truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1237
by John Schoenheit
Pentecost
There are 3 main feasts (feasts of the Lord Lev 23:4) mentioned in the Old Testament, which were to be celebrated by God’s people
In Deut 16:16, 3 feasts are mentioned. More detail is given in Leviticus chapter 23
The feast of unleavened bread – Passover (Lev 4-8)
The feast of weeks – Pentecost (Lev 23: 15-16)
The feast of Tabernacles – Harvest feast (Lev 23:34, Exodus 23: 16)
For the feast of unleavened bread also know as Passover. The sacrifice of the lamb was made at about 3 o clock in afternoon then at 6 o clock the feast of unleavened bread started. This lasted 7 days.
Feast of weeks is equivalent to Pentecost but it can be called different things in the Old Testament. Pentecost feats can also be called the “First fruits”.
The feast of unleavened bread – Passover (Lev 4-8) and The feast of weeks – Pentecost (Lev 23: 15-16) were 7-day celebrations, but Pentecost was a one-day feast.
In James 1:18 we are called a “kind of firstfruits of His ceatures”. So too is Jesus Christ as is stated in 1 Cor 15:23? How can the whole church be the First fruits as described in James? Well we are part of the administration of the “sacred secret” (the Mystery as is used in other circles) and as such we are consecrated to God, cleansed and justified before Him. This was of course unknown to man in the Old Testament so it is not revealed for our learning and reading.
This is important to understand what happened on the day of Pentecost. The Jews from all over the World were in Jerusalem for the “feast of weeks”, but may not have been in the temple every day for the duration of their stay, but on that one day, they were all there in the “house”, from all over the World. God gave the Jews his best shot; faithful Jews from all over the World had a chance to be there to witness the start of the church of God, and to spread the Word all over the world.
Where? “in the house where they were sitting” this is from all biblical angles the temple.
Who? The answer is “they” and later when Peter stood up with the eleven, that means that the they were twelve in number, and were the 11 original apostles as Judas was not there any more, and the newly elected member of the twelve Matthias.
Why? This was God’s and Jesus way of starting the church, the body of Christ church with Jesus as the head.
When? This was the 3rd hour of prayer on the 1-day feast, the “feast of weeks”.
What? There was a sound from heaven, clover tongues of fire that came down from Heaven, as a sign and a cue for the first time for someone to speak in tongues.
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com (Biblical Unitarianism website)
http://www.truthortradition.com (Truth or Tradition web site)
http://www.stfonline.org/ (Spirit and Truth fellowship online website)
zaterdag 8 mei 2010
woensdag 9 december 2009
Church in the home Wednesday evenings 2nd Dec 2009
Church in the home Wednesday evenings 2nd Dec 2009
The chapters of Hebrews 6 to Hebrews 11, lay down the fundamentals of the office of a priest and covers 4 particular priests or types of priests
Heb 6:20, Melchizedek, who was a priest without father, without mother, without genealogy Hebrews 7:3, (the order of Melchizedek)
Hebrews 6:20, Jesus, who became a High priest after the order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:5, the sons of Levi who received the priests office
Hebrews 10:19, those born again brethren are to have boldness to enter into the holy place (by the blood of Jesus), and are collectively referred to as “a royal priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:9
This remarkable section which traces priestly duty and ordinance leading to Jesus as our High priest, and his tearing down of the veil at the entrance to the Holy of holies in the temple. While high priests under the Levitical protocol had to offer sacrifices for their own sins and for the sins of the people every year, Jesus did this once when he offered up himself and his blood now cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
This Jesus who was made a priest not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Heb 7: 15 & 16) and as such he is able to save those for all time those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them Heb 7:25 (loosely from the REV – Revised English version)
Neil J Bourke
7-Dec-2009
http://www.stfonline.org/
http://www.truthortradition.com
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
http://www.biblegateway.com
The chapters of Hebrews 6 to Hebrews 11, lay down the fundamentals of the office of a priest and covers 4 particular priests or types of priests
Heb 6:20, Melchizedek, who was a priest without father, without mother, without genealogy Hebrews 7:3, (the order of Melchizedek)
Hebrews 6:20, Jesus, who became a High priest after the order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:5, the sons of Levi who received the priests office
Hebrews 10:19, those born again brethren are to have boldness to enter into the holy place (by the blood of Jesus), and are collectively referred to as “a royal priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:9
This remarkable section which traces priestly duty and ordinance leading to Jesus as our High priest, and his tearing down of the veil at the entrance to the Holy of holies in the temple. While high priests under the Levitical protocol had to offer sacrifices for their own sins and for the sins of the people every year, Jesus did this once when he offered up himself and his blood now cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
This Jesus who was made a priest not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Heb 7: 15 & 16) and as such he is able to save those for all time those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them Heb 7:25 (loosely from the REV – Revised English version)
Neil J Bourke
7-Dec-2009
http://www.stfonline.org/
http://www.truthortradition.com
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
http://www.biblegateway.com
dinsdag 1 december 2009
Church in the home Wed 18th Nov 2009
Don’t Blame God
Old Testament versus new testament. In the New there are new truths. The old attributes certain things to God, our loving heavenly Father. The devil is in control of our physical environment. God hid the Devil in the old testament via the way things were written.
Ephesians says "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against" … there is no old testament verse like that.
There are new truths in the new testament, look in John 1 : 17 for instance, Grace & truth came through Jesus Christ. What truth?
V.18 Truth came by Jesus Christ, and he made known the Father, In the OT God took the credit for good and evil, but in the NT Jesus and God gave believers the power to understand the position of the devil in the World, and gave them the enablement's to counter some of the acts of the devil.
1 John 5:19 Where does the flooding, slavery, hunger, war come from – not God, “The whole World in under the control of the evil one” NIV.
God is good, God is loving,
Matt 4 states that the devil was tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the World… how did he get them? Jesus did not contest his ability and authority to give them. Jesus himself will reign over them some day, Jesus resisted temptation. God gave rulership of the World to Adam who gave it to the devil at the fall.
Heb 2 :14 Jesus also took flesh and blood, … to destroy him who holds the power of death.
Numbers 21:4-9 these verses attribute these acts to God. In aramaic this has the meaning of allowing or permission.
Listen to the whole teaching "Don't blame God" by clicking on the link below.
Keep praying and labouring in prayer. God and Jesus and the people of this world need your intercession. Speak in tongues as much as youcan. Pray with your understanding and be specific and clear.
God Bless
Neil J Bourke
24/11/2009
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=925
Old Testament versus new testament. In the New there are new truths. The old attributes certain things to God, our loving heavenly Father. The devil is in control of our physical environment. God hid the Devil in the old testament via the way things were written.
Ephesians says "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against" … there is no old testament verse like that.
There are new truths in the new testament, look in John 1 : 17 for instance, Grace & truth came through Jesus Christ. What truth?
V.18 Truth came by Jesus Christ, and he made known the Father, In the OT God took the credit for good and evil, but in the NT Jesus and God gave believers the power to understand the position of the devil in the World, and gave them the enablement's to counter some of the acts of the devil.
1 John 5:19 Where does the flooding, slavery, hunger, war come from – not God, “The whole World in under the control of the evil one” NIV.
God is good, God is loving,
Matt 4 states that the devil was tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the World… how did he get them? Jesus did not contest his ability and authority to give them. Jesus himself will reign over them some day, Jesus resisted temptation. God gave rulership of the World to Adam who gave it to the devil at the fall.
Heb 2 :14 Jesus also took flesh and blood, … to destroy him who holds the power of death.
Numbers 21:4-9 these verses attribute these acts to God. In aramaic this has the meaning of allowing or permission.
Listen to the whole teaching "Don't blame God" by clicking on the link below.
Keep praying and labouring in prayer. God and Jesus and the people of this world need your intercession. Speak in tongues as much as youcan. Pray with your understanding and be specific and clear.
God Bless
Neil J Bourke
24/11/2009
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=925
Church in the home Wednesday evenings 27th Nov 2009
Church in the home Wednesday evenings 27th Nov 2009
“Is there death after life”, is the title of a book by Graeser, Lynn and Schoenheit, and in it are laid down some of the fundamentals of the subject, the state of the dead.
The bible is clear on this subject and so should we.
In Hebrews 2:14 the one who holds the power of death has been declared, and clearly revealed and that is the devil. Jesus Christ took flesh and blood and shared in our humanity so that by his death he could destroy him who holds the power of death. (Loosely NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:26 clearly states, “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (KJV)
The reason there is death is stated in Romans 5:12,
“Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered the into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (NIV)
There is an escape from death and that is, in this day and time in 2009, through Jesus Christ, and specifically an adherence to the instructions given in Romans 10: 9,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved”(KJV)
1Thessalonians 4: 16, 17 paint for us a glorious future, and is a stark contrast to the ill-founded belief that death is in fact an entrance to life itself.
If death is not “really” death, but merely a passing on to something even greater than “life”, then the need for resurrection (Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the 1st & 2nd resurrections) and raising of the dead in Christ (1Thessalonians 4: 16, 17) are all unnecessary and give false hope. But this is not the case and God and Jesus Christ will have to bring all power to bear to give new life to those who have acquired it, and not only life, but everlasting life.
Neil J Bourke
1-Dec-2009
http://www.stfonline.org/resources/websites.html
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
http://www.truthortradition.com/
“Is there death after life”, is the title of a book by Graeser, Lynn and Schoenheit, and in it are laid down some of the fundamentals of the subject, the state of the dead.
The bible is clear on this subject and so should we.
In Hebrews 2:14 the one who holds the power of death has been declared, and clearly revealed and that is the devil. Jesus Christ took flesh and blood and shared in our humanity so that by his death he could destroy him who holds the power of death. (Loosely NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:26 clearly states, “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (KJV)
The reason there is death is stated in Romans 5:12,
“Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered the into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (NIV)
There is an escape from death and that is, in this day and time in 2009, through Jesus Christ, and specifically an adherence to the instructions given in Romans 10: 9,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved”(KJV)
1Thessalonians 4: 16, 17 paint for us a glorious future, and is a stark contrast to the ill-founded belief that death is in fact an entrance to life itself.
If death is not “really” death, but merely a passing on to something even greater than “life”, then the need for resurrection (Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the 1st & 2nd resurrections) and raising of the dead in Christ (1Thessalonians 4: 16, 17) are all unnecessary and give false hope. But this is not the case and God and Jesus Christ will have to bring all power to bear to give new life to those who have acquired it, and not only life, but everlasting life.
Neil J Bourke
1-Dec-2009
http://www.stfonline.org/resources/websites.html
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
http://www.truthortradition.com/
zondag 15 november 2009
Church in the home wednesday evenings 11/11/2009
Church in the home Wednesday evenings 11/11/2009
The gift of holy spirit
In the Netherlands this specific time of year seems to start the season for the giving and receiving of gifts. Children go from door to door singing Saint Martin songs and in exchange they get something tasty to eat. The 5th and the 25th of December are looming large as well. God has been gracious to us and made available gifts as well.
1Cor 15
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
For us, getting a gift of life has to be the greatest gift of all, since by man, Adam, came death.
Why did God make this gift available?
Romans 5
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The reason we needed the gift of live was because we had inherited death, by one man, Adam,
1Corinthians 15,
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Adam was created in the image of God, (formed out of the earth giving him a body (body), became a living soul when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (soul), and was created in Gods image, (spirit), ) here in 1 Cor 15:45 Adam is characterised as having being made a living soul, whilst Jesus, the last or second Adam was made a quickening spirit. The bible promises that we too will be made like Jesus with a new body at his appearing.
Ephesians 1
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The earnest in verse 14 means a token or a downpayment, a pledge or a deposit, until Jesus comes back and changes our bodies. The gift we have is not everlasting life itself but a promise of everlasting life.
But the question remains, what should we believe in order to be sealed with that holy spirit of promise?
Romans 10: 9 & 10 give a clear instruction on this.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Though we are now saved by “works” we still have to exert some effort in carrying out the instruction of Romans 10:9&10. This is strictly not to be confused with works, but confession and believing. Doing this will result in a wonderful transformation in the life of an individual. That person Young or old, male or feamale, free or in captivity, rich or poor, will be born again. Lets look at 1 Peter 1: 22, & 23 to get more insight on this.
1 Peter
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Born of incorruptible sed, and that seed is Christ (Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of this seed in the bible) Whereas being born of corruptible seed (our natural, flesh and blood nature inherited from our natural parents) brings with it the possibility of a natural death, but being born again of incorruptible seed gives us the pledge of everlasting life , or life in the age to come.
This being born again is a gift..
Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
We all delight in receiving Gifts, but what gift can compare to this gift of God, being saved from wrath, the curse, death, and complete destruction.
How do we know we have this pledge of life in the age to come
Acts gives us a clear guidence
Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
Speaking in tongues is the God given manifestation on the outside, of the gift on the inside.
Luke 24
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Jesus foretold of the coming comforter, holy spirit, and said that it was a promise of God that it would be available to believers, and that those who received it would be endued with power.
Acts follows on from the record in Luke and shows that the apostles were carrying out the instruction given to them.
Acts 1
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Jesus gave some instructions as to the receiving of the promise of the father, the holy spirit, which is recorded in the gospel of John
John 20
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Peter in Acts 2 states that Jesus did receive the promise of the Father and was authorised to shed this forth, and this he duely did for the First time on the day of Penetcost as recorded in Acts 2.
Acts 2
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Peter at the end of his speaking forth to those present on that day and summarises very clearly what God’s will was and is
Acts 2
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repent here can be equated with the earlier verses of Romans 10: 9, & 10, that is confessing and believing.
Luke (the author of Acts) makes the point by revelation from God, that the believers, the receivers of the promise of the Father would be baptised with holy ghost (or holy spirit) ushering in a new era distinct from the era of water baptism .
Acts 1
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
In our walk with God, we are exhorted to continue along the spiritual road that we started on when we got born again, received the holy spirit, were baptised with holy spirit, when we became endued with power from high, and in Galations this is expressed as folows..
Galations 3
2 This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
We are not to seek spiritual perfection through Works of the flesh. Sure, good works in the flesh, are a necessary part of the Christian walk, but there is a spiritual and a natural side to our lives. God wishes us to speak in tongues and operate the other manifestations of the gift of holy spirit zealously.
In Acts Peter ministered to believers who had “received the Word of God” namely they believed Romans 10:9 & 10, but they had not been led into a full experiential and practical Christian lifestyle where worshiping God in spirit plays an essential part.
Acts 8
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received (dechomai Gk.) the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive (lambano Gk.) the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received (lambano Gk.) the Holy Ghost.
What happened when Peter laid hands on them is not specifically stated here but it was so impressive that Simon (the Sorceror) wanted to pay money to the apostles to get this power.
The greek words dechomai and lambano are particularly interesting in their usage in this section of scripture.
Acts 19 records a similar experience to that of Acts 8., when Paul ministered to believers who had been baptised with the baptism of water only. The result of the ministering was that thoise ministered to spoke in tongues.
Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
This may well have been what Simon had seen and heard in the record in Actss 8.
1 Corinthians lucidly states that speaking in tongues, is for the Christian believer, a real, concrete , and tangible way of bringing the gift of holy spirit Which has been born on the inside, into manifestation on the outside.
1 Cor 12 : 3
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Amplified version:
1 Cor 12
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
Neil J Bourke, 15/Nov/2009, Almere, The Netherlands
The gift of holy spirit
In the Netherlands this specific time of year seems to start the season for the giving and receiving of gifts. Children go from door to door singing Saint Martin songs and in exchange they get something tasty to eat. The 5th and the 25th of December are looming large as well. God has been gracious to us and made available gifts as well.
1Cor 15
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
For us, getting a gift of life has to be the greatest gift of all, since by man, Adam, came death.
Why did God make this gift available?
Romans 5
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The reason we needed the gift of live was because we had inherited death, by one man, Adam,
1Corinthians 15,
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Adam was created in the image of God, (formed out of the earth giving him a body (body), became a living soul when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (soul), and was created in Gods image, (spirit), ) here in 1 Cor 15:45 Adam is characterised as having being made a living soul, whilst Jesus, the last or second Adam was made a quickening spirit. The bible promises that we too will be made like Jesus with a new body at his appearing.
Ephesians 1
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The earnest in verse 14 means a token or a downpayment, a pledge or a deposit, until Jesus comes back and changes our bodies. The gift we have is not everlasting life itself but a promise of everlasting life.
But the question remains, what should we believe in order to be sealed with that holy spirit of promise?
Romans 10: 9 & 10 give a clear instruction on this.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Though we are now saved by “works” we still have to exert some effort in carrying out the instruction of Romans 10:9&10. This is strictly not to be confused with works, but confession and believing. Doing this will result in a wonderful transformation in the life of an individual. That person Young or old, male or feamale, free or in captivity, rich or poor, will be born again. Lets look at 1 Peter 1: 22, & 23 to get more insight on this.
1 Peter
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Born of incorruptible sed, and that seed is Christ (Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of this seed in the bible) Whereas being born of corruptible seed (our natural, flesh and blood nature inherited from our natural parents) brings with it the possibility of a natural death, but being born again of incorruptible seed gives us the pledge of everlasting life , or life in the age to come.
This being born again is a gift..
Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
We all delight in receiving Gifts, but what gift can compare to this gift of God, being saved from wrath, the curse, death, and complete destruction.
How do we know we have this pledge of life in the age to come
Acts gives us a clear guidence
Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
Speaking in tongues is the God given manifestation on the outside, of the gift on the inside.
Luke 24
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Jesus foretold of the coming comforter, holy spirit, and said that it was a promise of God that it would be available to believers, and that those who received it would be endued with power.
Acts follows on from the record in Luke and shows that the apostles were carrying out the instruction given to them.
Acts 1
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Jesus gave some instructions as to the receiving of the promise of the father, the holy spirit, which is recorded in the gospel of John
John 20
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Peter in Acts 2 states that Jesus did receive the promise of the Father and was authorised to shed this forth, and this he duely did for the First time on the day of Penetcost as recorded in Acts 2.
Acts 2
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Peter at the end of his speaking forth to those present on that day and summarises very clearly what God’s will was and is
Acts 2
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repent here can be equated with the earlier verses of Romans 10: 9, & 10, that is confessing and believing.
Luke (the author of Acts) makes the point by revelation from God, that the believers, the receivers of the promise of the Father would be baptised with holy ghost (or holy spirit) ushering in a new era distinct from the era of water baptism .
Acts 1
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
In our walk with God, we are exhorted to continue along the spiritual road that we started on when we got born again, received the holy spirit, were baptised with holy spirit, when we became endued with power from high, and in Galations this is expressed as folows..
Galations 3
2 This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
We are not to seek spiritual perfection through Works of the flesh. Sure, good works in the flesh, are a necessary part of the Christian walk, but there is a spiritual and a natural side to our lives. God wishes us to speak in tongues and operate the other manifestations of the gift of holy spirit zealously.
In Acts Peter ministered to believers who had “received the Word of God” namely they believed Romans 10:9 & 10, but they had not been led into a full experiential and practical Christian lifestyle where worshiping God in spirit plays an essential part.
Acts 8
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received (dechomai Gk.) the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive (lambano Gk.) the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received (lambano Gk.) the Holy Ghost.
What happened when Peter laid hands on them is not specifically stated here but it was so impressive that Simon (the Sorceror) wanted to pay money to the apostles to get this power.
The greek words dechomai and lambano are particularly interesting in their usage in this section of scripture.
Acts 19 records a similar experience to that of Acts 8., when Paul ministered to believers who had been baptised with the baptism of water only. The result of the ministering was that thoise ministered to spoke in tongues.
Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
This may well have been what Simon had seen and heard in the record in Actss 8.
1 Corinthians lucidly states that speaking in tongues, is for the Christian believer, a real, concrete , and tangible way of bringing the gift of holy spirit Which has been born on the inside, into manifestation on the outside.
1 Cor 12 : 3
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Amplified version:
1 Cor 12
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
Neil J Bourke, 15/Nov/2009, Almere, The Netherlands
zondag 8 november 2009
Church in the home, Wednesday evenings the 28th Oct. 2009
Church in the home, Wednesday evenings the 28th Oct. 2009
Bible study guide on the truth or tradition web site..
http://www.truthortradition.com/pdf/BibleStudyGuide.pdf
sample of the contents taken from the abovementioned web site….
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the Principles and Keys of Bible Study……………………………..……5
Principles of Biblical Interpretation……………………………………………………...13
Keys to Properly Understanding the Scriptures……………………………………….…25
Errors in Transmission………………………………………………………………...…27
Errors in Translation………………………………………………………………….….33
Errors in our Understanding…………………………………………………………..…49
The Administrations In Scripture Chart…………………………………………………85
We studied some of the sections in this Bible study guide especially pages 34-38.
How the bible came to us, how it was first written is an important aspect of bible study as this gives us even more confidence in it and it’s promises, and it’s authorship.
Early Greek texts were written in uncial script, e.g. THATIFYOUCONFESSWITHYOURMOUTHJESUSISLORDANDBELIEVEI
NYOURHEARTTHATGODRAISEDHIMFROMTHEDEAD (from Romans 10:9)
Chapter divisions date from app. 350 A.D.
In the 800’s A.D. a font that used only lower case letters was developed probably to save space and valuable ink and parchment, e.g. thatifyouconfesswithyourmouththatjesusislordand thatgodraisedhimfromthedead….
Chapter divisions, verse divisions have all been introduced by man and while very useful for day to day reading and study of the bible, there are some unusual choices made which in fact divide the bible in such a way as to stem the natural flow of a topic. Examples are given in the Bible study guide. Punctuation can also aid in reading and understanding the bible. However when punctuation can make a difference between right dividing the word of truth and wrongly dividing the word of truth, then great care must be taken. An example oft quoted is the verse, Luke 23:43, when Jesus speaks to those crucified with him.
The bible study guide is freely available on the web site notes above, and I urge ye all to download it and read it for your own exhortation.
Neil J Bourke
http://www.truthortradition.com
http://www.stfonline.org
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
Bible study guide on the truth or tradition web site..
http://www.truthortradition.com/pdf/BibleStudyGuide.pdf
sample of the contents taken from the abovementioned web site….
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the Principles and Keys of Bible Study……………………………..……5
Principles of Biblical Interpretation……………………………………………………...13
Keys to Properly Understanding the Scriptures……………………………………….…25
Errors in Transmission………………………………………………………………...…27
Errors in Translation………………………………………………………………….….33
Errors in our Understanding…………………………………………………………..…49
The Administrations In Scripture Chart…………………………………………………85
We studied some of the sections in this Bible study guide especially pages 34-38.
How the bible came to us, how it was first written is an important aspect of bible study as this gives us even more confidence in it and it’s promises, and it’s authorship.
Early Greek texts were written in uncial script, e.g. THATIFYOUCONFESSWITHYOURMOUTHJESUSISLORDANDBELIEVEI
NYOURHEARTTHATGODRAISEDHIMFROMTHEDEAD (from Romans 10:9)
Chapter divisions date from app. 350 A.D.
In the 800’s A.D. a font that used only lower case letters was developed probably to save space and valuable ink and parchment, e.g. thatifyouconfesswithyourmouththatjesusislordand thatgodraisedhimfromthedead….
Chapter divisions, verse divisions have all been introduced by man and while very useful for day to day reading and study of the bible, there are some unusual choices made which in fact divide the bible in such a way as to stem the natural flow of a topic. Examples are given in the Bible study guide. Punctuation can also aid in reading and understanding the bible. However when punctuation can make a difference between right dividing the word of truth and wrongly dividing the word of truth, then great care must be taken. An example oft quoted is the verse, Luke 23:43, when Jesus speaks to those crucified with him.
The bible study guide is freely available on the web site notes above, and I urge ye all to download it and read it for your own exhortation.
Neil J Bourke
http://www.truthortradition.com
http://www.stfonline.org
http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
zaterdag 24 oktober 2009
Wednesday evenings Church in the home 21-October -2009
Title: Oh Kingdom, come.
Ps. 145: 10&11 Thy saints shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom.
Matt 3: 1-2 John the Baptist preached saying, repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt4: 8 Devil tempts Jesus with all the Kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.
Matt 4: 23 Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom.
Matt 5: 1-5 The sermon on the mount, Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth, and as for the "the poor in spirit", theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Matt6: 8-13, the "Our Father", ... thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Oh happy day, of the promise of life in the Kingdom.
Matt 6: 33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness...
Parables: about the Kingdom
Matt 13: 3-23 the sower and the seed
Matt 13: 24-30 Tares and the wheat
Matt 13: 31-32 Mustard seed
Matt 13: 33 Leaven hid in the meal
Matt 13: 44 Treasure hidden in a field
Matt 13: 45-46 Pearls of great price
Matt 13: 47-50 A fishing net cast in the sea
Acts 1: 6-8 ...wilt thou restore the Kingdom to Israel?... it is not for ye to know ...but ye shall receive power..
Acts 28: 31 Paul, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things, which concern the Lord Jesus Christ..
Colossians 1: 13 .. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.
1 Thess 4 : 17 So shall we ever be with the Lord (Jesus Christ)
Zechariah 14: 4 and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives.
Revelation 19: 11ff and I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True. ...
The saints, the children of God, those born again of incorruptible seed in this the administration of the secret, will forever be with the Lord, and the meek and poor in spirit will inherit deserved rewards in the kingdom, in both the Millennial and the eternal kingdoms. Praise the Lord that he gave himself a ransom for many, that we today can have hope in a wonderful life in a new world. Dat een nieuwe wereld komen zal, waar brood genoeg en water stroomt, voor allen. Amen.
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