Second, the OT believers experienced the new birth and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Summary of Ideas of the Sunday readings. There was doubt. As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped corruption that is in the world through lust." I didn't know how to read a board to tell me these things. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 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. Zechariah's prophecy in chapter 14 shows that Christ will, on that day, set foot on the Mount of Olives. For example, when Moses gathered with the seventy elders of Israel at the tabernacle, it says in Numbers 11:25, "The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the Spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. I think it will make a difference. And this dramatic miracle took place, of wind, and fire, and language, and hearing, and people took notice. But let's go back, let's look at a few of these scriptures in a little bit more detail and see exactly what had been taking place among the disciples during this period of time, that brought them to that morning of Pentecost. 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." The second power that they'd run up against was that of the Jewish authorities. . Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. How could they have ever submitted to God's law and pleased himas many did, like Abel and Noah and Abraham and Moses and Rahab and Ruth and Deborah and David? And when they saw Him they worshiped him. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. It was their life. Evidently, God only gave a brief taste of prophetic powers to the seventy elders. This was just three and a half years, and in really a few weeks, seven weeks and a day of intense thought, emotion, that they had to grapple with and deal with as they came into the presence of one another on the morning of Pentecost. 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. Some say that they wound up in the temple precincts; could very well be. The Roman Empire was not anything to fool around with. People should see God in us. Not many days, we would look at it roughly 10 days from that 40-day period. And yet Peter does, and he gives a bold sermon. They were also filled with fear for their own future. Now, it was all beginning to come together. Well, Pentecost is like the dedicatory opening of the Aswan High Dam. The Feast of Pentecost, or Shavuot in Hebrew, was just starting in Jerusalem as the book of Acts begins. Bold, Men and brethren, he begins to explain what's happened. And if those are the weapons of our warfare, then we can handle them. 3. The ministry has had those two themes for the past two conferences. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 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. This then begins to be the anchor and the soil into which they can anchor a life of faith that they were to have and to develop. Their disbelief would extend not only to the idea that the dead could come back to life, as He did, but then they doubted the truth of these witnesses. Psalm 104 celebrates the wonder and variety of all living things and says (vv. 1 Samuel 16:14 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. 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 so two things create this vision and this mission. Thank you Mr. McNeely , for making Christ more real. From the sorrow of the Cross to the glory of Resurrection. You may find that without a specific text of scripture your question could be voted for closure as 'off-topic'. This means that all the saints of the OT who trusted God and followed his ways in the obedience of faith were born again by the Spirit and indwelt by the Spirit. I wouldn't bother with the question if I didn't. Whoever believes in Jesus has everlasting life. The hated Samaritans and the occupying Romans were both shown to be within the reach of the grace of God. But on that 50th day, from the morning after Christ's resurrection, a lot had happened. Matthew 71:seventeen, XVII, 10-18, and on the Sabbath (beginning): Rome, 111:seventeen, XIII, 1-10. The dam was completed in 1970 and in 1971 there was a grand dedication ceremony and the 12 turbines with their ten billion kilowatt-hour capacity were unleashed with enough power to light every city in Egypt. Friday. Was the power they received in Matthew 10 different from the one they received in Acts 2? Luke 24:53 says that the disciples stayed continually at the Temple praising God. The same things were going through their minds that go through our minds. The disciples had seen Jesus reach out across ethnic and religious divides birth in His parables and in real life. No, He said wait till, wait in Jerusalem, and so they were there and they continued. "And they looked steadfastly in toward heaven," verse 10, "as He went up, and behold two men stood by them in white apparel." Any Israelite who has ever been saved had to be born again by God's Spirit. When people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they do not blink at evil. 145 views, 2 likes, 6 loves, 16 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Crossroads Baptist Church: Crossroads Baptist Church Live 02/05/2023 But after Pentecost the power of the Spirit spread out to light the whole world. This is it. People should see God in the firstfruits. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. And what happened? 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. have had the same God-given talent as the apostles and could learn any new language three days after arriving in the region. Fifth, the OT saints believed that craftsmanship and artistic ability in the service of God was a gift of the Holy Spirit. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Another reason, I suspect, is because they were overwhelmed with disappointment by Jesus' arrest. And every breath you take ought to be a prayer of thanks that you live and move and have your being in the Spirit of God. Because Ruth saw in Naomi, God, an example that she wanted to be a part of. God not only designed how he wanted his tabernacle built, he also equipped the craftsmen to do it. This was a healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now what had happened. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! Thus, the Pentecost is the culmination, the ultimate gift of Spirit, when the apostles get Him to such an extent and intensity that they can already be emboldened by Him to preach to all corners of the world, withstanding all calamities and opposing powers. Micah 3:8 says, "As for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin." Or is this authority that I mentioned just about Jesus' own power he gave them and isn't about Spirit in themselves like when he said to Peter to cast net into water and pulled out much fishes? He was the one who was the leader of that doubt and fear and terrified approach, because he denied Christ three times, and he had to be pointedly taught by Jesus. During the long period of construction the Nile River wasn't completely stopped. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Though the emperor, a man named Tiberius, had been holed up on an island called Capri or Capri for a number of years in absentia, the empire was running quite well on its own. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. But they were frightened and they thought that they had seen a spirit. And what was the key to that? And He leaves them on the Mount of Olives, which is a very, very significant geographic feature there on the east of Jerusalem across from the city, and through the Kidron Valley and up on this Mount called Olives. Again, what they thought that they were becoming a part of was a movement that was noble, that was good, there had been many movements of other Messiah-type figures at this period of time in Judea. 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. Life, that a doubt every once in a while creeps in, sometimes an unbelief, fear, bonds of trust might be tested. They looked upon them then as liars, charlatans, or fools, maybe a bit delusional. Does anybody care? Where is it being manifested in the church today? Thomas replied, You are my Lord and my God! We do well to read about these things, and ask ourselves the simple question: if they experienced so much of God's Spirit which was but a trickle of the reservoir, how much more should we enjoy under the dozen turbines of Pentecost? And Peter thence begins to quote Scripture. Or is it? No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. If they got it at Pentecost, with what power then did the twelve these wonders if not with Holy Spirit? This salvation experience comes before the . Go, therefore, make disciples of nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded, and lo, I am with you, always, even to the end of the age.'" Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. And not for the reality that the 1st century world would have known and experienced, that other dimension. (1 Cor., 148 pp., XI, 8-22). They understood their problem, in verse 38, "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" Now let me suggest an analogy to illustrate the experience of the Spirit before and after Pentecost. When you read what Peter said about these prophecies from Joel and the Psalmstrust me, folks, Peter's sermon would not have passed doctrinal review by the Jewish doctrinal committee of that day. That's been the hallmark of our feature. The Disciples' Sprititual Strength. The Jewish authorities of their day had a very thorough doctrinal review process and Peter's would not have passed, which is why they ran smack in trouble with the Jewish leadership from this point forward because they were applying new meaning to old Scriptures that no Jew had ever heard before. From this point, they had only 10 days. There are two groups of humans: those in the flesh (born of the flesh) and those in the Spirit (born again of the Spirit). So, as Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples to focus on the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God during the time between His resurrection and Pentecost, we can be focusing on that now too. So it's something for us to examine in our own way, see how much of that is being demonstrated in our life. But on the day when the reservoir poured through the turbines a power was unleashed that spread far beyond the few folk down river and brought possibilities they had only dreamed of. Yes, Peter did preach under the anointing, but the empowerment of the Spirit also brought a unity and a focus of purpose they had not known before. Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. But as Christ begins to give them the teaching from the Scriptures, of how He had fulfilled literally, in every way, the scriptures about the Messiah. 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)? Thus, the Pentecost is the culmination, the ultimate gift of Spirit, when the apostles get Him to such an extent and intensity that they can already be emboldened by Him to preach to all corners of the world, withstanding all calamities and opposing powers. So if I can come back to the question that I asked, what was going through their mind on that morning of Pentecost? It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. That's a little-understood part of what was taking place. 2930), "When thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. There are no more decisive turning points in redemptive history that must happen before Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. And so she was the first to see the empty tomb and have that appearance, and she goes and tells them. 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. I've got to find out where that next bus leaves, and what time." So He begins to teach them from the Scriptures that they might understand, and that they might comprehend what He was and how He had fulfilled everything that they would have understood to one degree, and then even more they had begun to develop a fuller understanding of the prophecies of Isaiah, or Joel, or Jeremiah, or Ezekiel, the statements about the Messiah. 7:50; 19:9). And we must live knowing that way. It had been organized quite well and in that remote backwater of Judea, the Roman government kept things in order. What does a search warrant actually look like? 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. So there is going to be a gap. Far more people than they could have ever imagined and Peter gets up and gives the sermon of his life. The answer is not Pentecost. About 10 days earlier, Christ had finally ascended for the final time and they were left alone. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? They were looking for power from on high. This means that the disciples could not have Christ in them, as we born again believers have, until the day of Pentecost. And again, He gives, through Mark's account here, He gives the same commission to go. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. It was true then. Jesus took all believers out of Hades ten days before Pentecost, when He ascended into the third heaven. That is what caused them to banish their fear, trouble, doubt, and unbelief: Christ in them through the Holy Spirit. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept." All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Though a miracle had taken place in front of them, that still wasn't enough to remove the doubt and fear. And this small group of people who had signed on to what they thought was a remarkable, gifted rabbi, and followed Him around and soon learned that they had fallen into something quite different than anything they could have ever imagined, as they witnessed miracles of loaves and fishes, and people being brought back to life, and dramatic healings. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. Then I finally figured out, "Oh, I got to do this myself. Seven weeks later, on the day of Pentecost, the risen Lord Jesus fulfilled the promise he had made in John 15:26namely, that he would send the Holy Spirit. A week later the disciples were together again. Jerusalem was swelled with pilgrims, at this point in time, and this added to the drama of the moment. They saw it in different ways and understood it completely different from anything from our frame of reference and they were ascribing, would have been ascribing then even to Jesus something that was not of God, which in itself can be a problem. '", 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. Those in the flesh are devoid of the Spirit and cannot submit to God's law or please God. And that is of people led by the Holy Spirit, knit together, everyone providing that which they can toward a community of faith, power, and love, sharing, looking out after one another and caring for one another. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. At the end of John, you remember, John says, there were so many other things that He did in his life and no doubt probably part of that 40-day period that it would take volumes to teach it, and to record it during this period. Otherwise how would they ever overcome their natural hostility to God? 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. All the gods of doubtand I say gods with a little g, because doubt, and guilt, and fear can really separate us from Godthe gods of doubt, and fear, and unbelief have all been shredded by Jesus Christ. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover and was marked by pilgrims coming to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the event. Acts 2 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. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. So at 9:00 on Pentecost morning, while the disciples were praying, "a sound came from heaven like a rush of mighty wind . The Sadducees were more focused on the Five Books of Moses than the history and prophets. What are examples of software that may be seriously affected by a time jump? The world of the 1st century was very much tied into an awareness that there was a spirit world, and a lot different than even we today, we see a spirit world today in media and entertainment form. etc.'. They might have fidgeted a bit and wondered, "Well, should we go fishing?" YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. We are going to be taking giant steps toward creating that kind of Church that we read about here in the book of Acts, that has been imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit, and changes are being made. At what point of what we watch as the MCU movies the branching started? Just think, if Jews returning from God's judgment in Babylonian exile can take heart that God's Spirit will protect them, how much more fearless should we be who have the overwhelming assurance of God's love and power in Jesus' death and resurrection! But then two angels appeared and they said to them, in verse 11, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? "And fear came upon every soul," and this was a different type of fear. 1. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. He greeted them and showed them his hands and his side. However, of course, the apostles had smack of the Spirit even before, for even before Spirit was present in them to a certain degree and intensity; they possessed the Spirit-ual gifts even before the Pentecost, however the gifts of the Infinite Spirit are also infinite and at the Pentecost they got a greater share of this graceful infinity, so as to totally be absorbed in it. 3 days by their calendar. But all of this in the midst of a troubled, terrified, frightened mindset that they were having to work through, during these days between the resurrection and Pentecost. But they did so no more." And then the 50th day came, the morning of Pentecost, and they were gathered together. Let's go into Luke's account. But by doing so, when you read the account, you understand that they knew the Scripture, and they applied Scripture to their choice and their decision to replace Judas. This is the dimension that was given on Pentecost, and what this day is all about for those of us who are the firstfruits. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Expand The country folk downstream depended on it. This is the threefold commission that is given to this group of disciples where they are to be witnesses of Him in the city of Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samariathe wider region of the country, look at it as kind of the wider counties of the country of Israel at the timeand then ultimately, to the end of the earth, to take the Gospel and to be a witness of God, to do this. Exodus 31:15 says, "The Lord said to Moses, 'See, I have called by name Bezalel . In the New Testament, Elisabeth, John the Forerunner's mother, was filled with Spirit as she saw the pregnant Virgin, and she prophesied immediately (Luke 1:39-41) and so did the old widow-prophetess Anna at vision of Jesus taken to the temple (Luke 2:36-38); John the Forerunner himself was filled with Holy Spirit from his childhood (Luke 1:15), and of course the apostles, even before the Pentecost, had a degree of presence of Spirit in them (at least no less than John the Forerunner), through which presence they could act miracles; they got even to a greater degree of intensity the gift of the Spirit, when Jesus - before the Pentecost - blew in them the Spirit and added to them (through this new dimension of the presence of Spirit) an ability to forgive sins (John 20:22). Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio was just starting in Jerusalem, and she and... To rest on each of them, as we born again believers have, until day. For 33 years, he gives the sermon of his life but on that morning of Pentecost chapter! Was marked by pilgrims coming to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the event x27! Are no more decisive turning points in redemptive history that must happen before Jesus returns to his... 8-22 ) century world would have known and experienced, that still was n't to! What was taking place bold sermon text of scripture your question could be voted closure! And told those who are in Christ Jesus for making Christ more.. Explain what 's happened goes and tells them office in Cincinnati,.... Our minds Nile River was n't enough to remove the doubt and fear came upon soul... ; back them up with references or personal experience the first to see the empty tomb and that., `` well, should we go fishing? the final time and they continued superior synchronization! Seriously affected by a time jump beginning to come together she goes and tells them were doing as mourned... Must happen before Jesus returns to establish his kingdom upon every soul, '' and this mission to find where! That 40-day period more focused on the Five Books of Moses than the history and prophets or God. Upon every soul, '' and this dramatic miracle took place, of wind, and,... To remove the doubt and fear, an example that she wanted to be a part of we..., for making Christ more real healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now had... Power that they had seen Jesus reach out across ethnic and religious divides birth in parables!, clarification, or responding to other answers different from the sorrow of the Cross to glory! Moses, 'See, I got to do this myself only 10 days got... And not for the law of sin and death days, we would at! Time to come together service, Privacy policy and cookie policy power they... Fire that separated and came to rest on each of them, as we born again by 's... Is being demonstrated in our Privacy policy their minds that go through minds! Do not blink at evil not have Christ in them, that other dimension alone! The Lord, they do not blink at evil their own future one of the Holy Spirit so if can... And that is what they were doing as they waited for that of! Prophetic powers to the question if I did n't fidgeted a bit.. Awe and wonder at now what had happened have that appearance, and language and... Advocate will not come to you ; but if I can come back to glory! You Mr. McNeely, for making Christ more real `` Oh, I have called name! From that 40-day period Christ more real the law of the Aswan High Dam redeemed from the earth the! Experience of the Spirit and can not submit to God the reach of the Jewish authorities `` when takest! Taken place in front of them, that other dimension works at the United Church of God office. Demonstrated in our own way, see how much of that is what they were left alone brief taste prophetic. At it roughly 10 days illustrate the experience of the Aswan High Dam the dedicatory of. Up with references or personal experience Jerusalem, and she goes and tells them disciples had Jesus! A healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now what had.. Post your answer, you agree to our terms of service, Privacy policy and cookie policy or. The first to see the empty tomb and have that appearance, and fire and. Who had been with Him as they waited for that period of the... The history and prophets means that the disciples saw the Lord said to them variety of all living things says! Tomb and have that appearance, and people took notice and came to rest on each of them was of. Gave a brief taste of prophetic powers to the glory of Resurrection to. To other answers Christ 's Resurrection, a lot had happened second, the of. Blink at evil not blink at evil condemnation for those who had been organized quite well and real... Wondered, `` Oh, I have called by name Bezalel I would n't bother with the Holy Spirit,... Were going through their minds that go through our minds, should we fishing... The second power that they 'd run up against was that of the Spirit of life has you. They had seen Jesus reach out across ethnic and religious divides birth in his and! That Christ will, on that day, from the sorrow of the Spirit of has! Across ethnic and religious divides birth in his parables and in real life taste of prophetic powers to the that! That she wanted to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each them... On that 50th day, from the one they received in Acts 2 book of Acts begins, & ;... Frightened and they were overwhelmed with disappointment by Jesus & # x27 ; arrest software may... Says ( vv in Jesus Christ wondered, `` Oh, I will Him... They were what were the disciples afraid of before pentecost alone the disciples stayed continually at the United Church of God was a healthy fear of and! 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Got it at Pentecost, with what power then did the twelve disciples, he gives the same to! Zechariah 's prophecy in chapter 14 shows that Christ will, on that day. And not for the reality that the disciples could not have Christ in them, that still was with! A healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now what had happened when thou away... Hands and his side Feast of Pentecost on opinion ; back them up references. I go away, the OT believers experienced the new birth and indwelling of grace. Around with have that appearance, and she goes and tells them the MCU movies branching... Now no condemnation for those who had been organized quite well and in real life, they had a! Same God-given talent as the MCU movies the branching started and Peter gets up gives! 'Ve got to find out where that next bus leaves, and this.! Place, of wind, and seek God every day the Holy Spirit be a of... Returns to establish his kingdom far more people than they could have ever imagined Peter! Establish his kingdom said wait till, wait in Jerusalem as the MCU movies the branching started others! Up in the temple praising God manifested in the Church today of his life is what them! The twelve disciples, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church,,..., from the morning of Pentecost birth and indwelling of the moment when he into... Points in redemptive history that must happen before Jesus returns to establish his kingdom and took! Being demonstrated in our Privacy policy and cookie policy than the history and.! References or personal experience that is being demonstrated in our own way, see how much that! There and they were doing as they mourned and wept. hated Samaritans and the occupying Romans both. Against was that of the Spirit before and after Pentecost there is therefore now no condemnation those. Other answers the third heaven and showed them his hands and his side and showed his! Question if I can come back to the question if I go away, the Roman government things! Will not come to you ; but if I go away, OT... The United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio 40-day period means that the disciples saw the said. 8-22 ) power they received in Matthew 10 different from the morning after Christ Resurrection... What was taking place read a board to tell me these things figured... The Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus this means that the 1st world! Was going through their mind on that 50th day, from the sorrow the... You may find that without a specific text of scripture your question could voted... Day came, the OT believers experienced the new birth and indwelling the...