Hello, friends, and welcome
to Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:35.30\00:00:37.87
here at Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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I like to welcome
our online members
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and our friends
joining us across the country
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and around the world
for our study time together,
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and also to our
members, and our visitors
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right here at the
Granite Bay Church.
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Good to see you
here this morning.
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Very excited about what
we'll begin this morning.
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We're starting a
new lesson courtly.
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The theme is on
the Book of Acts.
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And so we're going to looking
at lesson number one today.
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All about the book of Acts,
The Early Christian Church.
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This morning, we'll be
looking at lesson number one
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that's entitled You
Will Be My Witnesses.
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And we'll get to
that in a few moments.
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But before we do, we
do have a free offer.
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We'd like to let our
friends know who are watching
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on Facebook and television,
if you would like to receive
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a free copy of the book
The Holy Spirit The Need,
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all you'll have to
do is give us a call
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on our resource phone line.
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That number is 866-788-3966
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and ask for offer number 723.
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We'll be happy
to send you the book
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The Holy Spirit The Need.
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Also for those who
are watching on Facebook,
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if you would like to
get a digital download
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of the book right away,
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all you have to do is
just text the code "SH099"
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to the number 40544
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and you'll be able to get
a link to download for free
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and read the book
The Holy Spirit The Need.
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Well, before we get to
our study this morning,
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as always, we like to begin
by lifting our voices in song.
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I'd like to
invite the song leaders
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to come forward.
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We are going to sing with
you like we do every week.
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This is a beautiful song that
you'll find in your hymnal 183,
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I Will Sing of Jesus' Love.
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And we're going to
do all three stanzas.
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I will sing of Jesus' love,
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endless praise
my heart shall give.
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He has died that I might live,
I will sing His love to me.
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Join with us, 183.
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Thank you so much
for joining with us,
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and at this time, Pastor Ross
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is going to have
our opening prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven,
what a privilege to be able
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to gather to giving Your house
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on this Your day this
Sabbath, open up your Word
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and read a very
important passage
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and look at some
important principles
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that we find in that
first century church.
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And we do pray that You'd guide
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our study together this morning.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, as mentioned
just a little earlier
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in our introduction
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for our Sabbath
School this morning,
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we're starting
a brand new lesson
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courtly today dealing
with the Book of Acts.
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The Book of Acts, of course,
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is the very next book
after the four gospels.
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It describes the
early Christian church,
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and there's a
number of important lessons
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that we will find in our
study through the Book of Acts.
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As mentioned, our lesson today,
lesson number one is entitled
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You Will Be My Witnesses.
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And that's going to be
the theme of our study today.
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A little bit of background
that I think might be helpful
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before we actually get
into the lesson itself,
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a little background
about the Book of Acts.
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We know where
it is in the Bible.
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It's after the four gospels,
but what do we know about it?
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The Book of Acts covers
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basically three critical decades
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in the early Christian church.
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That time period began
with the resurrection of Jesus
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in A.D. 31
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and goes all the way through
to the first imprisonment
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in Rome by the
apostle Paul in A.D. 62.
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So the Book of
Acts is written sometime
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after A.D. 62.
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The Book of Acts does
not specifically state
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who the author is
but church tradition
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for many years has recognized
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that the author of
the Book of Acts is Luke,
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the beloved physician,
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which you can read
about it in Colossians 4:14.
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Luke was also a
travel companion of Paul
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on many of his
missionary activities.
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So he has a firsthand
account of many of the things
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that are happening in
the story recorded in Acts.
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Of course, Luke is also
the author of the third gospel,
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the one bearing his
name, the gospel of Luke.
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Now it is
interesting when you look at
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the first few
verses in Luke chapter 1
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as well as the first few
verses in Acts chapter 1.
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You'll notice some
interesting similarities
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which also gives us a
big clue as to the author,
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Luke being both the
author of Acts and Luke.
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Luke 1:1, it reads,
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"Inasmuch as many
have taken in hand
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to set in order a
narrative of these things
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which have been
fulfilled among us,
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just as those who
from the beginning
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were eye witnesses
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and ministers of the
word delivered unto us.
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It seemed good to me also
having had perfect understand
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in all things
from the very first
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to write to you
an orderly account
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most excellent Theophilus,"
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We'll talk about
it in just a minute,
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"That you might know the
certainty of these things
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which you were instructed."
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So that's the
beginning of the gospel of Luke
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and the author which
we believe to be Luke
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is writing to someone
by the name of Theophilus,
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and he is telling him
all about the life teachings
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and ministry of Jesus.
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And then if you look
at the first few verses
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of the Book of Acts,
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you'll notice something similar.
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Verse 1 says, "The
former account I made,
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"O Theophilus," Same person,
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"Of all that Jesus
began both to do and to teach
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until the day in
which He was taken up."
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And then he goes onto talk
about the ascension of Jesus
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in Acts chapter 1
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and how the gospel
went out to the world
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during those first centuries.
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So we understand that
Luke was both the author
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of the gospel of Luke as
well as the Book of Acts.
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Who is Theophilus?
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Well, not much is said
about Theophilus other than
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what we have in these
two passages of scripture.
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But the word
Theophilus is a Greek name
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which means friend of God.
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And it is
believed that Theophilus
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was a Greek
convert to Christianity
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and also a very
good friend of Luke.
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Luke, of course,
was also a gentile.
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And so Luke writes both
about the gospel of Jesus
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and then also the formation
of the first century church,
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and he addresses it to
his good friend Theophilus.
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Now if you take the Book of Luke
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as well as the Book of
Acts and you put it together,
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you'll find that those two books
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comprise 27% of
the New Testament.
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That is the largest contribution
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of any single author
in the New Testament.
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Paul refers to Luke
as a gentile coworker,
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and he is the only non-Jew
to be an author of a portion
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of the New Testament.
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Now it's interesting to note
that the largest amount of work
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by a single author in the
New Testament is a non-Jew,
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it's Luke.
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Now it's not by chance
then that Luke's main hero
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in the Book of
Acts is the Apostle Paul
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because Paul refers to himself
as the apostle to the gentiles.
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Luke was a gentile.
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Almost two-thirds
of the Book of Acts
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is dedicated to
the missionary activity
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of the Apostle Paul.
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Now in addition to
talking about the Apostle Paul
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and his missionary work,
00:10:04.03\00:10:05.20
there are also three
very important themes
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that keep repeating
in the Book of Acts.
00:10:07.37\00:10:10.24
The one is the
sovereignty of God
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and His divine purpose.
00:10:12.47\00:10:14.51
The second is the
exultation of Jesus
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as both Lord and Savior.
00:10:17.85\00:10:20.82
And the third,
very important one,
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is the role of the
Holy Spirit in empowering
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and guiding the
church for mission.
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So the Book of Acts
is in essence the story
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of those who were
originally called by Christ
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to take the gospel to the world.
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And the question that
we're going to be looking at
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both today and
through the next coming weeks
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as we study the Book of Acts,
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we're going to
be asking ourselves
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what can we...
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We believe we're the
ones that are called by God
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in the final days
of the earth's history
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to take the gospel to the world,
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what can we in these last
days learn from the experience
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of those back at the
beginning of the Christian era?
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What lessons do
we learn from them
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that we can apply to ourselves?
00:11:02.89\00:11:05.29
Well, with that
as our background,
00:11:05.29\00:11:06.59
let's go to our first lesson.
00:11:06.59\00:11:09.73
As mentioned, it's entitled
You Will Be My Witnesses.
00:11:09.73\00:11:13.47
And you'll see we
have a memory text
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right there on
the top of the page.
00:11:15.27\00:11:18.17
And it's Acts 1:8.
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I'm going to read it
right out of the lesson courtly,
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it says, "You will receive power
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when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you,
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and you'll be my
witnesses in Jerusalem,
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in all Judea, in Samaria,
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and unto the ends of the earth."
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Now who spoke these words?
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If you look in your Bible,
it's in red ink, isn't it?
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It's the words of Jesus.
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Jesus is giving
a great commission
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to His disciples.
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In essence, it's a
repeat of the great commission
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that you can read in Matthew 28,
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worded a little bit differently,
00:11:49.24\00:11:50.91
but Jesus says, "You
ought to be My witnesses."
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He says to His disciples,
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start with those nearest to you.
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When Jesus gave
them the great commission
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or said these words,
00:11:59.48\00:12:00.72
He was on the Mount of Olives
just before his ascension.
00:12:00.72\00:12:03.39
The Mount of
Olives is right across
00:12:03.39\00:12:05.02
from the Kidron
Valley to Jerusalem,
00:12:05.02\00:12:07.72
the disciples
then went to Jerusalem
00:12:07.72\00:12:09.42
and they were
spending time in prayer
00:12:09.42\00:12:11.09
and the Holy
Spirit came upon them.
00:12:11.09\00:12:12.86
Then they began to
witness first in Jerusalem
00:12:12.86\00:12:15.50
and then the area
surrounding Jerusalem
00:12:15.50\00:12:17.80
which would be Judea,
00:12:17.80\00:12:20.70
and then they
went a little further
00:12:20.70\00:12:21.87
north to the area of Samaria,
00:12:21.87\00:12:23.84
and then from
there, around the world,
00:12:23.84\00:12:26.81
being faithful to the commission
00:12:26.81\00:12:28.18
given to them by Christ.
00:12:28.18\00:12:31.25
So now Acts
chapter 1 re-quotes for us
00:12:31.25\00:12:33.72
the final instructions
00:12:33.72\00:12:35.12
that Jesus gave
to His disciples.
00:12:35.12\00:12:38.45
And something
that was very important
00:12:38.45\00:12:40.22
to the disciples was a
promise that Jesus gave them.
00:12:40.22\00:12:43.96
He said that, "You
shall receive power
00:12:43.96\00:12:46.19
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you."
00:12:46.19\00:12:49.03
So the disciples then
returned back to Jerusalem,
00:12:49.03\00:12:52.00
and they are in earnest prayer
asking for the Holy Spirit
00:12:52.00\00:12:55.80
in order to go forth
00:12:55.80\00:12:57.41
and be the witnesses
that Jesus wants them to be,
00:12:57.41\00:13:01.18
to take the
gospel to all the world.
00:13:01.18\00:13:03.98
And of course that
first century church,
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.78
they were not the only ones
00:13:06.78\00:13:07.85
who were given
the great commission
00:13:07.85\00:13:09.05
to take the gospel to the world
00:13:09.05\00:13:10.52
but we find in the
Book of Revelation a remnant
00:13:10.52\00:13:12.92
who have a special message
to take the everlasting gospel
00:13:12.92\00:13:16.73
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:13:16.73\00:13:20.13
And where do we find that
end-time gospel commission?
00:13:20.13\00:13:24.40
In Revelation 14.
00:13:24.40\00:13:26.27
We might even touch
on that a little later
00:13:26.27\00:13:27.60
in our study today.
00:13:27.60\00:13:29.20
It's interesting,
note the word gospel.
00:13:29.20\00:13:30.71
What does the word
gospel mean? It means good news.
00:13:30.71\00:13:35.51
Did the disciples have good news
00:13:35.51\00:13:36.88
to take to the world?
00:13:36.88\00:13:38.21
Absolutely. Jesus had come.
00:13:38.21\00:13:41.28
He had provided
a perfect sacrifice
00:13:41.28\00:13:44.05
that could atone for our sins.
00:13:44.05\00:13:46.15
Good news that Jesus is
our high priest ministering
00:13:46.15\00:13:49.39
in the heavenly sanctuary,
00:13:49.39\00:13:50.43
good news that
Jesus was to come back
00:13:50.43\00:13:53.33
and claim His own.
00:13:53.33\00:13:54.96
Good news brought hope,
00:13:54.96\00:13:56.50
brought power to
people around the world.
00:13:56.50\00:13:59.17
And we still have that
good news to take to the world.
00:13:59.17\00:14:03.24
Now Sunday's lesson is entitled
The Restoration of Israel.
00:14:03.24\00:14:07.84
There are two kinds
of messianic prophecies
00:14:07.84\00:14:10.81
that we find in
the Old Testament.
00:14:10.81\00:14:13.18
The one is a kingly messiah
00:14:13.18\00:14:15.62
who would rule on
the throne of David
00:14:15.62\00:14:17.29
and liberate
Israel from the enemies.
00:14:17.29\00:14:19.89
But the Old Testament
also portrays a servant messiah
00:14:19.89\00:14:23.22
or a suffering
messiah who would come
00:14:23.22\00:14:25.89
and save his
people from their sins
00:14:25.89\00:14:27.76
through his atoning sacrifice.
00:14:27.76\00:14:30.77
Now which of those
two ideas of messiah
00:14:30.77\00:14:32.73
do you think the Jews preferred?
00:14:32.73\00:14:35.70
Well, without a doubt,
they liked the kingly messiah.
00:14:35.70\00:14:38.47
They wanted Jesus to
come and liberate them
00:14:38.47\00:14:40.71
from their enemies, the Romans.
00:14:40.71\00:14:42.61
They wanted a messiah
00:14:42.61\00:14:43.75
who would rule on
the throne of David
00:14:43.75\00:14:45.65
and turn Israel back
into that glorious nation
00:14:45.65\00:14:49.05
during the time of
Solomon and the time of David.
00:14:49.05\00:14:51.65
They were looking
for an earthly messiah,
00:14:51.65\00:14:53.66
someone who would
make their lives better
00:14:53.66\00:14:56.26
here on the earth.
00:14:56.26\00:14:58.23
But Jesus, when He
came the first time,
00:14:58.23\00:15:00.33
He came not as kingly messiah
00:15:00.33\00:15:02.40
but He came as a
suffering messiah.
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.33
He came to provide
a means of salvation.
00:15:04.33\00:15:07.14
When Jesus began
His earthly ministry,
00:15:07.14\00:15:08.97
He would often say repent,
00:15:08.97\00:15:10.71
this is also something
that John the Baptist said,
00:15:10.71\00:15:12.57
"Repent for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand."
00:15:12.57\00:15:16.24
Well, just the words the kingdom
00:15:16.24\00:15:18.25
made a lot of people excited,
00:15:18.25\00:15:19.91
and they had these
grand visions of glory
00:15:19.91\00:15:22.02
when Israel would be
this great nation once again,
00:15:22.02\00:15:25.52
and they would have
all their needs met,
00:15:25.52\00:15:27.52
and they wouldn't
have any of the enemies
00:15:27.52\00:15:29.22
oppressing them.
00:15:29.22\00:15:30.69
But then Jesus
goes on to explain
00:15:30.69\00:15:32.59
what exactly He
means when He says,
00:15:32.59\00:15:34.30
"The kingdom is at hand."
00:15:34.30\00:15:36.06
There are two
phases to the kingdom.
00:15:36.06\00:15:38.83
The first is what we
call the kingdom of grace.
00:15:38.83\00:15:41.50
Jesus came to
establish a kingdom of grace
00:15:41.50\00:15:44.71
here on this earth
through His sacrifice,
00:15:44.71\00:15:47.18
through the work
that He came to do.
00:15:47.18\00:15:48.88
But the Bible also
speaks of the kingdom of glory
00:15:48.88\00:15:51.71
that Jesus
directed His disciples
00:15:51.71\00:15:53.62
to look towards for the future,
00:15:53.62\00:15:55.75
a kingdom of glory
that is yet to come.
00:15:55.75\00:15:58.39
In the Lord's prayer,
"Thy will be done on earth
00:15:58.39\00:16:00.72
as it is done in heaven.
00:16:00.72\00:16:02.32
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done."
00:16:02.32\00:16:05.46
That is a
future kingdom of glory
00:16:05.46\00:16:08.06
that the followers of
Christ were to look towards.
00:16:08.06\00:16:11.23
Now Jesus, of
course, was very clear
00:16:11.23\00:16:13.20
on these two
phases of messiahship,
00:16:13.20\00:16:16.30
the kingly phase
which would follow
00:16:16.30\00:16:18.47
after the servant phase.
00:16:18.47\00:16:20.48
We can actually
read in Luke 17:24, 25,
00:16:20.48\00:16:25.51
these are words of Jesus
00:16:25.51\00:16:26.72
and He's trying to help
His disciples understand
00:16:26.72\00:16:28.75
the nature of His mission.
00:16:28.75\00:16:31.12
And it begins in verse
24, it says, Christ speaking,
00:16:31.12\00:16:34.32
"For as lightning that flashes
00:16:34.32\00:16:35.82
out of one part under the heaven
00:16:35.82\00:16:37.29
shines onto the
other part under heaven,
00:16:37.29\00:16:39.96
so also the Son of
Man will be in his day."
00:16:39.96\00:16:44.93
Now what phase
of Christ' ministry
00:16:44.93\00:16:46.97
is Jesus referring to?
00:16:46.97\00:16:48.27
Is He referring to
His suffering phase
00:16:48.27\00:16:50.57
or His kingly phase?
00:16:50.57\00:16:52.41
Clearly His kingly phase, right?
00:16:52.41\00:16:53.91
He's talking about the
second coming of Jesus,
00:16:53.91\00:16:55.84
Jesus comes as King of
kings and Lord of lords.
00:16:55.84\00:16:58.81
The very next verse
however, Jesus references
00:16:58.81\00:17:01.72
His suffering phase in verse 25,
00:17:01.72\00:17:04.72
He says, "But first,
He," speaking of Christ,
00:17:04.72\00:17:07.32
the messiah,
"Must suffer many things
00:17:07.32\00:17:10.06
and be rejected
by this generation."
00:17:10.06\00:17:13.03
So yes, Jesus recognized
His kingly messiahship
00:17:13.03\00:17:16.43
but He was trying to direct
the attention of disciples
00:17:16.43\00:17:18.90
to His suffering
messiahship first
00:17:18.90\00:17:22.04
and the work that
Jesus had come to do.
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.91
On the road to Emmaus,
00:17:24.91\00:17:25.97
following the
crucifixion of Jesus,
00:17:25.97\00:17:28.58
early Sunday morning,
there were two disciples
00:17:28.58\00:17:31.01
that were
walking back to Emmaus.
00:17:31.01\00:17:32.58
There were some
reports that they had received
00:17:32.58\00:17:34.88
that the tomb was empty
00:17:34.88\00:17:35.95
and there was a lot of confusion
00:17:35.95\00:17:37.69
as to what had
happened to Jesus.
00:17:37.69\00:17:39.95
And the two disciples
were on their way back
00:17:39.95\00:17:41.59
to their home village of Emmaus,
00:17:41.59\00:17:43.86
and while they were walking,
they were discussing the things
00:17:43.86\00:17:46.06
that had taken place
that very weekend before.
00:17:46.06\00:17:49.13
And while they were walking,
00:17:49.13\00:17:50.23
a stranger fell
into step with them.
00:17:50.23\00:17:53.10
Of course, the Bible
tells us who that stranger was.
00:17:53.10\00:17:55.80
It was Jesus.
00:17:55.80\00:17:57.41
And as the two were
walking discussing being sad,
00:17:57.41\00:18:00.18
Jesus asked them, He
said, "Why are you so sad?"
00:18:00.18\00:18:03.45
Now what manner of
conversation is this?
00:18:03.45\00:18:06.61
Disciples turn to Jesus,
they don't recognize Jesus,
00:18:06.61\00:18:09.18
but they say,
00:18:09.18\00:18:10.22
"Are you the only
stranger in Jerusalem?
00:18:10.22\00:18:12.95
Don't you know what's happened?"
00:18:12.95\00:18:15.12
And Jesus said, "What
things? What happened?"
00:18:15.12\00:18:17.79
They begin to explain
how that Jesus of Nazareth
00:18:17.79\00:18:20.10
whom they believed to be
00:18:20.10\00:18:21.60
a prophet amongst
them was crucified.
00:18:21.60\00:18:25.50
And now there were
rumors that tomb was empty.
00:18:25.50\00:18:27.80
Some have said He's
risen from the death,
00:18:27.80\00:18:29.60
and they were all confused,
00:18:29.60\00:18:30.84
and they didn't
quite know what to believe.
00:18:30.84\00:18:32.77
And then Jesus said to
them, "O fools, slow of heart
00:18:32.77\00:18:35.54
to believe everything
that the prophets have spoken."
00:18:35.54\00:18:38.58
And then you find in Luke 24:25,
00:18:38.58\00:18:41.25
Jesus said, "O foolish ones,
00:18:41.25\00:18:43.79
slow of heart to believe all
that the prophets have spoken,
00:18:43.79\00:18:46.05
ought not the Christ to
had suffered these things
00:18:46.05\00:18:49.49
and then to end to his glory."
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.83
So Jesus began
to explain to them
00:18:52.83\00:18:55.00
these various
messianic prophecies
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.10
and how they would
relate to the suffering phase
00:18:57.10\00:18:59.37
and then follow it
by the glory phase.
00:18:59.37\00:19:02.74
Now a lesson for us today,
00:19:02.74\00:19:05.04
if you look at
the life of Jesus,
00:19:05.04\00:19:06.24
the suffering phase came first
followed by the glory phase.
00:19:06.24\00:19:10.75
The disciples of
Jesus need to recognize
00:19:10.75\00:19:13.42
that the suffering comes
first followed by the glory.
00:19:13.42\00:19:18.25
When someone becomes
a follower of Christ,
00:19:18.25\00:19:20.42
it doesn't mean that
your life necessarily
00:19:20.42\00:19:22.76
is free of
trials or difficulties
00:19:22.76\00:19:24.96
or that you might
not have any sufferings.
00:19:24.96\00:19:27.66
We live in a world
that is filled with
00:19:27.66\00:19:29.20
sin, sorrow, pain,
and yes, even death.
00:19:29.20\00:19:32.77
Yes, there is a time of trial,
there is a testing of our faith
00:19:32.77\00:19:36.54
there is a suffering
that must come first,
00:19:36.54\00:19:39.51
but Christ has promised
us that He will come again.
00:19:39.51\00:19:43.38
And when He comes
again, these mortal bodies
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.38
will put on immortality,
and there'd be no more pain,
00:19:45.38\00:19:47.85
no more sorrow, no more death,
00:19:47.85\00:19:49.92
forever we'll be with Him
and with those that love Him.
00:19:49.92\00:19:53.76
So don't get discouraged
in your Christian experience
00:19:53.76\00:19:56.29
if you experience some suffering
00:19:56.29\00:19:59.09
or if trials come your way.
00:19:59.09\00:20:01.13
Recognize that Jesus went
through the same experience,
00:20:01.13\00:20:04.93
but there is a
promise of a glorious tomorrow
00:20:04.93\00:20:08.17
when Jesus comes again.
00:20:08.17\00:20:10.27
You see, this
world is not our home,
00:20:10.27\00:20:11.61
we're just passing through.
00:20:11.61\00:20:13.61
Our treasures are laid up
somewhere beyond the blue.
00:20:13.61\00:20:17.88
Now the hope of
the Jewish people
00:20:17.88\00:20:19.88
was for a kingly messiah.
00:20:19.88\00:20:21.32
That's what they longed for.
00:20:21.32\00:20:23.08
They wanted someone
who would deliver them
00:20:23.08\00:20:24.89
from their
adversary, the Romans.
00:20:24.89\00:20:27.02
Even John the Baptist
did not quite understand
00:20:27.02\00:20:30.16
at first the
nature of the kingdom
00:20:30.16\00:20:32.53
that Jesus had
come to establish,
00:20:32.53\00:20:34.30
even though John the
Baptist under the inspiration
00:20:34.30\00:20:36.16
of the Holy
Spirit pointed to Jesus
00:20:36.16\00:20:38.27
there on the banks
of the Jordan river
00:20:38.27\00:20:39.67
and said,
"Behold the lamb of God
00:20:39.67\00:20:41.54
that takes away
the sins of the world."
00:20:41.54\00:20:43.67
John was also to some degree
00:20:43.67\00:20:45.64
sharing the hope
of the Jewish people
00:20:45.64\00:20:48.34
that the messiah would
rule from the throne of David,
00:20:48.34\00:20:52.25
establish the nation
of Israel once again.
00:20:52.25\00:20:55.82
After John the
Baptist was arrested by Herod
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.05
and placed in prison,
00:20:59.05\00:21:01.02
he began to hear a
little bit about the work
00:21:01.02\00:21:03.56
that Jesus was doing.
00:21:03.56\00:21:05.69
How that He was
going from place to place
00:21:05.69\00:21:07.13
and teaching and
healing the sick and so on.
00:21:07.13\00:21:10.23
He began to hear
that Jesus didn't seem
00:21:10.23\00:21:12.80
to be too interested
00:21:12.80\00:21:14.04
in establishing
Himself as king in Israel.
00:21:14.04\00:21:18.44
A few doubts came to the
mind of John the Baptist.
00:21:18.44\00:21:21.74
So finally, he sent two of
his disciples over to Jesus,
00:21:21.74\00:21:25.11
and they had this
simple question from John,
00:21:25.11\00:21:27.42
"Are you the one or
should we look for another?"
00:21:27.42\00:21:31.82
He began to wonder
is Jesus the messiah
00:21:31.82\00:21:33.89
'cause He's not
establishing Himself as king.
00:21:33.89\00:21:36.56
Well, Jesus doesn't answer
those two disciples immediately
00:21:36.56\00:21:39.89
but rather He invites them
to spend some time with Him.
00:21:39.89\00:21:42.80
And they
witness that Jesus opens
00:21:42.80\00:21:44.30
that eyes of the blind,
00:21:44.30\00:21:45.63
and how the lame
are able to walk,
00:21:45.63\00:21:48.00
and how the gospel
is preached to the poor,
00:21:48.00\00:21:52.14
even how the
dead are being raised.
00:21:52.14\00:21:54.51
And then after
spending some time with Jesus,
00:21:54.51\00:21:56.58
Jesus then
turns to the disciples
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.51
and says, "Go back and tell John
00:21:58.51\00:22:00.35
everything that you've seen
00:22:00.35\00:22:02.62
and everything
that you've heard."
00:22:02.62\00:22:04.82
And the two
disciples make their way back
00:22:04.82\00:22:06.42
to the prison to tell John
00:22:06.42\00:22:07.92
everything that they had
witnessed concerning Jesus.
00:22:07.92\00:22:10.39
And while the two
disciples were heading away,
00:22:10.39\00:22:12.63
Jesus turned to the crowd
that had gathered around Him,
00:22:12.63\00:22:14.86
and He said, "What did you
go into the wilderness to see?
00:22:14.86\00:22:17.83
A reed shaken by the wind?
00:22:17.83\00:22:20.70
What did you go in
the wilderness to see?
00:22:20.70\00:22:22.00
A man dressed in fine apparel?"
00:22:22.00\00:22:25.07
Jesus said those
wearing fine apparel,
00:22:25.07\00:22:26.81
they belong in palaces.
00:22:26.81\00:22:28.94
"What did you go
in the wilderness
00:22:28.94\00:22:30.08
to see a prophet and yeah,
I say more than a prophet?"
00:22:30.08\00:22:34.22
"For of all of
those born unto woman,
00:22:34.22\00:22:36.12
there is not a risen one
greater than John the Baptist."
00:22:36.12\00:22:40.99
Even though John the
Baptist had some doubts at times
00:22:40.99\00:22:44.26
as to why he was suffering,
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.19
why he was going through trials,
00:22:46.19\00:22:48.23
Jesus still recognized
John the Baptist as one of His.
00:22:48.23\00:22:52.67
He recognized John the Baptist
as having a very important work
00:22:52.67\00:22:56.64
in the ministry that
Jesus had come to do.
00:22:56.64\00:22:59.91
We might go through
trials and difficulties
00:22:59.91\00:23:02.04
and sometimes we
might even question,
00:23:02.04\00:23:03.81
"Lord, why are You
allowing this to happen to us?"
00:23:03.81\00:23:06.25
It doesn't mean
God doesn't love us.
00:23:06.25\00:23:08.82
It doesn't mean that
we're not followers of Christ.
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.65
But it does mean that
we need to have endurance,
00:23:11.65\00:23:14.36
and patience, and faith,
and hold onto the promises
00:23:14.36\00:23:17.96
that God has given us.
00:23:17.96\00:23:19.83
Although two disciples went back
00:23:19.83\00:23:21.10
and told John the Baptist
00:23:21.10\00:23:22.16
everything that
they had seen and heard
00:23:22.16\00:23:23.77
and that
strengthened John's faith,
00:23:23.77\00:23:27.17
and he was faithful,
00:23:27.17\00:23:28.74
believing in
Christ to be the messiah
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.44
all the way up till his death.
00:23:30.44\00:23:33.24
Now despite Jesus's
warnings to the disciples
00:23:33.24\00:23:36.41
that He was to suffer and die,
00:23:36.41\00:23:38.91
the disciples did not understand
00:23:38.91\00:23:41.45
what Jesus was really saying.
00:23:41.45\00:23:43.75
Their minds were clouded
with these visions of grandeur,
00:23:43.75\00:23:47.12
a kingly messiah.
00:23:47.12\00:23:48.82
As a matter of fact,
they were even arguing
00:23:48.82\00:23:50.13
amongst
themselves as to who would be
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.63
the greatest in the kingdom
00:23:51.63\00:23:53.19
that they thought
Jesus was soon to establish.
00:23:53.19\00:23:56.67
They didn't quite understand
the nature of Christ kingdom
00:23:56.67\00:23:58.93
even after the resurrection.
00:23:58.93\00:24:01.14
They didn't fully
understand Christ's mission.
00:24:01.14\00:24:03.71
As a matter of
fact, we have somebody
00:24:03.71\00:24:04.77
that's going to
read for us Acts 1:6.
00:24:04.77\00:24:07.84
Now this is
after the resurrection,
00:24:07.84\00:24:10.11
disciples are
asking Jesus a question.
00:24:10.11\00:24:13.08
"Therefore, when
they had come together,
00:24:13.08\00:24:15.48
they ask Him saying,
'Lord, will You, at this time,
00:24:15.48\00:24:18.99
restore the kingdom to Israel?'"
00:24:18.99\00:24:21.46
So there you can
see the disciples,
00:24:21.46\00:24:22.86
this is even
after the resurrection,
00:24:22.86\00:24:24.26
they thought, "Okay,
now the time has come
00:24:24.26\00:24:26.39
and Jesus has
provided a sacrifice for sins
00:24:26.39\00:24:28.43
and now the time has
come for Him to establish
00:24:28.43\00:24:30.43
an earthly
kingdom, and to be king,
00:24:30.43\00:24:33.27
and restore Israel
back to its former glory."
00:24:33.27\00:24:36.24
Well, Jesus does not answer them
00:24:36.24\00:24:38.61
too directly with reference
to when the kingdom would come,
00:24:38.61\00:24:41.84
but He does
answer them in verse 7,
00:24:41.84\00:24:44.45
"And He said unto them,
00:24:44.45\00:24:45.51
'It is not for
you to know the times
00:24:45.51\00:24:47.55
and the seasons
which the Father has put
00:24:47.55\00:24:49.85
under His own authority."
00:24:49.85\00:24:51.62
And He goes on to
talk about their mission,
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.25
"You'll receive power
00:24:53.25\00:24:54.32
and you ought to
be My witnesses."
00:24:54.32\00:24:56.09
You know, even
today, there are individuals
00:24:56.09\00:24:58.73
even in the Christian community
00:24:58.73\00:25:00.10
that have misunderstood
the nature of the ministry,
00:25:00.10\00:25:03.13
the work that Jesus is doing.
00:25:03.13\00:25:05.63
There has been no end of
those who have tried to predict
00:25:05.63\00:25:09.50
when the kingdom
of glory is to come.
00:25:09.50\00:25:12.17
People have tried to
predict when Jesus would come.
00:25:12.17\00:25:15.48
And time and time again,
they have been disappointed.
00:25:15.48\00:25:18.48
And Jesus says, "No man
knows the day or the hour
00:25:18.48\00:25:21.08
when Christ will come."
00:25:21.08\00:25:22.15
So it's not for us
to try and speculate
00:25:22.15\00:25:24.05
when Jesus will come
rather what we ought to do
00:25:24.05\00:25:27.29
is to do the work that
Jesus has revealed to us.
00:25:27.29\00:25:30.93
There are truths in scripture
that are clear and plain,
00:25:30.93\00:25:34.83
and we ought to
take those truths
00:25:34.83\00:25:36.20
and do our very
best to be faithful
00:25:36.20\00:25:38.13
to the mission
given to us by our Lord
00:25:38.13\00:25:40.44
and not
speculate in these things
00:25:40.44\00:25:42.40
that the Bible has not revealed.
00:25:42.40\00:25:45.64
And now the
disciples were not alone
00:25:45.64\00:25:48.14
and their misunderstanding
of this important time period
00:25:48.14\00:25:51.65
when the kingdom
of glory would come.
00:25:51.65\00:25:53.92
As mentioned, there
are many even today making
00:25:53.92\00:25:55.72
all kinds of predictions.
00:25:55.72\00:25:57.32
But the question
that we're asking
00:25:57.32\00:25:58.95
when studying
through the Book of Acts,
00:25:58.95\00:26:00.69
"What does their
experience teach us today
00:26:00.69\00:26:04.76
with reference
to our experience?"
00:26:04.76\00:26:07.23
A little closer to
home with reference
00:26:07.23\00:26:08.93
to the Adventist movement
00:26:08.93\00:26:10.70
and the Seventh-day
Adventist denomination,
00:26:10.70\00:26:12.87
in the early 1800s,
00:26:12.87\00:26:14.14
there were a group of believers,
00:26:14.14\00:26:15.67
who based upon their study
00:26:15.67\00:26:16.91
of the prophecies
of Daniel chapter 8,
00:26:16.91\00:26:19.64
some of the
prophecies of Revelation,
00:26:19.64\00:26:22.01
came to the conclusion
that the kingdom of glory,
00:26:22.01\00:26:24.91
Christ's second
coming would take place
00:26:24.91\00:26:27.62
at the end of the 2,300 days,
Daniel 8:14, "After 2,300 days,
00:26:27.62\00:26:32.85
then the sanctuary
shall be cleansed."
00:26:32.85\00:26:35.62
And based upon their
study of the Book of Daniel,
00:26:35.62\00:26:38.63
they did some math
and they figured out
00:26:38.63\00:26:40.43
in Daniel chapter 9
00:26:40.43\00:26:41.86
that the
beginning of the 2,300 days
00:26:41.86\00:26:43.80
would be with decree to restore
and we build Jerusalem in 457.
00:26:43.80\00:26:47.80
And they calculated the
math and it came to 1844.
00:26:47.80\00:26:52.21
They read the
verse, "After 2,300 days,
00:26:52.21\00:26:54.24
then the sanctuary
shall be cleansed,"
00:26:54.24\00:26:56.58
they thought the
sanctuary was the earth,
00:26:56.58\00:27:00.12
and the
cleansing of the sanctuary
00:27:00.12\00:27:01.78
would be by fire
00:27:01.78\00:27:03.02
when Jesus comes
back the second time.
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.42
Thus, the kingdom of glory
00:27:05.42\00:27:06.89
would come at the
end of the 2,300 days.
00:27:06.89\00:27:10.83
But Jesus did not
come back in 1844.
00:27:10.83\00:27:14.30
Just like the disciples
who were looking forward
00:27:14.30\00:27:16.90
to the establishment
of the kingdom of glory
00:27:16.90\00:27:19.53
during their time
00:27:19.53\00:27:21.40
saw those early
Adventist believers
00:27:21.40\00:27:23.14
were looking for
the establishment
00:27:23.14\00:27:24.54
of the kingdom of glory.
00:27:24.54\00:27:25.94
They didn't quite understand
a special ministry and work
00:27:25.94\00:27:30.95
that Jesus was to
do for them in heaven
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.85
before He comes
back as King of kings
00:27:33.85\00:27:35.85
and Lord of lords.
00:27:35.85\00:27:37.85
Just like the disciples
didn't truly understand
00:27:37.85\00:27:40.29
the nature of the work
00:27:40.29\00:27:42.26
that Jesus was about
to do in heaven for them
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.53
until after, He ascended up
00:27:44.53\00:27:46.53
and the Holy
Spirit came upon them.
00:27:46.53\00:27:48.16
So this group of believers
didn't fully understand
00:27:48.16\00:27:51.53
their mission in taking
00:27:51.53\00:27:53.44
the Three Angels'
messages to the world
00:27:53.44\00:27:55.70
until after they had gone
through that disappointment.
00:27:55.70\00:27:58.81
As a matter of fact, this
is such an important point
00:27:58.81\00:28:00.74
in history that
there is an entire chapter
00:28:00.74\00:28:03.75
in the Book of Revelation
dedicated to this experience
00:28:03.75\00:28:07.82
of the early
Advent believers in 1844.
00:28:07.82\00:28:11.32
You find that in
Revelation chapter 10.
00:28:11.32\00:28:14.22
That's a fascinating study.
00:28:14.22\00:28:15.86
We don't have time to
go into all of the details,
00:28:15.86\00:28:17.79
I want to just
quickly give you an overview
00:28:17.79\00:28:19.76
so I can draw out a lesson
00:28:19.76\00:28:21.13
that I think we
need to recognize today,
00:28:21.13\00:28:23.37
a lesson that we can learn
00:28:23.37\00:28:24.43
from the
experience of the disciples
00:28:24.43\00:28:25.77
back in the first century.
00:28:25.77\00:28:28.74
Revelation chapter
10 talks about an angel
00:28:28.74\00:28:31.14
coming down from heaven.
00:28:31.14\00:28:32.84
And the angel has a little
book that is open in his hand,
00:28:32.84\00:28:36.01
and he sets his
one foot upon the earth
00:28:36.01\00:28:37.71
and his other foot upon the sea.
00:28:37.71\00:28:39.78
And then he lifts
his hand towards heaven
00:28:39.78\00:28:41.62
and swears by him that
lives forever and forever
00:28:41.62\00:28:44.32
who made the
heavens and the things
00:28:44.32\00:28:45.72
that are in the earth
00:28:45.72\00:28:46.79
and the things
that are in the sea
00:28:46.79\00:28:48.22
and the things
that are there in...
00:28:48.22\00:28:49.62
That there should
be time no longer.
00:28:49.62\00:28:52.63
But at the sounding
of the seventh trumpet,
00:28:52.63\00:28:54.46
when it shall begin to sound,
00:28:54.46\00:28:56.56
then the mystery of
God will be revealed
00:28:56.56\00:28:59.10
as He has
declared unto His servants,
00:28:59.10\00:29:00.74
the prophets.
00:29:00.74\00:29:02.34
And then John hears a
voice, a voice from heaven
00:29:02.34\00:29:05.24
that tells him to go
and take the little book
00:29:05.24\00:29:07.11
which is open in
the hand of the angel.
00:29:07.11\00:29:09.51
And John was to eat the book.
00:29:09.51\00:29:12.05
The book would be
sweet in his mouth,
00:29:12.05\00:29:13.98
but as soon as he
swallows the book,
00:29:13.98\00:29:15.88
it will make his stomach bitter.
00:29:15.88\00:29:18.55
Are some of you
familiar with that prophecy?
00:29:18.55\00:29:21.19
Now what's that
prophecy all about?
00:29:21.19\00:29:22.72
Well, the angel
coming down from heaven
00:29:22.72\00:29:24.26
represents a heaven-sent message
00:29:24.26\00:29:26.93
that is coming to the earth.
00:29:26.93\00:29:28.66
The little book
that's open in the hand
00:29:28.66\00:29:30.23
of the angel
represents the Book of Daniel,
00:29:30.23\00:29:32.77
a little
prophetic book of Daniel.
00:29:32.77\00:29:34.74
It has this
mysterious time element.
00:29:34.74\00:29:38.37
And when John is
told to eat the book,
00:29:38.37\00:29:40.51
it represents
those in the early 1800s
00:29:40.51\00:29:42.74
who took the little book
of Daniel and studied it,
00:29:42.74\00:29:45.95
to eat it means to
study it, to receive it.
00:29:45.95\00:29:49.62
Jeremiah 15:16 says,
"Thy words were found
00:29:49.62\00:29:52.55
and I did eat them and
they were unto me the joy
00:29:52.55\00:29:55.69
and rejoice into my heart."
00:29:55.69\00:29:57.69
So here are these
early Advent believers
00:29:57.69\00:29:59.53
based upon their
study of the Book of Daniel,
00:29:59.53\00:30:01.76
they reached the conclusion
that Jesus is soon to come.
00:30:01.76\00:30:04.77
They are looking
forward to the coming of Christ
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.60
just like the disciples of all
00:30:06.60\00:30:08.37
who were looking
forward to the establishment
00:30:08.37\00:30:10.17
of the kingdom of
glory here on the earth.
00:30:10.17\00:30:12.27
But when Jesus did not come,
00:30:12.27\00:30:15.01
they were bitterly disappointed.
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.25
But God had a purpose
00:30:17.25\00:30:18.51
in leading them
through that experience.
00:30:18.51\00:30:20.98
Just like the disciples
after Jesus was crucified
00:30:20.98\00:30:25.02
and finally resurrected,
that kind of realigned
00:30:25.02\00:30:29.02
their thinking with
reference to Christ's mission.
00:30:29.02\00:30:31.43
They also needed to
recognize that they work
00:30:31.43\00:30:33.93
as God's people
as His disciples,
00:30:33.93\00:30:36.16
it was not over, but
it had scarcely begun
00:30:36.16\00:30:39.40
that the gospel had
to go to all the world,
00:30:39.40\00:30:42.24
so those who went
through the great disappointment
00:30:42.24\00:30:44.34
of 1844, came out
of that experience
00:30:44.34\00:30:47.38
realizing that their
work was not finished,
00:30:47.38\00:30:51.01
but it had scarcely begun.
00:30:51.01\00:30:52.61
Then it was that they
were able to read further
00:30:52.61\00:30:55.28
and began to understand
about the heavenly sanctuary
00:30:55.28\00:30:57.72
with Jesus'
ministers as our high priest
00:30:57.72\00:31:00.12
and that Jesus has entered
into a special final phase
00:31:00.12\00:31:03.66
of His high priestly ministry.
00:31:03.66\00:31:05.33
And at the end of
that special cleansing
00:31:05.33\00:31:07.60
of the heavenly sanctuary,
00:31:07.60\00:31:09.13
then Jesus will
remove His priestly robe,
00:31:09.13\00:31:12.80
put on His kingly robe,
00:31:12.80\00:31:14.10
and come back as King
of kings and Lord of lords.
00:31:14.10\00:31:17.57
But it was important for them
to go through that experience
00:31:17.57\00:31:20.48
so that they could get a clearer
00:31:20.48\00:31:21.78
and fuller
understanding of their mission
00:31:21.78\00:31:24.38
and the work that
Christ was calling them to do.
00:31:24.38\00:31:27.38
Now let's apply that
to ourselves individually.
00:31:27.38\00:31:30.12
Why is it that sometime
00:31:30.12\00:31:31.69
we face trials and difficulties?
00:31:31.69\00:31:35.02
It's not because
God does not love us,
00:31:35.02\00:31:37.83
it's not because
God does not care,
00:31:37.83\00:31:40.10
but maybe God is allowing
us to go through an experience
00:31:40.10\00:31:43.20
so that we can
learn something about Him
00:31:43.20\00:31:47.34
and something about ourselves.
00:31:47.34\00:31:49.74
Maybe He is
giving us an experience
00:31:49.74\00:31:51.27
so that we will have a
testimony that we can share
00:31:51.27\00:31:53.94
with somebody
else to encourage them.
00:31:53.94\00:31:56.71
So the experience
of the disciples of old
00:31:56.71\00:31:59.28
and the experience of the
early Adventist believers,
00:31:59.28\00:32:02.42
they all teach us a
lesson for our time even today.
00:32:02.42\00:32:06.65
Yes, nobody likes
trials and difficulties.
00:32:06.65\00:32:09.59
But Jesus said, "We
will have them in this world,
00:32:09.59\00:32:11.83
but do not be
afraid," Christ said,
00:32:11.83\00:32:14.10
"for I have overcome the world."
00:32:14.10\00:32:16.33
Claiming His promises,
holding on to Him in faith,
00:32:16.33\00:32:19.00
He is able to
work all things out,
00:32:19.00\00:32:21.64
ultimately, for the
good of those that love Him.
00:32:21.64\00:32:24.94
Now on Monday's lesson,
00:32:24.94\00:32:26.47
the title is The
Disciple's Mission.
00:32:26.47\00:32:30.08
And instead of
indulging these speculations
00:32:30.08\00:32:33.42
of when the kingdom
would be established,
00:32:33.42\00:32:35.42
as the disciples did,
00:32:35.42\00:32:36.99
Jesus gave them a very
important specific work.
00:32:36.99\00:32:40.66
And we find in Acts 1:8,
00:32:40.66\00:32:42.89
this work that
Jesus gives His disciples,
00:32:42.89\00:32:45.09
and someone will
read that for us.
00:32:45.09\00:32:47.13
"But you shall receive power
00:32:47.13\00:32:48.80
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you
00:32:48.80\00:32:51.67
and you shall be witnesses to me
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.44
and Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and Samaria,
00:32:53.44\00:32:56.64
and to the end of the earth."
00:32:56.64\00:32:58.51
All right, well, thank you.
00:32:58.51\00:32:59.54
That, of course,
is our memory text
00:32:59.54\00:33:01.31
for this week's lesson.
00:33:01.31\00:33:03.14
In this great commission that
Jesus gives in Acts chapter 1,
00:33:03.14\00:33:07.08
it repeats a
number of the principles
00:33:07.08\00:33:08.62
that you find in Matthew 28,
00:33:08.62\00:33:10.39
but there are
four important elements
00:33:10.39\00:33:12.39
that are
highlighted with reference
00:33:12.39\00:33:13.82
to the disciple's mission.
00:33:13.82\00:33:15.42
The first is the
need of the Holy Spirit.
00:33:15.42\00:33:17.89
Jesus said, "You
shall receive power
00:33:17.89\00:33:20.26
when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you."
00:33:20.26\00:33:23.23
Now of course,
this is in harmony
00:33:23.23\00:33:24.50
with an Old Testament prophecy
concerning a special outpouring
00:33:24.50\00:33:28.04
of the Holy Spirit
upon the believers.
00:33:28.04\00:33:30.51
Joel 2:28 says,
00:33:30.51\00:33:32.77
And it shall come
to pass afterwards
00:33:32.77\00:33:34.44
that I will pour out of
my Spirit upon all flesh,
00:33:34.44\00:33:37.81
your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,
00:33:37.81\00:33:39.98
your old men shall dream dreams,
00:33:39.98\00:33:42.28
and your young men
shall see visions."
00:33:42.28\00:33:45.12
This prophecy is
actually referenced by Peter
00:33:45.12\00:33:47.36
on the day of Pentecost
when he got up to preach.
00:33:47.36\00:33:50.49
And he actually
referred to this prophecy.
00:33:50.49\00:33:52.99
But the prophecy doesn't
end in verse 28, in Joel 22:28.
00:33:52.99\00:33:56.70
It actually goes on verse 29
00:33:56.70\00:33:58.67
and talks about the great
and dreadful day of the Lord.
00:33:58.67\00:34:01.34
It talks about a
great earthquake.
00:34:01.34\00:34:03.00
Well, now we know that
the great and dreadful day
00:34:03.00\00:34:05.37
of the the Lord is indeed
the second coming of Christ.
00:34:05.37\00:34:08.08
That did not occur in
the first century A.D.
00:34:08.08\00:34:11.45
So what happened at
the time of Pentecost
00:34:11.45\00:34:13.65
was a partial
fulfillment of this prophecy
00:34:13.65\00:34:16.62
in the Book of Joel.
00:34:16.62\00:34:18.19
But there is a broader
fulfillment for our time,
00:34:18.19\00:34:22.22
a special
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:34:22.22\00:34:25.16
just before probation closes.
00:34:25.16\00:34:28.36
I'm going to talk
for just a few moments
00:34:28.36\00:34:29.90
about this special
outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
00:34:29.90\00:34:33.23
what brings this about.
00:34:33.23\00:34:35.87
Now in the ministry of Jesus,
00:34:35.87\00:34:37.97
we can see three different
phases of Christ ministry.
00:34:37.97\00:34:43.28
The first phase took
place here on the earth.
00:34:43.28\00:34:46.01
We call that
Christ's prophetic phase.
00:34:46.01\00:34:50.45
Jesus did the work of a prophet
when He was on the earth,
00:34:50.45\00:34:52.82
He preached the gospel,
00:34:52.82\00:34:54.22
He healed the sick,
He performed miracles,
00:34:54.22\00:34:57.13
He provided a
sacrifice for our sins.
00:34:57.13\00:35:00.43
Jesus was anointed
00:35:00.43\00:35:01.50
for His
prophetic phase of ministry
00:35:01.50\00:35:04.13
in Luke 4:18, when it says,
00:35:04.13\00:35:08.04
"Jesus, the Spirit
of the Lord is upon me
00:35:08.04\00:35:10.34
because He has anointed me
00:35:10.34\00:35:11.87
to preach the
gospel to the poor."
00:35:11.87\00:35:14.51
So when Jesus was baptized
there in the Jordan River
00:35:14.51\00:35:17.75
and the Holy
Spirit came down upon Him
00:35:17.75\00:35:19.61
in the form of a dove,
00:35:19.61\00:35:21.35
that was Christ
anointing for His prophetic work
00:35:21.35\00:35:25.42
here on the earth,
the work of a prophet.
00:35:25.42\00:35:27.96
Something else that
is important to note,
00:35:27.96\00:35:29.52
whenever Jesus is anointed,
00:35:29.52\00:35:32.26
His followers
receive a blessing as well.
00:35:32.26\00:35:36.20
When Jesus came to the earth
00:35:36.20\00:35:37.73
and He was anointed
with the Holy Spirit,
00:35:37.73\00:35:39.30
those who were with Him
00:35:39.30\00:35:40.74
experienced wonderful blessings.
00:35:40.74\00:35:43.47
The sick were healed,
00:35:43.47\00:35:44.77
the blind had
their sight restored,
00:35:44.77\00:35:46.71
the lame were able to
walk, even the dead was raised,
00:35:46.71\00:35:49.58
the gospel was being preached.
00:35:49.58\00:35:51.91
So if you spend
time around Jesus,
00:35:51.91\00:35:54.12
when Jesus is
anointed for something,
00:35:54.12\00:35:56.72
you end up receiving a blessing.
00:35:56.72\00:35:59.19
The second anointing
with reference to Christ
00:35:59.19\00:36:01.59
and His ministry occurs
when Jesus ascends up to heaven
00:36:01.59\00:36:05.03
and He is anointed as priest
00:36:05.03\00:36:07.50
ministering for us in
the heavenly sanctuary.
00:36:07.50\00:36:10.13
In Hebrews 8:1, we read,
00:36:10.13\00:36:12.47
now this is the
main point of the things
00:36:12.47\00:36:14.84
that we are saying,
00:36:14.84\00:36:15.94
"We have such a high priest
00:36:15.94\00:36:17.34
who is seated at the
right hand of the throne
00:36:17.34\00:36:19.41
of the majesty of the heavens."
00:36:19.41\00:36:21.34
So when Jesus
ascended up to heaven,
00:36:21.34\00:36:23.01
He was anointed for
this work as high priest.
00:36:23.01\00:36:26.65
When Christ was
anointed as high priest,
00:36:26.65\00:36:28.92
what happened to the disciples
00:36:28.92\00:36:30.39
gathered there in the
upper room in Jerusalem?
00:36:30.39\00:36:32.92
The Holy Spirit came
upon them with power.
00:36:32.92\00:36:36.76
Now back in Bible times,
00:36:36.76\00:36:38.39
when someone was
anointed to be a prophet,
00:36:38.39\00:36:40.36
or anointed to be a priest,
00:36:40.36\00:36:42.20
or anointed to be a
king, how were they anointed?
00:36:42.20\00:36:45.70
Well, it was with oil. Oil
was placed upon their head.
00:36:45.70\00:36:48.97
You can read the
Old Testament accounts,
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.64
it talks about the
oil placed upon the head,
00:36:50.64\00:36:52.57
it would run down of the beard
00:36:52.57\00:36:54.21
and would drip
down on to the earth.
00:36:54.21\00:36:56.54
Today, when we are
talking about anointing service,
00:36:56.54\00:36:58.55
it's just a little drop of oil
00:36:58.55\00:36:59.71
that we place on
somebody's forehead
00:36:59.71\00:37:01.25
if they're sick
when we pray for them.
00:37:01.25\00:37:03.25
But the anointing
in the Bible times
00:37:03.25\00:37:04.99
involved a whole lot of
oil being poured over the head
00:37:04.99\00:37:08.06
and dripping
down on to the earth.
00:37:08.06\00:37:10.13
So when Jesus was anointed
as our high priest in heaven
00:37:10.13\00:37:15.10
and He began His
priestly ministry,
00:37:15.10\00:37:17.53
the anointing of Christ
dropped down on to the earth
00:37:17.53\00:37:21.54
so to speak and the Holy Spirit
00:37:21.54\00:37:23.74
came upon the
disciples with power.
00:37:23.74\00:37:25.94
We call that the early rain.
00:37:25.94\00:37:29.08
And that was the
power that started
00:37:29.08\00:37:30.55
this great evangelistic work
00:37:30.55\00:37:32.25
of taking the
gospel to the world.
00:37:32.25\00:37:34.92
But according to Bible prophecy,
00:37:34.92\00:37:36.52
there is to be a third
phase of Christ ministry.
00:37:36.52\00:37:40.06
Jesus has fulfilled His
prophetic, His priestly,
00:37:40.06\00:37:43.89
He is working on that right now,
00:37:43.89\00:37:45.56
He is our priest
ministering for us in heaven,
00:37:45.56\00:37:47.50
but when His
priestly work is finished,
00:37:47.50\00:37:50.70
then He moves
into His kingly phase,
00:37:50.70\00:37:53.50
and He comes
back as King of kings
00:37:53.50\00:37:55.07
and Lord of lords.
00:37:55.07\00:37:56.17
That has not yet happened.
00:37:56.17\00:37:57.54
But Jesus is also
anointed for His kingly work
00:37:57.54\00:38:01.88
or kingly phase of ministry.
00:38:01.88\00:38:04.81
And when Jesus is
anointed as our king,
00:38:04.81\00:38:07.05
there is also a special blessing
00:38:07.05\00:38:09.38
bestowed upon God's
people here on the earth.
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.19
Just like the
early days of the church
00:38:12.19\00:38:14.32
when the Holy
Spirit came in Pentecost,
00:38:14.32\00:38:16.09
there is a special
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:38:16.09\00:38:18.63
in the latter days
just before Jesus comes.
00:38:18.63\00:38:22.13
And we read
about this at the close
00:38:22.13\00:38:23.53
of Christ's priestly ministry,
00:38:23.53\00:38:24.97
Psalms 2:2.
00:38:24.97\00:38:27.10
It says, "The kings of the earth
00:38:27.10\00:38:28.64
have set themselves
00:38:28.64\00:38:29.77
and the rulers are
taking counsel against thee."
00:38:29.77\00:38:32.91
Now it's talking about
this great day of Armageddon
00:38:32.91\00:38:35.48
when the nations of the
earth have gathered their forces
00:38:35.48\00:38:38.35
and are about to attack
God's people in the last days.
00:38:38.35\00:38:41.55
It says, "The rulers
have taken counsel together
00:38:41.55\00:38:43.59
against the Lord and
against His anointed."
00:38:43.59\00:38:47.42
So the anointed is Christ.
00:38:47.42\00:38:49.72
Now Jesus is
anointed in His kingly role.
00:38:49.72\00:38:53.26
Something else
interesting to know is that
00:38:53.26\00:38:55.30
King David was
anointed to be king
00:38:55.30\00:38:58.40
before he actually took
possession of the kingdom.
00:38:58.40\00:39:02.07
You remember the
story of the Rehoboam,
00:39:02.07\00:39:03.57
the son of Solomon?
00:39:03.57\00:39:05.04
The kingdom was
eventually divided up
00:39:05.04\00:39:06.61
between Rehoboam and Jeroboam,
00:39:06.61\00:39:08.28
Jeroboam was the one who
took the 10 tribes of the North.
00:39:08.28\00:39:11.41
Jeroboam was anointed to king
of the 10 tribes of the North
00:39:11.41\00:39:14.78
before he actually took
possession of the kingdom.
00:39:14.78\00:39:18.25
So Jesus is
anointed to be king in heaven
00:39:18.25\00:39:21.79
before He takes
possession of the kingdom,
00:39:21.79\00:39:24.36
before Jesus comes
back as King of kings
00:39:24.36\00:39:26.63
and Lord of lords.
00:39:26.63\00:39:27.86
There is a special outpouring
of the Holy Spirit on the earth
00:39:27.86\00:39:31.23
just before probation closes
00:39:31.23\00:39:34.00
and the gospel
goes to all the world.
00:39:34.00\00:39:37.34
We talk about this
great loud cry record
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.74
in Revelation chapter 18
00:39:39.74\00:39:41.04
where the earth is illuminated
with the glory of God,
00:39:41.04\00:39:44.11
it's the result of
the special outpouring
00:39:44.11\00:39:46.08
of the Holy
Spirit in the last days.
00:39:46.08\00:39:49.28
So the first emphasis
that we see with reference
00:39:49.28\00:39:52.19
to the
commission God has given us
00:39:52.19\00:39:54.26
is the need for the Holy Spirit.
00:39:54.26\00:39:56.16
It is a response to the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:39:56.16\00:39:58.49
that we can be God's witnesses.
00:39:58.49\00:40:00.80
The second
principle that we find
00:40:00.80\00:40:02.50
from our memory text is
the role of the witness.
00:40:02.50\00:40:06.10
Acts 4:19 and 20 says,
00:40:06.10\00:40:08.64
"But Peter and John
answered them saying,
00:40:08.64\00:40:10.94
'Whether it is
right in the sight of God
00:40:10.94\00:40:12.54
to listen to you
more than God you judge,"'
00:40:12.54\00:40:15.38
And then in verse 20, he says,
00:40:15.38\00:40:17.01
'for we cannot
but speak the things
00:40:17.01\00:40:19.31
which we have seen
and what we've heard.'"
00:40:19.31\00:40:23.08
To be a witness for Jesus
is to speak of those things
00:40:23.08\00:40:27.46
that we have seen in her.
00:40:27.46\00:40:28.79
Evangelism at its very core
00:40:28.79\00:40:31.76
is sharing with somebody else
what Jesus has done for you.
00:40:31.76\00:40:34.93
Amen.
00:40:34.93\00:40:35.96
Did the
disciples have a testimony
00:40:35.96\00:40:37.70
to share with the world?
00:40:37.70\00:40:39.00
Absolutely, they
had been with Jesus.
00:40:39.00\00:40:41.64
Jesus had done some
amazing things for them.
00:40:41.64\00:40:44.97
Do you have a testimony
to share with the world?
00:40:44.97\00:40:48.51
Has Jesus done
some amazing things
00:40:48.51\00:40:50.65
in your heart and in your life?
00:40:50.65\00:40:52.98
Until we have a real
experience with Jesus,
00:40:52.98\00:40:55.95
we can't quite be His witnesses
00:40:55.95\00:40:58.65
because evangelism is sharing
what Jesus has done for you.
00:40:58.65\00:41:02.82
That's, in essence, what it is,
00:41:02.82\00:41:05.16
telling other
people about Jesus.
00:41:05.16\00:41:07.10
Point number three that we learn
00:41:07.10\00:41:08.26
from our memory verse
is the plan formations.
00:41:08.26\00:41:11.37
Jesus has told the disciples
00:41:11.37\00:41:12.67
that they were to
start in Jerusalem
00:41:12.67\00:41:14.07
and then expand their
reach to Judea, and Samaria,
00:41:14.07\00:41:16.94
and then to the
ends of the earth.
00:41:16.94\00:41:18.57
So when it comes
to being a missionary,
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.51
don't think that you have
to pack up everything you have
00:41:20.51\00:41:22.84
and go to some distant land
to tell the people about Jesus,
00:41:22.84\00:41:26.01
there is that part
of being a missionary,
00:41:26.01\00:41:28.85
but we can all begin by
being home missionaries.
00:41:28.85\00:41:32.75
We can start with
those closest to us.
00:41:32.75\00:41:34.69
We can start, so
to speak, in Jerusalem
00:41:34.69\00:41:37.56
and then expand
that in our neighborhood,
00:41:37.56\00:41:40.16
in our city, in our town.
00:41:40.16\00:41:42.53
And yes, we might not be
able to go to some distant land,
00:41:42.53\00:41:45.07
but can we
support those who can go
00:41:45.07\00:41:47.44
and preach the gospel?
00:41:47.44\00:41:48.70
Absolutely.
00:41:48.70\00:41:50.14
That's an important
work that we have to do.
00:41:50.14\00:41:53.14
And then
finally, the fourth plan
00:41:53.14\00:41:54.51
that we have here
is the orientation
00:41:54.51\00:41:57.05
of this gospel commission.
00:41:57.05\00:42:00.58
During the Old Testament times,
00:42:00.58\00:42:02.22
Israel was to shine
for the truth of God's Word
00:42:02.22\00:42:06.02
and all the
nations and the peoples
00:42:06.02\00:42:07.82
were to be drawn to
them to hear the truth.
00:42:07.82\00:42:11.79
So people would come to
Israel to find out God's will.
00:42:11.79\00:42:15.86
But in the New Testament times,
00:42:15.86\00:42:17.37
it's not the
nations coming to us
00:42:17.37\00:42:19.90
but rather it's us
going to the nations.
00:42:19.90\00:42:22.20
So there is a shift.
00:42:22.20\00:42:23.77
Old Testament times,
it was people coming up
00:42:23.77\00:42:25.94
to Israel to find
truth, in New Testament times,
00:42:25.94\00:42:29.11
it's spiritual Israel
going out into the world.
00:42:29.11\00:42:32.35
Thus, we have, in Revelation 14,
00:42:32.35\00:42:34.68
the everlasting
gospel going to every nation,
00:42:34.68\00:42:37.62
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:42:37.62\00:42:39.99
The gospel has to go to everyone
00:42:39.99\00:42:41.62
and immediately following
00:42:41.62\00:42:42.96
the proclamation of
the everlasting gospel
00:42:42.96\00:42:45.06
and the three angels' messages.
00:42:45.06\00:42:46.33
The next thing that
you see in Revelations 14
00:42:46.33\00:42:49.06
is the harvest of the earth,
Jesus comes the second time,
00:42:49.06\00:42:52.93
so one of the final works
00:42:52.93\00:42:54.24
that is to take place
before probation closes
00:42:54.24\00:42:56.91
is the everlasting
gospel going to the world.
00:42:56.91\00:43:00.18
You know, sometimes we
sit in Christian communities
00:43:00.18\00:43:02.98
and we have the Bible,
and we know the gospel,
00:43:02.98\00:43:06.11
and we talk about scriptures,
00:43:06.11\00:43:08.25
and yet there are so
many out there in the world
00:43:08.25\00:43:10.89
who have never
heard the name of Jesus,
00:43:10.89\00:43:13.59
who are searching for purpose
and meaning in their life,
00:43:13.59\00:43:16.79
and yet they want to
hear, they want to know.
00:43:16.79\00:43:19.16
And God has given us the
work of sharing the good news
00:43:19.16\00:43:22.23
with as many as we can.
00:43:22.23\00:43:23.67
And by the way,
there is no greater joy
00:43:23.67\00:43:25.97
that anyone can ever have
00:43:25.97\00:43:27.40
than the joy of
bringing somebody else to Jesus.
00:43:27.40\00:43:30.27
To do the work of a
missionary is the greatest thing
00:43:30.27\00:43:32.47
that can ever happen.
00:43:32.47\00:43:33.64
All right, on Tuesday's lesson,
00:43:33.64\00:43:35.61
it's entitled
He Will Come Again.
00:43:35.61\00:43:37.31
And, of course,
this is the promise
00:43:37.31\00:43:38.78
that Jesus gave to His disciples
00:43:38.78\00:43:40.78
when He was about to ascend.
00:43:40.78\00:43:43.05
That promise is also
found in Revelation 14:1-3,
00:43:43.05\00:43:46.29
Jesus said, "Let not
your hearts be troubled,
00:43:46.29\00:43:48.46
if you believe in
God, believe also in Me.
00:43:48.46\00:43:50.83
In My Father's house,
there are many mansions,"
00:43:50.83\00:43:53.13
If it weren't
outside, I would have told you,
00:43:53.13\00:43:54.56
"I go to prepare a
place for you," Jesus said,
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.73
"and if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:43:57.73\00:44:00.34
I will," What?
00:44:00.34\00:44:02.00
"come again and
receive you on to Myself
00:44:02.00\00:44:05.51
that where I am,
there you may also be."
00:44:05.51\00:44:08.68
So Jesus before
leaving His disciples,
00:44:08.68\00:44:10.78
He told them He
would come again.
00:44:10.78\00:44:13.01
And that was their motivation,
that was their great hope.
00:44:13.01\00:44:16.38
Yes, Jesus would come again.
00:44:16.38\00:44:20.96
Now Jesus also knew though
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.59
that the devil would
try to deceive people
00:44:22.59\00:44:25.83
with reference to
the manner of His coming
00:44:25.83\00:44:28.46
'cause the deceiver,
00:44:28.46\00:44:30.67
the devil will do
everything he can to deceive
00:44:30.67\00:44:33.03
even if possible the very elect.
00:44:33.03\00:44:35.60
That's why Jesus said,
"If anyone says to you,
00:44:35.60\00:44:37.64
'Look, here is Christ or there',
00:44:37.64\00:44:39.94
do not believe it,
00:44:39.94\00:44:41.28
for false Christ and
false prophets will rise
00:44:41.28\00:44:44.51
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive
00:44:44.51\00:44:47.48
if possible," Who?
00:44:47.48\00:44:48.95
"Even the very elect."
00:44:48.95\00:44:49.98
Then He said, "See, I
have told you beforehand."
00:44:49.98\00:44:53.56
So there's a lot confusion
even in Christian circles today
00:44:53.56\00:44:56.83
with reference to the
manner of Christ coming.
00:44:56.83\00:44:59.86
Today, some people think
00:44:59.86\00:45:01.96
that the second coming of Jesus
is only symbolic or spiritual.
00:45:01.96\00:45:07.17
Some people think
that the second coming
00:45:07.17\00:45:08.87
takes places at
conversion or at death.
00:45:08.87\00:45:12.07
And still others
insist in what they call
00:45:12.07\00:45:14.14
a secret coming
or a secret rapture.
00:45:14.14\00:45:17.21
But what we want to know
is what does the Bible say
00:45:17.21\00:45:20.58
concerning the
manner of Christ coming.
00:45:20.58\00:45:23.52
You see, if we're not clear
00:45:23.52\00:45:24.69
with reference to
how Jesus will come,
00:45:24.69\00:45:27.46
we're setting ourselves up
to be deceived by a counterfeit
00:45:27.46\00:45:31.66
so called
second coming of Jesus.
00:45:31.66\00:45:34.46
You see, the
devil in the last days
00:45:34.46\00:45:35.96
will do
everything he can to deceive.
00:45:35.96\00:45:37.80
The Bible says, "He
can transform himself
00:45:37.80\00:45:39.73
into an angel of light."
00:45:39.73\00:45:41.24
So understanding how
Jesus will come is important.
00:45:41.24\00:45:44.87
Well, let's take a
look then in Acts chapter 1
00:45:44.87\00:45:47.51
and we will have
somebody read for us verse 9.
00:45:47.51\00:45:50.08
It talks a little bit
about how Jesus will come.
00:45:50.08\00:45:52.35
Acts 1:9.
00:45:52.35\00:45:54.45
Acts 1:9, "Now when he
had spoken these things
00:45:54.45\00:45:58.32
while their watch too taken up
00:45:58.32\00:45:59.92
and a cloud received
Him out of their sight."
00:45:59.92\00:46:02.39
So can you imagine the scene?
00:46:02.39\00:46:03.53
The disciples
have gathered there
00:46:03.53\00:46:04.73
on the Mount of Olives
and Jesus is in front of them,
00:46:04.73\00:46:06.90
He is sharing His final
great commission to them
00:46:06.90\00:46:09.33
and while Christ is
talking right before their eyes,
00:46:09.33\00:46:12.53
they begin to see
Jesus lifting up in the air.
00:46:12.53\00:46:16.54
And they are just
amazed as they watch
00:46:16.54\00:46:18.07
and Jesus still
speaks, and there He goes,
00:46:18.07\00:46:20.08
and then a cloud envelops Jesus,
00:46:20.08\00:46:21.98
and He is taken away from them,
and still standing gazing up,
00:46:21.98\00:46:25.28
suddenly two men
appear next to them...
00:46:25.28\00:46:28.85
and they have
something interesting to say.
00:46:28.85\00:46:30.45
Let's look at verse 10,
00:46:30.45\00:46:31.82
"And while they look
steadfastly towards heaven
00:46:31.82\00:46:34.12
as He went up, behold two men
00:46:34.12\00:46:35.62
stood by them in white apparel."
00:46:35.62\00:46:36.79
Who are these two men?
00:46:36.79\00:46:38.33
"The angels who also
said, 'Men of Galilee,
00:46:38.33\00:46:42.40
why do stand gazing
up into the heaven?'"
00:46:42.40\00:46:44.77
Notice this, "this same Jesus,
00:46:44.77\00:46:47.74
who was taken up
from you into heaven,
00:46:47.74\00:46:50.27
will so come in like manner
00:46:50.27\00:46:52.67
as you have seen
him go into heaven.'
00:46:52.67\00:46:55.18
So the angels there said,
00:46:55.18\00:46:56.78
"Jesus is going to
come back the same way
00:46:56.78\00:46:58.65
that He has
been taken from you."
00:46:58.65\00:47:01.58
Now were the
disciples able to see Jesus
00:47:01.58\00:47:03.45
when He ascended up
and was taken to heaven?
00:47:03.45\00:47:05.39
Yes.
00:47:05.39\00:47:06.65
So the second coming of Jesus
is going to be a visible event.
00:47:06.65\00:47:09.09
You're going to actually
be able to see Jesus coming.
00:47:09.09\00:47:12.26
Were there clouds involved in
Jesus being ascended to heaven?
00:47:12.26\00:47:16.06
Since the clouds surrounded Him,
00:47:16.06\00:47:17.70
it's probably a
cloud of angles there.
00:47:17.70\00:47:19.97
Does Jesus come back
in the clouds of heaven
00:47:19.97\00:47:22.10
with all of His angels?
00:47:22.10\00:47:23.61
Absolutely.
00:47:23.61\00:47:25.01
Could the disciples hear Jesus
when He was talking to them
00:47:25.01\00:47:27.61
and He was being
lifted up of the earth?
00:47:27.61\00:47:30.41
Yes, it says, "While He
spoke, He began to lift up."
00:47:30.41\00:47:33.35
So it was an audible event,
00:47:33.35\00:47:34.78
you'll be able to hear
Jesus when He comes again.
00:47:34.78\00:47:38.85
And if you look at some
of the other Bible passages,
00:47:38.85\00:47:40.66
when Jesus comes again,
00:47:40.66\00:47:41.99
there is going
to be a great shout,
00:47:41.99\00:47:44.03
there's going to
be a trumpet sound,
00:47:44.03\00:47:45.66
there's going to
be a great earthquake,
00:47:45.66\00:47:47.20
the graves are going to open,
00:47:47.20\00:47:49.03
and the righteous
are going to be raised,
00:47:49.03\00:47:50.83
those who are alive
will be changed in a moment,
00:47:50.83\00:47:53.17
in a twinkling of an
eye they will caught up
00:47:53.17\00:47:55.00
to meet Jesus in the air.
00:47:55.00\00:47:57.11
Don't miss that part.
00:47:57.11\00:47:58.61
When Jesus
comes the second time,
00:47:58.61\00:48:00.71
He does not appear
walking around on the earth.
00:48:00.71\00:48:03.85
Any person that
claims to be Jesus
00:48:03.85\00:48:06.11
who is walking
about on the earth,
00:48:06.11\00:48:07.48
no matter what kind
of miracles they perform,
00:48:07.48\00:48:10.99
they are not Jesus
00:48:10.99\00:48:12.55
'cause when Jesus
comes the second time,
00:48:12.55\00:48:14.39
we're caught up to
meet Jesus in the air.
00:48:14.39\00:48:17.76
And we go with Jesus to heaven,
00:48:17.76\00:48:19.23
we spend a thousand
years of Sabbath in heaven.
00:48:19.23\00:48:21.60
Then the new
Jerusalem comes down
00:48:21.60\00:48:23.40
from God out of heaven.
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.07
So when you look
at what the Bible says
00:48:25.07\00:48:26.74
with reference to
the second coming,
00:48:26.74\00:48:28.67
it is a glorious event.
00:48:28.67\00:48:31.34
You find these
words in scripture
00:48:31.34\00:48:32.97
describing the
second coming of Christ,
00:48:32.97\00:48:35.18
Jesus comes with clouds,
00:48:35.18\00:48:36.95
there is
lightning, there is a trumpet,
00:48:36.95\00:48:38.71
there is a shout,
there is power, glory,
00:48:38.71\00:48:41.52
angel's
brightness, flaming fire.
00:48:41.52\00:48:44.75
The Bible makes it very clear
that there is nothing secret
00:48:44.75\00:48:47.76
about the
second coming of Jesus,
00:48:47.76\00:48:49.59
but it's going to be
the most spectacular event
00:48:49.59\00:48:51.93
of all of history.
00:48:51.93\00:48:53.46
Jesus will come again.
00:48:53.46\00:48:55.43
That was the
hope of the apostles,
00:48:55.43\00:48:57.33
that needs to be
our hope as well.
00:48:57.33\00:49:00.54
Well, let's take a look then
00:49:00.54\00:49:01.64
at Wednesday's lesson
Preparing for Pentecost.
00:49:01.64\00:49:06.07
And Jesus gave the disciples
a very important work to do
00:49:06.07\00:49:10.45
that of taking the
gospel to the world.
00:49:10.45\00:49:12.78
Acts chapter 1,
beginning in verse 12,
00:49:12.78\00:49:15.05
I'm going to read from
verse 12 through to verse 13,
00:49:15.05\00:49:17.52
and then we'll have
somebody read for us verse 14,
00:49:17.52\00:49:21.02
"After the Christ
ascended to heaven,
00:49:21.02\00:49:22.62
then they returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet
00:49:22.62\00:49:26.09
which is near Jerusalem
about a Sabbath day's journey."
00:49:26.09\00:49:28.63
When I read this, I
couldn't help think of...
00:49:28.63\00:49:30.73
A couple weeks
ago, we were actually
00:49:30.73\00:49:32.97
on the Mount of
Olives on Sabbath
00:49:32.97\00:49:35.14
and we walked a
Sabbath day journey.
00:49:35.14\00:49:37.04
We went down the Mount of Olives
00:49:37.04\00:49:38.34
through the Kidron
Valley up into Jerusalem
00:49:38.34\00:49:40.38
into the same
area of the old city
00:49:40.38\00:49:42.48
where they actually thought
00:49:42.48\00:49:44.08
it could very well
be where this house was
00:49:44.08\00:49:46.18
that the
disciples had gathered in
00:49:46.18\00:49:47.85
after the ascension of Jesus.
00:49:47.85\00:49:49.22
The house is gone
but they know roughly
00:49:49.22\00:49:51.22
where the area is.
00:49:51.22\00:49:52.75
It says, "And when
they were entered in,
00:49:52.75\00:49:54.16
they went up into the upper room
00:49:54.16\00:49:55.92
where they were staying Peter,
James, John, Andrew, Philip,
00:49:55.92\00:49:58.53
Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew,
00:49:58.53\00:50:00.03
James the son of
Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
00:50:00.03\00:50:02.50
Judas the son of James,"
00:50:02.50\00:50:03.93
And then verse 14
tells us what they did.
00:50:03.93\00:50:07.14
Acts 1:14, "These all continued
00:50:07.14\00:50:10.37
with one accord and
prayer and supplication
00:50:10.37\00:50:13.44
with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus,
00:50:13.44\00:50:16.08
and with His brothers."
00:50:16.08\00:50:17.61
What do you think the
disciples were praying about
00:50:17.61\00:50:19.55
there in the upper room?
00:50:19.55\00:50:21.75
What did Jesus just told them
before He ascended to heaven?
00:50:21.75\00:50:25.65
He had told them that they
were to be His witnesses, right?
00:50:25.65\00:50:29.62
That they were
to take the gospel
00:50:29.62\00:50:31.23
to everyone in Jerusalem,
00:50:31.23\00:50:32.59
and Judea, and Samaria,
until the ends of the earth.
00:50:32.59\00:50:36.03
I think when the
disciples gathered together,
00:50:36.03\00:50:37.70
they recognized that
in their own strength,
00:50:37.70\00:50:40.00
they could never do
00:50:40.00\00:50:41.47
what Jesus had asked them to do.
00:50:41.47\00:50:43.81
They were burdened
with this great commission
00:50:43.81\00:50:46.11
that Christ had just given them
00:50:46.11\00:50:47.71
and they realized
in their own strength
00:50:47.71\00:50:49.51
it was impossible for them,
00:50:49.51\00:50:51.45
thus they needed the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:50:51.45\00:50:54.55
They needed God's
power in order for them
00:50:54.55\00:50:56.72
to accomplish the
work God wanted them to do.
00:50:56.72\00:50:59.32
So as they gathered
together, they recognized,
00:50:59.32\00:51:01.72
"In order for us to do the work
that Jesus has called us to do,
00:51:01.72\00:51:05.13
we need the power
that Jesus has promised.
00:51:05.13\00:51:07.66
But in order to
receive the power,
00:51:07.66\00:51:09.33
in order to
receive the Holy Spirit,
00:51:09.33\00:51:10.73
we need to make things
right amongst ourselves."
00:51:10.73\00:51:14.00
It talks about them
confessing their faults
00:51:14.00\00:51:16.00
one to another, that
we are united in prayer,
00:51:16.00\00:51:18.54
that we are humbling the hearts,
00:51:18.54\00:51:19.91
that we are earnestly seeking
00:51:19.91\00:51:21.38
for this gift
of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:21.38\00:51:23.75
How do you suppose
the latter rain will come
00:51:23.75\00:51:26.28
at the end of
time upon God's church?
00:51:26.28\00:51:29.15
It'll come the same way.
00:51:29.15\00:51:31.15
When the church has a burden
00:51:31.15\00:51:33.15
for the great
commission of taking
00:51:33.15\00:51:34.82
the everlasting gospel
to those in our community,
00:51:34.82\00:51:37.83
to those places
around the world,
00:51:37.83\00:51:41.30
those who have
never heard the gospel,
00:51:41.30\00:51:42.83
when the church is burdened
with the great commission,
00:51:42.83\00:51:46.30
and we recognize
that in our own strength
00:51:46.30\00:51:48.37
we cannot do it, we
need the help of God,
00:51:48.37\00:51:51.31
we need the gift
of the Holy Spirit,
00:51:51.31\00:51:53.34
and we come together,
00:51:53.34\00:51:55.01
and we make things
right amongst ourselves
00:51:55.01\00:51:57.68
and we earnestly seek
the gift of the Holy Spirit,
00:51:57.68\00:52:01.05
then the Holy Spirit
will come with power.
00:52:01.05\00:52:04.45
And there will be such revival
00:52:04.45\00:52:05.92
that will take
place in the church,
00:52:05.92\00:52:07.29
a revival that
has never been seen
00:52:07.29\00:52:09.52
to this extent in the
history of planet earth.
00:52:09.52\00:52:14.13
There will be power,
there will be miracles,
00:52:14.13\00:52:16.70
the preaching of the
gospel will go forward,
00:52:16.70\00:52:19.27
lives will be transformed,
00:52:19.27\00:52:21.10
backsliders will be reconverted,
00:52:21.10\00:52:23.57
it'll be a most
glorious time in the church,
00:52:23.57\00:52:27.21
and the gospel will
go forth to every nation,
00:52:27.21\00:52:29.74
kindred, tongue
with power and glory.
00:52:29.74\00:52:32.91
At that end of that time
period, probation closes,
00:52:32.91\00:52:36.75
seven last
plagues, and Jesus comes.
00:52:36.75\00:52:41.12
I want to
encourage you this morning,
00:52:41.12\00:52:42.29
we're looking at
bright future in Jesus Christ.
00:52:42.29\00:52:45.99
Amen. The best is yet to come.
00:52:45.99\00:52:48.10
The best for the church,
the best for us individually
00:52:48.10\00:52:51.90
because Jesus is
coming to take us home.
00:52:51.90\00:52:54.50
What a wonderful hope we have.
00:52:54.50\00:52:57.64
But the gift of the
Holy Spirit does not come
00:52:57.64\00:52:59.44
unless we recognize
our need of the Holy Spirit
00:52:59.44\00:53:02.31
until we have a burden to do
the work God's called us to do.
00:53:02.31\00:53:05.65
I remember one of
our evangelists was doing
00:53:05.65\00:53:07.45
an evangelistic
series at a little church
00:53:07.45\00:53:09.95
that really didn't have a
heart for mission or evangelism.
00:53:09.95\00:53:13.15
Halfway through the meeting,
the evangelist happened to hear
00:53:13.15\00:53:15.76
one of the church members
say to another church member,
00:53:15.76\00:53:18.83
"I can't wait for
these evangelistic meetings
00:53:18.83\00:53:21.10
to be over, so all
these people can go
00:53:21.10\00:53:23.57
and we can have
our church back."
00:53:23.57\00:53:25.87
Well, that's not the
spirit of evangelism.
00:53:25.87\00:53:28.40
You think the
Holy Spirit is anxious
00:53:28.40\00:53:30.24
to be poured
down on that church?
00:53:30.24\00:53:32.24
They don't recognize
their need of the Holy Spirit.
00:53:32.24\00:53:35.68
They are not
burdened with the commission
00:53:35.68\00:53:37.21
of taking the
gospel to the world.
00:53:37.21\00:53:39.41
And I hope right here
at the Granite Bay Church,
00:53:39.41\00:53:41.12
we will never lose
sight of our mission.
00:53:41.12\00:53:43.89
Our mission is to share
the three angles' messages
00:53:43.89\00:53:46.22
with those in this community
00:53:46.22\00:53:47.82
and we believe
in a special sense
00:53:47.82\00:53:49.42
with those all around the world.
00:53:49.42\00:53:52.86
On Thursday, we have the
first administrative action
00:53:52.86\00:53:56.67
of the early Christian church
00:53:56.67\00:53:58.40
that of appointing a
successor for Judas Iscariot.
00:53:58.40\00:54:02.04
It talks about how
they gathered together
00:54:02.04\00:54:03.84
in the upper
room, and they pray,
00:54:03.84\00:54:05.37
and they select two individuals,
00:54:05.37\00:54:07.24
and they do something
a little unconventional,
00:54:07.24\00:54:09.11
probably something
that we wouldn't do
00:54:09.11\00:54:10.55
at a nominating committee,
00:54:10.55\00:54:11.58
but after
selecting two individuals,
00:54:11.58\00:54:13.42
they pray, and
then they cast lots,
00:54:13.42\00:54:16.28
and they chose one
of the individuals,
00:54:16.28\00:54:18.25
Matthias to be a
replacement for Judas Iscariot.
00:54:18.25\00:54:21.62
Some people sometimes ask,
"Well, if it worked for them,
00:54:21.62\00:54:24.53
shouldn't we be
doing the same thing?
00:54:24.53\00:54:26.43
Shouldn't our nominating
committee get together
00:54:26.43\00:54:29.06
every two years
during nominating time,
00:54:29.06\00:54:32.43
and just pick a bunch of names,
00:54:32.43\00:54:34.00
and then start casting lots
00:54:34.00\00:54:35.64
to see who's going to be the
personal ministry's director,
00:54:35.64\00:54:38.04
who's going to be
the deacon or whatnot."
00:54:38.04\00:54:39.71
Is that the way we
need to work today?
00:54:39.71\00:54:42.14
Well, probably not.
00:54:42.14\00:54:44.05
The casting of lots
was a traditional method
00:54:44.05\00:54:47.28
of finding out God's will
during Old Testament times.
00:54:47.28\00:54:50.22
It wasn't new in
the Book of Acts.
00:54:50.22\00:54:52.52
But what we do find
is after the Holy Spirit
00:54:52.52\00:54:55.22
came upon the
disciples in Pentecost,
00:54:55.22\00:54:57.69
we don't have
any further reference
00:54:57.69\00:54:59.29
of church
leadership ever casting lots
00:54:59.29\00:55:01.93
to determine what God's will is
00:55:01.93\00:55:04.03
rather through
prayer and supplication
00:55:04.03\00:55:06.37
and the study of the word
00:55:06.37\00:55:08.00
that were guided
by the Holy Spirit
00:55:08.00\00:55:10.61
in doing what God's will is.
00:55:10.61\00:55:12.17
So it wouldn't
appropriate for us today
00:55:12.17\00:55:14.28
to cast lots to
try and figure out
00:55:14.28\00:55:16.01
what God wants us to do
00:55:16.01\00:55:17.48
rather we should
spend time in the Word,
00:55:17.48\00:55:19.68
spend time in prayer,
and then take godly counsel,
00:55:19.68\00:55:24.25
and then follow the
leadings of prophets.
00:55:24.25\00:55:26.69
As a matter of fact,
this maybe a good thing for us
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.42
to end on this morning,
00:55:28.42\00:55:29.56
how can you individually
know God's will for your life?
00:55:29.56\00:55:32.49
First of all, to the
law and to the prophets
00:55:32.49\00:55:35.13
if they speak not
according to this,
00:55:35.13\00:55:36.53
there is no light in them.
00:55:36.53\00:55:38.87
We need to study the Word
00:55:38.87\00:55:39.97
to know is this
really what the Bible
00:55:39.97\00:55:42.50
or what God would want me to do,
00:55:42.50\00:55:43.84
does this contradict a statement
00:55:43.84\00:55:45.74
or a commandment
in the scripture.
00:55:45.74\00:55:47.48
I remember as a young pastor,
00:55:47.48\00:55:48.88
I had a new convert come to
me, and he was very sincere,
00:55:48.88\00:55:52.68
and he said,
"Pastor, please pray,
00:55:52.68\00:55:54.88
I just bought a lottery ticket,
00:55:54.88\00:55:57.42
and I want you to pray
that I win the lottery."
00:55:57.42\00:55:59.79
He said, "It will be
great blessing for the church."
00:55:59.79\00:56:02.59
And I believe God
can do all things.
00:56:02.59\00:56:05.33
I had to say, "Brother,
00:56:05.33\00:56:06.90
let me explain
to you a few things.
00:56:06.90\00:56:09.36
God's not going to
help you win the lottery
00:56:09.36\00:56:11.90
because gambling is
against the Word of God, right?
00:56:11.90\00:56:15.70
There is some other way
that God wants you to seek
00:56:15.70\00:56:18.27
in order to meet your ends
and be a blessing to others."
00:56:18.27\00:56:21.54
So the first thing we do
is confer with scripture.
00:56:21.54\00:56:24.85
Secondly, we want to
spend some time in prayer.
00:56:24.85\00:56:27.42
And it's
appropriate if we're making
00:56:27.42\00:56:28.92
a big decision in my life
to speak to fellow believers
00:56:28.92\00:56:31.49
and say, "You know
what, this is the situation.
00:56:31.49\00:56:33.52
Could you pray
with me and for me
00:56:33.52\00:56:35.96
that God would
give me a sense of peace
00:56:35.96\00:56:37.83
to know which
direction He has me to go?"
00:56:37.83\00:56:40.50
And the thirdly,
seek godly counsel,
00:56:40.50\00:56:43.43
speak to those who you know,
00:56:43.43\00:56:44.77
love the Lord and
say, "What do you think?"
00:56:44.77\00:56:47.24
And then thirdly
or finally, fourthly,
00:56:47.24\00:56:49.37
follow the providence of God,
00:56:49.37\00:56:51.24
follow the doors that God opens.
00:56:51.24\00:56:53.91
If you sincerely
seek in the will of God,
00:56:53.91\00:56:55.84
God is not going to
leave you astray, right?
00:56:55.84\00:56:58.91
If you sincerely pray and say,
00:56:58.91\00:57:00.32
"Lord, not my will be
done, Thy will be done,"
00:57:00.32\00:57:02.55
and you humble your hearts,
trust that God will lead.
00:57:02.55\00:57:05.72
And if you happen to
be going the wrong way,
00:57:05.72\00:57:08.56
believe that God has
the power to redirect you
00:57:08.56\00:57:11.69
and set you on the right path.
00:57:11.69\00:57:13.76
Take God at His word
00:57:13.76\00:57:14.83
and He will lead
and guide in your life.
00:57:14.83\00:57:17.97
Well, that's
our study for today,
00:57:17.97\00:57:19.77
chapter 1 of the Book of Acts,
00:57:19.77\00:57:21.30
just a great start to this book,
00:57:21.30\00:57:23.41
I'm looking very forward
to the next upcoming lessons
00:57:23.41\00:57:25.94
dealing with the Book of Acts.
00:57:25.94\00:57:27.44
For our friends
who are joining us,
00:57:27.44\00:57:28.88
just a reminder
about free offer today.
00:57:28.88\00:57:31.08
We do have a book.
00:57:31.08\00:57:32.11
It's entitled The
Holy Spirit The Need.
00:57:32.11\00:57:33.75
It goes along with our study.
00:57:33.75\00:57:35.28
If you'd like to
receive a copy of the book,
00:57:35.28\00:57:37.19
give us a call on
our resource phone line,
00:57:37.19\00:57:39.09
that's 866-788-3966
00:57:39.09\00:57:42.86
and you can ask
for offer number 723.
00:57:42.86\00:57:45.56
Or if you would like to receive
a digital copy of the book,
00:57:45.56\00:57:48.43
you can text the following code
00:57:48.43\00:57:50.13
"SH099" to the number 40544,
00:57:50.13\00:57:55.94
and you'll receive a link
00:57:55.94\00:57:57.57
where you can download the
book The Holy Spirit The Need.
00:57:57.57\00:58:00.54
Until next time, may
God richly bless you.
00:58:00.54\00:58:03.71