Hello, friends, we like
to welcome you once again
00:00:34.93\00:00:37.00
to Sabbath School Study Hour,
00:00:37.00\00:00:38.73
coming to you from Granite
Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.73\00:00:41.34
in Sacramento, California.
00:00:41.34\00:00:43.47
Very warm welcome
to our online members,
00:00:43.47\00:00:45.47
and those who are
joining us online,
00:00:45.47\00:00:47.14
and also on the
various television networks
00:00:47.14\00:00:49.28
around the world.
00:00:49.28\00:00:50.55
And also warm welcome
to our regular members
00:00:50.55\00:00:53.05
and our visitors
right here at Granite Bay.
00:00:53.05\00:00:55.45
It's good to be
able to gather together
00:00:55.45\00:00:56.85
on a Sabbath morning and
study the lesson together.
00:00:56.85\00:00:59.55
We've got a brand
new lesson quarterly.
00:00:59.55\00:01:01.36
Actually this is
the second lesson
00:01:01.36\00:01:03.36
in our new quarterly
dealing with the Book of Acts.
00:01:03.36\00:01:06.33
It's simply
entitled the Book of Acts,
00:01:06.33\00:01:08.73
and today we're
looking at lesson number two
00:01:08.73\00:01:10.93
that's talking about Pentecost,
00:01:10.93\00:01:12.90
so a very
important and exciting study
00:01:12.90\00:01:15.17
that we'll be getting to
hear in just a few moments.
00:01:15.17\00:01:17.74
But before we get to our lesson,
00:01:17.74\00:01:19.04
I'd like to let our
friends know about a free offer
00:01:19.04\00:01:21.48
that we'd like to
make available to you.
00:01:21.48\00:01:23.51
If you would
like to receive a DVD
00:01:23.51\00:01:27.35
that will tell you
more about Pentecost,
00:01:27.35\00:01:30.09
we'd ask you to call
our resource phone line
00:01:30.09\00:01:32.59
and that number is 866-788-3966,
00:01:32.59\00:01:37.03
and you can ask
for offer number 824.
00:01:37.03\00:01:40.90
We'll be happy to send that DVD
to anybody who calls and asks,
00:01:40.90\00:01:44.00
or you're able to get that DVD
downloaded in a digital format
00:01:44.00\00:01:48.47
simply by
texting the code "SH085"
00:01:48.47\00:01:52.87
to the number 40544.
00:01:52.87\00:01:56.95
You'll then receive a
link, and you click on the link,
00:01:56.95\00:01:59.11
and you'll be able to download
00:01:59.11\00:02:00.45
that special DVD
free offer for today.
00:02:00.45\00:02:03.75
But before we get to
our study as we always do,
00:02:03.75\00:02:06.02
we'd like to begin by
lifting our voices in song.
00:02:06.02\00:02:08.76
I'd like to invite the
song leaders to come forward
00:02:08.76\00:02:10.89
and they'll lead us
together this morning.
00:02:10.89\00:02:12.49
Dear Father in heaven,
00:04:26.46\00:04:27.46
once again we are
grateful for the opportunity
00:04:27.46\00:04:29.46
to gather together
and open up Your Word
00:04:29.46\00:04:31.00
and study this important message
00:04:31.00\00:04:33.10
found in the Book of Acts,
00:04:33.10\00:04:34.24
this great
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:04:34.24\00:04:36.71
that helped to
begin the Christian era.
00:04:36.71\00:04:39.01
And, Lord, we look forward
00:04:39.01\00:04:40.08
to a special outpouring
of Your Spirit in our time
00:04:40.08\00:04:42.41
that will help finish the
proclamation of the gospel
00:04:42.41\00:04:44.65
that has to go to the world.
00:04:44.65\00:04:45.75
Thank you so much for singing.
00:04:45.75\00:04:46.78
So blessed our time
together this morning,
00:04:46.78\00:04:48.72
for we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:04:48.72\00:04:52.12
Our lesson today is
going to be brought to us
00:04:52.12\00:04:53.92
by Dr. David DeRose.
00:04:53.92\00:04:56.22
Thank you.
00:04:56.22\00:04:58.23
Well, it's good to continue
on the journey together.
00:04:58.23\00:05:01.26
We're just off on this excursion
00:05:01.26\00:05:04.77
if you will
through the Book of Acts.
00:05:04.77\00:05:07.47
The Book of Acts,
we're on lesson two
00:05:07.47\00:05:10.04
as Pastors John
already mentioned
00:05:10.04\00:05:12.64
and the topic is on Pentecost.
00:05:12.64\00:05:15.61
Perhaps, you've
been there before.
00:05:19.98\00:05:23.28
You've been in a position
00:05:23.28\00:05:24.72
where you were given
a job or a task to do
00:05:24.72\00:05:29.42
and you felt
totally unequipped to do it.
00:05:29.42\00:05:34.63
Can you relate to that?
00:05:34.63\00:05:36.90
I don't know, it
seems in my experience
00:05:36.90\00:05:38.63
that God has
this amazing ability
00:05:38.63\00:05:41.07
of putting me in
places where I don't feel
00:05:41.07\00:05:44.57
I'm able to
surround the task at hand.
00:05:44.57\00:05:47.64
Can you relate to that?
00:05:47.64\00:05:49.74
Put yourself in the
position of the early church.
00:05:49.74\00:05:52.28
Last week as we study together,
we were looking at Acts 1,
00:05:52.28\00:05:57.95
and I invite you
to turn back there
00:05:57.95\00:06:00.66
for a
commissioning that Jesus gave.
00:06:00.66\00:06:04.06
Luke gives it in short
order in the Book of Acts.
00:06:04.06\00:06:08.10
Of course, Luke
is the author of Acts
00:06:08.10\00:06:11.03
as well as the
author of the gospel
00:06:11.03\00:06:13.10
that bears his name.
00:06:13.10\00:06:14.80
And as we turn there to Acts 1,
00:06:14.80\00:06:17.01
we're going to
catch a commission
00:06:17.01\00:06:20.14
that I think the
disciples had to feel
00:06:20.14\00:06:22.98
totally unequipped to fulfill.
00:06:22.98\00:06:27.02
Acts 1, these actually
are the words of Jesus.
00:06:27.02\00:06:33.79
And let's look at
beginning with verse 7,
00:06:33.79\00:06:37.76
so Acts 1:7.
00:06:37.76\00:06:41.03
Jesus says to them,
"It's not for you to know
00:06:41.03\00:06:43.63
the times or the seasons
00:06:43.63\00:06:46.23
which the Father has
put in His own authority.
00:06:46.23\00:06:49.14
But you shall receive power
00:06:49.14\00:06:51.04
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you,
00:06:51.04\00:06:53.74
and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
00:06:53.74\00:06:57.85
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth."
00:06:57.85\00:07:03.49
How do you decide
whether you're equipped
00:07:07.12\00:07:10.89
to take on a certain role?
00:07:10.89\00:07:14.76
If I were to walk up to you
00:07:14.76\00:07:16.16
after the Sabbath School lesson,
00:07:16.16\00:07:17.63
I say, "Would you
be so kind as to..."
00:07:17.63\00:07:22.07
Fill in the blank.
00:07:22.07\00:07:23.37
You know, "Fix my
car this weekend for me."
00:07:23.37\00:07:26.21
What would you use to judge
00:07:26.21\00:07:29.71
whether you were able
to fulfill that request?
00:07:29.71\00:07:34.25
Yes, past experience, right?
00:07:34.25\00:07:36.25
Isn't that how we
typically work as humans?
00:07:36.25\00:07:38.05
"Oh, yeah, I can do that.
00:07:38.05\00:07:39.19
I fix cars many times,
00:07:39.19\00:07:40.62
would be happy to
come over tomorrow
00:07:40.62\00:07:42.99
and fix your vehicle."
00:07:42.99\00:07:46.26
Based on past
experience, how well equipped
00:07:46.26\00:07:50.67
were the disciples to
be the witnesses of Jesus?
00:07:50.67\00:07:54.44
First of all, just in Jerusalem,
00:07:54.44\00:07:57.31
how they had done to this point?
00:07:57.31\00:08:01.48
They hadn't done
too well, had they?
00:08:01.48\00:08:04.45
I mean at the
cross who was there
00:08:04.45\00:08:06.92
giving that grand sermon
00:08:06.92\00:08:08.45
pointing to the
significance of Jesus' death
00:08:08.45\00:08:11.72
and the
fulfillment of the sanctuary,
00:08:11.72\00:08:13.22
who was there
preaching at the cross?
00:08:13.22\00:08:16.26
Nobody, they were
all hiding, right?
00:08:16.26\00:08:17.59
Well, John, you
say was still there,
00:08:17.59\00:08:19.79
Peter tarried around
long enough to deny his Lord,
00:08:19.79\00:08:23.83
but just looking at
externals, you would say,
00:08:23.83\00:08:26.20
here was a commission they
were not equipped to fulfill.
00:08:26.20\00:08:30.71
And in fact, the
very request of Jesus
00:08:30.71\00:08:33.61
implies that if they
looked at themselves,
00:08:33.61\00:08:36.78
they would say
there's no way we could do it.
00:08:36.78\00:08:38.28
Look at the verse.
00:08:38.28\00:08:40.15
In verse 7 and 8,
00:08:40.15\00:08:42.28
Jesus actually implies
that looking at themselves
00:08:42.28\00:08:45.82
they would say, we are
not equipped to do this,
00:08:45.82\00:08:48.02
we don't have the power.
00:08:48.02\00:08:49.09
What is there in
the verse that tells us
00:08:49.09\00:08:52.53
that Jesus
understood how they felt?
00:08:52.53\00:08:55.56
You pick it up there
in verse 8 of Acts 1.
00:08:59.53\00:09:03.27
You see it, don't you?
00:09:03.27\00:09:05.17
"He's assuring them
that you'll receive power."
00:09:05.17\00:09:11.05
If I assure you that
you'll receive power,
00:09:11.05\00:09:13.48
what does that imply?
00:09:13.48\00:09:15.88
Yeah, that you don't
have power right now.
00:09:15.88\00:09:19.69
We're in a
fairly rural location,
00:09:19.69\00:09:22.32
and every now and then we
might flip on the light switch
00:09:22.32\00:09:26.13
and there's no power.
00:09:26.13\00:09:27.93
And if we call the power
company, what do they do?
00:09:27.93\00:09:31.30
There's often an
automated message
00:09:31.30\00:09:33.94
that they're working on
restoring power to our area.
00:09:33.94\00:09:37.31
And in so many
words they're saying,
00:09:37.31\00:09:38.97
"You shall receive power."
00:09:38.97\00:09:40.64
They may even give us a time,
00:09:40.64\00:09:42.51
"Power is
expected to be restored
00:09:42.51\00:09:44.48
between midnight
and two in the morning."
00:09:44.48\00:09:47.28
Have you got messages like that?
00:09:47.28\00:09:49.32
But it would do no good
if we already had power.
00:09:49.32\00:09:54.42
"You shall receive power."
00:09:54.42\00:09:55.69
Well, that's the background,
00:09:55.69\00:09:57.03
that was our
lesson study last week,
00:09:57.03\00:09:59.43
but now here we are in Acts 2.
00:09:59.43\00:10:02.63
It is some 50 days
00:10:02.63\00:10:05.20
after those terrible events,
00:10:05.20\00:10:10.37
terrible at
least in the experience
00:10:10.37\00:10:12.37
of the disciples on Golgotha.
00:10:12.37\00:10:15.18
Jesus, the one who they
looked to as being the Savior
00:10:15.18\00:10:17.88
they thought, it was all over.
00:10:17.88\00:10:21.28
You remember those
disciples on the Emmaus road.
00:10:21.28\00:10:24.12
They said, we thought it was Him
00:10:24.12\00:10:26.45
that was going to
deliver Israel, right?
00:10:26.45\00:10:29.46
Now here we are just
some seven weeks later,
00:10:29.46\00:10:34.03
go with me there to Acts 2,
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.26
that's where
our lesson picks up.
00:10:36.26\00:10:38.60
Disciples feeling powerless,
00:10:38.60\00:10:42.70
now assured
after the resurrection
00:10:42.70\00:10:44.87
that they are
serving a risen Savior,
00:10:44.87\00:10:47.91
that their hopes
were not misplaced,
00:10:47.91\00:10:50.11
Jesus has shown them over
the course of a short time
00:10:50.11\00:10:55.12
on this planet
after His resurrection,
00:10:55.12\00:10:57.95
physically present
that the gospel was true,
00:10:57.95\00:11:02.26
that their faith
was not unfounded,
00:11:02.26\00:11:04.59
and now they've been
holding out in Jerusalem
00:11:04.59\00:11:07.86
waiting for the
promise of the Holy Spirit.
00:11:07.86\00:11:11.67
Here we are now
in Acts 2:1, it says,
00:11:11.67\00:11:15.40
"When the day of
Pentecost had fully come,
00:11:15.40\00:11:18.64
they were all with
one accord in one place."
00:11:18.64\00:11:24.75
Now I don't know
if you've noticed this
00:11:24.75\00:11:25.91
about the scriptures,
00:11:25.91\00:11:26.98
but many times if
there's a key thought
00:11:26.98\00:11:29.15
or a very important concept,
00:11:29.15\00:11:30.85
it's not mentioned only once.
00:11:30.85\00:11:34.32
So if you look at Acts 1 and 2,
00:11:34.32\00:11:36.69
do you see this succinct
description of the disciples
00:11:36.69\00:11:41.60
and how they were together,
00:11:41.60\00:11:43.73
do you see it
mentioned anywhere else?
00:11:43.73\00:11:45.73
Help me out.
00:11:45.73\00:11:46.94
In Acts 1 and 2, do you see
anywhere else where Acts 2:1,
00:11:46.94\00:11:51.97
the same
concept is communicated?
00:11:51.97\00:11:53.98
Good. I see many
of you cogitating.
00:11:58.61\00:12:00.75
This is a good sign.
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.85
Okay, someone says, "Acts 1:14."
00:12:03.85\00:12:07.12
That's exactly
what I was thinking of.
00:12:07.12\00:12:09.22
There might be some other places
00:12:09.22\00:12:10.53
where you get this sense.
00:12:10.53\00:12:11.56
But in Acts
1:14, let's look there,
00:12:11.56\00:12:14.03
is speaking and it
actually, it goes so far,
00:12:14.03\00:12:17.00
Luke does as he's
writing the account,
00:12:17.00\00:12:18.97
he names the 11
remaining disciples.
00:12:18.97\00:12:21.70
Of course, Judas
is not among them,
00:12:21.70\00:12:23.27
having hung himself.
00:12:23.27\00:12:25.64
And after naming
these 11 disciples,
00:12:25.64\00:12:29.18
it says in verse 14,
00:12:29.18\00:12:30.95
"These all continued
with one accord in prayer,
00:12:30.95\00:12:34.85
and supplication with the women,
00:12:34.85\00:12:37.65
and Mary, the Mother of
Jesus, and with his brothers."
00:12:37.65\00:12:43.29
I mean, catch the significance
of what's being communicated
00:12:43.29\00:12:46.70
in Acts 1:14, and
then again in Acts 2:1.
00:12:46.70\00:12:51.60
If we were to talk about
the disciples before the cross,
00:12:51.60\00:12:56.77
what setting are the
disciples usually described in?
00:12:56.77\00:13:01.54
What is their emotional state?
00:13:01.54\00:13:05.88
Yeah, they're
jostling for position, right?
00:13:05.88\00:13:08.62
You know, who's
going to be the greatest.
00:13:08.62\00:13:10.22
Jesus is trying to
prepare them for the cross
00:13:10.22\00:13:12.29
and what's going on?
00:13:12.29\00:13:14.42
You know, who's
going to be number one?
00:13:14.42\00:13:17.39
By the way, can this happen
in Christian churches today?
00:13:17.39\00:13:23.40
Can people be concerned about
their position in the church
00:13:23.40\00:13:27.07
or their position in a
Christian organization?
00:13:27.07\00:13:30.87
Now what's amazing to
me, this is human nature,
00:13:30.87\00:13:34.64
but God is
transcending human nature
00:13:34.64\00:13:36.85
even before the full
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:36.85\00:13:40.48
So the Holy Spirit
is already at work,
00:13:40.48\00:13:43.39
there's no question.
00:13:43.39\00:13:47.26
The disciples now
instead of arguing about
00:13:47.26\00:13:49.86
who is the greatest,
00:13:49.86\00:13:51.59
they're all with
one accord in one place.
00:13:51.59\00:13:55.83
Who else is there
according to Acts 1:14?
00:13:55.83\00:14:02.04
Who else is there?
00:14:02.04\00:14:04.27
The mother of Jesus, the
women, and in that society,
00:14:04.27\00:14:08.48
you know, women
didn't have much position.
00:14:08.48\00:14:11.35
Here they are women
00:14:11.35\00:14:12.78
in the intimate
circle of believers,
00:14:12.78\00:14:14.65
it's the whole
church, it's the world church,
00:14:14.65\00:14:16.55
it's there, it's just a
smaller group at that time.
00:14:16.55\00:14:19.32
And who else you
catch, who else is there?
00:14:19.32\00:14:21.99
Jesus' brothers, the
half brothers of Jesus,
00:14:21.99\00:14:25.56
some of them later went on
to write books of the Bible,
00:14:25.56\00:14:28.56
do you realize that?
00:14:28.56\00:14:30.67
Jude wrote a book.
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.43
Who was Jude?
00:14:32.43\00:14:34.34
He's the brother of Jesus.
00:14:34.34\00:14:35.37
Was there another
half brother of Jesus
00:14:35.37\00:14:38.14
that wrote a Bible book?
00:14:38.14\00:14:39.77
James, that's right.
00:14:39.77\00:14:40.84
The James who
wrote the Book of James
00:14:40.84\00:14:43.11
was not the Apostle James.
00:14:43.11\00:14:44.85
James was the first martyr.
00:14:44.85\00:14:46.65
The James of the 12
00:14:46.65\00:14:48.08
was the first
martyr among the 12.
00:14:48.08\00:14:50.35
But James who
wrote the Bible book
00:14:50.35\00:14:52.55
was the half brother of Jesus.
00:14:52.55\00:14:53.86
They gave Jesus a terrible time
00:14:53.86\00:14:55.72
and we picked that
up through the gospels.
00:14:55.72\00:14:57.49
Now, after the
resurrection of Jesus,
00:14:57.49\00:15:00.30
they're all together,
00:15:00.30\00:15:01.26
and that's the picture
in Acts 2 as it opens up.
00:15:01.26\00:15:04.90
We've got a group of
people that were disunified,
00:15:04.90\00:15:08.17
they've come together.
00:15:08.17\00:15:09.47
And I ask the question,
00:15:09.47\00:15:11.24
as often we talk
about the importance
00:15:11.24\00:15:13.31
of revival and reformation,
00:15:13.31\00:15:15.14
we talk about
praying for the Holy Spirit.
00:15:15.14\00:15:17.61
Are we picking up on an implicit
00:15:17.61\00:15:20.12
perhaps
condition of the outpouring
00:15:20.12\00:15:23.08
of the Holy Spirit?
00:15:23.08\00:15:26.35
Is there in the
text, the suggestion
00:15:26.35\00:15:28.86
that if we're
looking for a full measure
00:15:28.86\00:15:30.69
of the Holy
Spirit to be poured out,
00:15:30.69\00:15:33.43
that there is something
that we may need to do?
00:15:33.43\00:15:36.70
And what is it?
00:15:36.70\00:15:39.70
Empty ourselves to self,
come close to one another,
00:15:39.70\00:15:44.54
be of one mind,
be of one accord.
00:15:44.54\00:15:46.68
How easy is that to do?
00:15:46.68\00:15:49.91
I would suggest
that it's impossible.
00:15:49.91\00:15:52.51
Humanly
speaking, it is impossible,
00:15:52.51\00:15:55.58
but through the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:15:55.58\00:15:57.82
as we'll see
God wants to give us
00:15:57.82\00:16:00.19
that power to be His witnesses.
00:16:00.19\00:16:04.06
Well, here we are, Acts 2:1.
00:16:04.06\00:16:10.40
All these folks are together,
it is the day of Pentecost.
00:16:10.40\00:16:13.47
So let's pick up the
story in our lesson here.
00:16:13.47\00:16:17.01
I'm actually
going to Sunday's lesson
00:16:17.01\00:16:22.58
where it speaks about the
coming of the Holy Spirit,
00:16:22.58\00:16:24.68
and it might be wise
00:16:24.68\00:16:25.71
if you're not following
along in the quarterly,
00:16:25.71\00:16:27.82
you can pick this up.
00:16:27.82\00:16:29.55
If you're attending here,
00:16:29.55\00:16:30.75
you can pick it up
right out in the foyer.
00:16:30.75\00:16:33.42
But if you're not
attending, you can actually go
00:16:33.42\00:16:36.09
to the Amazing Facts website,
00:16:36.09\00:16:38.09
and you can
actually download the lesson
00:16:38.09\00:16:40.30
or pick up a link so
that you can study along.
00:16:40.30\00:16:43.20
But Sabbath is
speaking about this concept
00:16:43.20\00:16:45.47
that we've been alluding to
00:16:45.47\00:16:46.67
and maybe we should just dwell
on this a little bit longer.
00:16:46.67\00:16:49.90
In fact maybe to make
it even more practical,
00:16:49.90\00:16:53.24
we could look at
another example of a calling
00:16:53.24\00:16:57.45
that may seem
difficult if not impossible.
00:16:57.45\00:17:01.92
One of our readers there,
00:17:01.92\00:17:03.18
he has a passage
in 1 Thessalonians 5
00:17:03.18\00:17:06.89
that we'll read
in just a moment,
00:17:06.89\00:17:08.32
so we'll be reading
from 1 Thessalonians 5.
00:17:08.32\00:17:10.76
But I want to catch this vision
00:17:10.76\00:17:12.56
just before we go a little
bit more into the narrative.
00:17:12.56\00:17:15.93
And the idea is that if
we're looking at ourselves
00:17:15.93\00:17:20.84
as to whether we're able
to fulfill God's calling,
00:17:20.84\00:17:24.41
we're looking in
the wrong place, okay.
00:17:24.41\00:17:27.18
The whole emphasis
in the Pentecost story,
00:17:27.18\00:17:29.84
the whole
emphasis in Acts 1 and 2
00:17:29.84\00:17:31.88
is that we are
unable to accomplish
00:17:31.88\00:17:34.58
what God has called us to do,
00:17:34.58\00:17:36.15
but He has promised
us power from heaven.
00:17:36.15\00:17:39.75
And so instead of...
00:17:39.75\00:17:42.16
I'll be honest with you, okay?
00:17:42.16\00:17:44.26
I have done those
spiritual gifts inventories.
00:17:44.26\00:17:47.86
I've served as a pastor.
00:17:47.86\00:17:49.50
I work with church members,
and you know what happens.
00:17:49.50\00:17:52.73
Many times we speak
about spiritual gifts,
00:17:52.73\00:17:54.94
I'll just lay it right
out for you or maybe you say,
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.81
"You've been in some
bad places, Dr. DeRose."
00:17:57.81\00:18:00.34
But what I find happens
00:18:00.34\00:18:01.74
when we talk
about spiritual gifts
00:18:01.74\00:18:03.78
is the first thing
I hear from people is
00:18:03.78\00:18:06.45
well, you know, I
don't have that gift.
00:18:06.45\00:18:09.22
That's not my gift.
00:18:09.22\00:18:10.95
Have you heard that before?
00:18:10.95\00:18:12.92
Maybe you've even said it.
00:18:12.92\00:18:15.12
Someone's asked you to
be involved in some way,
00:18:15.12\00:18:17.19
"Well, that's not my gift.
00:18:17.19\00:18:18.26
I don't have that gift."
00:18:18.26\00:18:21.56
The emphasis on spiritual gifts
00:18:21.56\00:18:23.70
is not on what
you naturally possess.
00:18:23.70\00:18:29.84
The emphasis is on what
God wants to do for you, okay.
00:18:29.84\00:18:33.58
Not what gifts you
have intrinsically,
00:18:33.58\00:18:36.48
but what the Holy
Spirit wants to do through you.
00:18:36.48\00:18:38.45
And if you catch that,
00:18:38.45\00:18:39.75
that is where
Acts 1 and 2 starts.
00:18:39.75\00:18:42.38
And if you didn't
pick up on it last week,
00:18:42.38\00:18:44.19
look again at Acts 1,
over and over again you see
00:18:44.19\00:18:47.12
the Holy Spirit did
this, the Holy Spirit did this,
00:18:47.12\00:18:49.46
Jesus did this
through the Holy Spirit.
00:18:49.46\00:18:51.63
And in fact many commentators,
00:18:51.63\00:18:53.53
when they look
at the Book of Acts,
00:18:53.53\00:18:54.83
they say, "Well, you know,
maybe it shouldn't be called
00:18:54.83\00:18:57.20
the Acts of the Apostles,"
00:18:57.20\00:18:58.63
it should be called what?
00:18:58.63\00:19:00.74
"The Acts of the Holy Spirit."
00:19:00.74\00:19:02.87
Okay, let's go to
1 Thessalonians 5,
00:19:02.87\00:19:06.01
it's a short passage.
00:19:06.01\00:19:07.78
In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5
00:19:07.78\00:19:09.68
has some of the most
powerful succinct scriptures
00:19:09.68\00:19:14.65
that call us to action.
00:19:14.65\00:19:16.92
But listen to what we have there
00:19:16.92\00:19:18.99
in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
00:19:18.99\00:19:23.02
"And the very God of
peace sanctify you completely
00:19:23.02\00:19:26.83
and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body
00:19:26.83\00:19:30.37
be preserved blameless
00:19:30.37\00:19:31.67
unto the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:19:31.67\00:19:34.20
Faithful is he that calleth you,
00:19:34.20\00:19:36.20
who also will do it."
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.44
Okay, thank you.
00:19:38.44\00:19:40.04
It's a passage
where Paul is speaking
00:19:40.04\00:19:41.78
about sanctification, holiness,
00:19:41.78\00:19:45.15
but did you catch
how that passage closed.
00:19:45.15\00:19:47.92
Did you catch 1
Thessalonians 5:24?
00:19:47.92\00:19:52.19
"Faithful is he
who calls you..."
00:19:52.19\00:19:54.96
Who will what?
00:19:54.96\00:19:56.52
"Who will do it."
00:19:56.52\00:19:57.89
Who will do it.
00:19:57.89\00:19:58.89
Wouldn't that be
wonderful if in every church,
00:19:58.89\00:20:01.73
in every Christian organization,
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.16
in every home if you were asked
to do something you would say,
00:20:03.16\00:20:06.94
"Really, you
asked me to do that?
00:20:06.94\00:20:09.37
I didn't think I could do that.
00:20:09.37\00:20:11.24
But if you're
asking me to do it,
00:20:11.24\00:20:12.97
I know it's going to happen."
00:20:12.97\00:20:15.21
Wouldn't that be amazing?
00:20:15.21\00:20:16.64
'Cause that's what God does.
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.78
So if God's asking
you to do something,
00:20:18.78\00:20:21.08
He's going to
fully equip you to do it,
00:20:21.08\00:20:23.42
and that's what the essence
of Acts 1 and 2 is all about.
00:20:23.42\00:20:26.96
This is encouraging news for me.
00:20:26.96\00:20:29.06
'Cause many times it looks
like God puts me in positions
00:20:29.06\00:20:32.13
and I just, I mean I wonder
why the Lord has me there.
00:20:32.13\00:20:35.90
Have you been there?
00:20:35.90\00:20:37.50
Yeah, you can relate.
00:20:37.50\00:20:38.93
You can relate.
00:20:38.93\00:20:40.54
Well, so we're now in Acts 2
00:20:40.54\00:20:43.74
and the title
of this description
00:20:43.74\00:20:47.71
in our lesson quarterly
is the coming of the Spirit.
00:20:47.71\00:20:52.55
So you've got the picture.
00:20:52.55\00:20:53.78
This is one of the great feasts
of the Old Testament Church
00:20:53.78\00:20:58.82
and here we are in Acts 2,
00:20:58.82\00:21:00.89
they are gathered
together in the upper room,
00:21:00.89\00:21:02.92
all the
disciples, all the believers.
00:21:02.92\00:21:04.63
In fact, we saw a more complete
description in Acts 1:14,
00:21:04.63\00:21:08.00
but when we come to
chapter 2, it just simply says,
00:21:08.00\00:21:10.07
"They were all with
one accord in one place."
00:21:10.07\00:21:12.93
Referring to the
whole visible church,
00:21:12.93\00:21:15.74
and it says in verse 2,
00:21:15.74\00:21:17.01
"Suddenly there
came a sound from heaven
00:21:17.01\00:21:19.84
as of a rushing mighty wind
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.61
and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
00:21:23.61\00:21:28.05
Then there appeared
to them divided tongues,
00:21:28.05\00:21:31.69
as of fire, and one
sat upon each of them.
00:21:31.69\00:21:35.42
And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:21:35.42\00:21:37.29
and began to speak
with other tongues,
00:21:37.29\00:21:40.46
as the Spirit
gave them utterance."
00:21:40.46\00:21:44.93
Now it didn't
happen to me this week,
00:21:44.93\00:21:47.67
but I spent a lot of time
00:21:47.67\00:21:50.04
in the medical clinic this week.
00:21:50.04\00:21:52.21
And if a patient
had come in to me
00:21:52.21\00:21:54.28
complaining of
problems in their mouth,
00:21:54.28\00:21:58.48
and when I took down that,
00:21:58.48\00:22:00.68
I usually use a
otoscope to look in their mouth,
00:22:00.68\00:22:03.49
that's usually
used to look in the ear,
00:22:03.49\00:22:05.19
but it's the best light
source that's usually available.
00:22:05.19\00:22:07.86
I grab that down off the
wall and I get one of those...
00:22:07.86\00:22:12.73
I sometimes
describe them to the patients
00:22:12.73\00:22:14.50
as delicious tongue depressors,
00:22:14.50\00:22:17.10
you know, those
wooden tongue depressors,
00:22:17.10\00:22:19.20
and so I look in the mouth
00:22:19.20\00:22:21.40
and I see their
tongue is all swollen up.
00:22:21.40\00:22:25.84
Tongue is all swollen.
00:22:25.84\00:22:28.41
If I were to describe that,
00:22:28.41\00:22:31.78
I would, I would describe
it in their medical record,
00:22:31.78\00:22:34.92
type into that
electronic record,
00:22:34.92\00:22:36.99
what term would I use,
00:22:36.99\00:22:39.32
what medical term
would I use to describe
00:22:39.32\00:22:41.49
their swollen tongue?
00:22:41.49\00:22:43.29
Do you know?
00:22:43.29\00:22:46.39
We'd actually use
the term glossitis.
00:22:46.39\00:22:50.90
Glossitis.
00:22:50.90\00:22:53.87
You say, "Okay,
well, that's interesting."
00:22:53.87\00:22:56.77
I didn't know we'd
get a medical terminology
00:22:56.77\00:22:59.47
lecture here in Sabbath School.
00:22:59.47\00:23:01.61
What does glossitis have to do
with what we're reading about?
00:23:01.61\00:23:04.91
Well, some people say,
00:23:04.91\00:23:06.11
well, you know,
medicine, I mean that's Latin.
00:23:06.11\00:23:07.95
It's all from Latin.
00:23:07.95\00:23:08.95
No, many of the
medical roots are from Greek,
00:23:08.95\00:23:11.89
and so the New Testament
was written in what language?
00:23:11.89\00:23:14.62
Greek.
00:23:14.62\00:23:15.69
That word glossa
which refers to tongue
00:23:15.69\00:23:17.99
is the very Greek word
00:23:17.99\00:23:20.00
that we've been reading
about the English translation
00:23:20.00\00:23:22.20
in both verses 3 and 4.
00:23:22.20\00:23:25.30
So it says literally,
00:23:25.30\00:23:26.67
when it says there were
tongues of fire on their heads,
00:23:26.67\00:23:30.24
this is from that
word, the Greek word glossa.
00:23:30.24\00:23:33.91
There were literally
tongues of fire on their head
00:23:33.91\00:23:38.11
and then they
began to speak in what?
00:23:38.11\00:23:42.38
Again, from glossa, they
began to speak in other tongues.
00:23:42.38\00:23:46.99
So the manifestation
of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:46.99\00:23:49.49
this physical manifestation
00:23:49.49\00:23:51.03
is actually preparing those
who are there to realize that
00:23:51.03\00:23:54.83
what is happening is a
gift of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:54.83\00:23:57.90
it's a supernatural occurrence.
00:23:57.90\00:24:00.50
And the very word
glossa that refers to tongue
00:24:00.50\00:24:03.37
is used for both what rests
on the heads of the believers,
00:24:03.37\00:24:07.91
as well as what comes
forth from their mouth,
00:24:07.91\00:24:11.38
these tongues, these languages.
00:24:11.38\00:24:14.82
Now it's interesting,
00:24:14.82\00:24:15.85
many people as they
casually read through Acts 2
00:24:15.85\00:24:19.59
were introduced in verse
5 to the devout believers
00:24:19.59\00:24:23.22
that were there from all
over the then known world.
00:24:23.22\00:24:25.76
They had come from throughout
00:24:25.76\00:24:27.03
that whole Mediterranean region.
00:24:27.03\00:24:30.23
They're there.
00:24:30.23\00:24:33.20
And it says, it says
just amazing in verse 11
00:24:33.20\00:24:39.21
after reciting all
the different languages
00:24:39.21\00:24:42.24
that were there, it's
mentioned at first in verse 8,
00:24:42.24\00:24:46.08
"How is it that we hear
each in our own language."
00:24:46.08\00:24:51.42
Again in verse 11,
00:24:51.42\00:24:52.89
"We hear them
speaking in our own tongues,
00:24:52.89\00:24:56.66
the wonderful works of God."
00:24:56.66\00:24:58.86
They were nowhere to be found
at the cross except for John.
00:25:06.40\00:25:12.27
The disciples had
scattered, they were hiding.
00:25:12.27\00:25:16.61
The priests and the rulers
00:25:16.61\00:25:17.78
thwart by this single
manifestation of the power
00:25:17.78\00:25:22.32
of the religious organization,
00:25:22.32\00:25:24.22
joined to the power of Rome
00:25:24.22\00:25:26.39
that the believers
would be driven into hiding.
00:25:26.39\00:25:29.26
It would be the end,
they would quelch this sect,
00:25:29.26\00:25:33.56
this uprising would be over,
00:25:33.56\00:25:36.60
and instead with
the death of Jesus,
00:25:36.60\00:25:40.00
the stage is set for this
manifestation of God's power
00:25:40.00\00:25:43.30
for the resurrection,
00:25:43.30\00:25:45.07
and for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:25:45.07\00:25:47.31
And now can you imagine
00:25:47.31\00:25:50.01
the attitude of
the religious leaders
00:25:50.01\00:25:52.91
who thought they were
suppressing this sect,
00:25:52.91\00:25:57.89
now they see it exploding,
preaching throughout Jerusalem,
00:25:57.89\00:26:02.42
they're in the temple setting,
00:26:02.42\00:26:05.73
the risen
Christ, the risen Christ.
00:26:05.73\00:26:08.80
It's an
amazing, amazing account.
00:26:08.80\00:26:13.90
You know, as we
look at what happened,
00:26:13.90\00:26:15.47
like I said many casual
readers as they read this,
00:26:15.47\00:26:18.44
they say, "Well, it sounds
like the gift of hearing."
00:26:18.44\00:26:21.84
Because they say everyone
00:26:21.84\00:26:23.21
is hearing in
their own language,
00:26:23.21\00:26:26.28
but it's clear contextually
00:26:26.28\00:26:28.88
that the gift was
not a gift of hearing,
00:26:28.88\00:26:31.25
it was a gift of speaking.
00:26:31.25\00:26:35.06
Now there are some
New Testament believers,
00:26:35.06\00:26:37.39
in fact many who say
00:26:37.39\00:26:39.46
that this is the
singular manifestation
00:26:39.46\00:26:42.16
of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:42.16\00:26:43.23
If you're going to be baptized,
00:26:43.23\00:26:44.30
if you're going to be
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:26:44.30\00:26:46.00
you will start to
speak in other languages,
00:26:46.00\00:26:48.47
if you heard that before.
00:26:48.47\00:26:50.91
Is it true biblically,
00:26:50.91\00:26:52.54
can we defend that
position biblically?
00:26:52.54\00:26:55.64
Well, we don't have to
go really very far at all
00:26:55.64\00:26:59.31
because as we
read through Acts 2,
00:26:59.31\00:27:04.65
we will jump there or
maybe we'll come back here,
00:27:04.65\00:27:06.82
but come with me, we're
going to look by God's grace
00:27:06.82\00:27:09.79
at Peter's great sermon
on the day of Pentecost,
00:27:09.79\00:27:13.40
but as Peter is
closing his message,
00:27:13.40\00:27:15.90
he makes an appeal.
00:27:15.90\00:27:19.63
And as he makes that
appeal, I'm in Acts 2:38.
00:27:19.63\00:27:24.64
As he makes that appeal,
00:27:28.01\00:27:30.81
we catch a
promise there as well,
00:27:30.81\00:27:34.78
a very powerful promise.
00:27:34.78\00:27:36.42
In fact, you know,
this is so important,
00:27:36.42\00:27:38.82
you know, sometimes it helps
00:27:38.82\00:27:39.89
to hear things in
a different voice.
00:27:39.89\00:27:41.42
I think we've got
one of our readers here
00:27:41.42\00:27:44.03
who's willing to read Acts 2:38.
00:27:44.03\00:27:48.83
Before we read that, I just
want you to pick up the stream,
00:27:48.83\00:27:52.40
I know we're
jumping a little bit ahead,
00:27:52.40\00:27:53.87
but sometimes to
catch the big picture
00:27:53.87\00:27:56.24
we have to look
at how things begin
00:27:56.24\00:27:58.17
and how things end,
00:27:58.17\00:27:59.91
because many times
people twist the scriptures.
00:27:59.91\00:28:04.91
You remember, Peter
was writing about it.
00:28:04.91\00:28:07.58
He was speaking
about how actually people
00:28:07.58\00:28:10.02
even in his day
twisted the scriptures of Paul
00:28:10.02\00:28:15.96
to their own destruction.
00:28:15.96\00:28:17.16
You remember Peter
writing about that?
00:28:17.16\00:28:19.59
And so even today we
can read the scripture
00:28:19.59\00:28:21.76
and we can twist it,
00:28:21.76\00:28:22.83
especially if we
don't look at scripture
00:28:22.83\00:28:24.50
in its whole context.
00:28:24.50\00:28:26.20
So we're going to
hear some reading now
00:28:26.20\00:28:28.70
from toward the
close of Peter's sermon,
00:28:28.70\00:28:33.04
it's verses 38 and, Han,
please read there for us.
00:28:33.04\00:28:37.81
Acts 2:38-39,
"Then Peter said to them,
00:28:37.81\00:28:41.65
'Repent and let every one of you
00:28:41.65\00:28:43.92
be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ
00:28:43.92\00:28:46.89
for the remission of sins,
00:28:46.89\00:28:49.16
and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:49.16\00:28:52.66
For the promise is to
you, and to your children,
00:28:52.66\00:28:55.90
and to all who are afar of
00:28:55.90\00:28:58.10
as many as the Lord
our God will call.'"
00:28:58.10\00:29:02.10
Okay, so what's the
promise now that Peter gives?
00:29:02.10\00:29:07.28
Be baptized and
what will happen?
00:29:07.28\00:29:11.31
Yeah, so repent, be baptized,
00:29:11.31\00:29:13.15
and you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:13.15\00:29:16.35
And as you read through
what happens there in verse 40,
00:29:16.35\00:29:19.99
many are baptized, right?
00:29:19.99\00:29:22.79
How many?
00:29:22.79\00:29:26.03
Verse 41, how many in Acts 2?
00:29:26.03\00:29:29.06
Three thousand are baptized
and what happens in verse 42?
00:29:29.06\00:29:32.70
By the way what doesn't happen?
00:29:36.07\00:29:38.01
What is not
recorded as happening
00:29:38.01\00:29:40.24
after Peter has assured them
00:29:40.24\00:29:42.74
that they will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit?
00:29:42.74\00:29:45.61
They've just received
00:29:45.61\00:29:46.68
the gift of the
Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
00:29:46.68\00:29:48.22
They have spoken in tongues,
00:29:48.22\00:29:50.55
in other languages to
communicate the gospel
00:29:50.55\00:29:53.76
to foreign language speakers
00:29:53.76\00:29:56.06
who are all
gathered in Jerusalem.
00:29:56.06\00:29:58.29
What happens now as
Acts 2 is concluding
00:29:58.29\00:30:01.16
and others are
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:30:01.16\00:30:04.23
They receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit,
00:30:04.23\00:30:06.17
what happens?
00:30:06.17\00:30:08.87
There's no description of them
speaking in other languages,
00:30:08.87\00:30:12.84
but what happens
immediately after in verse 42?
00:30:12.84\00:30:15.81
They're all
fellowshipping together.
00:30:18.81\00:30:21.55
They're all with
one accord if you will.
00:30:21.55\00:30:25.02
Interesting, isn't it?
00:30:25.02\00:30:28.52
In the lesson, if you
go to Monday's lesson,
00:30:28.52\00:30:31.36
it highlights some of
these other manifestations
00:30:31.36\00:30:35.86
of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:35.86\00:30:37.10
Now, by the way we
looked at a commission
00:30:37.10\00:30:39.63
at the very beginning in Acts 1,
00:30:39.63\00:30:41.50
Jesus had given
them a commission,
00:30:41.50\00:30:43.77
and that commission we said
was one that humanly speaking,
00:30:43.77\00:30:47.18
the disciples were
ill-equipped or unequipped
00:30:47.18\00:30:50.11
completely to fulfill.
00:30:50.11\00:30:51.75
What was the commission?
00:30:51.75\00:30:55.45
This is actually a review.
00:30:55.45\00:30:58.05
So I know that many of
you are not speaking up
00:30:58.05\00:30:59.72
because you don't want to all
speak at the same time, right?
00:30:59.72\00:31:04.53
Acts 1:8,
00:31:04.53\00:31:07.66
"You shall be
witnesses to Me" where?
00:31:07.66\00:31:11.13
"In Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria,
00:31:11.13\00:31:17.24
and to the end of the earth."
00:31:17.24\00:31:19.77
In fact many commentators
as they look at Acts 1:8,
00:31:19.77\00:31:23.11
they say this is an
outline of the Book of Acts.
00:31:23.11\00:31:26.21
It's an outline
00:31:26.21\00:31:27.42
because first, the
Holy Spirit is poured out
00:31:27.42\00:31:29.65
and the ministry
is focused where?
00:31:29.65\00:31:32.15
In Jerusalem, after
the stoning of Stephen,
00:31:32.15\00:31:36.26
that starts to expand
00:31:36.26\00:31:37.59
and as we read through
Acts 8, and 9, and 10, 11,
00:31:37.59\00:31:41.23
where does the
gospel first expand to?
00:31:41.23\00:31:45.47
Judea and Samaria.
00:31:45.47\00:31:48.44
So where
Cornelius was in Acts 10,
00:31:48.44\00:31:50.97
that would be included
in that region of Samaria.
00:31:50.97\00:31:55.61
And then, after
that as Paul goes out
00:31:55.61\00:31:58.28
on his missionary journeys,
00:31:58.28\00:31:59.91
where does it go, the gospel?
00:31:59.91\00:32:02.05
To the ends of the earth.
00:32:02.05\00:32:05.09
Go with me to Acts 10.
00:32:05.09\00:32:06.35
So we've just been
looking at the outpouring
00:32:06.35\00:32:07.92
of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.
00:32:07.92\00:32:09.79
When the Spirit
is first poured out,
00:32:09.79\00:32:11.59
it equips people
who are unequipped.
00:32:11.59\00:32:14.76
By the way it says,
they all spoke in tongues,
00:32:14.76\00:32:17.33
not just the 12.
00:32:17.33\00:32:19.60
So it seems that even the women,
00:32:19.60\00:32:21.10
I say even the women
not to depreciate the women
00:32:21.10\00:32:24.41
in our church today,
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.21
but you have to realize
in the early church women...
00:32:26.21\00:32:29.61
In the early
centuries, women did not,
00:32:29.61\00:32:33.72
women were basically
property in that culture.
00:32:33.72\00:32:36.82
And God from the very beginning,
00:32:36.82\00:32:38.82
Jesus, even as He traveled,
women traveled with Jesus,
00:32:38.82\00:32:43.53
this was not typical
in early biblical times.
00:32:43.53\00:32:48.10
Jesus was
elevating the role of women
00:32:48.10\00:32:50.13
from the very beginning,
00:32:50.13\00:32:51.57
and women are being shown
00:32:51.57\00:32:52.67
that they have a powerful place
00:32:52.67\00:32:53.94
in the ministry
of the early church
00:32:53.94\00:32:56.24
as they do today.
00:32:56.24\00:32:58.34
And so here, the
women, the brothers of Jesus,
00:32:58.34\00:33:01.91
the disciples, this gift
is poured out in Jerusalem.
00:33:01.91\00:33:07.12
Now we're
hastening over to Acts 10.
00:33:07.12\00:33:08.88
If you're following
along in Monday's lesson,
00:33:08.88\00:33:11.29
it mentions a number of these
manifestations of the Spirit
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.36
and it points us
to Acts 10:45-46.
00:33:14.36\00:33:19.06
Peter has come to
the house of Cornelius
00:33:19.06\00:33:22.36
and this lesson wants us
to focus on verses 45 and 46,
00:33:22.36\00:33:28.27
so let's look at that.
00:33:28.27\00:33:30.47
Actually 44 is probably
a better place to start,
00:33:30.47\00:33:32.61
I'm in Acts 10
beginning with verse 44.
00:33:32.61\00:33:35.94
It says, "While Peter was
still speaking these words,
00:33:35.94\00:33:39.15
the Holy Spirit fell upon
all those who heard the word."
00:33:39.15\00:33:42.98
Now these are all gentiles.
00:33:42.98\00:33:46.62
It says, "And those of
the circumcision who believed
00:33:46.62\00:33:50.73
were astonished as
many as came with Peter,
00:33:50.73\00:33:56.77
because the gift
of the Holy Spirit
00:33:56.77\00:33:59.20
had been poured out
on the gentiles also,
00:33:59.20\00:34:01.70
for they heard them speak
with tongues and magnify God."
00:34:01.70\00:34:07.31
Now what I want you to notice,
is the first time we hear about
00:34:07.31\00:34:11.25
the giving of this
supernatural gift of tongues,
00:34:11.25\00:34:14.38
the ability to communicate,
00:34:14.38\00:34:15.58
especially the gospel
in a foreign language.
00:34:15.58\00:34:18.12
We see it in
Acts 2 in Jerusalem,
00:34:18.12\00:34:20.59
it's poured out on
the then known believers.
00:34:20.59\00:34:23.66
Now in Acts 10, we see
the same gift poured out.
00:34:23.66\00:34:28.20
God through the Holy Spirit
is connecting the dots, okay?
00:34:28.20\00:34:32.93
Not only is the
commission to be witnesses,
00:34:32.93\00:34:36.47
a commission that has a bearing
on the disciples of that time,
00:34:36.47\00:34:40.71
it has a bearing
on every believer
00:34:40.71\00:34:43.38
because we see in Acts 10,
00:34:43.38\00:34:44.65
these people are not even
identified as believers yet,
00:34:44.65\00:34:47.88
but they believe, they repent,
00:34:47.88\00:34:49.58
they hear the preaching of Peter
00:34:49.58\00:34:52.82
just as we'll see it
again in Acts 2 shortly.
00:34:52.82\00:34:56.02
And what did they do?
00:34:56.02\00:34:57.16
They believe, they
repent and on them falls
00:34:57.16\00:34:59.59
this physical manifestation
of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:59.59\00:35:03.93
Now, just
because we've mentioned
00:35:03.93\00:35:06.77
our Pentecostal friends,
00:35:06.77\00:35:08.10
go back to Acts 4
00:35:08.10\00:35:10.37
because we
skipped over something.
00:35:10.37\00:35:13.04
In Acts 4,
00:35:13.04\00:35:14.04
there is another
description of the Holy Spirit
00:35:14.04\00:35:16.51
being poured out.
00:35:16.51\00:35:17.75
We've looked at a number of them
00:35:17.75\00:35:18.81
being filled
with the Holy Spirit,
00:35:18.81\00:35:20.18
the Holy Spirit being given,
00:35:20.18\00:35:21.45
the Holy Spirit
being poured out,
00:35:21.45\00:35:22.72
these different descriptions
00:35:22.72\00:35:24.79
for a more full
bestowal of the Holy Spirit.
00:35:24.79\00:35:29.96
I'm in Acts 4, we'll
study through this later
00:35:29.96\00:35:33.43
in more detail
as we will Acts 10,
00:35:33.43\00:35:36.13
but again, we're trying to
get this picture as Acts begins,
00:35:36.13\00:35:39.57
it's the work of the Holy Spirit
00:35:39.57\00:35:41.07
that's equipping
the church for ministry.
00:35:41.07\00:35:43.20
It's the promise that you
and I have as believers today
00:35:43.20\00:35:46.81
that the same Holy
Spirit wants to work through us.
00:35:46.81\00:35:49.24
Now look here in Acts 4.
00:35:49.24\00:35:52.38
Peter and John have
gotten themselves into trouble.
00:35:52.38\00:35:55.52
They've been bold for Jesus.
00:35:55.52\00:35:58.65
And it's interesting, they're...
00:35:58.65\00:36:04.09
Wow, they're put
into a difficult position.
00:36:04.09\00:36:06.59
The chief priest and elders
are giving them a hard time,
00:36:06.59\00:36:09.63
and they come back now
to be with the believers
00:36:09.63\00:36:11.77
in Acts 4:23-24 as the setting.
00:36:11.77\00:36:16.91
And they come and they
start praying together,
00:36:16.91\00:36:19.87
they start speaking of God
as the creator in verse 24,
00:36:19.87\00:36:23.85
"Lord, you are God.
00:36:23.85\00:36:25.15
You made heaven,
and earth, and the sea,
00:36:25.15\00:36:27.35
and all that in them is."
00:36:27.35\00:36:29.18
Where are they
quoting from by the way?
00:36:29.18\00:36:32.52
They're quoting from
basically Genesis and Exodus.
00:36:32.52\00:36:36.29
They're quoting from the
Sabbath commandment, okay.
00:36:36.29\00:36:38.99
This is part of
their Christian heritage.
00:36:38.99\00:36:42.66
They weekly were
keeping the Sabbath,
00:36:42.66\00:36:44.97
they were focusing
on the Creator God.
00:36:44.97\00:36:46.97
They realized God as
the all powerful one,
00:36:46.97\00:36:49.57
the Creator,
they call out to Him.
00:36:49.57\00:36:51.64
They quote scripture,
00:36:51.64\00:36:54.08
and then look what
it says in verse 29,
00:36:54.08\00:36:57.21
they've been forbidden to
preach in the name of Jesus.
00:36:57.21\00:37:00.95
Verse 29, "Now, Lord,
look on their threats..."
00:37:00.95\00:37:04.89
And what did they pray for?
00:37:04.89\00:37:07.66
"Grant to your
servants that with all boldness
00:37:07.66\00:37:13.06
they may speak your word
00:37:13.06\00:37:14.36
by stretching out
Your hand to heal,
00:37:14.36\00:37:16.13
and that signs and
wonders may be done
00:37:16.13\00:37:18.27
through the name of
Your holy servant Jesus."
00:37:18.27\00:37:20.30
It says in verse 31,
after they pray what happens?
00:37:20.30\00:37:25.14
It says, "They're all
filled with the Holy Spirit."
00:37:25.14\00:37:29.21
By the way, the
church is much bigger now,
00:37:29.21\00:37:31.58
even just a couple chapters,
00:37:31.58\00:37:32.91
we just saw
3,000 have been added,
00:37:32.91\00:37:35.15
the church praying together,
00:37:35.15\00:37:36.38
I don't know that every
single one was in the setting,
00:37:36.38\00:37:38.42
but the Holy Spirit is
poured out and what happens?
00:37:38.42\00:37:41.59
Do we read about
gifts of tongues?
00:37:41.59\00:37:45.23
No, there is no
mention of the gift of tongues
00:37:45.23\00:37:48.23
being poured out,
00:37:48.23\00:37:49.40
but it says they were
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:37:49.40\00:37:51.47
verse 31 of Acts
4, and they did what?
00:37:51.47\00:37:55.97
They spoke the Word
of God with boldness.
00:37:55.97\00:38:01.24
They spoke the Word
of God with boldness.
00:38:01.24\00:38:05.81
You'll be my
witnesses in Jerusalem,
00:38:05.81\00:38:09.65
in all Judea and
Samaria, and where else?
00:38:09.65\00:38:13.36
To the uttermost
ends of the earth.
00:38:13.36\00:38:16.16
In Monday's lesson,
00:38:16.16\00:38:17.19
it points us to
that section of Acts
00:38:17.19\00:38:20.43
that looks at the
uttermost ends of the earth.
00:38:20.43\00:38:22.26
Go with me to Acts 19.
00:38:22.26\00:38:24.73
Acts 19.
00:38:24.73\00:38:26.20
Now we are in Ephesus,
there are believers there,
00:38:29.34\00:38:34.51
they've really not even
heard of the Holy Spirit.
00:38:34.51\00:38:39.78
They really don't know of
the full ministry of Jesus,
00:38:39.78\00:38:43.59
but they have been
baptized into John's baptism,
00:38:43.59\00:38:46.52
that's the context of Acts 19.
00:38:46.52\00:38:51.13
Go with me to Acts
19:4, Paul now speaking says,
00:38:51.13\00:38:56.67
"John indeed baptized
with a baptism of repentance
00:38:56.67\00:39:00.20
saying to the people that
they should believe on Him
00:39:00.20\00:39:02.84
who should come after
him, that is Christ Jesus.
00:39:02.84\00:39:06.61
When they heard this,
00:39:06.61\00:39:08.38
they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus,
00:39:08.38\00:39:11.55
and when Paul
laid his hands on them,
00:39:11.55\00:39:13.88
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
00:39:13.88\00:39:15.98
and they spoke with
tongues and prophesied."
00:39:15.98\00:39:20.92
Now the men
were about 12 in all.
00:39:20.92\00:39:23.59
I find this highly significant.
00:39:23.59\00:39:25.73
There are only three
mentions of the gift of tongues
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.06
being poured out,
00:39:28.06\00:39:29.16
multiple mentions of the
Holy Spirit being poured out.
00:39:29.16\00:39:33.00
Not every time the
Holy Spirit is poured out
00:39:33.00\00:39:35.14
or given in a
special manifestation
00:39:35.14\00:39:37.24
does the gift of
tongues come along with it?
00:39:37.24\00:39:40.21
But there are
three places in Acts
00:39:40.21\00:39:43.18
where the gift
of tongues is given.
00:39:43.18\00:39:45.65
It's first in Acts
2, then it's in Acts 10,
00:39:45.65\00:39:51.75
now it's in Acts 19.
00:39:51.75\00:39:55.26
And what's interesting to me,
00:39:55.26\00:39:56.62
it's actually kind of following
this outline if you will,
00:39:56.62\00:40:01.03
as the gospel is
to go everywhere,
00:40:01.03\00:40:03.00
as believers
are to be witnesses,
00:40:03.00\00:40:05.30
God is showing
us through the gift,
00:40:05.30\00:40:07.97
this physical manifestation,
00:40:07.97\00:40:09.70
this gift of
tongues that He is committed
00:40:09.70\00:40:12.94
to preaching the
gospel everywhere
00:40:12.94\00:40:15.28
and using not only
the existing church,
00:40:15.28\00:40:18.88
but anyone who joins
him or herself to Jesus.
00:40:18.88\00:40:23.89
God is willing to equip us
00:40:23.89\00:40:25.75
with the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.06
So far from the gift of tongues
00:40:27.06\00:40:29.16
being something that
is the penultimate gift,
00:40:29.16\00:40:31.96
this great gift
that every believer has.
00:40:31.96\00:40:34.83
If you want to be a
card carrying Christian,
00:40:34.83\00:40:38.60
you have to be able to
have spoken in tongues,
00:40:38.60\00:40:41.14
there is no sense of that.
00:40:41.14\00:40:43.27
In fact, if you
look at 1 Corinthians,
00:40:43.27\00:40:46.17
maybe we should
just hasten there
00:40:46.17\00:40:48.08
because I'm not sure
that we'll be speaking
00:40:48.08\00:40:49.88
much more about the gift of
tongues during this quarter,
00:40:49.88\00:40:52.85
but go there with
me to 1 Corinthians,
00:40:52.85\00:40:54.58
really chapters 12-14
00:40:54.58\00:40:58.25
are focused on
spiritual gifts in the church.
00:40:58.25\00:41:02.19
And far from
tongues being elevated
00:41:02.19\00:41:05.06
to the highest of gifts,
00:41:05.06\00:41:07.50
the gift of
tongues is actually put
00:41:07.50\00:41:09.16
in a much more humble position.
00:41:09.16\00:41:12.27
And just to make it
as simple as we can,
00:41:12.27\00:41:16.47
in Acts 2 we've
seen this example
00:41:16.47\00:41:20.38
and then in 10 and in 19,
00:41:20.38\00:41:22.21
we've seen where these
actual language gifts are given,
00:41:22.21\00:41:24.95
the gospel is communicated.
00:41:24.95\00:41:27.22
Some people as they
read 1 Corinthians 14,
00:41:27.22\00:41:29.38
they speak, they
think we're speaking
00:41:29.38\00:41:31.22
of some ecstatic
spiritual language
00:41:31.22\00:41:34.12
that is used in prayer.
00:41:34.12\00:41:36.42
I don't see the New Testament
context supporting that.
00:41:36.42\00:41:38.89
I don't see one single example
00:41:38.89\00:41:42.10
of that playing out
in the early church.
00:41:42.10\00:41:43.73
So be very careful
00:41:43.73\00:41:45.23
if you're reading a
description of a gift
00:41:45.23\00:41:47.77
and it doesn't
seem to correspond
00:41:47.77\00:41:50.27
with the case
histories of the gift.
00:41:50.27\00:41:52.87
Now I know, I'm using
00:41:52.87\00:41:53.94
a little bit of
medical terminology here,
00:41:53.94\00:41:56.85
but this is what we do
00:41:56.85\00:41:57.88
as physicians
and as researchers.
00:41:57.88\00:42:00.22
You might have a concept,
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.02
you might think
some dots connect
00:42:02.02\00:42:04.75
in the medical community,
00:42:04.75\00:42:06.59
but if you look
at your patients,
00:42:06.59\00:42:08.56
if you look at the
case histories of people,
00:42:08.56\00:42:10.56
if you look at how
a situation plays out,
00:42:10.56\00:42:12.63
if that never
occurs, you're gonna say,
00:42:12.63\00:42:14.73
"This doesn't
look like it is..."
00:42:14.73\00:42:17.07
Sometimes we use the
term biologically plausible.
00:42:17.07\00:42:20.87
It doesn't look real.
00:42:20.87\00:42:22.57
It may seem like
some things are connected,
00:42:22.57\00:42:25.01
but they're really not.
00:42:25.01\00:42:26.27
So be very careful if you use
the example of 1 Corinthians 14
00:42:26.27\00:42:29.54
to say, "Oh, well,
this is speaking about
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.05
some ecstatic prayer language."
00:42:31.05\00:42:32.81
Just be very careful
00:42:32.81\00:42:33.92
because the examples of
tongues in the New Testament
00:42:33.92\00:42:36.65
are to communicate the gospel.
00:42:36.65\00:42:38.69
And maybe I'm a
little bit biased,
00:42:38.69\00:42:40.12
I probably should.
00:42:40.12\00:42:41.86
It's really interesting,
00:42:41.86\00:42:42.92
there's some really
interesting dialogues
00:42:42.92\00:42:44.43
in the medical community now.
00:42:44.43\00:42:47.36
I know there's a number
of health professionals,
00:42:47.36\00:42:48.80
so I was reading an editorial
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.07
a while ago where
someone was saying,
00:42:50.07\00:42:51.90
"Well, you know, these
doctors that are vegetarians,
00:42:51.90\00:42:55.07
maybe they should have to put
a disclaimer in their studies
00:42:55.07\00:42:59.54
saying it's a
conflict of interest
00:42:59.54\00:43:01.61
that they're going to
probably be more likely to show
00:43:01.61\00:43:04.65
that studies help vegetarians."
00:43:04.65\00:43:06.41
But it's interesting the guy
00:43:06.41\00:43:07.48
didn't say
anything about the mediators
00:43:07.48\00:43:09.35
or the alcohol
drinkers that they should,
00:43:09.35\00:43:11.42
you know, put something
at the bottom of their study
00:43:11.42\00:43:13.96
saying there is a
conflict of interest, okay.
00:43:13.96\00:43:16.76
Now why I'm telling
you this is, it is true,
00:43:16.76\00:43:18.46
we realize that our
own experience biases us,
00:43:18.46\00:43:21.00
and I'll tell you my background.
00:43:21.00\00:43:22.36
Some of you if you don't know,
00:43:22.36\00:43:23.43
I was raised in a Catholic home,
00:43:23.43\00:43:26.40
and in the late '60s, early '70s
00:43:26.40\00:43:30.47
I became exposed
in the Catholic Church
00:43:30.47\00:43:34.04
to the charismatic movement.
00:43:34.04\00:43:36.71
Now I was not...
00:43:36.71\00:43:39.41
Well, I won't go too
much into my background,
00:43:39.41\00:43:41.48
but I was in a setting...
00:43:41.48\00:43:43.22
By the time my high
school years were completed,
00:43:43.22\00:43:45.85
I was an agnostic,
00:43:45.85\00:43:46.96
I didn't even
know if God existed,
00:43:46.96\00:43:48.52
and I found myself in a setting
00:43:48.52\00:43:50.69
where it was at
a Catholic retreat,
00:43:50.69\00:43:53.73
and this is no
slight on Catholics,
00:43:53.73\00:43:55.46
there are many
wonderful Catholics,
00:43:55.46\00:43:56.80
many wonderful charismatics.
00:43:56.80\00:43:58.23
I'm just sharing
with you my experience
00:43:58.23\00:43:59.57
and my reaction
to my first exposure
00:43:59.57\00:44:02.07
to the "Gift of Tongues"
00:44:02.07\00:44:03.91
as it's commonly
called in some circles today.
00:44:03.91\00:44:06.51
I'm in this Catholic retreat,
00:44:06.51\00:44:09.31
and all of a sudden
these people start speaking
00:44:09.31\00:44:11.21
in gibberish there,
00:44:11.21\00:44:12.85
and we're told that
this is the gift of tongues.
00:44:12.85\00:44:17.79
And I think someone maybe
even gave an interpretation
00:44:17.79\00:44:20.89
'cause, you know, I was supposed
00:44:20.89\00:44:21.96
to quote interpret
the gift of tongues,
00:44:21.96\00:44:24.33
and I don't know it seemed
00:44:24.33\00:44:25.69
as I recall
something totally mundane,
00:44:25.69\00:44:27.66
and I have no
recollection of what it was.
00:44:27.66\00:44:29.40
I don't think it was something
00:44:29.40\00:44:30.50
like they were going to
burn the beans or something,
00:44:30.50\00:44:32.47
but it was, you
know, maybe we're supposed
00:44:32.47\00:44:33.84
to love our brothers, right?
00:44:33.84\00:44:35.74
But it just, what
I have to tell you
00:44:35.74\00:44:38.17
is I was not overwhelmed
00:44:38.17\00:44:39.87
with this
incredible manifestation
00:44:39.87\00:44:41.54
of the Holy Spirit.
00:44:41.54\00:44:42.64
It did not change my
spiritual walk at all,
00:44:42.64\00:44:44.71
I was quite skeptical.
00:44:44.71\00:44:46.61
And in fact many
people as they have witnessed
00:44:46.61\00:44:50.05
these "outpourings
of the Holy Spirit",
00:44:50.05\00:44:52.32
that some people term them
00:44:52.32\00:44:54.32
are not drawn to
the Christian faith.
00:44:54.32\00:44:56.99
But I will tell you what
happened several years later.
00:44:56.99\00:45:00.60
Several years later I was
on a secular college campus,
00:45:00.60\00:45:03.97
and a Seventh-day
Adventist minister
00:45:03.97\00:45:05.73
who I believe was
praying for the Holy Spirit
00:45:05.73\00:45:08.07
was impressed to be
bold on a college campus
00:45:08.07\00:45:11.61
where there is basically
00:45:11.61\00:45:12.94
no Seventh-day
Adventist witness.
00:45:12.94\00:45:16.34
And he showed up on that campus,
00:45:16.34\00:45:18.11
he got permission to teach
00:45:18.11\00:45:19.38
a non-credit
class on Bible prophecy.
00:45:19.38\00:45:24.39
And I will tell you that
00:45:24.39\00:45:26.99
the first time I
heard his presentation,
00:45:26.99\00:45:29.09
saw him open the Bible
00:45:29.09\00:45:30.89
and explain the
prophetic significance
00:45:30.89\00:45:36.73
of historical events,
00:45:36.73\00:45:38.40
my mind was captured that
here was something supernatural.
00:45:38.40\00:45:45.11
Sometimes we put our
emphasis on signs and wonders.
00:45:45.11\00:45:48.11
Go with me to Acts 2 now again
because the emphasis in Acts 2
00:45:48.11\00:45:52.11
is not on signs and
wonders, there was a sign,
00:45:52.11\00:45:54.68
there were wonders,
00:45:54.68\00:45:55.75
the disciples did
pray for those things.
00:45:55.75\00:45:58.22
But the focus of Acts 2
00:45:58.22\00:45:59.92
in addition to the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:45:59.92\00:46:03.06
is on Peter's sermon.
00:46:03.06\00:46:05.79
Why are they given
this gift of tongues?
00:46:05.79\00:46:08.80
It was not so
people would be impressed
00:46:08.80\00:46:10.87
that here are people
that just speaking a language
00:46:10.87\00:46:13.34
that they
couldn't understand, no.
00:46:13.34\00:46:15.00
The gift of tongues is given
00:46:15.00\00:46:17.04
so that the
gospel can be preached.
00:46:17.04\00:46:19.24
So let's look there at Acts 2,
00:46:19.24\00:46:21.18
what is the essence
of what Peter preached?
00:46:21.18\00:46:25.01
And by the way
if you're like me,
00:46:25.01\00:46:26.35
sometimes we'll interchangeably
00:46:26.35\00:46:28.25
as we're jumping
through the Book of Acts,
00:46:28.25\00:46:30.32
stick Paul's name in
where we're definitely
00:46:30.32\00:46:32.39
talking about Peter and Peter,
00:46:32.39\00:46:34.06
where we're
definitely speaking about Paul.
00:46:34.06\00:46:35.92
If I've done that
already, you know,
00:46:35.92\00:46:37.79
thanks for not
all jumping up at once
00:46:37.79\00:46:39.43
and saying that
the Peter speaking
00:46:39.43\00:46:41.13
especially in Jerusalem
there and in Judea and Samaria,
00:46:41.13\00:46:45.53
and Paul especially being
00:46:45.53\00:46:46.84
commissioned to bring
the gospel to the Gentiles,
00:46:46.84\00:46:49.57
but throughout Acts,
00:46:49.57\00:46:51.17
these are the two probably
00:46:51.17\00:46:52.94
most vocal
spokespeople for the gospel.
00:46:52.94\00:46:55.78
But in chapter 2 it is Peter.
00:46:55.78\00:46:57.61
And what does Peter begin to do?
00:46:57.61\00:47:00.25
Peter begins to
connect the prophetic word
00:47:00.25\00:47:05.52
with God's present day work.
00:47:05.52\00:47:09.62
And so as he
begins to speak in Acts 2,
00:47:09.62\00:47:12.39
he focuses on
the prophecy of Joel.
00:47:12.39\00:47:16.73
Now, if you read
through the lesson already,
00:47:16.73\00:47:19.33
in Tuesday's
lesson, it speaks about
00:47:19.33\00:47:21.50
how Peter is seeing
in the gift of tongues
00:47:21.50\00:47:24.47
the fulfillment
of Joel's prophecy.
00:47:24.47\00:47:26.71
And the lesson makes
an interesting point here,
00:47:26.71\00:47:29.78
and if you're reading along,
00:47:29.78\00:47:33.05
it's kind of in the very
center of Tuesday's lesson.
00:47:33.05\00:47:36.08
It says there's an
important difference
00:47:36.08\00:47:37.82
in the way that he quotes Joel.
00:47:37.82\00:47:40.16
Instead of Joel's
introductory afterward,
00:47:40.16\00:47:43.73
referring to Joel 2:28,
00:47:43.73\00:47:45.49
which pointed quite
generally to the future,
00:47:45.49\00:47:47.86
Peter said, "In the last days."
00:47:47.86\00:47:51.03
For those of you
that are bewildered
00:47:51.03\00:47:52.53
'cause you're not
looking at the quarterly,
00:47:52.53\00:47:54.34
go with me to
Joel, the Book of Joel.
00:47:54.34\00:47:57.67
So you've got Hosea
and Joel, they're early
00:47:57.67\00:47:59.94
and the, what we
call the minor prophets.
00:47:59.94\00:48:02.58
So we're jumping over to Joel,
00:48:02.58\00:48:04.08
and the reason I'm doing
this with you is many times
00:48:04.08\00:48:06.48
we make the mistake
of just reading a quote.
00:48:06.48\00:48:11.72
So we just listen
to the sermon on Acts.
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.56
Now you're gonna
realize in the Jewish mind
00:48:13.56\00:48:16.06
they knew the Book of Joel
00:48:16.06\00:48:18.79
better than most of us do today.
00:48:18.79\00:48:21.13
And if you just look
quickly at the Book of Joel.
00:48:21.13\00:48:24.97
By the way,
there is an expression
00:48:24.97\00:48:27.17
that occurs in both the
New and the Old Testament,
00:48:27.17\00:48:29.87
the expression is
the day of the Lord,
00:48:29.87\00:48:32.47
the day of the Lord.
00:48:32.47\00:48:33.51
What is that
especially referred to?
00:48:33.51\00:48:36.75
It especially refers
to the second coming,
00:48:36.75\00:48:38.85
but also contains this
concept of the final judgment,
00:48:38.85\00:48:41.95
the final
consummation of all things.
00:48:41.95\00:48:44.35
Now Joel is a very short
book, it's only got what?
00:48:44.35\00:48:46.76
Four chapters or three chapters.
00:48:46.76\00:48:51.43
What book of the Bible
do you think most often
00:48:51.43\00:48:53.86
mentions the day of the Lord?
00:48:53.86\00:48:57.90
Anyone want to guess?
00:48:57.90\00:49:01.57
Well, the phrase
the day of the Lord
00:49:01.57\00:49:03.17
it occurs most
often in the Book of Joel.
00:49:03.17\00:49:06.78
Yeah.
00:49:06.78\00:49:07.84
Some of you
guessed the Book of Joel.
00:49:07.84\00:49:10.15
So Joel is all
about the end times.
00:49:10.15\00:49:13.18
So even though Peter uses
00:49:13.18\00:49:14.78
a little bit different language,
00:49:14.78\00:49:16.82
he is contextually
being very accurate
00:49:16.82\00:49:19.99
with the message of Joel.
00:49:19.99\00:49:21.49
He's not making a leap
00:49:21.49\00:49:23.22
and now applying something
00:49:23.22\00:49:24.86
that doesn't
apply to the end times.
00:49:24.86\00:49:26.70
Peter is being
through the Holy Spirit
00:49:26.70\00:49:29.36
very accurate in his use
00:49:29.36\00:49:30.90
of the Old Testament scriptures.
00:49:30.90\00:49:32.50
And so it points
us to this outpouring,
00:49:32.50\00:49:35.20
we often call it the early reign
00:49:35.20\00:49:37.27
equipping the early
church to give the gospel.
00:49:37.27\00:49:41.11
But let's go on
now back in Acts 2,
00:49:41.11\00:49:43.31
you can read if
you'd like later today
00:49:43.31\00:49:46.95
or later in your study of just
00:49:46.95\00:49:49.15
how focused on the end
times the Book of Joel is,
00:49:49.15\00:49:52.42
but I'm going back to Acts 2
00:49:52.42\00:49:53.79
because the central
message that Peter gives.
00:49:53.79\00:49:56.86
If we don't mention it,
00:49:56.86\00:49:59.39
we've done
injustice to Acts too.
00:49:59.39\00:50:02.73
Because not only does Peter
connect this important message
00:50:02.73\00:50:09.20
about the giving of the Spirit,
00:50:09.20\00:50:12.74
but he also points
us to another theme.
00:50:12.74\00:50:14.54
In fact we have someone
00:50:14.54\00:50:15.61
who's going to
read a scripture for us
00:50:15.61\00:50:17.01
as we look at this last
theme that we'll touch on today.
00:50:17.01\00:50:20.52
We have someone who has
a scripture reading for us
00:50:20.52\00:50:22.92
from 1 Corinthians.
00:50:22.92\00:50:25.39
We mentioned
earlier 1 Corinthians 12-14,
00:50:25.39\00:50:29.26
but right after that
description of spiritual gifts,
00:50:29.26\00:50:31.89
we have this powerful
chapter, 1 Corinthians 15,
00:50:31.89\00:50:35.23
and we'll read
from there right now.
00:50:35.23\00:50:38.80
1 Corinthians 15:12-14,
00:50:38.80\00:50:43.54
"Now if Christ be preached
that He rose from the dead,
00:50:43.54\00:50:49.54
how say some among you
00:50:49.54\00:50:51.51
that there is no
resurrection of the dead?
00:50:51.51\00:50:55.68
But if there be no
resurrection of the dead,
00:50:55.68\00:50:59.35
then is Christ not risen?
00:50:59.35\00:51:02.16
And if Christ be not risen,
00:51:02.16\00:51:05.43
then is He our
preaching in vain,
00:51:05.43\00:51:09.46
and your faith is also vain."
00:51:09.46\00:51:11.57
Is the resurrection important?
00:51:14.10\00:51:18.31
The resurrection is central
to our hope as Christians.
00:51:18.31\00:51:22.51
Jesus has
triumphed over the grave,
00:51:22.51\00:51:25.81
and those of us who have been
at the graveside of loved ones
00:51:25.81\00:51:30.39
we have a hope, the
Bible calls it what?
00:51:30.39\00:51:34.22
The blessed hope,
and we have that hope
00:51:34.22\00:51:37.49
because Jesus has done what?
00:51:37.49\00:51:40.23
He's conquered death. Death.
00:51:40.23\00:51:43.43
In 1 Corinthians 15,
death is a defeated enemy.
00:51:43.43\00:51:49.27
Oh, grave, where
is your sting, right?
00:51:49.27\00:51:53.07
Jesus has triumphed.
00:51:53.07\00:51:54.14
And so in Acts 2,
00:51:54.14\00:51:56.24
as the Holy
Spirit is poured out,
00:51:56.24\00:51:58.21
Jesus is exalted as the
one who gives gifts to man.
00:51:58.21\00:52:03.59
The prophetic word is true.
00:52:03.59\00:52:06.65
What the Bible has
prophesied is coming to pass.
00:52:06.65\00:52:10.66
And in verse 22 of Acts 2
as Peter brings the focus,
00:52:10.66\00:52:14.36
he says, "Men of Israel hear
these words, Jesus of Nazareth,
00:52:14.36\00:52:19.97
a man attested by God
00:52:19.97\00:52:22.17
to you by miracles,
wonders, and signs..."
00:52:22.17\00:52:24.74
He goes on and he
recites the ministry of Jesus.
00:52:24.74\00:52:27.58
He speaks about the
crucifixion of Jesus,
00:52:27.58\00:52:30.21
but he doesn't stop there.
00:52:30.21\00:52:31.85
In verse 24 he says,
"God raised up Jesus."
00:52:31.85\00:52:37.35
God loosed the pains of death
because it was not possible
00:52:37.35\00:52:43.66
that Jesus should be held by it.
00:52:43.66\00:52:46.13
And then he goes on
00:52:46.13\00:52:47.20
and he quotes
this amazing passage,
00:52:47.20\00:52:50.50
many people struggle with it,
00:52:50.50\00:52:52.53
but Peter makes it
very clear that David,
00:52:52.53\00:52:57.71
one of the great progenitors
of the Christian faith is dead,
00:52:57.71\00:53:00.81
he's still buried.
00:53:00.81\00:53:01.88
Jesus did not resurrect David.
00:53:01.88\00:53:05.61
When He came
forth from the grave,
00:53:05.61\00:53:07.02
David is still in the tomb
00:53:07.02\00:53:08.82
like most believers
waiting for the second coming.
00:53:08.82\00:53:13.56
But David's prophetic
word speaks of a Christ
00:53:13.56\00:53:18.66
who is brought to
the right hand of God,
00:53:18.66\00:53:21.76
and today is in the business
00:53:21.76\00:53:24.53
of giving gifts to human beings.
00:53:24.53\00:53:28.60
To giving gifts to men and women
00:53:28.60\00:53:30.61
so that you and I can fulfill
00:53:30.61\00:53:32.74
that impossible
commission of being bold,
00:53:32.74\00:53:36.61
of giving the
gospel in our own backyard,
00:53:36.61\00:53:41.55
in our own
communities, our own states,
00:53:41.55\00:53:44.25
and to the
uttermost parts of the world.
00:53:44.25\00:53:48.32
If you want to learn
more about Pentecost,
00:53:48.32\00:53:49.89
we have a special
offer, a special gift,
00:53:49.89\00:53:52.53
it's free offer 824.
00:53:52.53\00:53:55.23
You can get it simply
by calling 866-Study-More,
00:53:55.23\00:53:59.83
866-Study-More,
that's 866-788-3966.
00:53:59.83\00:54:05.21
If you'd like to save
the postage and the weight,
00:54:05.21\00:54:08.31
you can actually
text to the number 40544.
00:54:08.31\00:54:12.88
If you got to use
40544 text to that number,
00:54:12.88\00:54:17.02
the code "SH085",
00:54:17.02\00:54:20.56
you'll get a link to the
DVD, the Power of Pentecost.
00:54:20.56\00:54:25.59
We started a exciting
study through the Book of Acts.
00:54:25.59\00:54:28.90
By God's grace we'll
continue again next week.
00:54:28.90\00:54:31.87
Join us then.
00:54:31.87\00:54:32.93
Friends if
you're scared of snakes,
00:54:44.21\00:54:46.58
this may not be for you.
00:54:46.58\00:54:48.75
I'm here at a reptile park
00:54:48.75\00:54:50.25
outside of Durban, South Africa,
00:54:50.25\00:54:52.25
and I'm holding my friend
here who is a red tail boa.
00:54:52.25\00:54:55.62
Snakes are found
all over the world,
00:54:55.62\00:54:58.03
and they come in all sizes.
00:54:58.03\00:54:59.43
Snakes can be
found through the trees,
00:54:59.43\00:55:01.43
they crawl on the ground,
they live under the ground,
00:55:01.43\00:55:03.83
and they swim in the water,
very interesting creatures.
00:55:03.83\00:55:08.17
Some snakes are
venomous, not my friend here,
00:55:08.17\00:55:10.54
but the black
mamba, very poisonous.
00:55:10.54\00:55:14.21
Matter of fact, their bite is
00:55:14.21\00:55:15.28
often referred to
as the kiss of death.
00:55:15.28\00:55:17.65
They can grow 15 feet long
00:55:17.65\00:55:19.31
and can travel up
to 7 miles an hour,
00:55:19.31\00:55:21.38
they don't call them black mamba
00:55:21.38\00:55:22.65
is because of the
color of their skin
00:55:22.65\00:55:24.49
but the interior of
their mouth is black.
00:55:24.49\00:55:27.16
Snakes also come in all
sizes like this boa or python,
00:55:27.16\00:55:30.79
they can grow to great sizes.
00:55:30.79\00:55:32.53
Matter of fact,
in South America,
00:55:32.53\00:55:34.36
they found some
fossils of a snake
00:55:34.36\00:55:36.53
that they call Titanoboa.
00:55:36.53\00:55:38.83
They believe it was
as big as 50 feet long
00:55:38.83\00:55:41.64
and weighed as much as a car.
00:55:41.64\00:55:43.87
Say cheese!
00:55:43.87\00:55:45.34
A lot of people
are scared of snakes,
00:55:45.34\00:55:47.34
I used to live in
a mountain in a cave
00:55:47.34\00:55:48.74
and I ran into
snakes frequently.
00:55:48.74\00:55:50.31
They never bothered me
unless I was bothering them.
00:55:50.31\00:55:53.42
In the Bible, the snake is
often a symbol of the devil.
00:55:53.42\00:55:56.25
In reality, it's just a symbol,
00:55:56.25\00:55:58.05
they're animals
like other animals,
00:55:58.05\00:55:59.95
but it says they were
cursed to go upon their belly
00:55:59.95\00:56:02.06
because they
were the first medium
00:56:02.06\00:56:03.79
that the devil used
to tempt Adam and Eve.
00:56:03.79\00:56:06.33
In the Book of Numbers 21,
00:56:06.33\00:56:08.50
it tells a story of how
when the children of Israel
00:56:08.50\00:56:10.73
were going
through the wilderness
00:56:10.73\00:56:12.40
they began to
complain about God's manner
00:56:12.40\00:56:14.84
and it says the Lord
allowed these fiery serpents
00:56:14.84\00:56:17.51
to go among the
people and many were bitten
00:56:17.51\00:56:19.91
and the venom was deadly.
00:56:19.91\00:56:21.54
I should probably
mention at this point
00:56:21.54\00:56:23.45
that bread they
were complaining about
00:56:23.45\00:56:24.88
is a symbol for the Word of God.
00:56:24.88\00:56:26.82
As many of the people were dying
00:56:26.82\00:56:28.28
from this plague of serpents,
00:56:28.28\00:56:30.09
they went unto
Moses and they said,
00:56:30.09\00:56:31.45
"What shall we do?"
00:56:31.45\00:56:32.75
God told Moses to
make a bronze serpent
00:56:32.75\00:56:35.06
and put it on a
pole and lift it up
00:56:35.06\00:56:37.36
that whoever
looked upon the serpent,
00:56:37.36\00:56:39.26
they would be
healed of their venom.
00:56:39.26\00:56:41.70
This is why it's so important
00:56:41.70\00:56:42.83
because Jesus says in the
Gospel of John 3:14 and 15,
00:56:42.83\00:56:48.24
"As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness,
00:56:48.24\00:56:51.21
even so the Son of
Man must be lifted up
00:56:51.21\00:56:53.98
that whoever believes
in Him might not perish
00:56:53.98\00:56:56.75
but have everlasting life."
00:56:56.75\00:56:58.88
They needed to look in to live,
00:56:58.88\00:57:01.05
you see those ancient shepherds
00:57:01.05\00:57:02.35
when they would
kill a venomous snake,
00:57:02.35\00:57:04.09
they would carry it off
on their staff and bury it.
00:57:04.09\00:57:07.06
So a serpent on a pole
represented a defeated snake,
00:57:07.06\00:57:11.23
that's talking about
defeating the devil, friend.
00:57:11.23\00:57:13.76
Have you been
bitten by the serpent?
00:57:13.76\00:57:15.23
We all have.
00:57:15.23\00:57:16.30
The only cure for
the venom of Satan
00:57:16.30\00:57:19.07
is to look in faith at Jesus,
00:57:19.07\00:57:21.00
He then defeated the devil,
00:57:21.00\00:57:22.60
He took the venom
of sin in His body
00:57:22.60\00:57:25.14
to provide the
antidote in His blood.
00:57:25.14\00:57:27.94
So, friends, I encourage
you to look today and live.
00:57:27.94\00:57:31.05
Let's face it, it's not
always easy to understand
00:57:37.69\00:57:40.59
everything you
read in the Bible.
00:57:40.59\00:57:42.59
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:57:42.59\00:57:46.36
the Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:57:46.36\00:57:48.83
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:57:48.83\00:57:51.30
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:57:51.30\00:57:53.03
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:57:53.03\00:57:55.77
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:57:55.77\00:57:58.11
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:57:58.11\00:58:00.64
For times and
stations in your area
00:58:00.64\00:58:02.94
or to listen to answers online,
00:58:02.94\00:58:04.78
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:58:04.78\00:58:08.12