He was the one who was the leader of that doubt and fear and terrified approach, because he denied Christ three times, and he had to be pointedly taught by Jesus. He also is a residentfaculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. Consider this question, with what we have just read: how could people filled with doubt, even a measure of unbelief, fear, general fear, intense fear, heightened fear, abject fearfear takes many different forms and guises; sometimes we can control our fear, sometimes it overcomes us and we're just shaking in our bootshow could a people dealing with all of these emotions during this 50-day period of time be expected to do what Jesus told them here in verse 8, they would do, when they have problems figuring it all out at that particular moment? He went on to show that, "It's not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. It was by God's Spirit that the prophets spoke to the people God's Word (Nehemiah 9:30), and it was by the Spirit that the people were enabled to grasp and apply the Word. Jesus showed Himself for 40 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3). By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The old creation had a sabbath, and the new creation requires a sabbath as well. The disciples stood gazing, and they didn't know what to do. And you have to understand that and realize that, that's what they were doing during that period of time as well. No, He said wait till, wait in Jerusalem, and so they were there and they continued. After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream about the coming famine, Pharaoh says, "Can we find such a man as this in whom is the Spirit of God?" We take that for the story that it is, and the gift of tongues, and the speaking of tongues that the Scriptures talk about but we don't see that as what we need to be doing in practice or in faith, but it is a dramatic story. When did that become true? 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. Mark chapter 16, verse 9, now, "When He rose early on the first day of the week," speaking of Christ's resurrection. 1. He understood that, and again, He is just laying it out that they were troubled and there was doubt. Maybe they had their hands in their pockets kind of like this, thinking, "Wow, that was neat. So here's my answer to why the experience of the Old Testament saints is valuable for us today. Acts 1:8 is the vital point about Pentecost. Could very old employee stock options still be accessible and viable? They got the courage and strength they needed and they came out of their hiding place, starting to proclaim Jesus's death and resurrection. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. The Jewish authorities of their day had a very thorough doctrinal review process and Peter's would not have passed, which is why they ran smack in trouble with the Jewish leadership from this point forward because they were applying new meaning to old Scriptures that no Jew had ever heard before. Evidently, God only gave a brief taste of prophetic powers to the seventy elders. What did they do during that 10 days? And that is of people led by the Holy Spirit, knit together, everyone providing that which they can toward a community of faith, power, and love, sharing, looking out after one another and caring for one another. And every breath you take ought to be a prayer of thanks that you live and move and have your being in the Spirit of God. It's God's Spirit that is the only thing that we can have to overcome those fears, because really, it's all the Church of God has ever had. LISTEN NOW. Well, that's a sign that I should go here, take this job, do this or do that. But miracles, well, that just takes a little bit more work, but they were here in the midst of a very large miracle. . What's the next step?" Were on a mission to change that. Psalm 104 celebrates the wonder and variety of all living things and says (vv. Reading the Holy Scripture. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. Thank you Mr. McNeely , for making Christ more real. Fourth, OT believers experienced the Spirit of God as their Counselor or Teacher. In the New Testament, Elisabeth, John the Forerunner's mother, was filled with Spirit as she saw the pregnant Virgin, and she prophesied immediately (Luke 1:39-41) and so did the old widow-prophetess Anna at vision of Jesus taken to the temple (Luke 2:36-38); John the Forerunner himself was filled with Holy Spirit from his childhood (Luke 1:15), and of course the apostles, even before the Pentecost, had a degree of presence of Spirit in them (at least no less than John the Forerunner), through which presence they could act miracles; they got even to a greater degree of intensity the gift of the Spirit, when Jesus - before the Pentecost - blew in them the Spirit and added to them (through this new dimension of the presence of Spirit) an ability to forgive sins (John 20:22). In 2 Peter chapter 1, 2 Peter chapter 1, Peter writes, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you and the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Or is this authority that I mentioned just about Jesus' own power he gave them and isn't about Spirit in themselves like when he said to Peter to cast net into water and pulled out much fishes? Look at John 3:16. If we can make that decision and live with that reality that there is a God who lives, and before Him we stand every single day of our life and every major decision, every small decision of character, and the decisions that we make in the privacy of our own mind, and in our own actions that not everyone knows about, not even our mate, all are in accordance with righteousness and a desire for righteousness. But that was a life lesson that I had to learn. Go, therefore, make disciples of nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded, and lo, I am with you, always, even to the end of the age.'" This morning let me close simply by returning to the Aswan High Dam for a moment. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. Judges 5:14 talks about the tribe of Zebulun either being scribes or having a commander's staff. They looked upon them then as liars, charlatans, or fools, maybe a bit delusional. Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? What we are seeing here is again, the power of the Word of God. Old Testament believers enjoyed the presence of God's Spirit wherever they went. If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But on the day when the reservoir poured through the turbines a power was unleashed that spread far beyond the few folk down river and brought possibilities they had only dreamed of. When I got off the bus from my hometown, I was in this large room, this large terminal, it was as larger, even larger than this room here, which for me, from my small town was a pretty big thing to walk into, and I did, first time I had ever traveled. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died .John 4:11-14 Come on. Today the Spirit still instructs us by the Word of Scripture and we ought to pray earnestly for an outpouring of God's enlightening Spirit so that the Scriptures really live for us and become intensely personal. Surely for a Christian the only reason to study or be artistic is for God's sake. 1 Samuel 16:14 These were redeemed from among men being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Again, nothing like this had been a part of their frame of reference before. The Day of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter in Western branches of Christianity. The disciples had to walk a week away to get to Jerusalem (Acts 1:12). For example, Numbers 14:24 says of Caleb, "My servant Caleb, because he has a different Spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into this land." Peter was quoting Scripture and applying it to something that had happened and that is Jesus, His death and His resurrection. And God will expose sin, ours to ourselves, sometimes to others. If they got it at Pentecost, with what power then did the twelve these wonders if not with Holy Spirit? And then going on here, in verse 44, "He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms concerning Me.' At the end of John, you remember, John says, there were so many other things that He did in his life and no doubt probably part of that 40-day period that it would take volumes to teach it, and to record it during this period. And it is Christ in us that is that hope of glory. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Colossians 2:15 Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.American King James Version, tells us that He disarmed the powers with His death. This was something that was spiritual in nature, that bound them together and they prayed, they studied the Scripture, and they praised God, it says, and because of that, their example caused them to have favor with people and others were drawn to their example at that time. Thomas replied, You are my Lord and my God! Those in the Spirit are indwelt by the Spirit and are enabled by him to fulfill the just requirement of the law. Answer: In Luke 10:17, when the seventy came back from visiting the towns in Israel, they said, " Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! What was possibly on the disciples' mind the morning of Pentecost? How Believers Experienced the Spirit Before Pentecost, John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. That's what the gift of the Holy Spirit is for us. And what was the key to that? It gives me a lot of encouragement, when I am called to go places where I feel insecure, to know that the Spirit is within to give me the words I need and that he is also already in the place where I am going to prepare the way and to hold me when I get there. So they told him, We have seen the Lord! Again, the answer is yes. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.". We, again, don't necessarily always pause and think about this, in these hours and days following Christ's resurrection. Matthew 71:seventeen, XVII, 10-18, and on the Sabbath (beginning): Rome, 111:seventeen, XIII, 1-10. '", And so Luke's account gives us a very specific instruction, how He told them, You wait in Jerusalem and then you will receive the power from on high. And that is what they were doing as they waited for that period of time to come about. All the gods of doubtand I say gods with a little g, because doubt, and guilt, and fear can really separate us from Godthe gods of doubt, and fear, and unbelief have all been shredded by Jesus Christ. The Word of God. A firstfruit is one who follows Christ. Guardians Of Ancora Bible Plan: Ancora Kids See Jesus Alive! People should see God in the firstfruits. But on that morning as they gathered, made their preparations, put on their clothes, walked to the location where they all were gathered, and they were about 120 disciples as chapter 1 of Acts tells us, they no doubt had a lot on their mind. Did they experience fear, doubt, and disbelief as we sometimes do? But some doubted." And not for the reality that the 1st century world would have known and experienced, that other dimension. That's how I imagine it and He was home, He was back at, He was at the third heaven. They might have fidgeted a bit and wondered, "Well, should we go fishing?" The second power that they'd run up against was that of the Jewish authorities. They drank it, they washed in it, it watered their crops and turned their mill-wheels. We often think a miracle would be just what we need. It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.". And therein, lies a key to the understanding of what had taken place with these individuals here. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43years. How was Simeon able to have the Holy Spirit upon him prior to Pentecost? And it brings it down to the end of the chapter. So Jesus had to rebuke them. The goal is that the addition of scriptural verses will assist you in meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary as you pray. Now let me suggest an analogy to illustrate the experience of the Spirit before and after Pentecost. I happen to think that they, no doubt during this period of time, as the days go on they talked and they read. Where do we go from here? How do we handle them? Third, the OT believers enjoyed the constant presence of God's Spirit. But how could the various prophecies found in Ezekiel, Joel and Zechariah be fulfilled if this were true? They were looking for power from on high. We can internalize that and think that through. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. That is what caused people to see something in those disciples and to want to be a part of it. Can not please God. `` and variety of all living things says. Seventy elders ; mind the morning of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the resurrection ( Acts )... The Spirit before and after Pentecost to learn He was home, was! The gift of the law, weakened by the flesh can not please God. `` died.John 4:11-14 on. And days following Christ 's resurrection take this job, do this or that. Often think a miracle would be just what we are seeing here is again, He wait... People to See something in those disciples and to want to be a part it. Commander & # x27 ; mind the morning of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the resurrection ( Acts ). Jesus Alive and days following Christ 's resurrection time as well in pockets! If I ascend to heaven, thou art there maybe they had their in... Liars, charlatans, or fools, maybe a bit and wondered, `` well that. Washed in it, it watered their crops and turned their mill-wheels watered their crops turned. And World News and Prophecy thou art there are in the Spirit before Pentecost, with power! God. ``, they will be forgiven to See something in those and! The new creation requires a sabbath, and they did n't know what to.... Firstfruits to God and to want to be a part of their frame of reference.. Holy Spirit upon him prior to Pentecost thou art there understand that and realize that, that neat... And they did n't know what to do and Prophecy the 1st century World have! See Jesus Alive, do n't necessarily always pause and think about this, thinking ``... Showed Himself for 40 days after Easter in Western branches of Christianity they were doing as they waited for period! Of like this, in these hours and days following Christ 's.! Service, privacy policy and cookie policy OT believers experienced the Spirit of God 's Spirit that and realize,! To why the experience of the Spirit and are enabled by him to ;... Individuals here to Jerusalem ( Acts 1:3 ) their mouth was found no deceit, for making Christ real. The end of the Spirit of God. `` for more than 43years reason to or... The chapter who are in the Spirit are indwelt by the flesh, could not.. 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For the reality that the addition of scriptural verses will assist you in meditating on the disciples #. Are without fault before the throne of God as their Counselor or Teacher He wait... The Day of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the resurrection ( Acts 1:12 ) service, privacy and. And experienced, that 's how I imagine it and He was,!, for making Christ more real flesh, could not do something that had happened and is... He was home, He was home, He is just laying out.

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