While "Praxeis" mentions many different apostles, it is actually an account of the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul. Luke tells us that all Jesus began to do and teach until He was taken up, "after" He (Jesus) through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles. When Jesus rose from the dead He gave many infallible proofs the Bible tells us. Infallible: adjective 1. absolutely trustworthy or sure: an infallible rule. 2. unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain: an infallible remedy. 3. not fallible; exempt from liability to error, as persons, their judgment, or pronouncements: an infallible principle. This is a positive and faithful account from men and women who seen and heard Jesus after He rose from the dead. They saw Him for a period of forty days and He was telling them about things that pertained to the kingdom of God. These are people who walked with Jesus for three years and followed His ministry. The Lord told the pharisees that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins while on the earth. Many times He told people your sins are forgiven go and sin no more. At other times we see where people told Him we believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You have the words of eternal life. We believe your the Christ. They did not always understand everything clearly but they knew this was the Son of God. I think we can safely affirm that these people were born again believers in Christ. Sins forgiven, faith in that; God was who He said He was. They repented of their sins and chose to follow Jesus. Jesus goes on to tell them I want you to go to Jerusalem because John baptized you with water and not many days from now you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-5 A Prophecy in Joel 2 tells us that "afterward" I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. That whole book has prophetic meaning concerning the end of time. But before Jesus ascended the apostles ask Him; Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Jesus told them "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." Interesting statement, but Jesus turns the conversation back to them with: You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The power of God is available to those who see and believe that the Holy Spirit has come upon them. He will be with you and He will be in you the scriptures tells us. When God pours out His Spirit they will have dreams and visions according to Joel's prophecy. Quote: John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. Proverbs 19:27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; One of the purposes of the Baptism is that we are witnesses of the truth. Having not seen or heard as the apostles had, Jesus said blessed are your eyes who believe having not seen. Gary
Quote: 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jesus tells us that those who believe will speak with new tongues. Men tell us that tongues will cease. I guess they assume they will cease with the death of the apostles, but history shows us that the speaking of tongues continued well into the third and fourth century after the apostles died off. Quote: of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, When Jesus rose from the dead the Bible tells us that; "He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments", to the apostles whom he had chosen. Gods chosen have been given commandments by the Spirit of God. Those chosen will be able to see and hear what the Lord has said. Many are called but few are chosen. Why cannot some hear and see what the Bible clearly teaches?, it may be that their partially blinded by this world and its ways, or the religions of men have explained away what God tells us because of their own experience. Men are going to serve God on their own terms. This world is indoctrinating the way people think about the Bible and has a large influence over the church. This is why so many churches are accepting certain sinful practices and allow them to take place in the church, practices that go directly against what God has said, concerning fleshly sins. Be not deceived God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that is what he will reap. Lot lived in Sodom and it ended up vexing his soul, the scriptures tell us. Don't think for a second that being a friend to the world does not have its consequences. A little sin is like leaven that will leaven the whole loaf. As we have been told over and over we have to hide ourselves under His wings and each one of us make a personal effort to know God. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Gary
The church world started out with a prophecy from Joel. Quote: Joel2:28-29 28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Peter speaking by the Spirit of God proclaims that this prophecy is given concerning the last days. Quote: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. Joel proclaims it will come "afterward" while Peter tells us that it will come to pass in the last days. Compare the scriptures and you'll see that it becomes enhanced by further revelation. But while we see Peter making this proclamation we find its because Jesus told them what was going to take place. Quote: Jesus says: but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Jesus tells us that they had heard from Him concerning the Promise of the Father. Our Father God promised this blessing to all who can hear and believe. While were told later: Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. God the Father in His Mercy and Grace promised to give believers His Spirit. We can see in Acts the believers received this wonderful gift from God as promised. What is interesting is that the church started out with the Baptism of the Spirit and speaking in tongues. In these end times we find many churches pulling scriptures out of context and saying tongues will cease. But we look at these organizations and its just not tongues that cease, but prophecy, tongues and interpretations, and any and all of the gifts mentioned in Corinthians. Basically their stopping God at the door and making their religion on their own terms. Healing, raising the dead, casting out demons not for today were told. Joel and Peter tell us that in the last days men will have visions and dreams and prophecy. Is this just for Jews only or for the whole body of Christ? There is only "one" body, "one faith", etc., we are told. Paul tells Timothy that there will come a time when they will not endure sound doctrine found in the scriptures, but will choose fables. Quote: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. What is a fable? Its a short tale teaching a moral lesson or a story not founded on facts. Peter is telling everyone that this is a sign concerning the last days. But we find ourselves in history 2000 years later. Was that the last days and this is something different now? He is telling them that was the "last days". The situation is that he is speaking by the Spirit just like Joel was speaking a prophecy in the Spirit. The Apostle Paul and Peter was saying the same thing just dealing with two different groups. Jesus never came with two different messages. He did tell us that some will hear but they cannot hear and seeing they see but cannot see. The good news is that Jesus died for all mankind, and all men from every nation and tongue can receive forgiveness and be washed in the blood and receive eternal life, to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. Paul tells us that even if an angel comes and preaches a different gospel then what is being preached by the apostles to let him be accursed. No where do we find were he makes an exception for Peters gospel nor does he make a distinction that it may be something different. Quote: 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. The gospel is God's Grace to all mankind, not one thing to a Jew and something different to a Gentile. Paul warns the Corinthians concerning a different Jesus and a different gospel being preached: Quote: 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! It appears what the devil did 2000 years ago, he is using the same methods today and he has convinced many church goers that this is the way, walk you in it. Paul tells us that as the serpent deceived Eve so its possible that a Christians mind can be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Jesus told us many things that would happen and He told us what the Father was going to do for us. If we can see Jesus we can see the Father. God wants our best but it will always be on His terms and not our way of doing things. Gary
After Jesus ascended we see the apostles ministering divine healing to an individual at the beginning of their ministry. A man who was born lame from his birth was carried every day to the gate called beautiful and laid outside to beg for money. This man had to beg to support himself, so we know he was probably laying there many times while Jesus walked by to enter the temple. It was not God's timing for him to be healed and he obviously never asked to be healed. Even on the day that the apostles were going for their daily time of prayer we see the man asking for money. Quote: 3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. He's not asking for prayer for healing. Several things take place when this man is healed. First Jesus is glorified in the healing. Quote: Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, Secondly the man receives his healing by "faith". Quote: 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. The man was healed "through faith in His name", but the Bible goes on to say; "the faith which comes through Him." This man was healed by "faith", and this faith comes through Jesus. The fact is that this guy was not looking for a healing but healing came just by the spoken name of Jesus. Peter even tells the people its not because of our own power or godliness: Quote: Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? I have not taken the time to look at every account but at least in this situation the man was healed by faith. Also it says that the man was holding on to the apostles probably to steady himself, this is the first time he had ever walked on the earth. Jesus said; Have faith in God. In other words believe in God and who He is. God is Deity, the only True God. He also tells us; When the Son of Man returns will He find "faith". Gary
I don't know anything about Praxeis and his relation to this sharing Gary, but I do know that you're pointing out some Biblical truths that edify. Sunday the pastor where I attend taught on this same subject in Acts(he's doing a chapter by chapter, verse by verse study of Acts). I mentioned it briefly Monday in a post under Bible Issues "Two Gospels". He pointed out how the man was filled with joy at his healing and was leaping and praising God. Isaiah told of this in Chapter thirty five verse six..."Then shall the lame man leap as an hart..." when describing how it would be when God came to save His people. That salvation came in and through Jesus and as you pointed out, it was faith in Him (not them) and the power of His Name that brought the healing to the lame man.
james wrote on Wed, 24 February 2016 10:01 I don't know anything about Praxeis and his relation to this sharing Gary, but I do know that you're pointing out some Biblical truths that edify. Sunday the pastor where I attend taught on this same subject in Acts(he's doing a chapter by chapter, verse by verse study of Acts). I mentioned it briefly Monday in a post under Bible Issues "Two Gospels". He pointed out how the man was filled with joy at his healing and was leaping and praising God. Isaiah told of this in Chapter thirty five verse six..."Then shall the lame man leap as an hart..." when describing how it would be when God came to save His people. That salvation came in and through Jesus and as you pointed out, it was faith in Him (not them) and the power of His Name that brought the healing to the lame man. James, Thanks for sharing here. I assumed everyone would understand but now realize I should of been a little more clear. Luke was writing a letter to Theophilus which later became known as "Acts" in our language. The Christians back then started out calling it "Praxeis" or at least this is the title in many of the original Greek manuscripts. I just thought it was neat where I had read that in Greek literature the meaning of this word was to show the accomplishments of "outstanding men". I should of pointed this out in the beginning of post. I did not know what you meant concerning this two gospels teaching which you have mentioned a number of times, so I went back and skimmed the entire post on this subject. As you pointed out: Quote: James wrote: GOSPEL, the good news...It is ALL the same gospel, God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. He was without sin, spotless, pure, and holy; He suffered and died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. He is in heaven seated at the right hand of The Father, He is coming against to receive His Bride (those who have believed the good news<gospel> and are His). Now THAT IS good news! I have not heard this teaching going around up here concerning the two gospels. But as you stated, Its all the same gospel. I think what these people are confused about is that; while there is only one gospel, we have to recognize that Jesus and Paul are addressing two different cultures with the same message. There was times when the Lord was talking to His disciples, other times He was addressing the religious leaders of His day, and He talked to the crowds of people in general. John 3:16 settles this whole concept and in a sense covers the gospel message. For God so loved the world that He sent His Son. The short version is: Mankind fell into sin in the garden, God chooses a group of people and gave them the ten commandments, everyone found out they could not live the commandments and would constantly break them and then they needed an animal sacrifice to appease the wrath of God. God sent His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice, (which was the message of Jesus), then men could be set free from sin and death through the shed Blood of Jesus. This required men to repent, acknowledging their sin turning away from sin and following the Lord. We have been set free from the power of sin, but this does not mean we cannot sin, but we have forgiveness as we go on and continue to follow the Lord. The Gospel message is found throughout the whole Bible. Jews are sinners, Gentiles are sinners, and we all need salvation which only comes through Jesus Christ. We are children of the Kingdom of God, with One Lord, one body, one faith and Jesus is the Head of the Body of Christ. When we all get to heaven I'm sure there won't be this division between nationalities but we will all be one in the Lord. The Bible is clear in its message, there's nothing hidden or made to cause confusion, because God is not the author of confusion. I do think that if a person has the Baptism with speaking in tongues he has a better understanding of things in the Spirit realm. Not that people that have it are anything special its just the way things work in God's Kingdom. The Holy Spirit gives a deeper understanding. I went to a Bible study several years ago where the minister was expounding on Acts for the most part it was good until he tried to explain certain things involving the Baptism of the Spirit. By not having the Baptism it limited his understanding. I had talked to him concerning the Baptism but he and his wife had a bad experience. They had well meaning relatives that had the Baptism who did not know how to minister effectively. They almost sounded like someone from our groups, unloading on them to watch their confessions, only confess positive, there were demons lurking everywhere, and you know the rest of the story. People with the Baptism can do more damage because of not being led of the Spirit in ministering. I think their led by teachings and not able to discern how to walk in what they have. This might be a whole subject in itself, being led of the Spirit versus being armed with scriptures. Anyway, Jesus came with the good news while Paul explained how to live it. Either way, it still "is", the same and only Gospel message. Gary
Amen! Thanks for sharing that about the original word for Acts, I didn't know (or remember) that...Actually <grin> I thought you were referring to one of those early writers from the first few centuries of the church as Praxeis. William is probably grinning at my depth of knowledge.....Hey if ya can't laugh at yourself what's the use in it all?
james wrote on Thu, 25 February 2016 08:24 Amen! Thanks for sharing that about the original word for Acts, I didn't know (or remember) that...Actually <grin> I thought you were referring to one of those early writers from the first few centuries of the church as Praxeis. William is probably grinning at my depth of knowledge.....Hey if ya can't laugh at yourself what's the use in it all? Well, I'm surely not grinning at your depth of knowledge, I didn't have a clue about what Gary was referring to until I looked it up! After finding out the meaning I went to the Greek NT and, low and behold, there it was, right there in the title: "Acts of Apostles" or "The Acts of the Apostles" (Πράξεις τῶν Ἀποστόλων or Praxeis Apostolon). Kudos to Gary for expanding our knowledge! Blessings, William
william wrote on Tue, 01 March 2016 21:23 james wrote on Thu, 25 February 2016 08:24 Amen! Thanks for sharing that about the original word for Acts, I didn't know (or remember) that...Actually <grin> I thought you were referring to one of those early writers from the first few centuries of the church as Praxeis. William is probably grinning at my depth of knowledge.....Hey if ya can't laugh at yourself what's the use in it all? Well, I'm surely not grinning at your depth of knowledge, I didn't have a clue about what Gary was referring to until I looked it up! After finding out the meaning I went to the Greek NT and, low and behold, there it was, right there in the title: "Acts of Apostles" or "The Acts of the Apostles" (Πράξεις τῶν Ἀποστόλων or Praxeis Apostolon). Kudos to Gary for expanding our knowledge! Blessings, William I don't know if there's some great expansion of knowledge being shared here. Sometimes I get blessed with something in the Bible, but when I share it, I think later that's all elementary, these guys have heard it a thousand times. Believe me I have erased a lot of long posts because of this, thinking everyone knows all this already. If nothing else it helps me to write it down, for my own good, and maybe someone will be blessed as well. Take for instance the account of Phillip, here was a man who was transported 20 miles up the road so he could minister to a group of people. What a ministry he had. It turns out he is ministering to Samaritans. Quote: 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. People that were paralyzed and lame were healed. Demons crying out with a loud voice as they leave people being set free. For someone paralyzed to be healed there has to be some type of physical restoration take place. The multitude with one accord heeded the things spoken because, hearing and seeing the miracles. Quote: 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. These people were born again and believed the things concerning Jesus Christ. Both men and women were baptized, and as we all know this is water baptism. When the Apostles heard they received the word preached they came down from Jerusalem to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Quote: 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When they laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit. If we take modern day theology we get: when your born again its automatic you get the Spirit of God with no tongues of course. Here's another clear example of what took place and was never meant to be dissolved. We see a pattern as these men ministered the gospel. Anyway this ministered to me concerning God's way of doing things. After all were here on the earth to please the Lord and to follow Him, were not called to just have a herd mentality. Which we all know; it's easy to fall into that way of thinking. Gary
Gary wrote on Thu, 03 March 2016 04:48 Sometimes I get blessed with something in the Bible, but when I share it, I think later that's all elementary, these guys have heard it a thousand times. Believe me I have erased a lot of long posts because of this, thinking everyone knows all this already. If nothing else it helps me to write it down, for my own good, and maybe someone will be blessed as well. Gary I completely understand, writing things out helps me sometimes to remember what The Lord is showing me, plus, as you said it could bless someone else. Hearing something again for me is kind of like hearing for the first time because I have forgotten a lot of what I have heard. So share away, it builds up and encourages us...and not only that it can stimulate our thinking by causing us to 'chew' on it a while.
Concerning this message saying there is two gospels I ran across some interesting scriptures, there are many scriptures that refute this idea that there is two gospels being preached. This idea that there is two different gospel messages can be confusing to someone that does not know the Bible. The Lord tells Ananias something interesting while speaking of Saul's ministry He says: Quote: 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Saul whose name was changed to Paul is called to be a chosen vessel to bear the name of Jesus, before Gentiles, Kings, and the children of Israel. Literally he is called to minister to three groups here. We always hear that he was sent to the gentiles as this was the only group he had to deal with. No where do we find him telling three different messages or even two for that matter. It was always the same message, concerning Jesus dying on the cross for all of mankind. Jesus on the other hand ministered that He came as a sacrifice for the whole world. Those who followed Him were citizens of the Kingdom of God. He sent out the seventy: Quote: 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick..... So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere...... 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Those who preach the Kingdom of God are bringing the good news "the gospel" to the people. Jesus tells us that those who put their hand to the plow "believers or followers" are not fit for the Kingdom of God if they choose to look back. The Kingdom of God message and the Gospel are all one in the same message. We through salvation become citizens of the Kingdom of God. Paul was called to preach this very message to all men. Even throughout the whole book of Acts we see Peter and Paul going to different groups of people telling them basically the same thing. Jesus died for your sins. Philip had the same message: Quote: 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Philip came preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. What Jesus taught; Peter, Paul, Phillip and any others all spoke the same thing. "That Jesus was sent to die for men's sins and He made a way that we would receive eternal life". This is the good news for all, the same gospel message for everyone. John 3:16 At the very beginning of Paul's ministry we are told that he was called as a chosen vessel to go to the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Gary
Just hanging around someone that is performing miracles, signs, healing, and delivering people of demonic spirits is not a guarantee that everyone is receiving the blessing for themselves. In Acts we see one named Simon who practiced sorcery, who later believed what Phillip was saying and was baptized in water, and he continued being with the ministry. Quote: 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. This man became a believer and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Sorcery was condemned in the Old Testament, and we find in the New Testament that all sorcerers will have their place in the lake of fire. Quote: 9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” The ancient art of sorcery is still an abomination to God and anyone found practicing the occult will be cast into the lake of fire. Even though Simon became a believer he still needed to be set free from open doors from his past. When the Apostles came down and prayed for the new believers who were baptized to receive the Holy Spirit we find Simon wanted to "buy" the power of God to so he could give people the Baptism of the Spirit. Evidently it made an impression when the Apostles prayed and Simon saw and heard them speak in tongues. But when Simon wanted to buy the things of God, Peter rebuked him. Quote: 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Simon was still under bondage from his past, poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity we are told. Thankfully he had a repentant attitude and wanted prayer. Quote: 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” We can never assume that a person who becomes a born again believer, baptized with water, that they have been totally set free. Every persons experience is different, some are set free while others bring things from the past that have been an open door. When anyone deals in the area of deliverance you cannot just assume anything. In these end times we must recognize that children are being indoctrinated on a mass level with the occult, through the book and movie industry. Whole generations of people are being raised up and are taught that sorcery, witchcraft, yoga, etc., is something cool and awesome. Sorcery is deceptive in that the multitudes of people in Samaria thought it was the power of God. Quote: 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. This whole section of scripture is interesting because we can see the influence that the occult has over people confusing them into thinking this is God's power. The occult always brings a curse on someones life and is condemned in scripture. What some see as harmless becomes an open door to the power of darkness. Gary
The Bible is of no private interpretation, the message of salvation is simple and plain to understand, God sent His Son to atone for man's sins. There's no clearer picture of this when we see Peter taking the gospel to Cornelius. Scripture speaks for itself. Cornelius has a vision of an angel of God, while miles away Peter has a vision from God, which he is told not to call what God has cleansed, "common". God brings these men of two different cultures together and what is the message that Peter tells them: Quote: 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Here we see Peter telling them the good news which we call the gospel. That those who believe in Him will receive remission of sins, and this is because Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead and the apostles along with others were witnesses to this fact. Peter is telling the same gospel that Paul later would be telling people, when he was sent out to his ministry. No where do we find them telling two different messages, but what they are sharing always compliments the others interpretation of the Word of God, and what took place when Jesus was on the earth. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” One gospel, one body, one faith, one doorway, one path which men must take to enter heaven. There is no other god out there in spite of what other religions may tell us. There is only One God and His name is Jesus. The media today seems to think that there is many paths to God. This is in direct confrontation to what the Living God tells us. Peter laid out the message of salvation to Cornelius and his friends and family. Secondly we see another event take place while Peter is ministering to these gentiles. They received the Baptism of the Spirit with the speaking in tongues as promised by the Lord. While Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit was poured out on the group: Quote: 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. The obvious thing that happens is they heard them speak with tongues. We can see from this that the baptism of water and the Baptism of the Spirit are not limited to a certain order. After receiving the Holy Spirit Peter commands them to be baptized with water in the name of the Lord. Word travels fast without the use of modern day technology. The brethren got wind of what took place, the gentiles received the word of God, and they confronted Peter when he returned with: "you went in and ate with uncircumcised men?" Well we all know that Peter explained the visions and what took place. Peter while explaining the events in order tells them that when they heard them speak with tongues he remembered what the Lord told them: Quote: 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” Jesus said: John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Peter is connecting these two events when he heard them speaking in tongues and remembered what the Lord told them. No where do we find that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given without the speaking of tongues. What takes place when men are born again is that they are cleansed from their past sins and are set free to serve God. What takes place in a mans life is revolutionary in nature, being set free from bondage. Many today confuse this spiritual awakening as being baptized in the Spirit, without tongues. When I first became a born again believer, I knew nothing of what the Bible said, I remember things started happening rapidly, while I had no understanding of spiritual things. A few months after being born again a man came up to me and started to tell me that I needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues. When he proceeded to explain what this experience was, for a brief amount of time, I was a afraid of what he was telling me. Fear swept through my mind, and it all sounded so foreign. But having not been trained in religion, even though I felt fear, I wanted to have this experience that this brother spoke of. When he laid hands on me to receive, I remember him speaking in what sounded like some ancient heavenly language that seemed to flow from him, then God poured His Spirit on me and I spoke in tongues. I think a lot of born again believers are hindered because of fear, reports about the experience that are untrue, past indoctrination warning them against it, bondage to the occult, etc.. Everyone who becomes a believer in Christ, has to be willing to take the initiative to look at what does the Scriptures say concerning all the doctrines being promoted in these end times. While we have four accounts of the gospel, they all speak the same thing, and are in agreement with God's revelation to mankind. The book of Acts is the account of how the church applied what the Lord told them, while living on this earth. Gary
Quote: 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring. All men are from one blood (Adam), from this comes every nation to dwell on the earth. It's always surprising that some races of people think they are different from their fellow man. When in reality we all came from Adam and Eve and are technically brothers and sisters through the human race. Secondly Paul points out that God has determined a preappointed time for each of us and the boundaries that we will live on in the earth, so we should seek the Lord, in hope that men shall find Him "though" He is not far from each one of us. God is not far away from any of us, its just that men pursue many other things that take them from God. This idea that God is everywhere at all times, speaks volumes concerning how Great the Living God is. Scripture tells us, He knows how many hairs is on every man's head in the whole world. Every time a sparrow falls to the ground God sees it. To forsake everything this world has to offer and to seek out this pearl of great price becomes well worth the effort for any man who dwells on the earth. Why? Understanding comes from the Lord coupled with wisdom and knowledge. Do we as mere men really ever grasp who God really is? God is Deity, a Supreme Being who is in total control of His universe. I don't know if men fully understand in their minds the scope of how Great the Living God really is. He is intelligent far beyond anything a mans rational mind can comprehend, while He gives us the free ability to make choices and decisions while living on this earth. Quote: 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. When the subject of the resurrection came up, it says; some men mocked while others wanted to hear this again. Quote: 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. "However" some joined Paul and "believed", some mocked, some wanted to hear about it later. Where are these men Today? Only time and eternity will tell, the important thing is once you hear it, what are you doing with it? Are you putting it off till later or believing what God says and joining in to follow. There is a cost to discipleship clearly lined out in scripture. Seeking and Finding Christ, for "He" is the pearl of Great Price. The Alpha and Omega. Gary
The Bible teaches that the Baptism is the "way of God". This is clearly taught all through the book of Acts. Out of many passages we can take a look at Acts 18: where is shows this experience is the "way of God". Remember the Bible teaches, where God says; "your ways are not my ways". While Jesus told us I am the way, the truth, and the life. In Acts 18 we can see where a man taught accurately the scriptures but he was limited in what he knew concerning the "way of God". Quote: 24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. This man was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, he was able to persuade other Jews through the Scriptures that Jesus was the promised messiah. He ends up going to the church of Ephesus. The Bible tells us several things concerning this brother. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; he was fervent in spirit, and he "spoke accurately the things of the Lord". But the Bible gives us a little glimpse and some insight into the fact that "he only knew the the baptism of John". That statement is clear showing us what he practiced and believed. While he is teaching boldly in the synagogue we see a husband and wife team taking him aside and showing him the "way of God", "more accurately". This could only mean they told him about the Baptism of the Spirit. Quote: 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. While he knew of John's baptism he had not heard of the Baptism of the Spirit. Like I shared the Lord tells us in Scripture that "My ways are not your ways. God has a prescribed way of doing things and as we see throughout the whole Bible that the Lord is with the man who does things His way. From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart? Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth, says the Lord. Gary
Gary, I was really enjoying your posts from Acts, seems like they have came to a slow crawl and I miss them. I told you our pastor was doing a study from Acts this year (he started in Jan. and we're to chapter 8); today he shared the example of Philip and his obedience to the angel of God. "And the angel of The Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go ... And he arose and went..." Acts 8:26-27 This example of obedience, along with Abraham's, is another recording for our understanding of what we are to do when told by God to do something...JUST DO IT !!!! No deal making or excuses why we don't feel we're equipted to handle the assignment (as Moses and others did); just obey. Easier said than done...But remember He promised never to give us more than we could handle (as long as we're looking to Him to accomplish it through us, not in our own strength or power.}
james wrote on Sun, 01 May 2016 14:54 Gary, I was really enjoying your posts from Acts, seems like they have came to a slow crawl and I miss them. I told you our pastor was doing a study from Acts this year (he started in Jan. and we're to chapter 8); today he shared the example of Philip and his obedience to the angel of God. "And the angel of The Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go ... And he arose and went..." Acts 8:26-27 This example of obedience, along with Abraham's, is another recording for our understanding of what we are to do when told by God to do something...JUST DO IT !!!! No deal making or excuses why we don't feel we're equipted to handle the assignment (as Moses and others did); just obey. Easier said than done...But remember He promised never to give us more than we could handle (as long as we're looking to Him to accomplish it through us, not in our own strength or power.} James, Thanks for the kind words. I've presently been going through the whole New Testament taking a look at what Paul is dealing with in the different churches. Its quit an eye opener, what is being said and what we have always heard it says. I just noticed a pm will have to check it out. Have not signed on for a while so was not able to see any "pm" messages. Hope your doing well. Spring is moving in slowly here, trying to get out a garden. Lord Bless, Gary