The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

So let’s talk about context today. Context is what goes on around stories in the Bible   sets of verses. None of the biblical writers just suddenly popped onto the stage of life and spoke out your favorite verses. Each biblical character had just come from somewhere and was heading somewhere else when they said or did the things that touch your heart. This is context (or at least a part of it) Understanding the context helps us to gain a better understanding of what may have been going on in the characters head when they said and did the things that changed the world.

Today’s verses are a case in point: Acts 3:1-10

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

What prompted this miracle?

Where do you imagine Peter was coming from?

Where was Peter going?

Do any of these things change the story for you?

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Welcome back to House On Fire, our discussion study through the book of Acts. I am away this week leading worship at the New England Special Touch Breakaway (that is a ministry to the disabled). So I may not be able to respond to all your thoughts right away but I look forward to reading what the Lord shows you through your study of the text.

Today’s Scripture reference is :

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 ESV

In these verses we see laid out for us the five biblical purposes of the church:

Fellowship- breaking of bread and fellowship.

Discipleship- apostles teaching and prayer.

Ministry- holding all things in common, selling and giving for the sake of members of the fellowship.

Missions- Wonders and signs done creating awe and wonder among unbelievers.

Worship- In the temple courts and house to house.

What are some creative ways the Holy Spirit has accomplished each of these purposes in your life?

What purpose is He challenging you towards growth in right now?

What must you do to grow in this purpose?

I have really been enjoying this discussion through the book of Acts. So far five of you have popped in on the discussion. Let me encourage you to read and put in your thoughts concerning the thought strand. Let’s make this a real discussion class. If you have missed any of the class questions you can catch up here: http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh

Now on to today’s class.

Read over some of the comments from the last classes. Are any of these new thoughts for you? How have they changed your view of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus?

When last we left the disciples they had just elected Matthias  to fill Judas Iscariot’s position. They were all waiting in Jerusalem for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Here is what happened.

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2:1-13 ESV

Between Acts 1:9 ( Ascension Day) and Acts 2:1 (Pentecost) was a period of 10 days

Pentecost is one of the seven feasts of Israel. Each of them reflect a different aspect of  Messiah.

The four spring feasts are:

Pesach- Passover/ Jesus is our Passover lamb protecting us from the death angel

Unleavened bread- Jesus is our sinless Messiah

First Fruits-  Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead. He is the first fruits of our salvation.

Shavuot- Pentecost/ The Holy Spirit descended

The three fall feasts are:

Rosh Hoshanah- Yom Teruah, “The blowing of the shofar”. symbolic of the great in-gathering of the saints by Messiah (rapture of the church)

Yom Kippur- Day of Repentance/ day when Messiah shall judge

Succot- Feast of Tabernacles/ the Kingdom banquet/ marriage supper of the Lamb

Here is some information about Pentecost-

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks is the second of three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally it commemorates the time when the first fruits are harvested and brought to the temple. Historically it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavuot and study Torah and then to pray as early as possible in the morning.

Do you think this practice may have had any bearing on the coming of the Holy Spirit? Why or Why not?

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Welcome to episode three of our study through the book Of Acts, House on Fire. If you missed our previous  sessions they can be found here: http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh

When last we left our intrepid disciples, they were watching Jesus ascend into Heaven. The master had left them specific instructions that they were to remain in Jerusalem until they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let’s pick up the narrative at this point.

Acts 1:10-26

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[a]

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[b] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

I would like to start with a question from verse 15. We know from this verse that 120 returned to Jerusalem and waited for the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”. We also know from I Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection.

Why do you think 480 people were missing from the upper room experience?

Now let’s talk about what went on in the upper room during those 10 days. We have a small glimpse here of how the disciples “waited” for the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

How do these verses change your understanding of the command from Jesus, “wait for the promise of the Father”? Does this change your understanding of “waiting on God”?