Beloved,... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ... But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:1-9)
In our conclusion of the study of the gospels, After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 NIV) But before His ascension, He told them, I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49; see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Give Final Instruction, then He Ascends) Jesus is not on the earth physically right now, but He is here spiritually. We will study more about that shortly, but we can not allow the things we see to stop us from believing what we can't see. Remember, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith in Christ Jesus is believing the evidence, even though we can't see Him with our natural eye.
In our conclusion of the study of the gospels, After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 NIV) But before His ascension, He told them, I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49; see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Give Final Instruction, then He Ascends) Jesus is not on the earth physically right now, but He is here spiritually. We will study more about that shortly, but we can not allow the things we see to stop us from believing what we can't see. Remember, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith in Christ Jesus is believing the evidence, even though we can't see Him with our natural eye.
God helps us with our faith, through the scriptures and the apostles. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers [James, Joses, Jude and Simon]. (Acts 1:12-14; see THE GOSPEL: Disciples, Who are These Guys)
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” ... “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:... ‘Let another take his office.’[Psalm 109:8] (Acts 1:15-20; see THE GOSPEL: Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested; the Word is the Truth)
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:21-26)
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (I Corinthians 14:33) God is a God of order! Jesus had promised the disciples, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelations 21:10-11, 14)
In order for Christ's prophesy to be fulfilled, someone had to take Judas Iscariot's place. Which leads us to the requirements of an apostle, a person who was an eye witness of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and/or had direct contact with Christ and participates in the ministry of spreading the gospel. Other than the twelve, only one other person considered the thirteenth apostle met this qualification; Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (I Corinthians 1:1) whom we will study more about later in a future lesson. We just need to be mindful of the titles we give ourselves. There were about a hundred and twenty disciples in the upper room, but only twelve of them were called the twelve apostles .
Now that the business of getting themselves in order was complete, God was ready to fulfill the promise He had made through Christ Jesus. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4) Tongues? Exactly what is this and why? We will discuss further in the next study...
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (I Corinthians 14:33) God is a God of order! Jesus had promised the disciples, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelations 21:10-11, 14)
In order for Christ's prophesy to be fulfilled, someone had to take Judas Iscariot's place. Which leads us to the requirements of an apostle, a person who was an eye witness of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and/or had direct contact with Christ and participates in the ministry of spreading the gospel. Other than the twelve, only one other person considered the thirteenth apostle met this qualification; Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (I Corinthians 1:1) whom we will study more about later in a future lesson. We just need to be mindful of the titles we give ourselves. There were about a hundred and twenty disciples in the upper room, but only twelve of them were called the twelve apostles .
Now that the business of getting themselves in order was complete, God was ready to fulfill the promise He had made through Christ Jesus. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4) Tongues? Exactly what is this and why? We will discuss further in the next study...
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