But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
—Acts 1:8
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Use the following definitions to help you better understand this verse:
power means “the great power of God, meaning His almighty energy; of prophets and apostles as empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
witnesses means “one who has information or knowledge of something, and can give information, bring to light, or confirm something.”
Recognize that the words in this verse are words that were spoken by Jesus. Jesus planned to give his followers “power” to be the witnesses the world needed – so that the world could know Jesus.
Emphasis: We are to understand that each person who has Jesus in their heart has God’s Spirit who will enable them to be witnesses for Jesus. Just as the disciples started in Jerusalem (for that is where they were), we are to tell people in our hometown – beginning in our neighborhoods. We are to learn about Jesus and have Christian friends that can encourage us.
Lesson Summary: We ended our study of Jesus’ life with His final words to His eleven disciples in Matthew 28:19-20. We also took a glimpse of Jesus’ plan for the furtherance of the Gospel message that is recorded in Acts 1:6-8 before He ascended into heaven. In this lesson, we will learn more about these verses as we begin our study of the book of Acts.
Acts is the only book of History in the New Testament, and Luke, the physician who also wrote the Gospel of Luke, recorded it. In this lesson, we will learn that Jesus kept His promise of sending the Holy Spirit, which gave His followers power to be witnesses – beginning in Jerusalem. With that power, the people in Jerusalem were able to hear the gospel shared by Jesus’ followers in their own language – for there were people from many nations in Jerusalem.
Peter preached Jesus to the Jews in Jerusalem – many of which had witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. He declared that Jesus had died, was buried, and raised again – conquering death once and for all. After hearing this, the people were brought to a time of decision. Those people were given the choice to believe or reject, and three thousand of them believed. One of the most important things these new Believers did was that “they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37
The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life, Year Three Quarter Two, Lesson 1”:
“As Peter preached Jesus to the people, he initially directed his message to the Jews, for they had rejected Jesus, crucifying Him. ‘22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it‘ (Acts 2:22-24). Holden means “to use strength to hold or retain.” When Jesus could not be held by death, He took the power of death that had previously been held by the devil, Satan. See the following verse to understand this: ‘… that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil‘ (Hebrews 2:14b). Understand that death could not hold Jesus, for he conquered it. (See also, how Paul later explained what Jesus did because of his death on the cross: ‘54b. … Death is swallowed up in victory. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ‘ 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57.) Jesus gave the power of life to any who would believe in Him.
“Peter continued to explain to the people that because Jesus could not ‘be holden of it‘, Jesus rose from the dead – and this people, which had waited in the upper room, were witnesses. ‘32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear… 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ‘ (Acts 2:32-33, 36). … All of the house of Israel should have recognized that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was both Lord and Christ. Christ means “the Savior of the world.” They were to believe Jesus was the Savior of the world.
“How did they respond? ‘Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?‘ (Acts 2:37). When they heard the Gospel message preached, they were ‘pricked in their heart.‘ Pricked means ‘greatly pained or deeply moved.’ It is important that the Gospel message had a movement in their heart. Sometimes we call this ‘conviction’ (which means ‘found guilty of an offense‘). However, it is more important what those people did with that movement. Peter told them what they must do. ‘38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call’ (Acts 2:38-39). The people had to take action: repent. Repent means ‘to imply pious sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning from them to God and the gospel of Christ. To think differently; a change of mind demanding a change of action.‘ Repentance is a response between a sinful man and God. Baptism is an outward testimony of what happened to that individual’s heart. Notice that God ‘called’ them. Call means ‘God’s call through the Gospel message.’
“Remember what Jesus taught: Jesus wanted the people to receive (receive means ‘to accept an offer deliberately and readily‘) the kingdom of God. Understand the kingdom of God by the following: When the Pharisees asked Jesus when it should come. ‘And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation‘ (Luke 17:20). The words not with observation mean ‘you cannot see it with human eyes.” Jesus went on to say, ‘Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). Within you means ‘it is located in your heart and affections; not external.’ If you remember, that is one reason we refer to being saved as ‘asking Jesus into your heart.’ You cannot see it with your eyes. The Gospel message is very simple – one must just believe. In other words, simply believe and receive without question. Jesus spent much of His ministry calling people to a time of decision – to believe in Him, or choose to reject Him. When Peter preached to the people, he preached the same message: God must call the individual’s heart, and that individual must repent. Then it is important to reveal to others just what God did (a testimony) by being baptized before witnesses. What did the people do once they understood? ‘Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls‘ (Acts 2:41). Those who believed and responded to God’s call were baptized. Notice that there were three thousand people who believed!
“What they did next was very important. ‘And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers‘ (Acts 2:42). Once there has been such a change in one’s heart and life, it is important to learn how to live this new life. Continued stedfastly means ‘faithfulness and steadfastness in the outgoings of the Christian life – especially in prayer.’ They understood that learning from the Apostles was important. These new Believers not only learned the doctrine (doctrine means ‘the teaching of the Apostles‘), but fellowshipped with them. Remember that the Apostles had spent three years of their lives walking with Jesus, learning from Him. This is something important that Christians should do even today: learn from Bible teachers who know God’s Word, and fellowship with other Believers as opposed to the lost world who have not given their hearts and lives to Jesus. Next, read of the blessing for those who not only believed, but also shared the Gospel message with others. ‘… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved‘ (Acts 2:47b).”
Have you been “pricked in your heart” (been convicted), understanding that you are guilty of sin?
Have you then believed in Jesus, allowing Him into your heart and life?
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”
Proverbs 12:15
The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life” Year Two, Quarter One – Lesson 1:
“… We must remember what God had told King Solomon before he died: because he had allowed his heart to be turned from God to idols, God would rend the kingdom away from his son – all but two tribes. His son would only be allowed to rule two tribes because of the promise God had made to David. “13b. … I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 15. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:13b, 15–16). Even before King Solomon died, he knew and understood that his son would only be allowed to rule over two tribes. God had already chosen Jeroboam to rule the other ten tribes (see 1 Kings 11:29–37).
“When the people came together to make Rehoboam king, Jeroboam and all of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam. They wanted Rehoboam to lighten the burden that King Solomon had placed upon the people. If he would lighten that burden, the people would serve him. Rehoboam sought counsel; first from the old men who had advised King Solomon, and then with the young men he had grown up with — his friends. The old men’s counsel was to lighten the burden upon the people. The young men’s advice was to make the people’s burden much heavier. Read 1 Kings 12:3–19 for the complete events. Especially take not of 1 Kings 12:19: “Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying….” From that verse, we understand this was God’s plan — the people would revolt against Rehoboam, but we can also understand that is was because of the foolishness of Rehoboam’s decision. “So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day” (1 Kings 12:19).
“It was at this time in history that the kingdom divided becoming two separate kingdoms — the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Rehoboam ruled over the Southern Kingdom, Judah (containing only two tribes) because that was the tribe from which Rehoboam, Solomon, and David came. Jeroboam ruled over the Northern Kingdom, Israel, which were the remaining ten tribes.
“In the New Testament Jesus tells us, “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24).
“A Deeper Path: After learning of King Rehoboam, we can see that one of the foolish things he did that cost him the majority of his kingdom was taking the wrong counsel. He chose the counsel of his friends instead of the counsel from the older, wiser men who had counseled his father. Read some of the words his father had written before Rehoboam even became king — words Rehoboam had probably read, or at the very least, had heard:
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Do you think Rehoboam would have lost most of his kingdom if he had taken the older men and the people’s counsel?
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Proverbs 19:20).
Do you remember what we learned in Psalm 1:1a? “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly …”
“… We continue learning about King Rehoboam in 1 Kings 14:21-31. King Rehoboam began to reign when he was 41 years old, and he reigned 17 years in Jerusalem “… the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there …” (1 Kings 14:21). And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord. They continued worshiping idols and “… they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel” (1 Kings 14:24b). In the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem and stole the treasures of the king’s house and all of the shields of gold that King Solomon had made. Another interesting thing to note: “And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days” (1 Kings 14:30). King Rehoboam died, and his son, Abijam, reigned in his stead. Abijam ruled Judah for three years. The next king was Abijam’s son, Asa (see 1 Kings 15:8).
“A Deeper Path: See the fool Rehoboam became in disregarding his father’s teachings. Remember that we learned that much of the Proverbs was written from a father (King Solomon) as instruction to his son (Rehoboam). “7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Proverbs 1:7-9).”
Do you learn from history, recognizing the importance of seeking counsel from God’s Word?
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
—Hebrews 13:17
Key Verse Thought: Read
the Key Verse. Think for a minute. Is it ever hard to obey someone who is in
authority over you? Consider the authority in the written Word of God and those
who teach the doctrines therein. Even when it may be difficult, we are called
to not only obey, but also choose to do it correctly. Consider how you treat
one who teaches you (and may occasionally correct or admonish you). Do not make
their task more difficult, for they must give an accounting to God for how they
teach you, and they want it to be a joyful time. If you respond incorrectly,
you may just miss the blessing intended for your life.
Emphasis: We must
first have a heart of flesh, so God’s Word can be written therein. Then we must
be a watchman, telling all of the world about Jesus, so they can know God as the
God.
Lesson Summary: Weeks
of Bible study time could be spent just on the book of Ezekiel. However,
because we are not doing an exhaustive study, but an overview, we will take two
lessons to study highlights of the book of Ezekiel. Remember that Jeremiah
witnessed the captivity of Judah
by Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem.
The book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, is a poem revealing the horrors
of seeing the city of Jerusalem and
the temple of God
destroyed after a terrible siege against the city. Jeremiah and Ezekiel both
lived during the demise of Israel.
Ezekiel was carried captive from Jerusalem
during the second invasion of Babylon
by King Nebuchadnezzar. Once in Babylon,
God came to Ezekiel in a heavenly vision and called him to be a watchman for
God to the house of Israel.
God gave Ezekiel the words that needed to be spoken to His people. The people
of Judah had to
understand that they were being disciplined for their sin. God often called
Ezekiel “the son of man.”
After God showed Ezekiel the wickedness that had permeated
God’s Temple, Ezekiel witnessed
God’s Spirit depart from the Temple
in Jerusalem, and finally from this
earth.
God was chastising His people by using their enemy, Babylon.
It was because of the many transgressions of God’s people. But most
importantly, God wanted His people to
know that He is the Lord (this is expressed around 70 times in Ezekiel).
Ezekiel was to be sure to let God’s people know that He had not forsaken them,
but that He had future plans for them.
As many other prophets
before, Ezekiel was to call the people to repentance. There were many signs
that God had Ezekiel use to gain the people’s attention, and to reinforce the
message God had for His people. For lack of time, we will not look at these.
(Some of the signs of Ezekiel: a tile, filthy food, a razor, a pot, a fire, lay
on left/right, prepare his clothes to move, smite hands together, not to mourn
his wife’s death, etc.)
It is in the book of Ezekiel where we also understand that God judges each individual. God does not save the child because of the father, or the father because of the child. Each person is accountable unto God for his or her actions in his or her own life – whether in righteousness or in iniquity. God wants each individual to turn from his or her sin, and only then will he or she live.
If you are teaching this to younger children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember this lesson:
We made binoculars adding stickers and the verse Ezekiel 3:17 to help us remember the importance of being a Watchman (like Ezekiel) who warns people with the Word of God.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
—Acts 8:35
Key Verse Thought: Have you ever told anyone about Jesus, and what
he has done in your life? Is it an important thing to do? Today we will look at Isaiah. Not only did he speak God’s Words to the
kings of Judah,
but he also wrote about Jesus. We will
learn of a time recorded in the Bible that someone was saved by reading the
book of Isaiah.
Emphasis: Just as Isaiah wrote about Jesus, we are to tell everyone
that Jesus came to save the lost.
Lesson
Summary: The name Isaiah means the Lord saves; or the Lord is Savior.
Isaiah was called to be a prophet the year King Uzziah (Azariah) died (Isaiah
6). He saw God upon His throne. God asked, “Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us?” and Isaiah answered, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
Isaiah examined the sins of Judah,
speaking to the kings in their courts. He spoke during the days of King Ahaz, a
very bad king, who made himself and the nation of Judah
servants to their enemy, Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9).
Isaiah warned against such alliances in Isaiah chapters seven through nine. He
also strongly influenced King Hezekiah, a very good king, (see Isaiah 36-37) encouraging
him to hold out against the Assyrian threat, and God supernaturally won the
battle for them. He prophesied about 40 years (or more), and lived into the
reign of Manasseh, one of the worst kings that
ruled Judah.
Tradition says that Manasseh had Isaiah “sawn asunder” (see Hebrews 11:37). He was a prophet to Judah
before they were carried into captivity into Babylon
and he warned them of that pending captivity. He saw Israel,
the Northern Kingdom, carried away into captivity by Assyria.
Many comparisons can be made from other
places in the Bible to the book of Isaiah. We will look at a few of those
comparisons along with some interesting things referred to in the book of
Isaiah. Isaiah is often quoted in the New Testament, and Jesus quoted from the book
of Isaiah often. Remember, the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah
when Philip showed him how to be saved. We can read much about Jesus in the
book of Isaiah.
Isaiah records many specific prophecies
concerning the coming Messiah (Jesus) and his suffering death – more than any
other book in the Old Testament.
We will take three lessons to look at the book of Isaiah.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”
—Philippians 3:1
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. In this lesson, we will
remember many people we have studied before – ones we cannot forget!
Emphasis: We are to never tire of remembering God’s people, and
what He did for them (and does for us today)!
Lesson Summary: It is important, upon occasion, to take a minute
and stop to remember. In this lesson, as
we begin the book of 1 Chronicles, we can see it begins with the genealogy from
Adam – which is basically a time of remembering back to what God had done.
Oftentimes we find the genealogies mundane and boring. As we go through the
first chapter of 1 Chronicles, try to see the genealogy from a different
perspective. It can be fascinating if you are able to recognize names, which in
turn causes a remembering of great events in history. Be encouraged to look at
genealogies from this perspective. Now that we have studied many great men and
women in history, we should be able to read through these genealogies with much
fascination.
One important reason that
the books of the Chronicles were kept was to accurately record the lineage of
the Israelites – to reveal to mankind with great assurance that Jesus was the
rightful heir to the throne of David.
In our last quarter, we
focused on the kings of Israel,
the Northern Kingdom. As we continue our study, we will
focus on the kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. In these lessons, we will
look at the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings along with the additional information
about events and people that was not recorded in the records of the kings but
in the books of 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles. These bits of information will
be helpful in better understanding some events. The books of the Chronicles
help us consider the spiritual significance of these events. First Chronicles
begins with Adam and brings us to the kings of Judah.
Especially notice the same struggle mankind has fought since the beginning of
time: man’s choice. The choice is whether to obey God, or to choose not to obey
God. The choice one makes determines one’s
standing with God. See an example of man’s disobedience and obedience as
recorded in First Chronicles:
1. Disobedience brought
defeat and destruction: “13. So Saul died for his
transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word
of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one
that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; 14. And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and
turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
2. Obedience brought peace
and God’s blessing: “12. And they entered into a
covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with
all their soul; 13. That whosoever would not
seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether
man or woman. 14. And they sware unto the LORD
with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their
heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and
the LORD gave them rest round about” (1 Chronicles 15:12-15).
As we have learned and will continue to discover, faith in God, repentance, and seeking God with the whole heart (obedience) – not necessarily one’s genealogy – will determine one’s standing with God.
