READINGS FOR NOVEMBER 20-26 

NOVEMBER 20, 2020

After His resurrection Jesus appeared over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God - this understanding about the kingdom of God must be extremely important!

As we enter into the New Testament book of Acts, it becomes very obvious how important the role of the Holy Spirit is in the life of a Believer. Once again, we can see the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was celebrated in the Old Testament as a praise and thanks to God for the barley harvest. The Holy Spirit came to dwell within the Believers at Pentecost to begin the new harvest. Jesus was very clear that the apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. For new Believers prior to that time, the Holy Spirit came upon them at the moment of conversion.  At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within.

Pentecost was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, plus one day past the Saturday Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Old Testament describes this celebration as The Feast of Weeks. In the New Testament it is called Pentecost. (Leviticus 23:15-21)

At Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, the ripe barley was presented as a thanksgiving offering before the Lord. This was done early in the morning of that day by 9:00 am., which incidentally was around the same time that the Holy Spirit came to those believers in Jesus.

Acts 2:1-13 records the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Acts 2:4
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues.

Not only were the apostles given the gift of speaking in tongues (other languages) but were given ALL the spiritual gifts.  This becomes evident as we continue to read about the things they did and said in the rest of the New Testament.

Pentecost was one of the three commanded holy days. So at this time God-fearing Jews had come to Jerusalem from different nations and spoke different languages.  Even though the apostles received all the spiritual gifts the most urgent immediate need was the gift of speaking in other languages. They were given this gift so that they could witness to all the people gathered together for Pentecost. Those people then returned to their own homes with knowledge of Jesus, spoken to them in their native language.

By the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples could speak and understand these national languages having had no training in any of them.

Paul writes in some of his letters about the spiritual gifts and mentions speaking in tongues or in an unknown language.  He also says that for a person to speak in tongues publicly, there is a need for an interpreter of tongues to be present.

1 Corinthians 14:2, 28
If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands.  If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God. 

When the apostles spoke in the different national languages, they were speaking to people who were able to understand them.  Since the apostles were given all the spiritual gifts they were all able to understand and interpret all the languages that were spoken.  Other verses that may be helpful in understanding are Matthew 6:6 and Romans 8:26 among many others.

Peter begins to teach the people from the prophecies of Joel and clearly points to the return of Jesus. Very soon after Jesus ascended into heaven, His followers were looking for His return.

"About three thousand were added to their number that day". They were baptized but it says nothing about water. They needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. However, there were immersion pools that the Jews used for ceremonial cleansing.  Interestingly this number three thousand is found in another place in Scripture.  It was during the "golden calf" incident.

Exodus 32:28
And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 

Three thousand unbelievers perished that day and three thousand believers were saved at Pentecost.

NOVEMBER 21

As we read about the early church, it is astounding at the number of people becoming Believers in Jesus and at the miracles that took place. Acts 3 records Peter performing miracles.  The people were astounded that Peter had healed the man who had been crippled from birth.  When Peter helped the man up, his feet and ankles had never supported the weight of his body.  Instantly his feet and ankles became strong - so strong that the man was able to jump to his feet and immediately begin walking - no wavering, wobbling toddler steps for him. Peter was very quick to acknowledge that it was the Holy Spirit within him that did the miracles.

Did you ever stop to contemplate the phrase "author of life" as a description of Jesus?

Peter and John were arrested for proclaiming a resurrection of the dead.  Remember, the Sadducees did not believe in life after death.  The two apostles were imprisoned but during the night an angel appeared and opened the doors of the jail.  The angel said, "Go stand in the temple courts...and tell the people the full message of this new life"

They didn't waste any time, at daybreak they followed the orders of the angel.

Even though Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, they could quote Scripture through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Too often in our churches today, some parts of the Bible are ignored. The Scriptures in today’s reading are among them. Many times, we want to focus only on the passages that make us feel good and not on the passages that tell us about hardships, trials, and sufferings. The apostles and followers of Jesus risked everything to testify about Jesus. They were imprisoned and tortured and yet Luke records that they never stopped testifying about Jesus. In today’s culture we, as Christians in the United States may never be imprisoned and tortured. However, there are many around the world who are being persecuted.  We in the United States don’t have to experience the consequences that the followers of Jesus in the early church did when they testified about Jesus or experience the consequences of the persecuted church around the world. Since we are not under that kind of fear, shouldn’t we be all the more willing to testify about Jesus?

Even though Peter and John were under threat of being killed if they continued to testify about Jesus, they prayed with fellow Believers that they would be able to speak boldly.  Notice that they didn't pray to be protected from harm.

Gamaliel, a Pharisee probably wanted to prevent a division in the council and even to prevent a riot with the people who supported the disciples’ teachings. Paul was one of Gamaliel’s students. After the trial the apostles were flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. But look what they did.
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

“So the word of God spread…”
Aren't we glad they never stopped teaching and proclaiming? Should we do any differently today?

Seven men were chosen who were full of the Spirit and wisdom to help the apostles so that they could give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word of God. This task was not taken lightly. Those selected had requirements of being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Laying hands on someone was an ancient Jewish practice and was done as a way to set a person apart for special service.

NOVEMBER 22

The first recorded martyrdom was that of Stephen. Charges were brought against Stephen by Jews who were not from Jerusalem.  They stirred up the Jerusalem Jews; the people and the elders and teachers of the law.  Then those people brought Stephen before the Sanhedrin on charges of speaking blasphemy against Moses and God.

When he appeared before the Sanhedrin Stephen’s face “was like the face of an angel.” How exactly does an angel look?  Could Stephen's face have looked the same as Moses' face when he descended from the mountain after being near the presence of God, the Father?

When Stephen gave his defense he gave a summary of Abraham through the death of Jesus. By his words, he refuted the charges that he spoke blasphemy against Moses by recounting the importance of Moses. Stephen obviously was well taught in the scrolls and scripture or he had been supernaturally empowered with knowledge and understanding. Look at what he said about educated Moses. Yet what excuse did Moses give God at the burning bush? Didn't Moses offer up the excuse that he didn't speak very well???

Stephen also related that the bodies of all the sons of Jacob were returned to Israel. Are these some of the bodies who were resurrected after Jesus' resurrection?

Nothing Stephen said during his defense was worthy of the charges leveled against him...until he accused the Sanhedrin of murdering Jesus and disobeying the law.  At this they became furious and gnashed their teeth.  At this moment, Stephen “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God", as he was being stoned to death.

What a tribute to Stephen! Jesus STOOD to receive him into the “great cloud of witnesses”, the martyrs. (Hebrews 12:1)  See also Revelation 6:9-11.

NOVEMBER 23

The day that Stephen was stoned a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. This caused many to scatter and thus they preached the word wherever they went. If the persecution had not broken out would the word have spread so rapidly?  Interestingly, the "church" met in homes just as many fellowships meet in homes today.

We took an interesting journey while reading the account of the people in Samaria and Simon the Sorcerer.   He was called the Great Power.  We might call it Humanism or New Age today.  A careful reading lets us know that the people believed what Philip was saying and doing, but they didn't necessarily believe in Jesus "because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus".

They probably had only been water baptized and not Spirit baptized. A clue hidden away in the little word "in “speaks volumes.

These people had been baptized "in" or "into" the name of the Lord Jesus. This word "in" comes from the Greek word "eis" and means "a going through, expressing motion". In other words, they went through the motions of baptism. Contrast this word with the word "in" from Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The word "in" in this verse is the Greek word "epi" and means "superimposition" in relation to "distribution". So while the word eis means going through the motions, epi means a distribution as in the distribution of the Holy Spirit. Who would have thought a tiny word like that could make such a difference in our understanding. It's just one of those little jewels hidden away just waiting for us to dig it out, polish it up, and admire it!

What a responsibility for those who have been given the gift of teaching! The Ethiopian eunuch depends on Philip to give him understanding of the scriptures. This man was most likely very dedicated to God because he had traveled a long distance from Ethiopia, located in Africa south of Egypt. Since he was reading from the book of Isaiah, he most likely had the money to buy a scroll. He was either a Jew or a convert to Judaism which is why he went to Jerusalem to worship. His conversion took Christianity into another government.

What happened to Philip after the baptism of the eunuch? Seems as if he was spirited away.

We made another interesting journey concerning Acts 8:37. Check it out. That verse may not be in the Bible you are using. Why???

In our e-sword, there are 24 Bible versions. Of those 24 versions, nine of them did not have Acts 8:37. Of those nine, seven are fairly contemporary versions. Most of the other 15 versions included Acts 8:37 and are much older versions. This verse follows the verse in which the eunuch asked to be baptized in water.

Act 8:37 
Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

When Philip said baptism by water was lawful (Greek word exesti), he was saying that this water baptism was a "completion of the act" of believing and carries the figurative idea of "being out in public". In other words, this act of water baptism was an outward sign of an inward change. This Ethiopian eunuch was most likely traveling with an entourage of people. He was after all an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen. He wanted all to know that he was a believer in Jesus. Obviously, the baptism of the Holy Spirit had already occurred in the chariot when he first believed.  Remember the difference between the two words translated "in".  One means "going through the motions" and the other means "distribution of the Holy Spirit."

Saul, the great persecutor of the Followers of “The Way” becomes a changed man. He was going to Damascus with letters in hand giving him authority from the chief priests to arrest any of the followers of Jesus, whether men or women.  This tells us that the women were important and had great influence. Since Damascus (located about 175 miles northeast of Jerusalem in Syria) was a commercial city that linked many other cities throughout the Roman world, Saul may have thought he could prevent the spread of Christianity to other major areas.

Does Jesus still come and go as He did when Saul had his conversion experience on the road to Damascus?

What must Ananias have thought when the Lord told him to go and ask for a man named Saul of Tarsus? What must the disciples have thought when Saul tried to join them? Saul was well known as a persecutor of the Followers of the Way. Saul was his name in Hebrew.  Paul was his name in Greek.

God says He will show Saul how much he must suffer. Did Saul know ahead of time what persecutions he must endure for the cause of Christ?

When Saul changed from being a persecutor of the followers of The Way to being a follower of The Way, the church enjoyed a time of peace.  Sounds as if Paul was the main driving force behind the persecution.

NOVEMBER 24

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Previous to that they were called “Followers of The Way”. We read a book called "The Ways of the Way" by Bob Fisher, a Messianic Jew from Israel. It gives details about the early church and how we can apply their "ways" to our worship services today.  It is this model on which we base Faith Fellowship - Wednesday Worship.

Cornelius, the centurion was told by the angel, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." This is exactly how we should view all our good works - as offerings to the Lord, not merely as something to make us feel good.

When the Holy Spirit came to those people gathered with Cornelius, Peter spoke these words, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

These words tell us that they had already received (or were baptized into) the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water. Peter makes sure that they understand that the water baptism is their outward demonstration to others. Remember they were witnessing to the Gentiles.

"For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God."
Just as the disciples on the day of Pentecost were able to speak in other languages in order to witness to the great crowd who had come to Jerusalem from many different nations, so these new believers were able to speak in other languages.  Again, there was an immediate need to be able to speak and understand another language, which is why they were given the gift of speaking in tongues.

Peter returned to Jerusalem and related the story of Cornelius to the circumcised believers there.  He described the Holy Spirit coming upon the large gathering of people who were with Cornelius.  Peter said the Holy Spirit came upon them as He had upon the believers at Pentecost.  Does this mean like tongues of fire?  Does this have anything to do with speaking in tongues?

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman world. The first Gentile church was founded there. It was also the center of worship for several pagan cults that promoted sexual immorality. Antioch was a vital commercial center. Paul used Antioch as his home base during his missionary journeys.

Fascinating story of Peter’s rescue from prison by the angel. Someone once said, “Prayer moves angels.” God certainly overrides the natural order of things. When Rhoda, the servant girl announces that Peter is at the door, the people said, "It must be his angel." Do our personal guardian angels look like we do?  Our little 3-year old grandson thinks so.

Notice the way that Herod died. Usually flesh is eaten by worms after death. In this case Herod was eaten by worms first, and then he died. As our granddaughter, Kylie might say, “Gross!”

NOVEMBER 25

Paul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…” What does it mean to be sent by the Holy Spirit?

“…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
This is the foreknowledge of God, not predestination. God knew ahead of time whose names were written in the Book of Life, put there before the foundations of the earth were established.
(Revelation 13:8)

Persecution was stirred up against Paul and Barnabas, “So they shook the dust from their feet…”
Often the Jews would shake the dust off their feet when leaving a Gentile town, so this was a familiar phrase. It symbolized cleansing themselves from the contamination of those who did not worship God. Jesus told His disciples to do this if any town would not accept them or listen to them. What does that mean for us as Believers today? If we have faithfully, carefully, and sensitively presented the message of Jesus Christ we are not held responsible for the decision the other person may make. Being filled with joy is a great indicator of being in God’s will and knowing when to “shake the dust”.  We should be careful though and not use this as an excuse to stop witnessing too soon.

When Paul delivered his first sermon of record, he was speaking to the Jews in the synagogue. They were accustomed to the old law of sacrificing animals for the forgiveness of sins. Paul introduced the new order of things. Paul says, "I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses."

This was a totally new concept. To stop animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins and believe in Jesus as the sacrificial "lamb" was a radical move for them.

Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city where he was left for dead. After the disciples gathered around him, Paul not only got up and went back into the city but he preached the good news and won a large number of disciples. The stoning itself could have killed Paul, the dragging certainly could have. Yet he was able to return to his mission, almost immediately. What happened when the disciples gathered around him????  We (Phil and Patti) personally believe that Paul was actually dead and he was brought back to life.

2 Corinthians 12:2
I know a man in Christ fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know; or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught up to the third Heaven. 

(By the way, according to most historical evidence, the stoning of Paul took place about 14 years before 2 Corinthians was written.  Hmmm...)

Concerning circumcision:
Many of the Jews believed that a Gentile convert should go through Judaism first.  Circumcision was merely a symbol of the attitude of obeying the letter of the law.  What they decided was that if a man wanted to be circumcised, that was his decision, but it wasn't necessary for salvation.  This is similar to water baptism.  Water baptism is certainly a personal decision but it is not necessary to be immersed baptized in water for salvation.  These Gentiles were not familiar with the history of God's people, the Mosaic law, the commandments, the precepts, etc. The apostles and elders sent to the Gentile believers some guidelines to follow.
1. Abstain from food sacrificed to idols
2. Abstain from blood
3. Abstain from the meat of strangled animals
4. Abstain from sexual immorality

These four requirements were more than just the literal interpretation. The first three refer to anything pagan. 

NOVEMBER 26

Paul writes to the church at Galatia giving them some of the most stinging words in all of his letters.

Galatians 1:9-10
As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

He makes it perfectly clear how he feels about someone preaching another gospel. He says let them be eternally condemned. Phew!

The phrase "to please God" should be the motto for anything spiritual in nature.  Anything we say or do should have as a focus the roots of truth and should be pleasing to Jesus instead of pleasing to men.

Paul  also writes to the church there giving his credentials to be called an apostle. He defends his position in several of the other letters as well. He wanted people to know that his revelations from God didn’t stop at his “flash bulb” experience on the road to Damascus. He let them know that he spent other time with Jesus. He also relates how he persecuted (tried to kill) the church.

He says that he was "set apart from birth." Our understanding of the English word "birth" is that it means when a child is born and makes the entrance into the world. This is not the definition of the word "birth" in the Greek or Hebrew. The origin of a living being is at conception. So Paul acknowledges that he was "set apart" at his conception.

Peter, James (Jesus' brother, not the apostle), and John were appointed to go to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”
Paul didn’t beat around the bush!

The use of the word circumcision occurs repeatedly and refers not only to the physical act of circumcision as a sign of the covenant, but it refers to strict obedience to the law as a way to salvation or to be made right with God through the old covenant.

“What is the purpose of the law?”
The law was given as an illustration that a sacrifice must be paid for sin. Sacrifice of the animals was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would make for the remission of sins. The provisions of the old law were never enough. Sacrifices had to be continually made. Complete remission of sins was never satisfied. That can only come through Jesus alone. We don’t receive eternal life through strict adherence to the law. Until Jesus came people were held in bondage to the law.

Paul mentions that the Galatians were observing special days and months and seasons.  Were they returning to pagan practices and doctrines?  He had earlier warned the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, meaning stay away from anything pagan.

Paul asks them, "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Often when truth is proclaimed enemies are revealed.

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
Now that Jesus has come, we aren’t bound to the strict observance of all the laws. Being given an understanding of all the laws give us better insight into the good news of salvation through Jesus, and not salvation through the law.

Some more stinging words from Paul are these:
"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"

This is truly something to contemplate. What are some things that can "cut in" on us? When we know the truth, are we sometimes reluctant to obey the truth for fear of what others might think?  Paul says that kind of persuasion does not come from God.  "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough"  See the parable of the woman and the yeast.  Yeast is not a good thing in this parable.

"Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor."
While this may apply literally, ponder this.  Who is the greatest instructor in the word?  That would be the Holy Spirit of course.  So how do we share good things with the Holy Spirit?

"Do not be deceived.  God cannot be mocked."
We may think we can. When a person has a sex-change operation, that person's DNA does NOT change.  This fact was reported by Johns Hopkins Medical Center. In other words God cannot be mocked.  God does not allow for change in sex.

A verse that is probably very familiar to most of us is this one.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

This verse was read by Hillary Clinton during her concession speech after Donald Trump won the Presidential election of 2016.  Too bad she didn't read the previous verse and the verse that follows this one.  She took the verse out of context.  Just as Isaiah 9:10 was taken out of context by politicians in response to the attacks of 9/11.

Paul speaks about an “illness” when he first preached the gospel and that it was a trial to them.
“…you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me…”

Is Paul’s vision not completely restored? Did the blinding light on that road to Damascus still have lingering effects? Did the beatings and stoning have residual effects? Did the marks on his body include a visual reminder?

“See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand.”

“…for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus…”
Paul was experiencing the many persecutions that he himself had inflicted on Jesus’ followers.