TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 2015
Summarized by Steven Donnelly
Main Passage: Acts 16:1-10
Watchword: They searched the scriptures to see these things were so.
We resumed our study through Acts with the first 10 verses of chapter 16. Within this segment Luke notes that Paul circumcised Timothy (16:1-3). Bearing in mind the decision of the Jerusalem council as published in the previous chapter, one reasonably ponders why Timothy as a young man subjected himself to the pain of circumcision.
We explored at least two possibilities. Perhaps an enduring responsibility for people of Jewish decent to observe Mosaic instruction best accounts for Timothy’s willingness to undergo such an excruciating experience. The Torah binds the rite of circumcision as a perpetual sign of the covenant with Abraham to be observed throughout every successive generation (Gen. 17:11f). Given this reasoning, it follows that Timothy’s decent from a Jewish mother (Acts 16:1) may reasonably account for his interest in circumcision.
On the other hand, simple ministerial objectives as a companion of Paul may offer another explanation for the circumcision of Timothy. The continuing history of Paul’s mission recorded in Acts notes his pattern of visiting synagogues upon initial arrival at a given province. Thus reasoning, Timothy underwent circumcision for the purpose of bearing the testimony of Christ as a Jew within each respective Jewish community that the evangelistic team encountered.
We considered the fact that Galatians informs that Titus (being a Greek) was not compelled to be circumcised. Yet, the circumstances behind the context of Galatians included a Judaising component. That is, Jewish believers were intent on bringing gentile believers under the restrictions of Mosaic Law. The circumstances of Timothy’s circumcision did not involve any discernible Judaising presence, but rather non-believing Jews. Paul resisted the Judaising contingent that sought to impose legal restrictions on gentile believers, but he seemingly made a voluntary concession to see that Timothy was circumcised before taking the young brother on the road for ministry.
One may object that Moses’ legislation is theoretically binding upon Jewish people (believing or otherwise) “forever”. Thus, one may voice the objection, “What part of forever don’t you understand?” A tension exists between the liberties that the Gospel promises (at least as extended to gentiles) and the responsibility to honor the legislation of Moses recorded in the Torah. Perhaps Paul addresses the dilemma in the context of 1 Corinthians.
During an earlier discussion of Acts 15 it was suggested that Paul expounded on the four restrictions (i.e. no strangled meat, no blood, no idolatry, no fornication) placed upon gentile believers by the Jerusalem council in his first letter to the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Cor. 6-10). This follows the sequential progression of the book of Acts as Paul’s visit to Corinth is described in Acts 18.
Within the same context of 1 Corinthians, Paul notes that he made himself the servant to all people in order to win them to Christ (1 Cor. 9:19). He adds that “to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.” (9:20-21). Paul subjected himself to legal restrictions to further his testimony among fellow Jews. Although Paul was Jewish (Rom. 4:1; 9:3-5; Php. 3:4-6), on occasion he exercised his liberty to live “without law” in order to win those who were without law. He does not endorse the abandonment of “law to Christ”, but appears to refer to Mosaic ordinances as no longer binding.
Paul illustrates his position with an analogy in Rom. 7:1-4 which describes how “a woman is bound to the law to her husband so long as he lives” (v. 2). Paul notes that if the husband dies, the woman is no longer subject to her husband’s instruction. (If the woman joined herself to another man while the husband is still alive this would constitute adultery, but if the husband died, she is “loosed from the law of her husband” and may reasonably marry another man [vv. 2-3; cf. also 1 Cor. 7:39].) Paul uses the analogy of the marital covenant to parallel one’s relationship to the law of Moses and one’s relationship to Christ. He addresses the Romans, noting that “ye have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead” (Rom. 7:4; cf. also 6:14; Col. 2:11-14).
Paul informed the Ephesians that Christ “abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” in order to remove the division between Jewish and gentile believers and bring reconciliation between the two peoples—making them one (Eph. 2:11-22).
According to this view, the New Covenant becomes a sort of transition point between the Old Covenant (Moses) and the New Covenant under Christ. Understandably, a reading of the Hebrew Bible that translates the Hebrew term “olam” reference to “forever” or a “duration without end” would tend to challenge the idea that Moses’ Law is no longer binding upon the decendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, the term does not always refer to time without end. The following examples may serve to illustrate the point:
· Isaiah 42:14:
הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי מֵעוֹלָם--אַחֲרִישׁ אֶתְאַפָּק כַּיּוֹלֵדָה אֶפְעֶה אֶשֹּׁם וְאֶשְׁאַף יָחַד
“I have מֵעוֹלָם [i.e. ‘for a long time’] maintained silence; I will keep silent and control myself. As a travailing woman I will cry out and pant and I will gasp together.”
NOTE: In this sense “olam” seems to refer to “a long time”, yet a period of time that has an endpoint.
· Proverbs 22:28 (cf. also 23:10):
אַל-תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם-- אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ
“Don’t remove an גְּבוּל עוֹלָם [i.e. ‘ancient boundary/landmark’] which your fathers have made.”
NOTE: Obviously, an everlasting landmark could never be removed.
· Psalms 24:7:
שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם וְיָבוֹא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד
“Lift up your heads, gates…and be lifted up, פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם [i.e. ‘ancient doors’] and the king of glory will come.”
· Jonah 2:7:
הָאָרֶץ בְּרִחֶיהָ בַעֲדִי לְעוֹלָם וַתַּעַל מִשַּׁחַת חַיַּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי
“The earth with her bars enclosed upon me forever [i.e. ‘three days and three nights’; perhaps it ‘seemed like forever’{?}]; yet you lifted my life up from the pit, O Yahweh, my God.”
· Psalms 143:3:
כִּי רָדַף אוֹיֵב נַפְשִׁי--דִּכָּא לָאָרֶץ חַיָּתִי הוֹשִׁבַנִי בְמַחֲשַׁכִּים כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם
“For an enemy persecuted my soul; he crushed my life to the earth—he caused me to dwell in darkness כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם [i.e. ‘as the ones who have been long dead’].”
· Exodus 28:43 (Aaron’s priestly garments):
חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לוֹ וּלְזַרְעוֹ אַחֲרָיו
…“an everlasting [i.e. “perpetual”] statute to him and to his seed after him”…
*NOTE*: Aaron and the successive priesthood in his name were to wear these garments “forever”, or perhaps “in perpetuity”. The translation of ‘olam’ as “forever” seems to make less sense as the these garments were to be worn by the priests (which were of Aaron’s seed) who were also consecrated priests “as a perpetual [i.e. ‘olam’] statute” (Ex. 29:9).
The interpretation of “forever” here conflicts with the rejection of Eli’s sons from the priesthood 1 Sam. 2:30. Furthermore, Hebrews informs that the Aaronic priesthood was overshadowed by Christ’s priesthood (Heb. 7:11-12, 15-18, 22-24). Writing to Jewish believers, he even suggests that the believing community has “an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle” [i.e. Aaronic priests] (Heb. 13:10).
· 1 Kings 9:3—Solomon’s Temple
הִקְדַּשְׁתִּי אֶת-הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִתָה לָשׂוּם-שְׁמִי שָׁם עַד-עוֹלָם וְהָיוּ עֵינַי וְלִבִּי שָׁם כָּל-הַיָּמִים
“I have sanctified this house which you built to set my Name there forever [i.e. ‘perpetually’], and my eyes and my heart will be there continually.”
*NOTE*: Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 586 BC. In fact, Ezekiel recorded a visionary premonition of the destruction of the Temple wherein he describes the Spirit of God leaving the Temple by way of the eastern gate, leaving it vulnerable to the Babylonian siege (Ezek. 7-11, esp. 10:18-19). Interestingly, chapter 11:23ff notes that the glory of Yahweh leaves the city and rests on the mountain to the east of the city (Mt. Olives), the same point from which Jesus stood and prophesied the destruction of the Second Temple (cf. Lk. 21, esp. vv. 20-22—esp. v. 22 “that all things which are written may be fulfilled”).
· Leviticus 24:8: showbread
בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת יַעַרְכֶנּוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה—תָּמִיד: מֵאֵת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלָם
“Every Sabbath he will set it before Yahweh continually—from the children of Israel as an eternal covenant forever” (בְּרִית עוֹלָם—“everlasting covenant”; this same phrase is used of the covenant of circumcision in Gen. 17:13).
*NOTE*: This ordinance related to the showbread has clearly ceased with the destruction of the Temple.
Additionally, the concept of “the end of days” as referred to in the Hebrew Bible appears to have foreshadowed a time of redemption through the Messianic hope. The Pentateuch includes the phrase on 4 different occasions (Gen. 49:1; Num. 24:14; Deut. 4:30; 31:29). It might be unreasonable to offer interpretive comments related to the use of the phrase throughout the Hebrew Bible, or even exhaustively comment about its usage within the Torah; however, one can easily recognize the anticipation of a king/royal Messiah who would come in “the end of days” to bring redemption.
Gen. 49:1 presents a poetic foreshadowing of prophetic fulfillment for each of the tribes of Israel as Jacob blesses his sons with insight about what will come upon them in “the end of days”. The blessing given to Judah awaits a king (Gen. 49:6-10; cf. also 1 Chr. 5:1-2).
Again in poetic form, the prophesies of Balaam anticipate the coming of a king in the end of days. Though Balaam was commissioned by the king of Moab to curse Israel, he blessed them instead. Between the third and fourth oracles Num. 24:14 describes what the Israelites will do to the Moabites (a people who have since ceased to exist) “in the latter days”. The third oracle describes a king whose kingdom would be exalted and whom God would bring “forth out of Egypt” (vv. 7-8; cf. Mt. 2:13-15). The next verse (24:9) quotes from Gen. 49:9 with reference to Judah, emphasizing that this same king is in mind.
The fourth oracle mentions that “a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” that conquers the nations (24:17f). The scepter appears to refer to a king; possibly Matthew considers this star to be the star of Bethlehem (Mt. 2:1-2). (It is of note that Matthew recognized Bethlehem as the location where the Messiah was born [Mt. 2:6; cf. Mic. 5:1-3; Micah 4:1 makes reference to “the end of days”]).
Further meditation on verses in the Hebrew Bible related to “the end of days” may shed light on the subject. Meanwhile, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews considered the days in which he wrote to be “the latter [or ‘end of’] days” (cf. Heb. 1:2). This is the time when God speaks not merely through the prophets, but through his Son. The writer also emphasizes that the ordinances of the Old Covenant were passing away. He appears to anticipate this at the pending destruction of the Second Temple (70 A.D.; cf. Heb. 8:13). This would necessarily demand a radical change in festal observances as burnt offerings could no longer accommodate their respective feasts (cf. Lev. 23).
Paul asks the question, “For what purpose does the law serve?” before answering, “It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise is made” (Gal. 3:19). Thus, Paul seems to confirm that the law served a function until the promised seed (the Messiah) came. Although he wrote this to the Galatians, Paul’s statement of fact transcends culture.
MONDAY, 6 APRIL 2015
Summarized by Brian Mace
Main Passage: Acts 15:30-14
Watchword: They rejoiced because of it's encouragement
This morning's meeting began with tributes to the life of Hiba, and the community expressing their feelings over her death, and their feeling of mourning. She was a precious little girl whom we will all miss more then we can say, but we are rejoicing that she is in Jesus' presence: healed, whole, and ecstatically happy.
We continued our study of the book of Acts in chapter 15 from verse 30 to 41, and noted that Antioch is Antakhia in Turkey today.
We noted in verse 31 that they rejoiced over the exhortation, and we considered this to be prophecy, as prophets speak the Word over people. We then turned to 1 Corinthians 14:5, where we saw that Paul prefers that they all prophesy.
From verse 36 and onwards, we discussed occasions when there is a parting of the ways in churches when there could be a split or division, and considered that even facing such hard things can bring blessings. The part that leaves can start a new work, thus extending the spreading of the gospel much further.
We also saw that in view of what Paul said later, that Mark was profitable to him, he might have responded at this time in the flesh or made a mistake. But in any event, the split gave Mark a chance to sharpen up and redeem himself (which he did). However, we noted that the sharpness of Paul's feelings may not have been helpful for Mark's growth, but grow he did! Fortunately, Barnabas was determined to take Mark with him: maybe he could see Jesus' leading.
We looked at chastening and found that whom the Lord loves He chastens (Heb 12:6).
The important thing is that they returned and were reconciled, which made us realise how important it is to keep in touch with those who have left the Shevet family in the past
Our word for today is from verse 31: They rejoiced for the encouragement
THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 2015
Summarized by Steven Donnelly
Main Passage: Exodus 12; Luke 9:28-36; 22:15-20
Watchword: Do this in rememberance of me
Today we briefly surveyed the first twelve chapters of Exodus, which culminate in the deliverance of the ancient Israelites under the guidance of Moses during the first Passover event. Emphasis was placed upon the recurring mention that the Israelites continued to multiply. Pharaoh noted that the Israelites grew in number, and brought the people under bondage.
Despite their hardship, the number of Israelites continued to increase. In fact, the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied (Ex. 1:12). An early churchman described a similar phenomenon among Christians. During the second century, Tertullian remarked that “the blood of the martyrs is [the] seed [of the church].” Pharaoh recognized that the people were multiplying and required the Israelites to increase their production while diminishing their resources (i.e. “more bricks, less straw”; cf. Ex. 5).
Population growth among the early Israelites accords with the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). The slavery they experienced in Egypt was anticipated as God revealed to Abraham (after describing the covenant ceremony between God and Abraham) that his descendants would go to Egypt and be afflicted for 400 years before God granted them deliverance (Gen. 15). God’s promises never fail. The Israelites’ time of bondage in Egypt also served a missional purpose.
Ancient Egypt functioned as a notable center for trade. News of the supernatural plagues and miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from oppression to Egypt most likely circulated throughout the Middle East. The divine status attributed to Pharaoh and the idols (dead gods) of Egypt were fatally criticized and dismantled by the power of God and his testimony as he worked through Moses and the Israelites. The Israelites cried out to the living God in the midst of their bondage; he heard their cry and remembered the patriarchal promises (Ex. 2:23-24; Gen. 15:13-14).
God sent Moses. Interestingly, Moses was preserved by Pharaoh’s daughter despite Pharaoh’s command to kill male Israelite newborns. God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush. He promised that he would be with Moses (Ex. 3), perhaps in a similar way Jesus promised that he would be with his people (Mt. 28). God told Moses that he and his people would serve God on Mount Sinai. God later gave the Sinai revelation to Moses there. Moses was also instructed to tell the people that I AM (Heb. אהיה אשר אהיה – lit. “I will be which I will be”; Ex. 3:15). In some sense, perhaps this refers to God’s consistency.
God revealed himself as Yahweh (Ex. 6). While the sacred name is used previously within Scripture, the text calls attention to this reference in particular. Perhaps this is related to God having previously revealed himself as the Almighty who established covenant with the patriarchs, but chose to disclose his name Yahweh as he was about to unveil his identity as redeemer/deliverer who watched over his people (Ex. 6:4-8).
The supernatural signs that God performed are described as serving a greater role than simply provoking awe among the immediate witnesses. God revealed that he effected his wonders so that the Egyptians would know that he is Yahweh (Ex. 7).
The plagues begin with Moses turning water to blood. Interestingly, Jesus’ first miracle recorded in the book of John was to turn water into wine (Jn. 2). (The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.). We acknowledged some of the difficulties attending each of the plagues, noting that the second plague (frogs) was sent so that the people “will know that there is none like Yahweh our God” (Ex. 8:6). The fourth plague of flies is also accompanied with an explanation. Evidently God prevented flies from swarming in Goshen (where the Israelites lived) so that Pharaoh would know that God is Lord in the midst of the earth (Ex. 8:22).
In keeping with the first of the ten commandments, the seventh plague (hail) was sent so that people would know that there is none like God “in all the earth” (Ex. 9:14). Additionally, the reason that Pharaoh was raised up had a higher purpose; namely, that God’s name may be declared throughout all the earth (v. 16; cf. second commandment). Moses tells Pharaoh that God will stop the thunder and hail “so that you will know that the earth belongs to Yahweh” (v. 29). This is notable, as some suggest that Pharaoh was viewed as a divine being who maintained balance and order on every level. If Pharaoh was expected to maintain balance in nature (not to mention political-religious order), his world was rapidly being taken apart. His oppression of the Israelites simply functioned to publish the records attributing supremacy to their God over all others, who they claimed was the living God—Yahweh.
The plagues also functioned as a sign for the Israelites. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart “so that [God] could show these signs in the midst of them” and “so that you will tell in the ears of your son and of your son’s son what” God did in Egypt and his signs which he did “among them, so that you [i.e. the Israelites] will know that I am Yahweh” (Ex. 10:1-2).
The final plague (death of the firstborn) presented a fundamental challenge to Egyptian ideas of royal succession as Pharaoh’s son was also killed. God called Israel his firstborn (Ex. 4:22), God’s firstborn was delivered from cruel bondage while Egypt was bereaved and left in a state of grief. Pharaoh refused to allow the Israelites to go “so that” God’s “wonders may be multipled in the land Egypt” (Ex. 11:9).
Passover became the declaration of independence of the Israelite nation. Even the calendar was marked by the event (Ex. 12:2). The Israelites left in haste and crossed the Red Sea while the Egyptians were downed. Interestingly, Joshua and others crossed the Jordan around the same period of time (Josh. 4:19ff). Peter’s deliverance from prison by an angel (who told him to gird up and leave in a hurry) also took place during the feast of unleavened bread (Acts 12).
Against this backdrop, we considered the record of Christ’s transfiguration recorded in Luke’s Gospel (Lk. 9:23-36). Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah (representatives of the Law and the Prophets) about “his decease which he would accomplish at Jerusalem” (v. 31). The same verse may more sensibly be understood as “his exodus (Gr. ἔξοδον [acc. noun "exodov" from "exodos"]) which he would accomplish at Jerusalem.” Jesus had previously commented that there were some standing there who would not “taste of death” until they saw “the kingdom of God” (v. 27).
We compared the statement about Jesus’ “departure/exodus” with the final Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples (Lk. 22:15-20). Jesus described how he “desired to eat the Passover with [his disciples] before he suffered” (v. 15). [Note: A creative use of the verb πάσχω (within the 2nd aorist act. infinitive form) is translated “suffer” at the end of v. 15. One can easily recognize the similarity between the lemma πάσχω (pasch-ow) of the verb and its corresponding noun πάσχα (pascha) which is the Greek term for Passover.] Jesus appeared to state that “with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I Passover” [i.e. do the Passover].
After making this statement, Jesus points out that he “will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (v. 16). In context, Jesus seems to be saying that he wouldn’t eat the Passover again until the Passover was fulfilled “in the kingdom of God.” He adds a similar comment related to the cup (v. 18). After this, Jesus breaks the bread which he refers to as his body—given for them—instructing his disciples to do the same “in remembrance” of him (v. 19). Finally, after supper, he took the cup and announced that the cup is “the new testament” in his blood which would be shed for his people (v. 20).
Within the context of our study, Jesus appears to eat the meal in anticipation of his death. Perhaps the conversation with Moses and Elijah described in Luke 9 looked forward to this final Passover meal that Jesus would share with his disciples. Jesus tells his disciples that he is about to ratify the New Covenant (i.e. “the new testament in my blood”; v. 20). A drink offering of blood would seem to offend first century Jewish sensibilities as Moses made an absolute prohibition against the consumption of blood (cf. Lev. 17:1-14).
Jesus claimed that his bloodshed and death would bring the New Covenant into effect. Perhaps the drink offering (which appears to symbolize partaking in the covenant) struck his disciples with an awareness that the promised kingdom would come in a manner that they hadn’t anticipated. Their loyalty to Jesus as king and covenant head would place them at odds with society in more than one way (he was crucified between two insurgents). By drinking the cup that Jesus raised, the disciples acknowledged Jesus’ role as the royal Messiah that Moses predicted. Apart from the legitimacy of Jesus’ claim to the Davidic throne, to toast with even a symbolic blood libation would defy Moses’ injunction.
Moreover, the same authority that confirms Christ’s claim as king also affords him the privilege to point out that the sacrificial system had once and for all finally been eclipsed though the sacrifice of his own flesh and blood. His call for allegiance as king on Passover during which he established the new covenant by means of his own death occasioned the embrace of a new constitution both distinguished from and unrivaled by Mosaic legislation (cf. 2 Cor. 3:3-18; Heb. 3:3-6; 7:11-12; 13:10).
Perhaps a parallel of history is to stand as a landmark within the collective memory of those who believe. Moses led the Israelites to make an exodus from their bondage to the dead gods of Egypt on the first Passover and wandered for forty years before entering the land of promise.
WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 2015
Summarized by Cami Berg
Main Passage: Luke 22: 39-62
Watchword: Not mine but Your will be done.
Since we are closed to the Passover, Kristi led us through a talk of Luke chapter 22, verses 39-62, with a special focus on verses 39-46. The passage tells about Jesus' agony at Gethsemane and how He receives strength from an angel after having prayed.
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him." (22:39). This phrase tells us that the disciples followed Jesus everywhere he went - it is like “as usual”. It tells us the disciples had made a habit of praying and following in Jesus' footsteps. Jesus was a leader who wanted His disciples to be close to Him. He also wanted to warn His disciples that soon He would not be there anymore.
In verse 42, Jesus says: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus was near the cracking point of intense pressure, praying intensely to do God's will. In our lives, we also need to remember the importance in doing what God wants us to do. It is often a fight between what we want ourselves and what God wants. We need to listen to God's voice when He is calling us to do something. The will of God is great, but we can fail and get out of God's will for us. However, when we surrender again, God creates a whole new and better future for us.
Jesus was strengthened by an angel in prayer and resisted the temptation to reject the cup (or task) He had been given. He was under so much pressure but prayed even more urgently so that his sweat fell like drops of blood. He was going to do His Father's will no matter what it would cost Him. Jesus chose to take all the sins of humankind upon Himself. He chose to take up God's cup and do His will. God is our father when everything goes wrong. He is there to comfort us and lead us in the right direction.
While Jesus was praying his disciples fell asleep. They only thing Jesus had asked them to do was to stay awake and pray. Jesus was fighting His flesh, but the disciples gave in to their flesh.
“Why are you sleeping?” He asked them, “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (2:46). They could not avoid the temptation to sleep. Do we sleep in our spiritual lives and in doing God's will for us? God tries to wake us from our sleeping state where we are not doing His will. How many times do we choose to sleep even though God is calling for us? We need to wake up from our sleep and pray so we can do what God want us to.
This passage is amazing because it shows us how Jesus was willing to give His life and take all of our sins so that we can have eternal life. Jesus is our Savior, and on Easter, we celebrate that Jesus did God's will. The crucifixion was far more costly for Jesus than we can ever imagine. We need to remember to bend to God's will in a given situation and must learn from this passage to watch and pray so we may resist temptation.
TUESDAY, 31 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Cams Madsen
Main Passage: Acts 15:12-29
Watchword: Life is in the blood
This morning we continued our study in the books of Acts chapter 15 with a focus on the passage from verse 12-29. We started to talk about this whole chapter’s importance among the gentile nations. Through today’s passage we focused on the way that Barnabas and Paul, in agreement with the church in Jerusalem, taught the gentiles about God’s love and laws. We especially had our focus on verse 19-22.
Unlike earlier, the gentiles are set free from laws, but they had to follow some rules to remain in the presence of God. In verse 20 the apostles taught them to abstain from eating meat that was sacrificed to idols, eating meat from strangled animals, drinking blood, and to abstain from any kind of sexual sins.=
First we talked about the importance of abstaining from sexual sins. We shared thoughts about what sexual sins can mean for a man and his relationships with God. Sexual sins stays inside you, and therefore it will make your relationship with God difficult, or even destroy it. Afterwards we looked at the apostle’s thoughts about abstaining from blood, and this was then our focus through the morning meeting.
Our conversation centered on blood’s importance. Among other topics, we discussed bloods meaning and how blood in the bible is described as holy. Blood gives forgiveness and there is power in the blood. It is also sanctified because of the cross and the last supper. Jesus shared the wine in a memory of his blood and his crucifixion, and the fact that Jesus’ blood saved us. In the bible, Paul also tells us that life is in the blood, which gave us today’s watchword.
MONDAY, 30 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Steven Donnelly
Main Passage: Acts 15:1-11
Watchword: God made a choice
Our study of the book of Acts continues with another step of development in the advancement of the Gospel among gentile nations. As tradition would have it, we opened the discussion with a reading of the daily portion of Scripture in each language represented by two or more attendees. It was fitting that we read Acts 15:1-21 in six different tongues today as the text addresses the question of whether or not the burgeoning gentile segment of the church should be subject to the Mosaic legal code.
As delegates from Judea sought to impose the law upon members of the sprouting gentile church, Paul, Barnabas, and others travelled to Jerusalem with aims to settle the matter in the company of other apostles. We noted that the budding first century church was comprised of a majority of Jewish believers (even Pharisees) at this early stage. Although the law of circumcision preceded the giving of Levitical ordinances, the distinction between responsibility to observe Mosaic law and the prospect of obtaining salvation by grace required clarification. Perhaps many of these incipient Jewish believers failed to recognize both Moses’ and Jeremiah’s anticipation of the New Covenant (Deut. 30:1-14; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-29).
Interestingly, Peter (the apostle to whom the keys of the kingdom were given; cf. Mt. 16; 18) refers back to segments recorded earlier in Acts 10-11, and noted that “God made a choice” that the gentiles would hear the Gospel and believe (15:7). Peter acknowledged that God gave the gentiles the Holy Spirit, even as the early Jewish believers had received the Holy Spirit (v. 8; cf. Acts 11:17). Today’s study was halted with a fair sense of anticipation of what is yet to be revealed in Peter’s declaration that there is “no difference” between Jewish and gentile believers, as the hearts of both groups are purified “by faith” (15:9).
TUESDAY, 24 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Agnes Bruna
Main Passage: Acts 3:1-8
Our meeting started with Evette telling us again about Roween’s miracle. For those of you who have not heard about this yet, please watch the video about this amazing event here. Dr Berglund told us this was an excellent example of interaction between faith and medical care. He also reminded us how unusual it is for doctors to use the phrase “God did this.” But when we look at how our bodies are made, we cannot help but marvel at God’s creation.
Dr Greg Berglund’s aim for today was to review what we talked about yesterday; to look at Acts 3:1-8, and in particular verse 6; and lastly to do some practical ministry. As John Wimber said, “We sing about God’s power, we read in the Bible about God’s power, but when are we going to do it?!”
The first question, which we talked a lot about yesterday, was about who and what we have authority over, but very little about whose authority we are under. Of course first of all we are under God’s authority. But then some examples of human authority were:
- Husbands
- Spiritual leadership – pastors, leaders
- Government (1Peter 2:13-17, Romans 13:1-7
- Parents over children (and to honor them after we grow up)
- Older people
- To be subject one to another
Obedience to authority equals faith. The centurion’s faith was because he knew authority.
So how do we use authority? God says: You will do it, not: God will do it. God rarely heals sovereignly. He restricts Himself and gives the power to us.
Greg then reminded us that God also gives us power over ourselves and especially our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This applies to temptations as well, we have charge over our own thoughts. But we can do nothing in our own authority, just as Jesus said he could do nothing without hearing from the Father.
Another question asked was what to do when nothing happens. Most healings are not instant, and people do die. Sometimes we are not speaking to the right issue, especially when the enemy is involved. It is not a matter of lack of faith. Jesus would compliment sick people’s faith, but did not require faith from them. We are a fallen human race, and sicknesses happen, but God does not make us sick.
Then we looked at Acts 3:6. Peter and John did not use prayer at all, all Peter said was: “What I have, I give to you.” This showed that Peter knew he had something and that he knew how to give it to people. This does not say: God has something and we ask God to give it.
After this teaching we spent some time practicing; learning to speak commands to conditions after we asked the Holy Spirit to come. 1 John 2:20 speaks about the anointing you received from Him, abides in you. Our hands are the hands Jesus now uses. His power goes forth for His glory.
MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Kristi Brashear
Main Passage: Matthew 8:5-10
Watchword: Abide in Christ to WALK in AUTHORITY OF CHRIST
Today we were joined in our community by two medical doctors: Dr. Greg Berglund, MD and Dr. Christopher Carlson, MD. Dr. Berglund has 29 years of schooling. He also serves as a pastor and believes that “there is not any conflict to seek first the KINGDOM of God, then take a Tylenol…” Yet, he wanted to maintain our focus on allowing Father God to heal through us by using our authority!
This was a time of learning and expanding, stretching and challenging our faith! We started our morning with a question posed by Dr. Greg Berglund: “What is faith?” Our community was hungry to join in this discussion and to apply what was about to be taught!
Here are a few of the scriptures from today:
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
- 1 Peter 1:7 “7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”
Our main focus was on our authority:
The Faith of a Centurion
Matthew 8: 5-10: “5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 'Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.' 7 And he said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' 8 But the centurion replied, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes, and to another, “Come,” and he comes, and to my servant,[a] “Do this,” and he does it.' 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel[b]have I found such faith.'”
We were then asked, “What are three components of faith?”
1) To TRUST
2) Intellectual agreement – Belief in object of faith
3) Agreement in action
Our question then turned to why we do not walk more fully in healing. It comes down to a few very basic practices! We need to be ABIDING in Christ – have a personal relationship with him through reading the Word and prayer. Then we need to KNOW who we are in CHRIST and KNOW the authority that has been given to us through His death and resurrection power!
What are some of the areas that we have authority over?
1) Genesis 1:26 – Creation
2) Matthew 10:8 – Healing
3) Galatians 5:23 – Ourselves (i.e. Self-control)
4) John 20:23 – Forgiveness of sins
How do we put this in practice?
1) Know our authority
2) Put our faith in action by laying on of hands and speaking to the mountain. “Command the mountain to move by speaking words of faith.” For example – Jesus did not pray – He commanded healing. We, too, can command, “Be healed in Jesus’ name.”
was so much amazing meat in this lesson that the Daily Bread just can not contain it all!
Dr. Berglund wanted to remind us that in the New Testament approximately 19.2% of the scripture talked about healing! He encouraged us that Jesus sent out 72 disciples and ALL of them worked in gifts of healing! He encouraged us that throughout the scripture healing was “simple” and it was a part of every believer's “lifestyle.”
As I wrap this up, I’d like to encourage you, our “Extended Community,” to know who you are in Christ by searching the Scripture and seeking Holy Spirit's guidance! I encourage you to search out and know that we carry authority and, finally, to walk in those areas!
We would love for you to join in this discussion! Have you experienced a healing or prayed or commanded a healing and seen God move in these ways?
WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Sarah Powell
Main Passage: Nehemiah 11 and 12
Watch Word: It's a choice to rejoice!
Today, Jesse led us through a discussion of chapters 11 and 12 of Nehemiah. Much of these two chapters is dedicated to listing the names of the people who were selected by the casting of lots to live in Jerusalem. We noted that it would have been difficult to live in Jerusalem at that time, since it was still in the process of being rebuilt. And people would have had to give up their homes and probably even their jobs in order to begin new lives in the holy city. That is why Nehemiah 11:2 says that “the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” Those men were taking on a difficult task.
For the rest of our discussion, we focused mainly on how much emphasis the people of Israel placed on praise and rejoicing before the Lord. As they dedicated the walls of the city, they called out all of the singers and instrumentalists to “celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps” (12:27). In fact, Nehemiah appointed “two large thanksgiving choirs” (12:31), which walked around the walls of the city in opposite directions, singing praises. Their thanksgiving march ended with the two choirs making their way into the temple together.
The dedication of the walls of the city included several other aspects along with the praise. For example, we're told that “the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall” (12:30) as a part of the dedication. This would probably have involved both water cleansing rituals and sacrifices.
That whole process is a good picture for us of what it should look like when we dedicate our lives to the Lord. That dedication involves purification, through repentance and taking on Jesus' righteousness, as well as much thanksgiving and praise. In verse 43 of chapter 12, we're told that “that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.”
May it be so with us also. Let us keep our focus on our Lord and how amazingly good He is, and let that lead us to rejoicing that will be heard even “afar off.” Because, after all, it's a choice to rejoice!
TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Camilla Madsen
Main Passage: Nehemiah 10
Watchword: We will not neglect the house of God.
Today was a very lovely morning at Shevet Achim. We started our morning by praying for the Israeli election, which takes place today. We prayed for this country, the leaders, and the common citizens. We prayed that the result of today’s election would not create further conflicts between the Jews and the Muslims.
This led us to today’s main passage, Nehemiah chapter 10, where we were reading about the covenant the people of God were making for themselves before God so that they could live a life of honor before God. This covenant with God reminded us of the several covenants God make with his people throughout the bible. Among others, we talked about the covenants God made with Abraham and Noah.
In the first 28 verses of Nehemiah 10, we read about who signed this covenant and the beautiful thing about this covenant was that everyone agreed on it. It was not only leaders or people of authority, but also the common people were represented. We talked about how amazing it is when state and church are able to work together and be a unit. But it is not easy to unite state and church, and we talked about this challenge and how to do it in the best way without hurting our friends who do not believe. We can’t make a difference in people's lives by being like them; we need to be different to make a difference. This led us to today’s watchword: “Don’t neglect the house of God.”
Later, we talked about one part of the covenant the people made with God in Nehemiah 10. If you read verse 30, you will read of the people promising to not get married to non-Jews. We talked about some of the challenges a marriage with an unbeliever causes. We talked about the challenge of letting our faith grow in a relationship where we are not able to share the things we love most with our partner. If you are in a marriage with an unbeliever, you and your spouse will not be on the same “level”. It's as though you, as the believer, are placed on a table and your unbelieving spouse is placed on the ground. We talked about the fact that it will always be easier to be pulled down than to pull your spouse up to your “level”. Therefore we talked about the importance of being with someone on your “level” so that you are able to share your deepest thoughts with one another.
We also talked about the deep trust the people of God had in Him. You can see this trust in the way that they gave the best to Him (Nehemiah 10:35) without any fear. We need to remember that in our daily lives and to remember that God loves us unceasingly, and He wants the best for us. Therefore, we need to trust Him and give Him praise for His glory. No matter what we do or whether we turn away from God, He will always be waiting with wide-open arms. This reminded me of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) where we see God's unending love.
MONDAY, 16 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Dafe Smith
Main Passage: Nehemiah 9
Watch Word: Fix your eye on the Word
Today it was a good morning at Shevet Achim. We opened to the book of Nehemiah in chapter 9. Our watch word was: “Fix your eye on the Word.” The passage is all about God's love for His people. Christians who already have a relationship with God – their wrong is different from others because the root of their wrong is from the flesh, not from the heart. When the root of your wrong is not actually from your heart, your wrong will make you run to God even more. This reminded us of the apostle Paul's words in Romans 7:14-25, in which he agrees with this idea.
That is, if sin is dealt with correctly (with repentance), it will intensify your relationship with God. I mean, you will see your need of God even more, glorifying His name. Your challenges will make you honour God before men.
If you read from verses 30 to 33 in Nehemiah 9, you can see that God hates sin, but loves sinners, because sinners can be delivered. If an opportunity is given to a sinner, he can be reformed and changed.
Therefore, for the children of God, the Bible is the standard. So when we sin, we should not run. Before God, you have not committed an unpardonable sin. With Jesus as our Saviour, we are saved. Amen.
THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Miri Fisher
Main Passage: Acts 14:11-28
Watchword: Whom God has blessed, no man can touch!
Today was a special day for Cammi, one of our newer community members. After worship we all took the time to sing her Happy Birthday! We are so blessed to have her and are looking forward to getting to know her better and better. She graciously agreed to share her testimony this morning, and we all were touched by her moving story of redemption, and how she was chosen and called out by God.
We also took up reading in the book of Acts, following the story of Paul's exciting missionary journey as he and Barnabas follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, sent out by the church in Antioch. We ended last time with the preaching of the gospel and a supernatural healing in Lystra of man who had been lame from birth. So far, wherever Paul and Barnabas have gone, they have faced persecution, slander, and opposition, in spite of the miraculous and joyous things they have been saying and doing. We had braced ourselves for more of the same. But verse 11 records a very different reaction from the town of Lystra, "And seeing what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices…saying, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’”
Wow - what a shockingly abrupt reversal of the way that they have previously been received!
Incidents like this have popped up before in several chapters, such as when Cornelius fell down and worshipped Peter, or when Herod was hailed a god by an applauding crowd. As humans, we have the tendency to worship power that we do not understand. Through this chapter, we have two drastically contrasted reactions to men through whom God has chosen to do great works of power. First, as in the previous accounts we have read, people can become angry, jealous, or afraid, and choose to respond in hostility, criticism, and persecution. We can also respond, as we sometimes too readily do, in idolization, pride, and lavish praise. Our discussion applied this practically to our modern culture in terms of well-known Christian leaders, mega pastors, and celebrities. Both of these reactions are extreme and not a godly way to respond to the situation.
So then, how do we respond? What do we do if others are holding us up in a wrong way?
For Paul and Barnabas the choice was clear, as described in verse 14. They acted immediately and definitely to this kind of hero worship, and ended by using the opportunity to instead preach about Christ. We were reminded not only of the need to live in humility ("Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought," Romans 12:3) and crave the commendation of God, not man ("Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise", says a line from the hymn Be Thou My Vision), but also that moments like those are a good chance to point to God. We need to exploit every opportunity for God's glory!
Verse 19 takes another astonishing, unforeseen turn. A couple of Jews have apparently been following Paul and Barnabas and now see a moment for a perfect entrance. They "persuade the crowd" against the disciples, and end up stoning Paul. "Believing him to be dead, they dragged him outside the city."
In just a short time, the crowd who at first wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas, now turn on them and stoned Paul! One member remarked that it reminded him of the triumphal entry, and good Friday following it; how the city, so ready to receive the King Jesus, were also very easily turned to the other side. Man's praise is fickle, and cannot be depended upon.
So is this the end of their missionary journey - the end of Paul? Obviously not, since he goes on to have a fruitful ministry and write several epistles of our New Testament. In fact, Paul goes on to continue his journey the very next day. We agreed that the Jews and people of the city would not very easily have mistaken someone being dead. The text doesn't clearly state whether Paul actually did die or not. Either way, as one brother pointed out, him being on his way the next day is a miracle. It was not pebbles they had thrown at Paul, and they aimed to kill - aimed for his head. He would have sustained some very serious injuries, so severe that that people were not able to tell if he was dead or alive. Even beyond the question of his dying and coming back to life, just him being well enough to travel, with no mentions made of further injuries, is miraculous in itself. No great deal is made about it in the text, as if miraculous events like these were simply normal - and in fact, they were.
The people were not able to kill Paul. This is an example of the indescribable victorious life that Christ has given us! Paul was sent out on a mission, appointed by God to carry out his calling, and until God was ready to take him, no one could do him harm. That does not mean Christians do not suffer sometimes, but it does mean that we can live our lives unafraid. Knowing that whatever happens to us has been allowed by God, that no one can stop us against His will, and that nothing can happen to us outside of His timing. Finally in verse 27, Paul and Barnabas have come back to the church at Antioch, and seem eager to share what has happened all along their journey. "…They reported how much God had done with them, and that He had opened a door of faith to the nations."
God is totally sovereign. This should give us great faith! It is His will that prevails, no matter what man tries to do against it (Romans 8:31). And it is He who chooses, who sends, and who opens doors. We decided to take these ideas and combine them for the watchword of the day. Whom God has blessed, no man can touch - He is victorious over all, and He will have His way. If He is behind us, nothing of man can stand against us. He opens the door - we need not be afraid to go through it, and no man will be able to shut it (Revelation 3:8).
WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Konrad Wiedmer
Main Passage: Acts 14: 1-18
Watchword: Seeing his faith to be healed!
When new people arrive, we always are delighted to listen as they tell the story of their journey with God and to see the footprints God left in their lives so far. Today, Cams shared how influential the people that we spend time with are and that it is wise to choose those people carefully. It was amazing to see that she had started as a person being influenced by certain unsavory people, yet has now developed to be a good influence herself.
Later, we continued our journey through the book of Acts. Recently, we are traveling with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary trip proclaiming the word of God. The passage started with Paul and Barnabas arriving in Iconium, preaching the good news in the synagogue there and seeing many Jews and Gentiles becoming believers. Like Paul prophesied in Acts 2, God provided them with signs and miracles to confirm their message. It reminded us of the commission in Mark 28 or in Matthew 10:8, where Jesus gave us the authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. In the same breath, the scripture tells that there were people among those hearing Paul and Barnabas who did not believe and planted poison in the heads of others. It seemed that fact made Paul and Barnabas stay longer in Iconium to preach the good news. But soon, people started to plot against them, and they fled, as they had fled twice before, shaking the dust off their feet and following where the Holy Spirit would lead them.
As they arrived in the region of Lyconia, they immediately started preaching the Gospel of the Lord. We learned that, independently from our circumstances, we are asked to proclaim the good news to everyone. Agnes shared that it is not about arguing or finding the better arguments to disprove an argument of a non-believer, but it is about holding onto the Word of God.
Paul saw a paralyzed man listening to his preaching. We were surprised that he did not pray for the man, but instead spoke, as Jesus did, “Stand upright on your feet.” At first, we stumbled over the idea that Paul saw the faith of the man. How is it possible to see faith? Paul must have been gifted to see the unseen. Paul must have been sure about the Father's will to heal this man and commanded as Jesus did.
These verses led us to a long discussion about healing and prayer. We have the same authority as Paul, but often we pray as though we are powerless. Josh brought up the question of whether it would be enough to pray that God's will be done. Further, he asked if we are able to rewrite God's will through insistent prayer. We recognized that rewriting His will caused severe things in the past (e.g. Hezekiah asked to live longer, Israel asked for an earthly king, etc.).
More questions popped up from this. However, we found peace in the prayer of Jesus at the Garden Gethsemane, where He asked God to spare him but ended the prayer with “Your will be done.” In the end, we came to the conclusion that God is in control. And even if He does not always grant healing in our earthly days, we will be healed in heaven. Moreover, death does not mean that we are defeated anymore because of Jesus. We have to hold on to His promise that He is good! We want to ask Him to reveal His will to us more so that we can pray wisely and see the faith of people as Paul did.
We sang the song “Where You Go I Go” from Kim Walker today. It fits our conclusion perfectly. We have a desire to follow Jesus were He goes and to pray what He prays because all His ways are good and His sight is higher than ours. We will put our trust in Him alone.
TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 2015
Summarized by Kristina Kayser
Main Passage: