zach doppelt

grace

2020-03-24T16:27:00.004-04:00

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-17 nkjv).

In Luke chapter 4, we see Jesus' temptation as a demonstration of His high priestly ministry. We must understand that there is no greater need in our day than to understand the power of the Gospel. Hebrews chapter four reminds us of the the importance of sabbath rest in Him (that is salvation rest - rest from works now, in His future kingdom and into eternity).

Therefore, Christ as the object of our salvation rest, is the centerpiece of our faith, our answer to the shackles of sin and our trust through adversity. He was tempted yet perfect. Therefore, we go to Him with everything.

These days do not appear to be getting easier from a human perspective, yet my prayer for us all is that with a spiritual mindset we will set our eyes on Him. We will have more info this week on ways to connect with each other, and most importantly, with Him.

gracious

2020-03-24T16:23:00.001-04:00

I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. 3 The [a]pains of death surrounded me, And the [b]pangs of Sheol [c]laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me (Psalm 116:1-6 nkjv) The Psalmist here recalls fear both of physical death and possibly even emotional "death" as He looks to the Lord in his distress. This distress is immediately balanced by a rest in God and praise for deliverance, both spiritual and physical. One principle rises above all in this passage (and chapter) - the psalmist looks to God first and foremost as the answer. In these uncertain days let us take this same mindset. Gracious is the Lord.

Mysticism: Its Origin and Impact on Contemporary Christian Thought

2017-11-30T20:55:00.000-05:00

High Priest

2016-10-15T15:57:00.003-04:00

seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16 AV).

Having urged this messianic jewish community to press on toward belief, making sure they have truly believed, the author urges them to make sure they have not simply remained in a hybrid faith of Christianity with remnants of legalism or mysticism.

As a transition to the next section of this treatise, the High Priestly ministry of Jesus is introduced. The essential nature of His ministry, His impeccability (that is, his sinless nature and inability to sin) is all brought to the forefront as the answer to the firm warnings contained within this book.

Therefore, while believers are urged to persevere and to make sure they are in the "rest" of God, the simple answer on how to do this is given: Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus, as High Priest, is the answer to salvation and our assurance. If we truly believe in Jesus as our Savior and way of atonement, then we can know that we have pressed on.

the preeminence of Christ

2016-10-05T14:26:00.001-04:00

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:1-4 AV)

Error always creeps into the christian life when one holds a diminished view of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the author of Hebrews, in confronting legalism and various forms of Jewish mysticism, immediately draws us into an elevated Christology. Jesus, being better than the angels (ancient Jews understood angels to be the custodians of the Law), is the culmination of all previous revelation. He is the creator, the sustainer and High Priest of His people. He is our divine Savior (v. 3).

This primacy of the Messiah Jesus is why all undue obsession and arguments of the Law (Titus 3:9), mystical theories (Col. 2) and attacks on Jesus' divinity/ humanity (1 John) must be silenced and replaced with complete unhindered obedience. We must

"give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (Hebrews 2:1 nkjv)"

For, in comparison from lesser to greater, Law to Gospel:

"if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will (Hebrews 2:1-4 nkjv)?"

Let us take these sober warning to heart and press on toward the obedience that our Lord has for us.

Blogging Again

2016-08-25T14:08:00.001-04:00

Time to update this blog again! Looking forward to providing further Biblical thoughts and commentary!

church planting reposted

2014-10-30T12:45:00.001-04:00

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42 nkjv) The freedom of church planting only comes when we allow ourselves to prioritize the proclamation of the Gospel, discipleship and fellowship in ways unhindered by our strategies, structures and plans. Too many pastors and church planters claim this to be true, yet simultaneously bind themselves to man-created philosophies, paving the way for churches that never truly experience the power of the Gospel, the power of the Word of God, and the power of the Spirit. Too many leaders speak of the primacy of preaching the apostles' doctrine (God's Word), yet allow their own opinions to guide the lives of believers desperately seeking a firm foundation in a broken world. May we who teach guide people to the real hope of Jesus that gives peace and create avenues of fellowship where disciples will grow in grace and truth.

bold reposted

2014-09-25T09:06:00.003-04:00

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33 KJV)."

Peter and John, after being released by the Jewish leaders, returned to the church community to report the news of a miracle and the further rejection of the Messiah by the Rabbis. The assemblies' reaction was a prayer affirming the Sovereign plan of God and the subsequent need for boldness in the midst of persecution (Acts. 4:23-31). The answer to the prayer was the enablement by the Spirit:

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 KJV)."

This intense willingness to proclaim the Gospel was bound to a sincere desire to unite together against all hypocrisy by living the Gospel as well, as...

The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common (Acts. 4:32 KJV)."

Lest one believe the main point of this lifestyle was communal living, it is important to see that their unity and communion was not about them, their needs or any other man centered ideal, for nestled in between vs. 32 and 34-37 (verses that speak of their experience of sharing) we read the real purpose of their mission - to give witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to show His grace (vs. 33).

Therefore, for us as believers today, we too must pray for boldness to take the message of the cross to every corner of our cities and our world, while maintaining church communities that demonstrate a love and commitment to one another that gives testimony to the transformed churches of born again believers that only the Creator of the universe can produce.

Videos

2014-08-18T10:26:00.001-04:00

Dr. Martin Erdmann has begun posting video interviews where I share a very basic intro to the history of Mystical thought and its problematic approach to God. I would encourage you to watch the videos with the other interviewees as they are very helpful and enlightening. Some of them are already posted.

http://vimeo.com/album/2997925

http://veraxinstitute.us/

The Modernist and the Mystic

2014-08-18T09:44:00.001-04:00

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:11-13 nkjv)."

The Word of God, revealing the very heart of the believer, discerns those who have truly entered the "rest" of God - those who are truly those who experience salvation. The answer? By God's grace it is faith in hearing the word (Heb. 4:2). Herein lies the great dilemma for so many. How can the Gospel be so simple? Cannot man do something to heal himself in salvation and discipleship? Can it be more than the simple Gospel and trusting the simple Word of God? The apostle Paul emphatically says no!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9 nkjv)."

This, I believe, is one root problem in the errors of our last century and beyond, including the great pillars of Modernism and Mysticism. Two philosophies built on man. Modernism the height of man's acheivements in intellect; Mysticism built on Man's growing union with God (in contrast to the judicial union found in Rom. 6).

E.M. Blaiklock in his book "The Bible and I" pointed out that many evangelicals responded to modernity by moving toward a mystical theology (this was not the main point of his book, it was simply an observation). They did so because the authority of Scripture and a simple Gospel was being questioned, and rather than being able to defend the historicity of the Word, they simply turned to a new form of spirituality.

Even from the days of the early church this paradigm is present. Though John Cassian and the desert fathers were certainly to blame, Origen had a major role in establishing a mystical approach to the Word. His allegorical approach and mystical theology was partially a response to his inability to deal with the Creation account and its historicity (evolutionary theories were around in the days of the church fathers as well)! It also stemmed from a growing sacramental view of salvation that eventually became Catholicism. For him early forms of Modernism and Mysticism blended together. Rather than simply trusting in the authority of the word and the Word who it proclaims with simple faith and simple trust, for these there had to be more.

Thus, Modernism and Mysticism share a commmon thread - an unwillingness or inability to completely trust (have faith in) the sufficient living Word and the sufficient Word that portrays Him, though ethey claim otherwise. They both fail to recognize that the Word is God's ordained means for spiritual change through the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, many individuals who are into mystical thought have revealed deep psychological and emotional distress from their past which they are trying to utilize man-centered psychological methods and false spirituality to heal, rather than power of the Gospel. God can heal through the ministry of His Word if you let Him. But first, you must let the Word reveal who you really are and your need for true salvation and discipleship in Him.

The Modernist and the Mystic

2014-08-18T09:44:00.000-04:00

conversion

2014-05-11T13:51:00.002-04:00

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?(Acts 9:6 nkjv)”

Saul's conversion was marked by a direct call from God. So much so that God told Ananias that Paul was a chosen vessel of His (v. 15). This conversion stirred Paul to spend time not only with the disciples, but also three years seeking the Lord (Gal.1:15-18). This discipleship process was undeniably God focused and provided Paul, as an Apostle who received direct revelation from God, the means to boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel:

"Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:20 nkjv)."

We too have this opportunity to access God's truth. Not as an Apostle, as Paul said they were the foundation, not in mystical truth, for that was the way of the mystery religions, but simply in God's already revealed truth and already revealed son, Jesus Christ!

primacy of the Gospel reposted

2014-05-11T13:43:00.000-04:00

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

Simon the magician came from a mystical and occultic background, and though he had a form of belief, he did not understand the primacy of the Gospel. Instead, he still relied on his cultic background, which would have blended false mystery forms of knowledge that transcended the basic Word of God and Jesus (mysticism), with unbiblical manipulation of the sciences and uncovering of truths not grounded in Scripture (magic/the occult).

What was the answer to his need? Repentance. That is a changing of mind and direction to an agreement with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of Christ and His Word. The vehicle for this change - the preaching of the word of the Lord (v.25).

No doubt the primacy of preaching the Gospel continued in this context with Philip and the Eithiopian. Why, because the Gospel is the answer to our every need.

stephen's sermon

2014-05-05T07:15:00.000-04:00

Stephen's sermon: an historical declaration of the Gospel.

Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’[a] 4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6 But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 7 ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’[b] said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’[c] 8 Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five[d] people. 15 So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

17 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ [e] 29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.

30 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord[f] appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ [g] And Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.”’ [h]

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ [i] is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel,[j] ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ [k]

38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’[l] 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’[m] God’s True Tabernacle

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’[n] Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

deacon

2014-04-21T11:16:00.000-04:00

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:1-7 nkjv)."

Within this passage there is an important background for one of the greatest sermons in Scripture given by Stephen. Here, to deal with the needs of a blended congregation, seven Greek men were chosen to serve (the same Greek root for deacon) in order to meet the benevolent needs of the congregation, as well as to free the Apostles (simultaneously functioning as Elders here) to be ministers of the Word and to pray.

What is vital for this passage is that these men were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. There role in distributing goods was marked by their changed lives as ones reborn by God, and ones who were willing to serve Him. This event surely allowed Stephen's testimony to be unmarred when he proclaimed the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to all who heard, even to the point of being martyred for his faith. This then becomes the lesson. Benevolent ministry should always be a framework for giving people what they really need - the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

freedom to proclaim

2014-03-31T14:38:00.001-04:00

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life (Acts 5:17-20 nkjv).'"

The apostles were continually given the charge to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ crucified, regardless of what man would try. This call would not be hindered in any way, even to the point of an angel of the Lord opening prison doors. When questioned before the Jewish council and the officers of the prison about their preaching, Peter and the apostles boldly proclaimed:

“We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:29-32 nkjv).”

Seeing their persistence, the Rabbi Gamaliel wisely affirmed God's providence over the affairs of man. Either this new Christian movement would go the way of the other false messianic sects, or it would prove to be of God - which we know to be true. History attests that nothing will prohibit the preaching and proclamation of the Gospel and the Word of God. May we recognize that God has called us to evangelize and that He frees us to carry this out each and every day.

provision, price and power

2014-03-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

Provision, Price and Power

Here is a sample handwritten outline for Acts 4:32-5:16

boldness and the filling of the spirit

2014-03-18T20:34:00.002-04:00

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 nkjv)."

The boldness of Peter and John as witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ inspired others to praise God for His faithfulness, first for creation, but also for His sovereign power (v. 28). This affirmation of who God is gave them the perspective to pray for the same boldness the Apostles exhibited before the Jewish leaders.

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus (Acts 4:29-30 nkjv).” .

How did God answer? With the filling of the Holy Spirit - that great enablement that allows His people to fulfill that which He has called us to do. For them, and for us, speaking with boldness the great truths of the Gospel is one of the greatest Spirit empowered acts we can do.

glory and repentance

2014-03-18T15:15:00.000-04:00

"So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God Acts 3:8 nkjv)." Having performed a miraculous healing in which a lame man walking praised God, the Apostle Peter immediately gave glory to God for this great work, saying:

"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all (Acts 3:13-16 nkjv)."

Peter then affirmed the prophetic power of the Hebrew Scriptures in clarifying how important it was for those whom the Gospel first came (the Jews) to receive their Messiah in anticipation of His future Davidic Reign, otherwise called the "times of restoration of all things (v. 21)."

What is our response? To give glory to Him and turn from our sins as the Jews, God's chosen people, were urged to turn as we all await His glorious appearing.

together

2014-03-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” ⁴¹Then those who gladly^[g]received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. ⁴²And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ⁴⁴Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

⁴⁶So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church^h

] daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:40-47 nkjv)

The primitive church was clearly marked by fellowship, but not without a clear foundation. Here Luke, the author of Acts, seems to be build his point like this:

The Gospel and salvation - vv. 40-41

Fellowship and doctrine - v. 42

Confirming signs - v. 43

Believers together - v. 44

Confirming charity - v. 45

Fellowship from house to house - v. 46

The Gospel and salvation - v. 47.

With an eye to the author's writing structure in an age before modern punctuation, we see how the early church (from the Gospel through doctrine as well as authenticating miracles and charity) built a united community. May we work on doing the same!

Pentecost

2014-02-08T17:10:00.000-05:00

The apostles experienced the promised helper, the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost just as Jesus proclaimed ten days earlier. This new filling (or control and enabling) of the Holy Spirit gave them the power to be the very witnesses Jesus asked them to be (Acts 1:8).

Thus, three general principles can be observed from that day.

1. Just as the Apostles were a testimony to the works of God through supernaturally speaking in the languages of the people, so should we allow God to use us as a witness of who He is - Acts 2:1-13

2. This event fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, proving the Holy Spirit was at work so that all may come to the Lord - Acts 2:14-21 (Joel 2:28-32).

3. The message the apostles proclaimed was that of Jesus crucified and risen, just as the prophets foretold - Acts 22:22-36 (Ps. 16).

Read Acts 2:1-36. What observations do you see?

kingdom

2014-01-21T07:47:00.002-05:00

To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3 nkjv)."

Jesus, after He rose from the dead and before He ascended, brought great clarity to the disciples concerning His kingdom as it related to them now, as well as what it would look like when He returned. Far from the common "already/not yet" understanding, His main point was to motivate them to be "witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8 nkjv)," in the present moment while they awaited His future coming cloaked in the physical and messianic establishment of His kingdom.

Thus, the fulfillment of their question, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6)?” was not to be fulfilled until His return (vv. 9-11), allowing for the Gospel witness to be front and center in their lives as it should be in ours.

May we have the same single focus to spread the message of Jesus Christ to all we meet as the apostles modeled throughout their ministry as well.

bold reposted

2013-10-21T10:26:00.001-04:00

church planting reposted

2013-10-21T10:24:00.002-04:00

Email

2013-09-19T15:27:00.001-04:00

Email address is fixed. Feel free to contact me at zachdoppelt@gmail.com. Thanks!