Call to Commitment

 

KJV    1611

Infallible proofs of the resurrection

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2. until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 

3. 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. 

4. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 

5. for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  

Luke wrote both of his books to an acquaintance, whom he addressed, in his introduction to the Gospel of Luke, as the most excellent or most noble Theophilus.  Because the name means, Friend of God, some think that Luke used the name symbolically to address the reader of his books. However, the common believer is never given such a highly dignified title as most excellent, so I am sure that Theophilus was a member of the nobility, a high Roman or Greek official. Both Felix and Festus were addressed identically. Theophilus had been converted and Luke wrote his accounts to him, personally, to establish him in the faith.

 

Today, we begin a study, which is of utmost importance to every true Christian in the 21^st Century. It is an expositive consideration of the book of Acts. I say it is of supreme importance, especially in these days, because the church is living in an age, prophesied by the apostle Paul, when he wrote the second letter to his son, in the faith, Timothy: “Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves… having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 T. 3:1, 2, 5).  

First of all, I want to point to the word power, reading from the Amplified New Testament: “For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it.” The word power, of course, is the same word we read in Acts 1:8… “You shall receive power…” The Greek dictionary, Strong’s, defines it: Dunamis… gr. Force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): ability, abundance, meaning, might… and Strong’s continues with a full page of definitions, due to the common usage of the word.

 At the time, when humanity comes to the end of its history, there will be a period that is especially dangerous. Now, let’s look at the word perilous in 2 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV). Curiously, this word is only used here and one other time, in Matthew 8:28, in the New Testament. Strong’s defines the Greek word, chalepos, difficult, that is dangerous, or (by implication) furious: - fierce, perilous, and Matthew uses this word to describe the Gadarene demoniacs.  

 One of the reasons that this time will be dangerous or fierce is because “men will be lovers of themselves… having a form of godliness but denying its power.” It is typical that in the formality of his religion, an individual will not abandon it, but in a practical sense, what he or she believers, becomes inert and dead. However, the faithful members will continue to defend it, violently and fanatically, as the prophets of Baal before Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 K.18:25-29).

 There is a good deal of teaching these days, which could easily bring believers to that state, by assuming that miraculous power ended with the apostles and today, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit have been annulled. They teach the book of Acts, as purely historical. And precisely for that reason, I want to begin a study of this book, to see it as something more than history, as it relates to the works of the apostles, but as a model to show, what the church should be anywhere, at any time.

  

 

Jose speaks in the chapel at the inaugural service

Hotel and Bible School, "The Great Commission"

 Jose figures that the hotel can accommodate about 20 students, but some of us, along with Jose, feel that that will not be enough in the future. Recently Jose put in a bid on a beautiful property on a lake shore in the same town, with a chapel and other buildings to house another 30 students. Although two other people put in higher bids on the same property, it landed in Jose´s hands.

 Last Sunday, he and Marga, along with the students and staff, held a special inauguration on the new property. Here, I will let you read Jose´s report of the event: 

 I left for a trip to arrive in Dals-Ed, Suecia on March 1. I arrived first in Barcelona and the girls had prepared a terrific lunch. My friends, Mateo and Irina, Dani, Sofi and the twins, were also invited and Olga, who I´ve known for many years, was the cook. I spent a good part of the afternoon, answering questions and then returned to Ripollet for a meeting with couples. (Jose and Ana had been on a trip and returned to attend part of the meeting.) The following day, I spoke at the regular Sunday meeting, and later that afternoon, after a meal with Ángel, Rebeca and their children, I was taken to the airport.

 

Shelley and Dan

Here are a few thoughts, before we get into Dan’s message. I am thinking of a song in Spanish about the lost sheep. The last verse states, “The same story is repeated today. There are still sheep, who go astray, but there are still shepherds, who search for them in the wilderness. They find them bleating, trembling from the cold, carry them on their shoulders and take them to the fold.”

 You will read about a drunk in Dan’s story, who interrupted a Christmas program, and how a little boy found Christ, resulting from that interruption. Here’s good news that Dan could not tell at the time he gave his message. At 80 years old, that man, who came to church drunk, found Jesus, was transformed, and is a vibrant witness for Christ.  

 On the site, where I listened to Dan’s message and wrote it for all of you, I discovered in the comments, one from the lady, of whom Dan speaks, at the end of his message, Deb Reynolds. She writes: “I came upon this video just as Dan was speaking about my life. I know that I am here today because of my church family and my belief in God. I am truly blessed.” In his first chapter, Mark tells us that many were healed in Capernaum. Dan mentions that the son of a nobleman in the town was also healed. There is a story in the Gospels about a Roman centurion in Capernaum, who believed. Now, we will follow in Mark, verse by verse, as Dan relates another story of what surely can be called, a revival in Capernaum… 

 

The Capernaum Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12)

 Dan Brueckner during the first days of Covid

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.  

Jesus has moved from Nazareth to Capernaum and after being there a short time, it was reported that He was at home. Many people gathered and in Luke’s account in chapter 5, verse 17, you find that the scribes are coming from every village in Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. Quite a crowd gathered and there was no room, even at the door to get in.