All posts by Luella Campbell

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE HOLY SPIRIT – 7b

Bible Study, ,

Jesus, in His final moments with His disciples in the upper room, has spelled out clearly the Holy Spirit’s impending return. He would come to take up His role as Jesus’ “other self”, fulfilling in them what the Father had planned from the beginning. 

However, the Apostle Paul had to deal with the inevitable issue of “the flesh” that was creeping into this predominately Gentile church in Corinth…the issue of competition, since the gift of “tongues”… speaking supernaturally in an unlearned language… which is what happened in Jerusalem at Pentecost…seems to have morphed into a new phenomenon…uttering strange-sounding words regarded as a “heavenly language”. 

These “tongues” were spectacular and extraordinary. It seems that everyone in the Corinthian church wanted this gift. However, Paul had to correct their understanding. Using the analogy of the human body…

Not everyone has the same gift , since the human body is made up of many parts with different functions…so the members of  body of Christ are different with functions but…

…every gift has the same purpose…to edify and build up the whole body. 

So…as Paul explained…

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are an integral part of His ministry in the church for a specific purpose, not for the glory of individual but for the good of whole body. 

When we put the Holy Spirit’s gifts in perspective and in their right place…first, we must understand that they flow from our relationship with Jesus. Outside of that, they are nothing but showmanship which Jesus does not acknowledge. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Second, if the gifts of the Spirit are not used for the purpose for which they were intended and under the leading of the Spirit, they are of no value to the body of  Christ. 

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬, ‭11‬, ‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬, ‭12‬, ‭20‬, ‭26‬, ‭29‬, ‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The exercise of a variety of spiritual gifts in the body, dispersed and directed by the Holy Spirit, and practised under the instruction and guidance of church leaders, should have three outcomes…

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…unity in the faith

…maturity in character and behaviour of the members, 

….fullness in Christ. 

So, we see that the Holy Spirit has two specific functions…in the believer, to restore and reproduce the likeness of Jesus…

…and in the body of Christ, to produce a healthy, functional unit, mature and complete. 

This is the gift God promised Abraham in principle…and was poured out in fulness on the day of Pentecost. 

…and this gift is for everyone who believes…not only for some who are equipped for a special task. 

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He is automatically given when we are born again by the Spirit…

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He is God’s seal and guarantee of eternal life un every believer, 

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He will teach and guide every believer throughout life and administer all the benefits of the New Covenant. 

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nowhere in Scripture are believers urged to seek the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. Rather, we are instructed to receive Him, obey Him, be led by Him, and allow Him full control. We are cautioned not to grieve Him or put out His fire in us…which we can do by disobeying or ignoring Him in the course of our daily lives. 

The Holy Spirit is our “paracletos”, our Helper. He is our closest companion, friend, counsellor, and the representative of Jesus in us. Every new believer who is not introduced to the Spirit and made aware of His presence in him/her is robbed of the assurance of the presence of the one person who stands between growing up into Christ or failing and falling at every obstacle and test.  

It is imperative, then, that those who introduce people to Jesus, also ensure that new believers understand the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit in them. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE RETURN OF THE SPIRIT -7a

Bible Study, ,

“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear….When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭33‬, ‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let me pause for a moment. Peter said something of great significance which is often ignored as a vital part of the preaching of the good news.  

The gift of the Holy Spirit! 

The Holy Spirit’s return is the completion of the work of Jesus on earth. He came to administer in people what Jesus accomplished by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. 

Jesus promised…

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you….“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭18‬, ‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Much is made of the spectacular side of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in some streams of the church…spiritual gifts…speaking in tongues…gold dust…feathers from heaven…even “falling down under the power” and laughing or making animal sounds. Some churches major on these “manifestations” as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in a gathering and in people. 

What does the Bible say? Are these “goosebump” experiences the primary purpose for the Holy Spirit’s return to the believer, the be-all and end-all of His ministry?

Jesus spent the remaining hours before His arrest and crucifixion coaching His disciples about the return and ministry of the Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ “other self”, another Advocate, one just like Him, sent by the Father to indwell His people. 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What Jesus said about the Spirit should alert us to His core function in the believer. Jesus did not come to entertain His people with spectacular signs and wonders. He came to restore God’s kingdom on earth and to confirm the nature of God’s rule by undoing what sin had destroyed. The miracles Jesus did in the power of the Spirit were signs that God was in charge. 

The Holy Spirit focuses our attention on Jesus. 

He does not lead us primarily to put us or what we do on display. He calls us to look at Jesus…to focus on Him so that we can be transformed into His likeness. 

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬, ‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Holy Spirit’s primary function is to convince the believer of righteousness. 

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: …about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬, ‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Spirit holds before us Jesus’ righteousness as the gift Jesus has given to us and the pattern for our lives. When we sin, the Spirit does not accuse or condemn…He calls us back to who we are in Christ. 

The Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Jesus. 

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As we contemplate the glory of Jesus…every facet of who He is and what He did and does, the Holy Spirit slowly but increasingly changes us from the inside to conform to His likeness. This is the Father’s supreme purpose for His children… 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Holy Spirit reproduces the character of Jesus in us. 

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Likeness to Jesus in character and behaviour is the evidence that He lives in us by His Spirit. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As the seed of God’s Word takes root and grows in us when we obey and are led by His Spirit, the fruit that grows and matures is a reflection of Jesus’ nature, the fruit of a righteous life. 

To those who heard Peter’s explanation on the day of Pentecost, what they witnessed when the Holy Spirit fell on the believers was not a show to entertain them but a promise that they too, if they believed in Jesus, could participate in the new life Jesus had come to give them. 

What these onlookers needed on that day was a radical inward change that would transform their lives and their perspective. What they saw in the newly “drenched  in the Spirit” believers was what they craved… 

…and Peter promised it was theirs because Joel had prophesied the promise centuries before…and God had initiated the process when He called Abraham to follow Him. 

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What, then, of the gifts that some major on in the body of Christ? Are they important? Do they have meaning and relevance in the church? 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…STOP US IF YOU CAN! – 6

Bible Study, ,

“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Persecution…it had started, just as Jesus had said it would! As long as the believers were quiet, enjoying the new life they shared…the religious hierarchy let them be.  They were no problem to their position and power…but now…!

This was new! This was more than a religious sect surfacing among the people. This was trouble! It smelled like smoke. There was a fire beginning to burn somewhere. “It must be snuffed out before it takes hold.” They grabbed the ringleaders…Peter and John…the guys who were at the helm of this mess.   

“They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Too late! The cat was out the bag! They could not arrest and imprison five thousand! “Let’s cut off the head and hope the body will die.” So they thought!

They attacked Peter and John  first with questions, demanding to know the source of their authority. No one dare do anything without their authorisation. The same as with Jesus! It was all about authority. 

“The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was their age-old issue…the one they had with Jesus…and lost because Jesus acted on an authority far higher than theirs. Now, the same issue had surfaced again! Hopefully, Jesus had been eliminated but…here were His followers, doing the same thing, in His name! This had to stop! Now! Before it grew too big to contain! Before it got out of hand!

Oh, horrors! 

Peter, the deserter, had become Peter, the bold…Peter, the preacher…Peter, the apologist!

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Without missing a beat, Peter spoke the truth…held them to account…opened the Word…and fired the salvos that should have demolished their attack. 

A quick conference…”What can we do about this?” They had no defence against something that was beyond the natural. Instead of fighting it, they should have thrown in the towel. They should have acknowledged that this was a “God-thing” and joined in. 

Stubborn pride and unbelief put them on a collision course with God Himself…and they were warned! When they clashed again, the Sanhedrin wanted to kill them. Warning and threatening them hadn’t worked. Jailing them hadn’t worked…but Gamaliel, a respected rabbi, at the next clash with the authorities, wisely warned against such action.  

“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To go back to Peter and John…

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The evidence was indisputable. Somehow, Jesus was still doing His thing through these men so…the religious authority, so they claimed, issued orders. “Stop this or else…!”

“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus…”

Did they really believe that Peter snd John would meekly give in…go back to fishing? These men were on a roll and nothing would stop them now. 

“But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was rebellion! The rabbis’ authority was at risk! The followers of Jesus had thrown down the gauntlet. “Stop us if you can!” They knew they were on the winning side. No one takes God on and wins!

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE SMELL OF SMOKE! – 5

Bible Study, ,

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.”

The peaceful scene was about to be shattered! Jerusalem…the city of God’s throne…alive with Jesus’ new life…would again become the battle ground. His enemies smelled smoke…the evidence of a fire burning somewhere. 

The disciples still functioned in the temple. After all, the temple was Jesus’ arena, the place He loved…His Father’s house. They gathered for prayer in “the house of prayer”. 

Someone was waiting there to set another fire ablaze…innocently…but arranged by Jesus …to set His church on a new trajectory…into the heart of enemy territory. 

A man sat at the entrance gate, helpless, unable to walk, his useless legs twisted underneath him…begging for a coin or two to sustain himself. It was a daily struggle.  People were so used to his presence that they walked past him, unseeing…ignoring his plight…but two men heard him. 

“When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk.”

The disciples had finally got it. The penny had dropped! They were the mouthpiece of Jesus…to speak on earth what He had spoken in heaven. They were the heralds of God’s kingdom, not only spreading the good news of Jesus’ reign on earth but confirming the message with the same signs Jesus had done when He was with them. 

At Peter’s command, the lame man leapt to his feet, his crooked legs now straight and strong. he began to leap and dance, shouting his praise and thanks for all to hear. 

“Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The people were gobsmacked. What was this? Jesus was no longer around. Had He, somehow, miraculously returned? They knew this man. He was the guy who sat begging at the gate…but now he was walking! They shook their heads…and shared his joy. 

The miracle of what had just happened spread like a prairie fire. Just like the miracles Jesus had done, this marvellous event caught the imagination of the people. Jesus had been crucified…but rumours that He was alive had surfaced all over Jerusalem and beyond. Could it be true that He was back? How was this possible?

Now a lame man had been miraculously healed! What a platform to share the message! People had gathered from all over the city to see the man who had sat at the entrance of the temple, crippled and helpless, begging for a few coins to keep himself alive. 

Peter was quick to seize the opportunity. “No, people! This is not about us. This about Jesus, the one you crucified.”

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But God…

”You tried to outwit God…but it didn’t work! Jesus is alive. He did this, not us.” Peter gave it to them…in the clear language of Biblical prophecy…just like Jesus had taught them. He became the relay station for the words and works of Jesus. 

Just as, on the day of Pentecost, Peter opened up the Word of God…offering grace and forgiveness to all who would return to the Lord. 

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken, have foretold these days. “…When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬, ‭24‬, ‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The outcome was electrifying, to say the least…

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE CHURCH IS BORN – 4

Bible Study, ,

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…”

Imagine that! At Jesus’ instruction, Peter was offering forgiveness and new life to the very ones who had condemned Jesus to death! His death…His blood…His forgiveness…embraced the whole world, even those who had committed the most heinous of crimes. They had demanded that God Himself, the one who had come in person, in human form, to reveal Himself to them…be eliminated because He was not to their liking! 

Grace had won!

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

How many were in the crowd,  baying for His blood? We have no idea. But remember something significant. The Bible is precise.  how many died when God’s wrath fell on the Israelites when the broke the covenant…after they had danced around a golden calf?

“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” …The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Was it coincidence that exactly three thousand Jews came back to life…newly born-again believers from God’s own people became the firstfruits of the new “Israel”?

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

What a transformation! From angry, fist-waving enemies to humble, submissive children of Jesus…the Most High God…who had won their devotion and allegiance. When once they had repudiated everything He had taught them, now they couldn’t get enough of the truth that had saved them. 

“Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭37‬-‭38‬, ‭41‬-‭47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These were halcyon days! The new-born church was a phenomenon not even the most fanatical of skeptics could ignore. Jesus was at work, gathering in the harvest heralded at Pentecost. And it was growing…daily…like a new-born baby. 

Jerusalem was alight with a fire no human could extinguish. People everywhere in the city knew that something miraculous had happened that they could not deny. The Jesus they had tried so hard to eliminate was alive and active in the lives of thousands…and they liked it…at first! 

The believers were nice. They were full of love…a different kind of love…not a love that was regulated by laws and requirements…but a spontaneous love that reached out in kindness and generosity to one another. They did everything together…a great big family of brothers and sisters, full of joy and laughter. 

Jesus was at work, building His church, one stone at a time. The fire of the Holy Spirit was spreading across the city, and out…beyond…wherever His people went. It had to be because the euphoria would not last. 

The favour the believers enjoyed would soon turn to a dangerous hostility. Remember! The ringleaders of the opposition were still there…and the unseen, implacable enemy who egged them on was still fanning the flames of hatred and murder. Just give them a chance and they would do everything in their power to stamp out the fire that had burst upon the world a few weeks before. 

To be continued