Bible Study

November 1, 2025

“Prayer Meeting Continues”

Acts 1:15 – 20 (NKJV)

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the [a]disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

“At this time” really does not give us a time frame for the prayer meeting but one thing is certain the believers stayed and prayed for ten days. This was the time between the ascension and Pentecost.

What was spoken was prophesized in the Old Testament and Peter speaks these in verse twenty. The prophecies came for PS. 69:25 “Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.” (NKJV) and 109:8 “Let his days be few, And let another take his office.” (NKJV). When God gives a prophecy we should understand it will come to pass.

Judas Iscariot was a member of the twelve but he may have never been saved as we read in John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” Some have said he was called this because of his unsaved status.

He acquired a field with money given to him by the Jewish leaders of the day which by the way he returned to them. Thirty pieces of silver was paid to Judas for his deceit. He may have hung himself on the edge of a cliff where the tree branch may have broken and fell to earth in a ravine or from some distance from the tree.

The field was named Hakelama or “Field of Blood.” This area is south of Jerusalem and the soil is very good for making pottery may be the reason Matthew referred to it as the “Potter’s Field.”

Peter explains the defection of Judas and his replacement were both in God’s purpose. “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. 13 But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.

15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.” (PS. 55:12-15) (NKJV).

It is unfortunate that Judas betrayed the Lord but betrayal is even more prevalent in our day. Let us pray that we remain steadfast in our beliefs.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 31, 2025

“Prayer Meeting”

Acts 1:12 – 14 (NKJV)

12 “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

The Mount of Olivet is the location Jesus ascended from and where He will return to on His second advent or coming. The mount is located in the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem and sits about two hundred feet above the city. “A Sabbath’s Day journey is about one half mile which accommodates Ezekiel 16: 29. “See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

This measurement was determined from tradition of walking from the tents to the tabernacle of the Old Testament. The “Upper room” was most likely the same location Jesus celebrated the last meal with His followers before his crucifixion.

Gathered there were His closet followers and some have taught this is the where they learned to ”pray in the name of Jesus.” We see the term “with the women” and we might ask these women were. We know Mary Jesus’ mother was there and His brothers. But who were the others. They were Mary the mother of Clophas (Clopas is mentioned in John 19:25 as the husband of Mary, who stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene. He is often identified with Cleopas, one of the two disciples to whom the risen Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus, although the names are distinct in the Greek New Testament.)

Then there was Mary Magdelene, the sisters Mary and Martha, and Salome. Several of the apostles were married and their wives may have been in attendance. Scripture teaches against women preaching in the church but they are encouraged to pray as we all are.

What is interesting here is that were in “one accord” because a few months earlier they in John 7:5 they had mentioned unbelief. “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”

Nothing miraculous is going to happen in your church or my church until the body is in one accord or in a united way. So many things seem to be important to certain people such as the color of a room, or the color of the carper, or what their particular ministry is all about, or they have judgement or unforgiveness in their heart. Until these are put aside your church or mine will not do the miraculous things we are called to do.

Search your heart, see if it is in one accord, then guard your heart.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 30, 2025

“To Come Again”

Acts 1:9 – 11 (NKJV)

9” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The disciples had learned from Jesus during their “training period” of all things that were going to take place including His return to heaven. The time had come for His second resurrection from the earth His death being the first and now His ascension back to be with the Father at His rightful place at the right hand of the Father.

“Two men stood by them in white apparel” are two angels to witness the event. These angels said the apostles “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” Do you find it interesting he referred to them a “men of Galilee.” They knew all that had taken place during Jesus’ earthy ministry so they referred to these men of Galilee because all were from there with the exception of Judas who had killed himself.

They told the men gathered there that day Jesus would come back in “like manner.” He was reassuring them and us that Jesus would not leave His people behind to a world of sin and depravity. One day He is returning and as I said recently the signs of the times are coming into play.

It is assuring to know the promises made through prophecy will come to pass. Stand firm in these days, be strong in what you believe and know to be right. We should not allow ourselves to be swayed by cults knocking our doors trying to sway what you know is right. If they do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He is the third person of the Trinity do not entertain them.

Here is why I am saying this. Look at Luke chapter 10 verses 1 – 16. (Read these verses) He told them “to shake the dust of their feet.” Why did He say that? He said judgement was coming to these cities and He did not want them to have any element of judgement so they were to shake off the dust because judgement will fall on even the dust of the earth. Verse sixteen is so important from Luke we read,

When you encounter these “false prophets” knocking on your door take an opportunity and share Jesus with them. Let them know he is the Son of God not some created being equal with God but he is fact God himself in the flesh.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 29, 2025

One Direction”

Acts 1:7 – 8

7 “He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As we read verse seven we can see where the apostles had a good understanding of the Old Testament and it’s teachings. They had an expectation of an earthly kingdom that mirrored what Jesus taught.

If they were wrong Jesus would have shown them their error. He says “times and periods” which refer to events or eras that will be a part of His earthly reign that begins with His second coming. The timing of His return remains a mystery but events of today are leading up to it. Some examples are the movement toward digital only currency, the false peace agreement in Israel, more and more catastrophes we are seeing are all evidence that the day is approaching. Moral decay is at its height with the transgender issues of false teaching, ministers preaching a false gospel, a general falling away of people yet we are seeing a movement toward Jesus from the younger generation – all prophesied.

The apostles mission (as is ours) is to spread the gospel with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowerment is what is allowing the gospel to be spread across the world. These apostles had experienced the saving grace of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit lived within them but now they were to receive a new dimension of His power.

Who are theses “witnesses” that Luke refers to here simply said they are all people who tell the truth about Jesus. The Greek word for “witness” is “one that dies for his faith” because that was often the price of sharing the Good News of Jesus.

He mentions several locations in the area so what does that mean to us in 2025? Exactly the same thing we begin close with our family, then our neighbors, then our city and proclaim salvation through our witness.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 28, 2025 (CSB)

Acts 1:4 – 8

“What Are You Doing?”

“While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The disciples had spent about three years with Jesus, They had seen Him raise the dead, touch lives by bringing healing to their bodies, forgiving sins and today they are asking if He is restoring the kingdom to Israel. The ESV begins verse four with these words “Gathering them together” which in that day could have meant ‘eating with them.”

God had repeatedly said He would send His Spirit. He then tells the John baptized with water but they are going to receive a different baptism a baptism that brings power. This one will change your ministry. This promise was fulfilled in just a few later. Nothing has changed in our day we need to power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we minister to one another. The question is – do we want it?

The apostles still believed the earthly form of the Messiah would soon be established. They also knew that Ezekiel 36 and Joel 2 spoke connected the coming of the kingdom with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles mission as well as ours is to spread the gospel that is the reason for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The apostles (as we do) experience the Holy Spirit’s saving, guiding, teaching and miracle working power, they were about to receive His indwelling presence for power to witness.

Have you received since you believed?

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 27, 2025 (CSB)

Acts 1:1 – 3

“I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

“The Church Is Born”

Acts was written by Luke also the author of the Gospel of Luke. This book is called the “The Acts of the Apostles” but may be better named “The Acts Of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles.” The two main characters in the book are Peter and Paul. Both unique in their ministry but they were fearless in speaking the truth something today we seem to fear.

Luke wrote the book to Theopolis recounts the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Jesus taught His followers by “word and deed” something He fulfilled on the cross. His finished work is a proclamation of all His glory.

His ascension or “taking up” was the final step of His earthly ministry. Notice he did not ascend until He had given certain orders and instructions to His disciples He did this through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was the source of power of Jesus’ earthly ministry as He is the power of what we area called to do.

He showed himself to them by many convincing proofs. He entered a locked room, He showed His crucifixion wounds, He ate and drank with them And during the forty day many other things took place.

Do you ever wonder when your read certain things the significance of them such as the forty day periods found in scripture. Look at the forty day period from scripture.  And is it ever literal?

God caused it to rain for 40 days and nights during the flood (Genesis 7:12).

Moses went up to Mount Sinai for 40 days on two different occasions (Exodus 24:18, 34:1-28).

Moses sent spies for 40 days to investigate the promised land (Numbers 13:25, 14:34).

Jonah warned that Ninevah would be destroyed after 40 days (Jonah 3:4).

Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days for Judah’s sins (Ezekiel 4:6).

When Jacob died in Egypt, they spent 40 days embalming his body (Genesis 50:3).

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5).

Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted for 40 days (Matthew 4:1).

Jesus appeared for 40 days between his resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3).

When trials come our way so does day forty – one.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 24, 2025 (CSB)

2 Thessalonians 3:13 – 18  (CSB)

“Hang In There”

13 “But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Do you ever feel “burn out”  in your life? I have during my career in the business world I grew weary of some of the rules and regulations placed on me which I felt like in inhibited what I could do but I realized rules must be established.

Paul tells the church to not grow weary in doing good. Simply said we cannot do enough good to offset the bad that is around us but we must keep going forward. The faithful workers were tired of carrying the lazy, and ready to help those who genuinely needed help.

What does he mean by “don’t associate with him?” Blatantly disobedient  Christians were to be “disfellowshipped” which would result in shame but hopefully it would to repentance if they refused to follow the Word of God.

Don’t consider him an enemy because this was not meant as final rejection. We should pray for those who have sinned and work to bring them back into fellowship. While unrepentant sin is a matter to be dealt with it must be done with a brotherly attitude.

Paul spoke peace to them knowing about the intense spiritual battle that raged in the church.

Pray for those who have left the fellowship and seek their return.

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 21, 2025 (CSB)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 12  (CSB)

“Consider Your Behavior – People Are Watching”

6 “Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.”

Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 10 thee words: 14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? Does this seem inconsistent with Paul is teaching in our scripture for today?

Paul’s words were not suggestions he was speaking to them in no uncertain terms but he was addressing the topic of false teaching he is not saying to avoid all people. We need to interact with those who are not of the faith but we can teach them by staying strong in what we believe. This is further explained in verse fourteen.

Do we want people to imitate us? Paul did not hesitate to tell people to follow him since his life imitated the life of Jesus. Can we say that? Mine does not always although I try to follow Him as closely as I can.

Also Paul was teaching them about work not to remain idle. Word came to Paul that some were not working as they should and many not even willing to work. Sound anything like 2025? I have often quoted verse ten “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either.”

God Bless.

Bible Study

October 21, 2025 (CSB)

2 Thessalonians 3:1 – 5  (CSB)

“We Have Confidence In the Lord”

“In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

Prayer a topic Paul spoke much about, prayer something we need in our churches, personal lives, our families and our everyday activities. Paul asked for prayer here but interesting he was asking them to pray that the Word of God would flourish as they went forth sharing the message of the gospel. Paul knew that the success of his ministry in some measure depended on the prayers of God’s people. “You cannot tell how much God’s servants are helped by the prayers of his people. The strongest man in Israel will be the better for the prayers of the weakest saint in Zion.” (Spurgeon).

God has promised that His Word would be free and perform its work and come back void: It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). But as with many of God’s promises, we are expected to take this promise in faith, and in prayer, to ask God to perform the promise for His glory.

Paul encountered people much as we do today those who have no regard for living a pure life. He refers to them as evil and perverse. A perverse person is one who  acts in a deliberate and obstinate way to behave that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences. They have no regard for or no interest in what the consequences might be.

However, Paul tells them that through it all God is faithful in regard to His creation.

God Bless.