Bible Study

November  18, 2025

“A Vital Church Grows”

Acts  2:37 – 40  (NKJV)

37 “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

What should a message do for the hearer? There are times a pastor delivers a message which is not what he wants to say but what the Holy spirit wants said. That is the message preached that day by Peter. So, what should a message do for the hearer?

Peter begins his message with a stunning “stab” to the heart of the hearers that day. He says they killed the Messiah. That is a serious indictment. Paul outlines what must be done in this case. First he tells them “they must repent.” What does repentance involve? Genuine repentance knows sin must be forsaken (sorry for it), a willingness to turn the other way (one-hundred and eighty degree turn), and we embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Once saved, forgiven by God the next step is baptism. The word baptism literally means “be dipped or immersed.” I cannot find any place in the scriptures that teaches anything other than immersion. The scriptures simply do not teach ‘sprinkling” or “pouring” that I am aware of.

This is the first time many Jews experienced baptism. Many had experienced the baptism of John and were familiar with the baptism of Gentile converts into Judaism. Why do you think Peter added “in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?” Baptism does not provide forgiveness of sin nor the cleansing from sin. Forgiveness of sin precedes baptism. Genuine repentance brings forgiveness from God and because of the all new believers were to be baptized. Every believer enjoys the forgiveness of sins and baptism should follow.

Peter says “all who are afar off (those are the Gentiles, here it could mean non-Jews or non-believers). Gentiles were able to share in the gift of salvation because the Jews rejected Jesus and He went to non-Jews known as Gentiles.

God Bless.    

Bible Study

November  17, 2025

“Raised Again”

Acts  2:29 – 36  (NKJV)

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, [a]according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted [b]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

We see written here about the resurrection and mentions David. David could not be the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of Jesus because his body is still in the grave. David knew that God would keep His oath and Chrsit would come to earth.

God approved of Jesus’ work on the cross because He raised Him up. The early apostles and teachers shared the message of the resurrection of Jesus. They saw it therefore they could testify to it.

Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God following His ascension into heaven where he intercedes on our behalf. He has be been exalted back to heaven from where He came.

Peter summarizes his sermon with a powerful statement of certainty. There is sufficient evidence to support that Jesus is the Son of God and the crucified Christ as well as the anointed Messiah.

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  14, 2025

“The Gift”

Acts  2:25 – 28  (NKJV)

“For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’”

The Lord was speaking prophetically through His servant David. David wrote verse twenty-seven in Psalm 16:10. They are words of confidence spoken  by David but applied to Jesus.

Exactly what is Hades? It is a resting place of the dead with “Compartments” for the just and the unjust as they await the final judgement. We know that believers will be in heaven and the non-believers will be cast into he lake of fire along with Satan and his demon followers.  The Old Testament term is “Sheol” and sometimes referred to as hell but here it is a place for the dead.

We along with David and Jesus know our souls will not be abandoned in Hades as God has promised “a new heaven and new earth” for His followers. He has also set a place for those who reject His offer of salvation and that is the lake of fire.

Many people do not believe Jesus would send anyone to hell but think about this. He gave His life for us for our eternal salvation. To those who accept His gift (and it is free for the asking) will be rewarded likewise those rejecting the gift will be lost. The gift is of no value unless it is opened and we must open our hearts to receive the gift as we open a Christmas gift. The gift is there and the opening is up to us. The decision is within us.

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  13, 2025

“This Man”

Acts  2:22 – 25 (NKJV)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.”

Jesus the Nazarene a humble name whom He was often referred to in His earthly ministry. “Man attested to” men saw what He did, and God validated Jesus as Messiah.

“By the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.” God, the Father predetermined Jesus would die for the sins of man. His death was the atonement for sin that we are born with and that we commit. Luke calls them “godless men” because the Jews were the ones that instigated Jesus’ death and Luke was correct in calling them out for the atrocity they committed. Luke was calling them “lawless’ he might as well as said “godless men.”

Because of God and the divine power death could not keep Jesus in the grave. It was the power of God to raise Him and it is the power of God through the death of Jesus that we can live in eternity with our Saviour.

The Lord was speaking of His resurrection prophetically through David.

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  12, 2025

“That Great and Glorious Day (Continued)”

Acts  2:18 – 21 (NKJV)

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

What is meant by “menservants and maidservants?” In the book of Acts, the term refers to all believers, both male and female, who will receive the Holy Spirit, as prophesied in Joel 2:29 and quoted here by Peter in Acts 2:18. It demonstrates God is not a respecter of persons but power is available to everyone. And “prophesy” simply means truth will be persuasive in the kingdom.

By “wonders” is the amazement people experience when something supernatural or out of the ordinary takes place. By “signs” here we see the meaning to be the power of God at work and they will all point back to Him. Who does these works? In the New Testament times it was Jesus apostles and those who assisted them. Today it is you and me, we are to be His miracle workers in the world of 2025. The question is are we willing to step up in His authority?

The sun and the moon will be affected as we read in Revelation. In the book of Revelation, the sun and moon are affected by the upcoming events leading to Jesus’ return. These events are described with the fourth trumpet (Revelation 8:12) and the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12). At the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun and moon’s light is darkened. At the sixth seal, the sun becomes black and the moon turns to blood. These events symbolize divine judgment and cosmic upheaval, with the sixth seal describing a more catastrophic, universal darkening and celestial disturbance.

At any point, a person turns to Christ they will be saved. There will be conversions during the Tribulation period although the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn from the earth.

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  12, 2025

“That Great and Glorious Day”

Acts  2:17 – 21 (NKJV)

“‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Let me say there is no way one day will cover this passage but keeping it in context we will cover for a few days.

Peter spoke these words quoting from the prophet Joel. Let’s just begin with these words “in the last days.” What are these last days? People have said we are living in the last days for many years. These last days refer to the present day age from the birth of Jesus. We should read nothing  more into what is said here. Also we want to keep all in context of the moment it was spoken yet apply it to our day.

“I will pour out My Spirit” simply means that everyone who is born again will receive the Spirit in the millennial reign with Jesus. When we are forgiven we receive His Spirit. “Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” In the Old Testament we see several instances where people had dreams and they were interpreted especially in the lives of kings. Dreams and visions were not as prominent in the New Testament as in the Old Testament. Mostly in the New Testament we see Peter and Paul were the recipients. In Peter’s case we see in Acts chapters ten and eleven and in the case of Paul in Acts chapters nine and eighteen.

There will come a time when God will use visions and dreams during the Tribulation period which Joel predicted in 2:28 – 32 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  11, 2025

“Peter Speaks”

Acts  2:14 –  16 (NKJV)

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.”

We live in a society that many look for an excuse or alternative to an actual move of the Holy Spirit. But it is not simply a biblical, theological, or Christian concept we see it in everyday life. People look for and find a reason not to believe rather to believe.

Peter, a man of courage and abruptness (one of my favorite people) stands and calls out the hypocrisy of people saying these believers were drunk.  This is the first of many speeches we read in Acts.

I have been teaching through the book of Colossians and yesterday it was the end of chapter three and verse one of chapter four. I did what I am saying here because my comment was that Paul said these words I was only repeating them. But I did go on to say that men need to stand up and be involved in such things as our schools and politics.

Thes same thing was said for preachers when I asked the question how many preachers stood up and called out Obama for  displaying gay pride lights on the White House. Such as these are abominations and men need to speak against them as Peter did when he  stood and called them out. Men, we are too complacent and accepting of what is wrong in society.

Luke is writing and recording what is taking place and points out this is fulfillment of prophecy quoting from Joel 2:28 – 32. We would be wise today to stand for what scripture says as did Peter. You may not always want to do what Peter did after all we should not be taking  a sword and cutting off someone’s ear off.

But in the same manner we should stand for biblical principles and not waver.

By way did you ever think why Jesus healed the centurion’s ear? Here is the reason: By healing the soldier’s ear, Jesus removed any evidence that Peter had committed a crime and could have prevented Peter from being arrested and punished. He saved Peter’s life.

God Bless.

Bible Study

November  7, 2025

“Being Drunk A False Accusation”

Acts  2:5 – 13 (NKJV)

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Who were these people that were filled?

1. Jews – Hebrew males that made the trip to Jerusalem. They were expected to be there for the Feast of Pentecost.
2. Galileans – People who lived in primarily remote areas around the Sea of Galilee. They were considered to be uneducated by the Judean Jews.
3. Parthians – This group lived in what we call Iran.
4. Egypt – Many Jews lived in Alexandria.  These were from the northern parts of Egypt.
5. Libya around Cyrene and north of the Egyptian coast.
6. Rome – those from the capital of the empire Rome had a large Jewish population.
7. Proselytes – Gentile converts to Judaism.
8. Cretans – Residents of the island of Crete south of Greece.
9. Arabs – those living south of Damacus.

What is interesting here was the various groups of people gathered, the languages were known utterances, and they understood what was being said. What did they hear “the mighty deeds of God.” They found these mighty deeds of God from the Old Testament.

There are always the naysayers and they were in attendance. They were claiming this is nothing more than a group of drunks, which was a false accusation. People deny the movement of God still today. We might call it persecution.

What we have hear is an awesome move of God on a group of believers that become filled with the Holy Spirit we do not want to lose sight of this miracle.

I also believe in gift of tongues as taught by Paul as a gift of the Spirit we’ll save that for another day.

God Bless.