Bible Study: The Holy Spirit

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Tuesday November 09, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Acts, chapters 1-3. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus' ascension and promise of His return, Matthias is chosen to replace Judas, the Holy Spirit coming upon all believers at Pentecost, the Apostles speaking in tongues, Peter's sermon, and 3000 people get saved and baptized. All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-9

Today's Message: The Holy Spirit
The Book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament, forty-fourth book of the Bible, and contains twenty-eight chapters. The author of the book is Luke and it was written to all believers, addressed specifically as Theophilus, which means, a lover of God. The purpose of the book was to explain what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church. What we are to learn from the book is that the true evidence of the Holy Spirit is directed by the power of God. The power to become witnesses for the purpose of extending the Gospel throughout the entire world. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Acts 2:21.

Did you ever wonder why there are so many different versions of the Bible? Bible scholars will tell you that they created them to help you understand what God is trying to tell them for the current generation. I use the King James Version because it is the closest English version to all of God's Word, many will debate me, but I have done the research and seen the difference, it's not about removing the thees and thous, it's about removing great truths that we are in need of. Every time a new version of the Bible is created at least 20% of God's Word is taken away from, altered, or added to it in order to comply with copy write laws, which means every time one is created you are getting less and less of God's Word and more of their own. Many versions eliminate hell from the pages, but the truth is this, they can try and alter God's Word in a book, but they can not alter His truths, no matter how many versions they make. Hell is real and unless they are saved that is where they are going. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” - Revelation 22:18,19.

So, how do you know that the version you are reading contains all of God's Word? The only way we can known and understand what I have just said to be true is through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who teaches us to understand what these scholars claim are confusing to the common people and eliminate from the Bible. “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost...For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” - I Corinthians 12:3,13.

So, how do we receive the Holy Spirit? Jesus explained this before He ascended up to heaven. “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” - Acts 1:4,5,7,8.

Jesus said, quoting from John the Baptist, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” What He was saying was that in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which will give you the power to be my witnesses to everyone on earth. Three days later the Holy Spirit did arrive, on the day which is known as Pentecost and everyone the believed in Jesus received the Holy Ghost. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven..And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:...And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:...And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Acts 2:2-5,12-14,17,21.

The Holy Spirit moves into everyone who calls on Jesus to be saved, and it is the Holy Spirit that teaches us God's Word and to be witnesses for others to be saved. I grew up like most Christians, I knew that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, Good Friday was the day He died, and Easter was the day He resurrected, but did I understand it? No, I did not. I spent years following Lent and trying to be good so I wouldn't die and go to hell, but the truth is, it did not matter if I observed these days or was good, if I would have died then I would have gone to hell. How do I know? I was not saved, I did not know Jesus as my Savior. The only way to escape hell is by calling on Jesus to save us. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9.

As Christians, we are to follow in Christ's footsteps, to teach the Gospel to all who do not know it, to be the example that people look for to trust in the Savior. The only way to understand the true Gospel is through all of God's Word and the Holy Spirit teaching us. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” - Colossians 3:15-17.

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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