The Study Of Acts, Chapter 2

ACTS CHAPTER 2

SIGNS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:1-17

V:1."When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place."

The day of Pentecost was 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus.

They spent 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection and 10 days in Jerusalem

after His ascension

 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

   What were the signs of the Holy Spirit as it was given to the disciples

     1. It was the sound  of  a mighty rushing wind.    True_______False________

     2.They saw tongues of fire     True_________or False_____________

     3. The disciples ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit  True____ or False______

     4. They began to speak in other tongues  by power of the Holy Spirit                    

         True_______or False __________

The word tongue is Greek word glossa which mean a language, unnaturally acquired.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

When the disciples received the Holy Spirit the disciples made a lot of noise.

True______ or False__________

In Jerusalem at the time were________________Jews from __________nations under

heaven.

The God fearing Jews were bewildered and amazed because the unlearned and untaught

Galileans were speaking  untaught languages.  True_________ or False _________

 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

How many nations were represented in Jerusalem on the day Pentecost? ___________

By the power of the Holy Spirit what happen?

    1.The Galileans were speaking at least 15 untaught languages.

    2. Each of the Jews from different countries heard the Galileans

        speaking in their own language.

   

What were the disciples speaking about in the different languages?

The  __________of God in their ___________   V:2.11

V:12.-13. " Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

When you hear the Word of God spoken in a way that questions you understanding,

 it is time for Bible Study.

      Isaiah 28:11-12

      11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues

       God will speak to this people, 12 to whom he said,

      "This is the resting place, let the weary rest";

       and, "This is the place of repose" — but they would not listen.

       (The word tongue is the Hebrew word lason which means language)

      Isaiah 28:16-17   A prophecy of the Messiah

     16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

     "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure             

       foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

      17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:   2:28-32

Peter, the one who denied Jesus, the one who hid in fear from the

Roman soldiers, after receiving the Holy Spirit began to preach boldly

     Luke 22:31-33

     And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may   

     sift you as wheat:

     32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,   

     strengthen thy brethren.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us power to stand up for Jesus.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the right scripture for the right time.

Peter repeated Joel 2:28-32. You must remember, that He probably

did not have a copy of the Old Testament.

V:17-21. "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

The prophecy of Joel made 800 years earlier was being fulfilled.

Signs that the  Holy Spirit  was given.

1. The Holy Spirit came like the Sound  a rushing mighty wind.

2. The Holy Spirit filled the entire room

3. Cloven tongues set on each of the 120 disciples

4. The disciples began speaking in languages they had not learned

5. People from 15 other nations heard them speak in their own languages

Signs through Peter

1. His boldness: From fear to confidence.

2. His remembrance of Old Testament Scriptures

3. His clear view of the development and role of the Church

4. His ability to bring old Testament Scriptures into focus

    to the message on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

5. His clear view of Salvation.

6. His power in preaching and conviction of the hearers.

This was the beginning of the Church Age, the Age of Grace

No longer would a person have to go to a priest for forgiveness

of sins, he/she can go directly to Jesus.

(Don't you see why the Chief Priest and Elders under the Law

  hated Jesus. They no longer had power and control over the

  people. Their jobs were being eliminated.)

Matthew 27:50-54

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

2 Corinthians 3:13-18

 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Rev. M. Mitchell

By Steve Ban Nattan

1. Shandilyamai Shundai-

These are the single two most common buzz words used by Charismatics during tongues speaking sessions. I first heard R.W. Shambaugh use them in the days of radio preaching. These two words are often interjected in a preaching time like the Old Testament word, "Selah." They give the impression that the speaker is on the razor edge of full power, and he can hardly keep from lapsing into full blown tongues speaking.

You will never find anyone who has interpreted the above words or heard an interpretation. Since I wrote that last statement, someone will no doubt come up with an interpretation, but my claim still stands. I have asked around, and Charismatics can't give an interpretation for Shandilyamai Shundai.

Therefore; I shall interpret the words, and it will not be by the "gift of interpretation." I shall use my research into Vedanta Hinduism, epigraphic evidences from the Middle East, the King James Bible, and consultations with five informed Hindus from India. What follows will terrify a truly born again Charismatic, or old time Pentecostal, who really loves Jesus Christ and the King James Bible.

Shandilyamai is derived from two concepts within the Hindu Vedanta word:

Shandilyavedya- Which we will break into two root words:

Shandilya Vedya- Which we will define from my Vedanta dictionary (published in India) and the response of the five Hindus from India whom I consulted:

Shandilya- Means, "In praise of the ideal glory of..."

NIV

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Power Of The Gospel", Matthew 10:1-5, 2/24/2019

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

Matthew 10:1-15

CALLED AND SENT TO SERVE

V:1-4. He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

A. The mission of the Church is controlled by Jesus.

    1. Jesus selects His disciples.

    2. He selects, those who will follow His instructions and be obedient to Him.

        Ephesians 1:4-6

        4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in   

         his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ,     

         in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,

         which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

    3. No experience is necessary. We get on the job training..

    4. God knows each disciple by name.

    5. Jesus knows your family history.

B. Those He selects, He educates in the Word of God.

    1. He equips His disciple with the Gospel Message.

    2. He trains His disciple how to deal with people.

    3. He trains His disciple to be sensitive to the needs of others.

C. Jesus gives His disciples the authority over the devil and the after effects

     of the devils activities over the lives of people.

   1. All sickness is related to the devil.

   2. The church is a hospital for sick folk.

   3. God equips His disciples with authority over all sickness,

       thus to reverse the effects of the devil.

    4. Jesus is the same today as yesterday.

    5. We have that authority through prayer.

D. Jesus keeps His enemies close to Him.

   1. Judas was an enemy to Christ, but He chose him.

   2. We have to learn what the devil looks like in our lives.

   3. He can operate in our closest friends.

   4. He can operate in us through doubt, disobedience and

       laziness.

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT

V:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'

A. According to  Mark 6:7  ,Jesus sent to disciples out in pairs.

    1. Two can accomplish more than one.

    2. Two can comfort each other in times of troubles.

    3. Two can council with each other guided by the Word.

    4. We need close friends in the Gospel.

B. Our daily prayer should be that Jesus will lead us to the ones                                              

     He want to hear Gospel.

   1. The Lord prepares people to hear the Gospel before you

        get to them.

   2. We should always be under the guidance of the holy Spirit.

   3. In this case, the disciple were to take the Gospel only to the Jews.

   4. The Jews and the Samaritans had a problems getting alone with each

       other dating back 700 years.

   5. The disciples had enough problems dealing with haters from

       their own community.

   6. God will not put more on you than you can handle.

C. Their message was simple , the kingdom of heaven is near.

    1. Like John the Baptist, they prepared the way for the salvation

        of Jesus Christ.

    2. Some plant and some water.

    3. When we talk Jesus, we never know if we are planting the seed of

         salvation or watering.

THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL FOR SICK FOLK

V:8-10. " Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep."

A. Those in ministry have be aware of the needs of those they minister to.

    1. Jesus by His example show His disciples the importance of

        meeting the physical needs of people, followed by the preaching of

        the Word.

    2. You cannot talk about Jesus to someone who is hungry.

    3. You may have to deal with physical needs before you can get to their

        spiritual needs.

B. Jesus gave His disciples the authority to deal with their personal needs.

   1. The Church is a hospital of sick folk.

   2. There are folk that are terminally ill and folk in recovery.

        a. We are equipped to deal with all God's people.

   3. There were schools of medicine during Jesus time,

        a. Luke was a doctor.

        b. But many of the people were not being served.

   4. Effective ministry finds the area where people are not being

       served.

   5. Every Christian has the power of prayer that through faith in Jesus

       can heal every disease.

C. If we look at ourselves, we will discover that we have been given the

     talents and the resources to deal with sick folk.

D. Along with power and authority comes responsibility.

    1. We have the responsibility to glorify God with the talents and

        gifts He has given us.

    2. Ministry is not about us but the mission of God.

    3. It would have been easy for the disciples to use what Jesus

        had given them to gain wealth for themselves.

        a. They could have had a charge for casting out demons.

        b. They could have had a charge for each person they healed.

        c.  Jesus has already paid the price for us to serve Him.

   4. Jesus instructed His disciples not to take gold or silver or a

       belt or bag to keep money in.

       a. The Gospel is not for sale.

       b. We are not to use the Gospel to get rich, or for personal gain.

       c. Every time we breathe God's air we are being paid.

  5. When we go out on a mission for Jesus we are to travel light.

       a. We are to trust God to provide for our needs,

       b. Jesus taught us to pray, " give us this day, our daily bread"

       c. It is His prayer and our duty to believe.

SOME WE MEET WITH JESUS WILL NOT ACCEPT THE WORD

V:11-14 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."

A. Jesus has decided that there are some you cannot reach.

      1. Jesus has decided who will accept the Gospel.

      2. Jesus has decided who will be generous to you and invite you

           into their homes.

      2. He has already decided who will not accept you.

          a. Jesus said shake the dust and move on.

      3. Those who accept you are to bless  with your peace,

B. The name of Jesus when accepted in the heart brings peace and joy.

     1. When someone rejects Jesus, it is their lost.

     2. It is not our job to convict, but to spread the Word.

     3. The Word will fall on fertile ground and rocky soil.

THE JUDGEMENT FOR REJECTING THE GOSPEL       

V:15. " I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

A, Sodom and Gomorrah did not have the Gospel preached to them.

     1. Apparently there is a more severe  judgment for those who

         heard the Gospel and rejected it than those who never heard the

         Gospel. 

     2. There is wisdom in the Word of God.

         Isa 50:4

       The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,

        to know the word that sustains the weary.

        He wakens me morning by morning,

        wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

     3. Those who reject the Gospel, live a life in darkness

MINISTRY IS SERVING, NOT SITTING

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons, follow me on facebook

and visit my blogs: revmmitchell.com and

goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Introduction To The Book Of Acts, Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ACTS

The book of Acts is a transition between the  Law and the Church

The book of Acts forms a bridge between the Gospels and Paul's

Epistles. It tells a story of the birth and the growth of the Church.

The main theological emphasis of the Book of Acts is the Holy Spirit.

There are three major themes  in the books of Acts.

    1. Apologetic    defending Christianity

    2. Validating Paul's Apostleship .

    3. Defending the inclusion of the Gentiles in the new kingdom

The author of the book of Acts and the Gospel of Saint Luke is believed to

be Luke. However Luke's name is not mentioned in either book. Nor does

Luke claim to be the author in any book of the New Testament.

The question is how did the Church fathers come to a conclusion that Luke is

the author?

The first conclusion is that the writer of Acts had to be a traveling companion

of Paul because of the level of details Paul's events.

The Luke is mention by Apostle Paul in three of his epistles; Colossians 4:14,

2 Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 24. In Colossians 4:4, Luke is called a doctor by

Paul ; " Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings."

In the Gospel of Luke and in Acts in describing the conditions of those healed  by Jesus and Paul, the writer use medical terms. These terms would have been common to a

doctor, but not to other disciples. For example:

      Luke 4:38, Peter wife's mother healed by Jesus of a high fever.

      The writer used the term megalos for great and pureto for fever

      both are medical terms.

      In Luke 13:11-13, Jesus healed a woman who was bent over for 18 years.

      The writer used the astheneias for infirmity and sugkuptousa for curvature

      of the spine.

     In Acts the writer used the term ludropkos for dropsy and

     kathepsen for fastened.  Both terms are medical terms a doctor

     of that time would use.

     Luke is the only disciple that is called a doctor by Paul. Thus, the conclusion

     Luke was the writer Of the Gospel of Luke and Acts.

     Both the Gospel of Luke and Acts was written to a man named Theophilus.

     The name Theophilus means friend of God. No one knows who he was.

   Some believe that Theophilus was a Jewish priest, or a Roman official.

   Others believe as the name suggests, that the books were written to the disciples

   of Jesus.

    Luke was one of the 12 that Jesus picked as disciples.   True_____ or False_____

    (answer Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:17, Luke 6:14)

Jesus ascended back in to heaven after His resurrection by the power of the

_______________ (Acts 1:2).

After His resurrection Jesus spent  _______days on earth.  (Acts 1:3)

John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with the ___________________

What is the difference?       Mark 2:10

Why did Jesus tell His disciple not to leave Jerusalem?

They were to wait for____________ which was the giving of the ______________

(John 14:26, Acts 1:8)

When we are obedient to Jesus, we act according to His power.

The Church receives it power from the ____________________  (Acts 1:8)

The jobs of the Holy Spirit is

        1. To be your________________ _____________

        2. To teach you ___________things

        3. To bring to your_______________whatever____________

             said and did. (John 14:26)

Your mission as a disciple is to be ____________   of Jesus  Acts 1:8

You are to be ____________of Jesus to the ____________of the earth

What verse contains the last works Jesus spoke to his disciples

before He was taken back to heaven?  ______________

The Church works best when everyone is on one ___________ and

in ___________and_______________.  Acts 1:14

The word prayer in the text is the Greek word proseuche which means worship.

The word supplication is the Greek word deesis which means request,

When the Holy Ghost was given there were only men in the room.

True___________ or False_____________    Acts 1:14

How many disciples were in the room when the Holy Ghost was given

the first time? 12________, 120__________, 250___________    Acts 1:15

Judas was chosen to betray Jesus. True___________or False___________

Acts 1:18, Psalms 41:9

Could Judas have chosen not to betray Jesus?  What do you think?

God uses evil  to work for our good.

Peter taught his first lesson to the Church concerning the replacement of

___________ as a disciple.

The first business of the Church was the selection of____________ as

a replacement of the ___________ apostles     Act 1:26

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, " What Friends Do For Friends" Matthew 9:1-8, 2/17/2019

WHAT FRIENDS DO FOR FRIENDS

Mark 2:1-13   (Matthew 9:1-8)

V:1-2. A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.

2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

IT IS NOT THE NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT MATTER BUT THE ACTION

V:3-4. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.

4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

A. There were more people in the crowd than the number of brothers serving.

    1. Those who serve will always be few.

    2. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

    3. To be a friend, you have to show yourself as a friend.

         John 15:15-16

         I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. 

         Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I

         have made known to you.

THE ATTITUDE OF AN EFECTIVE BROTHERHOOD/SISTERHOOD.

A. They were concerned about their brother..

     1.They had a desire to help their brother.

     2. They sought a solution for his problem.

     3. They believed  the testimony of the crowd about Jesus.

     4. They heard about Jesus being in town.

B. They worked together to help their brother.

     1. They took their brother to the solution; Jesus.

     2. They would not take no for an answer.

C. They ran into a problem trying to get to the solution.

     1. They couldn't get in to see to Jesus

     2.They created a solution to get their brother to Jesus.

     3. Together they carried him to the roof

     4. Together they dropped him down to Jesus

             

THE FAITH OF HIS FRIENDS  GOT JESUS ATTENTION

V:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

    A. Notice it was their faith that got Jesus attention.

         1. It was their faith that caused Jesus to forgive their brothers sins

         2. It was their faith that caused Jesus to heal their brother.

    B. The faith of friends can make a difference in the lives of others.

         1. Knowing this example that Jesus has given us:

             a. What will your response be to the text?

             b. What can we do as a brotherhood/sisterhood to help others?

             c. Do you know any current needs that this church can get involved in?

DON'T GET DISCOURAGED BY NONE BELIEVERS

V:6-7.  "Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,

  7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God

       alone?"

A. There will always be people that want believe in Jesus or the miracles of Jesus.

     1. The devil is at his best when you have doubt.

     2. The devil is at his best when we fail to act.

B. Do you think that we have some unbelievers  in our church?

    1. What can we do as a small group to show the importance of the brotherhood/

         sisterhood?

     

PUT SELF FIRST OR PUT GOD FIRST

V:8-9. " Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?

9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?

A. It is easy to do nothing.

    1. It is easy to doubt the important of the friendship.

    2. We all have families, jobs and agendas.

    3. The devil is effective in  influencing  us that our own priorities

         should take up all of our time.

    4. It is easy to make excuses not to get involved.

NEVER FORGET THAT WITH JESUS WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

V:10-11. " But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic,

11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

A. People benefit from the efforts of the brotherhood/sisterhood.

    1. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

    2. We all are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

    3. He acts on our behalf before the Father to forgive our sins.

B. The sins of man originated  in the Garden Of Eden with the

     disobedience of Adam.

    1. All sickness has it's origination in sin.

    2. Is we can help one brother or sister get to Jesus, it can cover many sins.

        Luke 7:47-48

        Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But

        he who has been forgiven little loves little."

        48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

OTHERS ARE WATCHING WHAT YOU DO.

V:12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

A.  You never know who is watching you from a distance.

B. You never know who will be encouraged by your activities.

C. God gets the glory when we act as a brotherhood/sisterhood..

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

For More Lessons follow me on facebook and visit my

blogs revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Trusting In The Power Of God", Matthew 8:24-34, 2/10/19

TRUSTING IN THE POWER OF JESUS

Matthew 8:23-34

FOLLOWING JESUS

V:23. " And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

A. We are in our best position when we are following Jesus.

     1. We are in a position of learning, grow and development,

     2. We are in a position to experience the grace and mercy of God.

     3. Following Jesus put us in a position to witness His power and glory.

B. Jesus will never lead us to an place that will not be beneficial to us.

     1. Following Jesus will lead us to the needs of others.

     2. Following Jesus will lead us to our duty to love and

         be compassionate  to others.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE

C. The disciples followed Jesus into a ship in the Sea of Galilee.

     1. The sea of Galilee is a lake 13 miles long and 8 miles wide,

     2. It is a fresh water lake, fed by the Jordan river and underground

         springs.

         a. The Sea of Galilee provides 70 percent of the fresh water for Israel.

     3. The sea is 600 feet below sea level and bounded on one side by

         a Mount Herman which reach a height 9000 feet above sea level

     4. This is important because when the cold air from the top of the mountain

         meets the warmer air in the valley, violent storms occur

         in the sea.

     5. In addition, the Sea of Galilee is in an area where there are

         earthquakes.

     6. Many of the teaching and miracles of Jesus was around the sea.

     7. His home base was near  the coast of the sea in the town of Capernaum.

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

V:24. " And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep."

A. The word tempest is from the Greek word seismos  which is where we get

     word earthquake.

    1. Perhaps there was a underwater earthquake that cause the violent waves in

        the sea.   

    2. In 1985 during a drought in the area, the water level of the sea dropped

        exposing a mud flat where a fishing boat was discovered in the mud, dated

        2000 years old. It is 27 feet long and 7.5 feet wide.

       a. The boat stands  4.5 feet high.

       b. This may be the type of boat that Jesus travel on across the sea.

    3. A wave 4 to 5 feet high would cover the boat.

B. The fact that Jesus was sleeping in the ship show His Humanity.

    1. He was both man and God.

    2. Jesus through His human nature could identity with all the problems

        we face.

    3. With one mission complete, Jesus did not hesitate to embark on

         next mission which was on the other side of the sea.

        a. The job of a Christian is never done.

        b. There will always be people that need the gifts that God has given us.

    4.   Jesus had been teaching all day, followed by healing a large crowd

          casting out demons. He would have been tired, so He fell asleep in the boat.

   

       

GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR

V:25. " And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish."

A. The disturbance in the sea, tossed the small ship around with wave coming

     over the deck.

    1. The disciple may have thought the ship would be overturned by the wave or

         filled with water and capsized.

    2. To them it was a life and death situation.

    3. They found themselves in the middle of a storm with Jesus on board,

B. In the Bible three are at least three types of storm that God put men through.

    1. There  are correcting storms .

        a. Jonah was put through a correcting storm.

        b. God sent him on a mission to preach repentance to Nineveh.

        c. Jonah didn't like the violent attitude of the people of Nineveh, so

            he boarded a ship going in the opposite direction.

        d. As a result of his disobedience, God put Jonah in the belly

            of a large fish for three days until he came to his senses.

   2. There are protecting storms

       a. A storm that is designed to protect you from something worst.

       b. After feeding 5000 men, not including women and children, the

          men decided to force Jesus to be their king.

       c. Jesus sent His disciple across the sea of Galilee where they face a

           storm in the night.

   3. There are perfecting storms.

      a. Storms designed to teach us to trust God.

      b. The storm of this text was a perfecting storm

C. Having a relationship with Jesus will not prevent storms in your life.

    1. The storms of life will teach you to call on Jesus.

    2. The storms of life draws us closer to God in prayer.

    3. We must learn to trust God in all situations.

BUILDING YOUR FAITH

V:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

A. The disciples had two problems

    1. First, they were fearful.

       a. Fear is a normal human emotion

       b. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power love and sound

           mind.

       c. Fear come from Satan.

       d. Fear is designed to rob us of the peace of God, our sanity and self control.

       e. Fear is designed to keep us bound to the uncertainties of life without hope.

       f. Fear made the disciples irrational, accusing Jesus of not caring about their lives.

  B. Second, they had little faith.

      1.They had witness the power of Jesus healing all manner of diseases.

      2. They had heard Jesus preach the Word with power and conviction.

      3. They were following Jesus because they believed He was the Messiah.

    4. Their confidence in Jesus  in times of trouble was weak.

    5. They failed to see Jesus resting confidently during the storm.

C. The storm was designed to show the power and authority of Jesus over nature.

    1. The storm was designed to teach the disciples to trust Jesus in times of

         trouble.

    2. Jesus not only calm the seas and the wind, but He change the climate.

    3. If the storm resulted from the cold air from the mountain top

        colliding with warmer air in the valley, Jesus pushed the cold air

        back to top of the mountain.

    3. If the storm resulted from an earthquake, Jesus seal the earth and reversed

        the forces from the earthquake.

GODS AMAZING GRACE

V:27. " But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

A. Even though Jesus was their Messiah, they didn't know who he really was.

    1. They left all they had to follow Jesus, but they didn't know that He was God in the

        flesh.

    2. They asked  " what manner of man is this?".

    3. They saw Jesus as Mary and Joseph's son who did miracles.

    4. Calming the wind and the waves was a different power than healing

        to them.

B. Why did the disciples not marvel at the instant healing power of Jesus?

    1. Perhaps, they had seen Jesus heal many time, and they just saw it as

        His special gift.

     2. We should never cease to be amazed at the smallest thing God does

          daily.

     3. Can you explain the miracle of the digestive system of the body?

         a. If so, can you explain how the body knows what to uses and

             what to discard?

         b.  Can you explain the process the body uses to break down food

              to be used in individual cells?

JESUS' AUTHORITY OVER SATAN

V:28. " And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way."

A. The Lord deals with the devil each day in different ways for each individual.

    1. The Lord will come to you rescue when you don't know to ask for His

         help.

    2. When you follow Jesus, He will lead you to people who need help.

    3. Jesus brought His disciples to a grave yard where two violent, and

        destructive men needed redemption.

       a. The grave yard is not the place that you and I would go to do ministry.

       b. None believers live in the grave yard of life.

       c. None believers live in a place of darkness and a place of no hope.

    4. The disciple had just experienced a storm, where Jesus was their hope.

         a. The devil may have been in that storm on the sea trying to

             prevent Jesus from getting to the grave yard,

         b. The grave yard was just another storm.

         c. The grave yard is place where Gospel can bring hope.

         d. The grave yard is a place where the Word of God can bring

             light.

    5. In the grave yard was two men who had been kicked to the curve.

        a. There was no ministry going on in the grave yard.

        b. These men had been left to the devices of the devil.

        c. These men were blocking the road to the grave yard.

    6. Jesus had been dealing with demons all day.

        a. In Capernaum, He healed the sick , cast out demons.

        b. On the sea of Galilee, He dealt with the demons on the sea.

        c. Now on other side of the sea in Gergesenes  He was met by

            a host of demons in two men.

       d. One storm gets you prepared for the next storm.

THE DEVIL KNOWS JESUS

V:29. " And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

A. Unlike the disciples, the demons knew who Jesus was.

    1. They called Him, "Jesus, the Son of God".

    2. If the devil know Jesus as the Son Of God, we need to get to

        know Him as the Son Of God.

    3. The Lord does not have but one way of dealing with demons, that

         is to condemn them and cast them out.

    4. There is no redemption for demons.

B. Demons know they can't exist where God is.

    1. When Jesus show up, demons got to go.

    2. Demons have a sense of time.

    3. They know that they will cast into the lake fire after the second coming of Christ.

    4. The demons statement, "before the time" is a reference to the judgment day.

C. The only way to deal with demons is with Word of God.

    1. Jesus showed His authority over demons at start of His ministry, after

        his baptism in the desert.

    2. In the desert, it was with Word that Jesus did battle with the devil.

STUFF THAT HINDERS YOUR PRAYERS

V:30-31. " And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine."

A. If the swine were being raised by Jews, it was violation of God's law.

    1. Pay attention to Jesus authority over the devils.

    2. The devils had to get permission from Jesus to enter swine that He declared

        unclean.

B. The whole town was under the influence of the devil because they were in sin

      raising swine and neglecting teaching of God's laws to their people.

    1. The whole town neglected the welfare of the two down cast souls

         in the grave yard.

    2. The Lord has His eye on all those He created.

    3. Even though one may be neglected and in the worst situation, God can

        make Himself known in their lives.

    4. The text teaches us that we have to overlook a persons circumstances

         to see the soul within.

        a. The Lord had compassion on two men who may not have had anything

            to do with their circumstances.

        b. Some people are the way they are because they no  better.

A LOST FOR GOOD

V:32. " And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters."

A. God punished the devils and the city.

    1. The devils thought they had a home in the swine, but they ran into lake and

        drown themselves.

    2. The town was punished for raising swine in violation of God's Law.

B, Sin affects every one.  The good and the bad.

    1. The whole town was affected, men women and children

    2. They lost their livelihood.

DON'T GIVE UP ON JESUS

V:33-34. " And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."

A. Sometimes God has to get rid of some stuff out of our lives for us to see the light.

     1. The initial reaction is anger and frustration at the lost.

     2. When we live in darkness, we react in darkness.

     3. Our attachment to stuff blocks our view of God's goodness.

B. The whole city could not see the goodness in the recover of two lost souls.

    1. The pigs were more important to them than the recovery of men.

    2. They got  angry with Jesus and told Him to leave their country.

    3. They were like any other community Jesus visited,

        a. They had their sick and they were walking in darkness.

        b. They gave up the opportunity to be healed and redeemed

             over the lost of pigs.

    5. They were in the presence of the light of the world, but chose

         darkness.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

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my blogs: revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com