The Reality of the word Part 8
Reading through the book of Acts of the apostles, two regular occurrences were the ministry of the word and prayer.
The very first event that was documented by Luke in Acts chapter 1 was a prayer meeting. Acts 1:14. Luke recorded that the apostles continued in one accord in prayer and supplication. In fact, the day of Pentecost was a prayer meeting that was taking place before they began to speak in tongues as a result of the outpouring of the spirit.
In Acts chapter 2: 41-42
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
As soon as people were saved, they were taught God’s word intensely. They were also made to pray.
There was steadfastness in how these new believers were discipled through teaching.
The word doctrine will refer to a mode of explanation. It will refer to a manner of communicating a particular truth.
The apostles must have learned this from Jesus. This is because they were his disciples.
Jesus who is God that became a man had to also learn the scriptures.
He didn’t know the scriptures because he is God. He had to learn it as a man. Paul in Philippians 2:5-8 did allude to his deity and how he stripped himself of all the things that made him God to become a man.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus had to learn the scriptures as a man. He was found in the temple learning the scriptures and asking questions.
He wasn’t omniscient and omnipresent in his humanity.
He had to be taught the scriptures.
In Luke 2:40
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Jesus did grow up spiritually. He waxed strong in the spirit. How was he able to grow up spiritually? Because he was taught.
Reading further from verse 42-47
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
He sat down and was learning the scriptures at the age of twelve. This happened in the temple. The window understanding of the temple in our world today is the church.
He was listening to teachers of the scriptures and was also asking questions.
Not just casual questions but intelligent and investigative questions.
People were astonished at his understanding of the scriptures.
The word understanding in the original of the Greek text means people were amazed at how he was able to put the facts of the scriptures together.
This must have been seen in the way he asked questions.
It means he synchronized the facts of the scriptures together when he asked the people who were teaching questions.
This should be the approach of every believer when studying the scriptures.
The scriptures are to be read together if they are to be taught correctly.
Therefore, accurate teaching of the word is of vital importance if believers are to grow spiritually. The knowledge of God’s word will enhance your relationship with God.
The teaching of God’s word accurately should never be trivialized in any gathering of believers.
Consequently, there cannot be spiritual growth when God’s word is taught wrongly.
As seen from the previous writings, the crux of what the prophets spoke in the scriptures is about the son. He is the lawful owner of the things which the prophets spoke about.
Who is a prophet?
A prophet refers to a spokesman. One who speaks on someone else’s behalf.
In Psalms 105: 8-15
8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
God calls the entire people he has chosen his prophets. He calls the entire nation of Israel his prophet. It means they are to speak on his behalf. This was his plan for the nation of Israel. Abraham was also described as a prophet. He was to serve as God’s mouthpiece on the earth.
Genesis 20:7 alludes to this
Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
In Exodus 7:1
And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
The word prophet wasn’t God’s creation rather it was a word that was common to the world of the audience that God was talking to.
Because of the idolatry in their world, deities will have men listen to mortal men who speak on their behalf.
Moses will be God’s anointed while Aaron will speak on Moses’ behalf.
When Abraham was referred to as a prophet by God, God was speaking in contrast to the idols of their day.
Moses was sent by God together with Aaron to speak to Pharoah with respect to letting Israel leave Egypt.
Pharoah himself was also referred to as a god. By using Aaron as Moses’ prophet, God is treating Pharoah as a mere mortal.
By Aaron speaking to Pharoah, God is showing Pharoah that Moses is a god to him.
That’s why he chose Aaron as Moses’ spokesperson.
Mose can’t talk to him directly rather through his spokesperson.
This is similar to the believer’s authority.
The believer acts on God’s behalf. The believer speaks on God’s behalf.
A true prophet is a preacher of the gospel.
A true prophet is not known by signs and wonders.
A prophet is known by the preaching of the gospel accurately. That is the hallmark of a true prophet of God.
All the prophets of the Old Testament were primarily preachers and secondarily seers as no one was saved through their dreams and revelations.
God enabled them through divinely granted appearances like dreams and visions to see what they spoke about.
Evangelism didn’t commence in the four gospels.
It began in the law and the prophets.
Moses spoke about this in Deuteronomy 13: 1-3
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Another prophet of the Old Testament is Abel. Abel was a prophet.
Jesus spoke about this in Luke 11:49-51
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Jesus identified Abel as a prophet of God. Observe the phrase in verse 50….
The blood of all the prophets that was shed from the foundation of the world.
The foundation of the world is not talking of when the literal world came into existence rather it speaks of a part of the scriptures that contains God’s plans and intents as regards salvation.
This is the book of Genesis. It’s where the plan or the foundation of the scriptures is contained.
Genesis 4:1-8
4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
In verse 4, Abel brought of the firstlings…
The word firstling has a history from the near eastern culture.
It does not speak of an animal.
It will be further explained in the next write up
Confession: I am God’s mouthpiece on the earth because I have his spirit. I preach the gospel with the demonstration of the spirit. I have been enabled by God to function in his stead on the earth.
