Five Talents Audio

1 In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life. And that life was the Light of man. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not understood it. ~John 1:1-5 (RGT)

Chag Shavuot Sameach! As we celebrate the Christian "Pentecost" this weekend, it's important to remember its coincidence with the Jewish "Feast of Weeks" or "Shavuot", as described in Leviticus 23:15-16 and named in Deuteronomy 16:10. The influx of families into Jerusalem at this exact same time was no accident when it came to God's plans for His Church. The harvest is ripe, and Peter is ready for work. Am I?

If I want to be a strong spiritual leader, I don’t just make it up as I go along, especially when it comes to big decisions. I must follow God’s Instruction (תּוֹרָה or “Torah” in Hebrew) which is to pray and meditate on His word.

Peter and the other 10 leaders are doing more than choosing a successor to Judas Iscariot, they are choosing a new fellow martyr-to-be. In fact, the Greek word translated as “witness” here is μάρτυς or “martus” (mar-TOOS). New Testament: Revised Geneva Translation https://5talentsaudio.com/store/ntfull

Peter calls the meeting to order with the first agenda item: Replacing Judas Iscariot And like any good church leader should, he bases his actions on Scripture. In this case, it’s Psalms 69 and 109 (which he will quote specifically in Acts 1:20). But first, he reviews Judas’ offense and the consequences of it at Akel Dama (aka “Field of Blood”), an actual place in Jerusalem one may visit today. New Testament: Revised Geneva Translation https://5talentsaudio.com/store/ntfull

Verse 13 says that the other “disciples” (small “d”) joined the 11 main “Disciples” (capital “D”) in the Upper Room, after they had all returned to Jerusalem from Bethany. It doesn’t indicate exactly how much time had passed since the Ascension, only that the main 11 Disciples – the leaders - were already there, waiting for them. They had “called the meeting”. Even now, before His Church has officially begun, God is establishing His authority and order, which we see play out in more detail throughout the early Chapters of Acts. It’s not inequality, which glorifies man. It’s anointing, which glorifies God. And they all joyously participated. “These all continued, with one mind, in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” ~Acts 1:14 New Testament: Revised Geneva Translation https://5talentsaudio.com/store/ntfull

They’re pretty much grown now, but sometimes I think about what other names I might’ve given my kids had we not chosen the ones we did. Certainly one of the female names I would consider strongly now is “Alethea”. It's the Greek word for “truth” and it’s used in all Greek translations of John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, if not by Me.’” Given today’s world, I can think of few more beautiful names. New Testament: Revised Geneva Translation https://5talentsaudio.com/store/ntfull

We are all very familiar with the temptation of Jesus recorded in Matthew 4, Mark 1 and Luke 4. As He often did with His Jewish “Midrash” (disciples), He quotes what we Christians today call the “Old Testament” Scriptures in response to Satan’s subtle deceptions. One of those Scriptural responses is Deuteronomy 8:3. “Therefore, He humbled you and made you hungry and fed you with manna, which you did not know (nor did your fathers know it), so that He might teach you that man lived not by bread only. But by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does a man live.” ~Moses I do well to respond the same way today.

“Why do you stand, gazing into Heaven?” Seems a rather odd question to be asking in the midst of such a scene, right? I mean, I think we would all agree that it would be totally normal for the disciples to be a bit awestruck by such a thing as “The Ascension”. So why does the angel ask it? Could it be because he knew that hard times were coming? And that in hard times, I might tend to want to remove myself from this world and just “gaze into Heaven” all the time? The “gazing” part is fine. It’s the “standing” part that’s the problem. It’s ok to be preoccupied with Heaven. (Philippians 4:8) Just don't be paralyzed by it. (Acts 1:8) New Testament: Revised Geneva Translation https://5talentsaudio.com/store/ntfull

“Indeed, I have baptized you with water. But He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” ~Mark 1:8

“The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, is, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!’” ~Mark 1:3 (RGT)