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Here is a link to show exactly where the Space Station is over earth right now: Click Here
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187047
07/11/18 11:13 PM
07/11/18 11:13 PM
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OP
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"John the Baptist foretold the baptism with the Spirit by the coming Messiah Luke 3:16; John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
compare with Peter's experience while in the house of Cornelius Acts 11:13-17, And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
Jesus Himself referred to it several times Luke 24:49, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be 3witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This outpouring would be His first intercessory act before God (John 14:16,And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 14:26; But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 15:26) But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
At Pentecost, the promise was fulfilled
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187048
07/11/18 11:26 PM
07/11/18 11:26 PM
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OP
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That particular day of Pentecost saw the commencement of two very important things. 1. Christ's followers being empowered for the witnessing of the gospel in Jerusalem, then Samaria, and then to the whole world. Empowered for the building up of the Christian church, which was the true Israel (almost all of them were Jews who had accepted Christ, they were the true stem of the tree, and their first mission was to get as many Jews as would respond to accept the One to Whom all their symbolic worship symbols pointed. 2. It was the opening of Christ's heavenly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as our Priest and Mediator. AA.038.003 Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187049
07/11/18 11:53 PM
07/11/18 11:53 PM
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The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead. He is not Jesus, just like Jesus is not the Father. We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency. {Lt66-1894}The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be. Yet, if you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. Likewise, if you have the Holy Spirit with you, you have Jesus with you. Here the position of Jesus Christ in reference to his Father is brought to view. While they are one in purpose, and one in mind, yet in personality they are two. {RH, August 15, 1907 par. 4} "And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." All through the Scriptures, the Father and the Son are spoken of as two distinct personages. You will hear men endeavoring to make the Son of God a nonentity. He and the Father are one, but they are two personages. Wrong sentiments regarding this are coming in, and we shall all have to meet them. {RH, July 13, 1905 par. 3} In this scripture God and Christ are spoken of separately. They are two distinct persons, but one in mind, one in heart, one in holiness and justice, and purity, and one in the work of seeking to save the sinful race. To those who believe in Christ, God will give power to become His sons even to them that believe on His name. This is the science of the life that now is, and of the life which is to come. This is the true science .... {BCL 127.3} They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character. {YI, December 16, 1897 par. 5} There are three living persons in the Godhead, the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Three living personalities - yes! Why anyone would want to deny the reality of the Holy Spirit in light of this week's lesson is hard to understand. Who is denying the reality of the Holy Spirit? What we are seeing is a false idea of what the Holy Spirit really is. It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, "the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father." It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, "He shall not speak of Himself." John 15:26; 16:13. {AA 51.3} The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. {AA 52.1} But the Sabbath School Lesson isn't about defining the Godhead, rather it is about the Gift of the Holy Spirit empowering God's people to take the gospel to the world. We are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Matt.28:19. By this we express our belief in the existence of the one true God [The Father], the mediation of his Son [The Son of the Father], and the influence of the Holy Spirit [The Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ]. {1858 UrS, BSA 21.7}
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187053
07/12/18 12:59 AM
07/12/18 12:59 AM
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Please stick to the lesson -- this is not a thread on the Godhead -- there are other threads for that. We are talking about Pentecost - and the gift that the Son of God bestowed on His followers, are we not? So yes, this is very pertinent to the lesson. Too bad you can understand that fact!
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187056
07/12/18 02:17 AM
07/12/18 02:17 AM
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OP
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Monday The Gift of Tongues What is the evidence that at Pentecost the apostles spoke in existing foreign languages and not in some unknown ecstatic language?What is the purpose of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? Why are they given? The gifts of the Spirit are promised to every believer according to his need for the Lord's work. The promise is just as strong and trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles. "These signs shall follow them that believe." This is the privilege of God's children, and faith should lay hold on all that it is possible to have as an endorsement of faith. {DA 823.2} The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated as it should be. Its fulfillment is not realized as it might be. It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless. Learning, talents, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner be won to Christ. On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe. {COL 328.1}
Is it possible while being distracted over differences and making them the forefront of discussion with ongoing debates thus leading minds away from the more important themes, that the church today will not be found in "one accord" and will not receive the latter rain of the Holy Spirit?
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187057
07/12/18 02:34 AM
07/12/18 02:34 AM
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The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated as it should be. Its fulfillment is not realized as it might be. It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless. {COL 328.1} The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." Christ has all power in heaven and in earth, and he can strengthen the wavering, and set right the erring. He can inspire with confidence, with hope in God; and confidence in God always results in creating confidence in one another. {RH, August 26, 1890 par. 10} ...This great spiritual destitution is not caused by any failure on the part of Christ doing all that is possible for the Church. Our Heavenly Father bestowed all Heaven in one gift,--that of his dear Son. The work of the Holy Spirit is not to daub with untempered mortar, but it is to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment to come. Jesus says, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." The revelation of the Son of God upon the cross, dying for the sins of men, draws the hearts of men by the power of infinite love, and convinces the sinner of sin. Christ died because the law was transgressed, that guilty man might be saved from the penalty of his enormous guilt. But history has proved that it is easier to destroy the world than to reform it; for men crucified the Lord of glory, who came to unite earth with heaven, and man with God. {RH, August 26, 1890 par. 13}
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187058
07/12/18 12:52 PM
07/12/18 12:52 PM
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Why anyone would want to deny the reality of the Holy Spirit in light of this week's lesson is hard to understand.
We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency. {Lt66-1894}Why would anyone deny Jesus? I find your comment offensive. No one has denied the Holy Spirit. They have only denied it in the form of your making.
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187061
07/12/18 10:22 PM
07/12/18 10:22 PM
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Is it possible while being distracted over differences and making them the forefront of discussion with ongoing debates thus leading minds away from the more important themes, that the church today will not be found in "one accord" and will not receive the latter rain of the Holy Spirit?
- I've heard it said many times during the Sabbath School that the disciples were "in one accord", as in: they had all pledged allegiance in true sincerity of heart to a creed of 28 Fundamental Beliefs and they had all come to a common understanding with no one having, or even thinking of proposing, a difference of opinion concerning any doctrine. I've heard it urged on the members to therefore quiet their misgivings and conscience, seal their lips and say nothing, to accept the denomination's interpretations of things that we all may receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- That is NOT what Luke meant.
What he was doing was emphasizing the dramatic contrast about to develop from harmony to the ensuing "confusion", from unity to diversity, from a single language of praise to a cacophony of tongues in adoration.
So then, as one may imagine, they all began singing together in one accord in sweet harmony in one language, "Praise to the LORD, The Almighty, the King of Creation ...." when suddenly, as it is written, "there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." Immediately, the entire congregation of about 120 people started praising God in a multiplicity of languages! - From one accord of a common language to a diversity of tongues, each a language of those who come to witness what had happened.
///
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Re: 3rd Quarter 2018 The Book of Acts
[Re: dedication]
#187063
07/13/18 02:15 AM
07/13/18 02:15 AM
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OP
Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
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We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency. {Lt66-1894}
But don't you see -- It's all three! All three are mentioned in the above. Jesus and the Father are with us through the Holy Spirit, and we commune with the Father, and with Christ, when the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and minds with divine truth.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who comes forth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And no -- James, I have never heard anyone say "one accord" means they pledged to all 28 Adventist beliefs. But one thing I'm sure -- they weren't arguing over whether Jesus had descended upon them or the Holy Spirit. They only knew the Divine presence from God had come and was empowering them and they went out to tell the world about Jesus and salvation.
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