Calvary Chapel Of Crook County - Main

Peter uses the healing the lame man as an opportunity to preach the gospel, but is quick to stay humble and direct the glory for the healing to where it is due. This was a bold and blunt condemnation of the Jews for killing Jesus, yet he has compassion for them, acknowledging they did it in ignorance, but now have the chance to repent and be converted. The gospel converts us and transforms us. Sins are blotted out and there is instant refreshing and relief.

Beyond Jesus being the Bread of Life, there are three important questions whose answers we need to understand. First, where did Jesus come from? The Father sent the Son that we would believe. Second, why did he come? He came from heaven to give life to the world – to do the will of the Father. Finally, what does that mean for me? It means that we would see the Son and God’s great love for us, and then believe and trust, receiving everlasting life; the Bread that lasts forever. In Hebrews 10:5 we see that this was all planned. Jesus was on a mission from the Father so that none of us would be lost.

Jesus warned people not to labor for temporal food but to seek the eternal. How much effort do we put in things that won’t last? There is no method or list of works needed to be saved; we simply need to believe. Jesus will keep those who come to Him, and who will have a future hope and be raised on the last day to everlasting life.

As Peter and John go to the temple to pray, they are accosted by a lame man for alms. Instead of giving money, he is healed. This was done in front of very “religious” people – the kind of people that don’t hear very well. They know what they know, usually as taught by someone else. Christians, on the other hand, have the Bible as their authority. Peter trusted the Lord would heal him and rebuked the people for wanting to give credit to them, based on Peter and John’s own power and godliness.

Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee, where in the dark of night they encountered a strong storm. Afraid because Jesus wasn’t with them, they strained at the oars, until they saw Him walking on the water in the midst of it all. Matthew recounts that Peter got out of the boat to walk to Jesus, but saw his circumstances, took his eyes off Jesus, and began to sink. We need to remember the big picture that God has a plan for each of us and not to let the cares of the world choke out the seed of the gospel.

A new and courageous Peter stands up and preaches to a large crowd. Using Old Testament passages he quotes Joel and David to preach the gospel. In the last days, or Day of the Lord, he said, the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all mankind. This isn’t just a shower, but downpour of power to preach and to prophesy, which is speaking forth the heart of God as exhortation, encouragement and comfort toward men. Peter pointed out that Jesus was crucified both as part of the Father’s determined purpose and foreknowledge on one hand, and as man’s free will in their hatred for Him on the other. God’s purpose vs. man’s free will is a profound mystery to this day. The crowd knew all about Jesus and knew they were in need of Him and asked Peter what they should do.

After working many miracles for sick people, Jesus went away to rest with His disciples. Still, the people followed him, and Jesus had great compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He sought to feed them but the disciples only found a young boy with five barley loaves and two fish. This was a very tiny amount of food but enough for the Lord’s purpose. Blessing the food, Jesus gave thanks to the Father, because he knew what this tiny amount could do. In the end, there was a lavish supply for up to 25,000 people, counting the women and children; everyone had more than enough food. We need to realize that there is always abundance with the Lord’s supply and that we need to trust Him with the problems in our lives.

There was a fourfold witness of Jesus: 1) Jesus HImself; 2) John the Baptist; 3) the works of Jesus; and 4) the witness of the Father. Jesus indicted the Jews for their unbelief which was a spiritual and moral failure against God. The never heard God's voice yet claimed to be followers of Moses and never saw His form, even though Jesus was the manifestation of the Father. Even though they were experts in the Scriptures, they didn't have the Word of God dwelling in them and missed Jesus, who the entire Bible pointed to. The Jews didn't read the Bible as intended, not understanding that it is the story of how God loves His children and comes to rescue them. Every Bible story whispers His name.

After Jesus ascended, the disciples waited for the Promise of the Father, which was the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has three presences in the believer: He's with us (beside us), in us, and is poured upon us (baptized with). The purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is for boldness - to be a bold witness for Jesus with courage and power. There is nothing to be afraid of. It's important to realize that the Holy Spirit is a person who has feelings and is not a "force." He, the Father and the Son are equal but separate. There is no formula for being baptized with the Holy Spirit but there is order.

Christianity has nothing if Jesus isn’t God, because as we believe in Jesus we pass from life to death. Most people, even Christians, don’t have an accurate understanding of the resurrection of the dead. All will be resurrected – some to eternal life (those who have done good works because of their faith in Jesus) and some to eternal death (those who didn’t believe in Jesus and as a result, practiced evil). Jesus transforms dead sinners to living sons. The entire world will be judged.

God is both good and severe, and where there is mercy, salvation and justice there is also judgment. You can’t give one attribute to God and ignore the others. A day has been appointed for judgment – a day of reckoning by the Son. Today we are being attacked by the “religion of tolerance,” but unless you acknowledge Jesus Christ as the risen Son of God, and believe in His Name, you will not be saved. Any religion that does not honor Jesus as God is from hell.

Rory gives an introduction to the book of Acts, which is both historical and evangelical. Acts is the main source of our study of the Church. Written by Luke, a physician, it is an orderly account, and is incredibly accurate. Places referenced in Acts can still be found today. It is at this time that Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Promise of the Father, who was the Holy Spirit. Verse 8 is the key verse.

Mark's brief description of the events after Jesus' resurrection is examined, with both Matthew and Luke used to fill in the gaps. After His resurrection, the scared disciples refused to believe that Jesus was alive. Only when He appeared to them did they understand. God allowed this to unfold to provide many witnesses, and then Jesus told the disciples to preach the gospel to every creature. That is our reason for existence - to preach the gospel. It's the play that's been given and we need to run it. Then Jesus left so that the Holy Spirit could come and dwell in the believers and to give us power so we can do what we're supposed to do.

Whereas our concepts of a day, a month and a year are all tied to natural (created) phenomena, the week is directly related to the creation itself. God created for six days and then rested on the seventh - a week. This has been passed on through cultures for thousands of years. The Jews, following the Old Testament laws, regarded the seventh day (now known as Saturday) as the Sabbath. However, early Christians soon made the first day of the week the Lord's day, based all that had happened on the first day: the Resurrection, Pentecost, the Great Commission, the Ascension. This became Sunday, the Lord's day, and became the day they chose to be together to worship. So we are commanded to keep the Sabbath, a day of rest, which for us is Sunday. The question is, are you convinced in your own mind what you believe about this day? It isn't a legalistic thing. Are you giving a care?

It is a fact that Jesus died and rose again from the grave - the foundation of our faith. Immediately after, people were afraid. The women - who at least weren't afraid to be with Jesus at the crucifixion while the disciples hid - were also afraid to tell of His resurrection. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who received Jesus' body for burial was also afraid, and so came at night. We need not be "secret" disciples. Because of Jesus we are righteous. Let the "was" be crucified with Him.

Healing on the Sabbath was the beginning of the real persecution of Jesus. This is also where he begins to show himself to be equal in authority with the Father. The question was: Does God work on the Sabbath or rest on the Sabbath? Does He violate the Sabbath law? The Jews wrestled with this question. Jesus said the Father has been working and so has He. The Jews instantly understood the importance of what He said, that Jesus was claiming to be God. Jesus also said he can't work independently from the Father, that there is an eternal interweaving - a great relationship and fellowship within the Trinity. He then said He would do even greater works than healing a crippled man, that he would raise people from the dead. This shows that He has authority.

After Jesus leaves Samaria he goes to Galilee. There he is received as opposed to in Jerusalem, his own country, although he was received in Galilee based on the miracles he did in Jerusalem. This wasn't authentic faith in the Savior of the world. He meets a nobleman who is desperate for his dying son to be healed, and who realized that with all he had he had nothing. In life, trials drive us to Jesus. As opposed to those who believed Jesus because of his miracles, this nobleman, like the Samaritan woman, believed because of what he said. The nobleman's faith grew from a little spark of hope to a flame out of desperation, such that he didn't rush home to see if his son had been healed - he knew it. In the end, he and his entire household believed, which is what happens when leaders believe. Great things happen.

Note: tech difficulties cut off the first few minutes. The Samaritan woman returns to her town and tells everyone about Jesus, and many believe because of her testimony. Our fields are white, and we need to be willing to take part in the harvest of souls.

The disciples were directed to find a man in Jerusalem who would take them to the Upper Room where they would celebrate Passover. They found it just as Jesus had said. The Passover foreshadowed Jesus, who is the true and better Passover Lamb. The Passover feast celebrating vicory became tainted with treachery because of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. This was prophesied and had to happen. The Last Supper is a time of true intimacy with Jesus, and communion proclaims the gospel to the world.

In this classic story of the woman at the well, Rory explains why Samaria was sort of a "no-go" area for Jews. Nevertheless, Jesus was called to travel through there where he met the Samaritan woman. She had three strikes against her: she was a Samaritan; she was a woman; and she was living in adultery. Lovingly, He confronted her that she needed to be saved and experience the living water of the Holy Spirit. Satisfaction on any level will fade away – except for the life-giving Spirit of the Living God.