Study #1:  The Words of Acts

Study #2:  The Difference a Day Makes

Study #3: The Fruits of the Spirit, Part I

Study #4:  Prayer and Fasting

Study #5:  The Fruits of the Spirit, Part II

Study #1:  The Words of Acts

Read the entire book of Acts in one sitting.  Quickly jot down 10 words that describe what you have read.

Over the course of the next several days/weeks, find verses that support each word in your list.

Once you have created an inventory of scriptures, answer the following questions:

• What impact do these words have on me?

• What thoughts and dreams are aroused by these words?

• What fears are stirred?

• What prayers do these words surface?

• How do I see the Spirit in these words?

Study #2: The Difference a Day Make

The disciples ran up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?"  He replied, "Come and you will see."  They stayed with him the whole day.  Imagine what that would be like and ask youself what would be different if I spent an entire day with Jesus.  With this study reflect on the difference the day of Pentecost made on our 1st Century brothers and sisters.

This study examines some disciples before and after Pentecost.  Some guiding questions to begin:

1. What was the driving force in the transformations/differences?

2. How can you imitate their lifestyle and convictions in today's society?

3. What led to their increased faith, the Holy Spirit or something esle?

4. What are the challenges that hold us back from being like the 1st century church?

Let's look at three main areas where a change occured:

Faith:

Before:

• Overall doubting, denials, betrayal, lack of faith (even after Jesus has been raised from the dead).

• Thomas: John 20

• Peter: Matthew 14, John 18, Mark 14

• Phillip: John 14

• Judas: Matthew 26

• All disciples: Mark 6, John 6, Mark 14: 50

After:

• Disciples were filled with the holy spirit: Acts 2:4

• Peter seizing the opportunity and addressing the crowd: Acts 2: 14-39

• Peter and John before the Sanhedrin: Acts 4.

• All of the apostles in front of the Sanhedrin: Acts 5.

• Stephen before the Sanhedrin and stoned (Acts 6-7)

• The first time they were called Christians (not a positive word at that time) in Antioch: Acts 11:26

Evangelism:

Before:

• Charge from Jesus was there, but not much action had been taken: Matthew 28

• Size was about 120 members: Acts 1:15

After:

• After Pentecost, about 3000 baptized in one day: Acts 2:41

• The scattering of the church and the spreading of the gospel: Acts 8-20

• Added to their number daily: Acts 2:47

• Great number of people believed and turned to the Lord: Acts 11:21

• Philip in Samaria and with the Ethiopian (Acts 8)

Became a Family:

Before:

• A lot of bickering over who is the greatest: Mark 9, Matthew 18, Luke 9

• Concerned with cost of feeding the people: Mark 6:37

After:

• All about the fellowship and taking care of the body: Acts 2:42

• Sharing their possessions: Acts 4:32

• Taking care of widows: Acts 6:1-4

Take time to think about the difference in your life.  How has the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus and his words changed you?

• Believers were together and had everything in common; selling their possessions, they gave to anyone who was in need. They knew their possessions were not their own but wanted to sell things to meet the needs of others.  They knew their treasure was in Heaven and that it was more valuable to them than any earthly treasures.

• The selling of their possessions was a demonstration of their love for their brothers and sisters.  It also was an example to the world of the love they had for one another and showed the world their priorities as they lived as visitors awaiting a new home.

• It is more blessed to give than to receive.  What better way of showing the love of God than by selling things in order to give to someone in need.  (Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-36)

What other Acts-behaviors besides a good yard sale support a life of love?

• What does it mean to have joy in our lives?  We know Christians are given the gift of joy at conversion, but what does a person with joy in his life look like to others?  Does this mean there are no hardships in life?  Does it necessarily mean happy?  Beginning in Acts 20:22, we find Paul talking to the elders at Ephesus.  “And now, compelled by the Spirit I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

• It doesn’t sound like Paul expects an easy road; yet one senses joy because Paul is eager to please God.  Oswald Chambers writes, “Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing”.   Paul received joy from allowing the Lord to use him, sometimes with unexpected outcomes.

• In Acts 13:49-52 we are told that the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  This joy came about because the word of God had been spread through an entire region and people were responding to the truth.  Even though there was persecution against Paul and Barnabas and they were expelled from the area, they shook the dust from their feet and went on about God’s business.  We can know the same joy when we submit to the will of God.  Knowing that God has worked through us no matter the physical circumstances, allows us to know joy in abundance.

• Gratitude also allows us to know joy.  When we are grateful for (1) the great gift of salvation, (2) our relationship with Jesus, and (3) the opportunity to be God’s instruments, we are overwhelmed with joy.  When we focus on Jesus and pay attention to the presence of God in our life, we find joy.

• Another example of a Christian being filled with the Holy Spirit and joy is the story of Stephen.  We aren’t told much about Stephen, but we know he loved God and loved to do God’s bidding.  He was so excited about the Messiah and the fulfillment of the Law that only death could silence him. Even though he knew how angry his words made the Jews, he completed his story and provided words that lead to salvation.

Under what circumstances do you find yourself the most joyful?

How can you keep this level of joy no matter what the circumstances?

• How would you define “peace”?  Some may define it as the absence of war or harmonious relationships that are free from dispute.  Others may emphasize that it is the absence of mental stress or anxiety.    All of these definitions may be culturally acceptable; however, they are misleading.

• Peace is a part of the Divine nature that is always present in God because He is peace, just as He is love. (John 4:8)  One does not harvest peace like picking blueberries and putting them in a basket, even though peace is described as a fruit. (Gal. 5: 22) This fruit is harvested with our mind and by what we choose to believe.  There is no circumstance that can take our peace away.  No one’s words can ruin our day.  Peace is not the absence of something that spoils our mood.  Peace is a participation in the divine, willed by God himself.  It is not circumstance sensitive but is a keen awareness of the intimate walk we share with the Creator of the universe.

• In Acts 7 Stephen “makes it plain” just in case it was unclear to some of those listening.  He must have seen the fury rising as he spoke and described the state of belief in God as “stiff-necked” with “uncircumcised hearts and ears”.  Stephen connects.  Stephen is at peace.  Why?  He does not unite to the absence of stress nor does he attach himself to a feeling of security.  He connects to Love and Peace.  Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up, saw the glory of God, saw Jesusstanding, and saw heaven open.  He believed at his death as he had lived out his beliefs.  “Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Give biblical evidence that joy and peace are related.When are you most challenged to be at peace?

• On one occasion, while Jesus was eating with them, He gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised which you have heard me speak of…..”

• Think of this illustration:

  • Heinz Ketchup commercial about the guy who rests a ketchup bottle on top of a building, then goes to the street, buys a hotdog and catches the ketchup as it falls. Message:  The best things come to those who wait!!

• Waiting is not sitting around being bored, it is about excitedly preparing for something that is about to happen so that you will be ready when it does, just like the Heinz commercial.

• Jesus told a parable about waiting in Matt. 25:1-13.  He was talking about being prepared for His return.

  • Do we find it difficult to wait for things?

• Think about the disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit.

  • Has God ever told us to wait for something?

  • Do we have dreams for the future that God has promised?

• Romans 5:3-5 says that we also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce PATIENCE and “PATIENCE produces character, and character produces hope and hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.”

Study #4:  Prayer and Fasting

(Fruits of the Spirit, Part II coming in February.  Thanks in advance for allowing the interruption.)

Jesus Speaks on Fasting

[Matthew 6:1-18]

What are the three practices Jesus discusses in the passage?  Read through the passage and underline the word "when."  What is the difference between the word "if" and "when?"  What does that tell you about these three practices?  Note the occurrences of the word "secret" and "reward."  What does "secret" convey to you?  What about "reward?"  What rewards do you think God has in mind to give us?

[Luke 5:33-39]

What is the reason Jesus gives for his disciples not fasting during the days he was physically present?  He says they will fast later, after he is gone.  Why do you think that is? Could it be that fasting draws us into the presence of Jesus in an intimate, spiritual way?

The next section talks about new wine in old wineskins.  How do you think this passage relates to the concept of fasting?  Could it be that fasting is a way for us to put the new wine into the new wineskins in our life?

Fasting and the Holy Spirit

[Joel Chapter 2, Luke 11:1-3, Ephesians 6:18]

Note the word "afterward" in verse 28 and see its connection to verses 12-15.  What are the blessings promised them "afterward?"  What are the connections between prayer, fasting and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Daniel and Fasting

[Daniel Chapters 1 & 10]

What was the nature of the foods that Daniel would not eat?  What was his purpose? How was he rewarded? What does this tell you about the different ways we can fast?

The Power of Appetite

[Genesis 2:8-9, 16-17, 3:6, 25:27-34; Hebrews 12:15-17; Numbers 11:4-7, 18-20; Ezekiel 16:49-50]

Note the connection between food and temptation in these passages.  How does fasting help to free us from being contolled by our appetite?  How does fasting make us humble and dependent on God?

The Power of Prayer and Fasting

[Matthew 17:14-21 (note the footnote to verse 21)]

Note that the disciples had cast out demons previous to this time, but now they fail.  How is it that sometimes we find ourselves unable to experience the power of God as we used to in the past?  how can we lose touch with God in the ways we once enjoyed?  How can seasons of prayer and fasting help restore that vital contact?

Fasting and Church Leadership

[Acts 13:1-3, 14:23]

Note how the leaders of the early church fasted and prayed. What does that tell us about how we should make decisions, and how we should depend on prayer and fasting as leaders?

[2 Chronicles 20:1-30]

What does this passage teach us about the power of fasting when we are under extreme pressure?  What is the power of declaring a fast in a church of a group of people? When parents fast, what does it teach their children? How did God answer their prayers?

[Esther Chapter 4]

Read the entire book focusing on chapter four.  See questions above.

Fasting and Praying for Guidance

[Ezra 8:21-23, Judges 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6, 2 Chronicles 20:3, Jeremiah 6:16, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, Daniel 10:12, James 1:2-8, 4:6-10]

How does fasting and prayer help us have wisdom and find our way in times when we are confused and uncertain?

Summary

Reasons to fast:

• For closeness to God/seeking God/hunger, thirst for God, humiliy before God
• For spiritual breakthrough (our circumstances may not change until we change)
• For deliverance from recurring sin
• For revival - in yourself and the church
• For repentance
• For the lost
• For wisdom in decisions
• For guidance for our future
• For blessing when undertaking responsibility
• For special needs and challenges: illness, finances, etc.
• For people we love and care for: marriage, children, family, friends
• For our church:  leaders, events, needs

Study #5:  The Fruits of the Spirit, Part II

Kindness

Enjoy a great time of reading the following scriptures in Acts:

• 2:45 Selling possessions and giving to those in need.
• 3:1-10 Healing the crippled beggar. This happened on their way to the temple. They stopped to take time for him. Peter's kindness/compassion saw the beggar's true need.
• 4:32 Sharing everything they have.
• 5:12-16 Healing many people.
• 8:7 Phillip heals many people (e.g. people with evil spirits, paralytics, cripples).
• 9:17 Ananias went to Saul at Judas' house.
• 9:19 Ananias takes care of Saul.
• 9:27 Barnabas stands up for Paul's character by bringing him to the disciples and vouching for his conversion.
• 9:34 Peter heals Aeneas
• 9:36 Tabitha/Dorcas is known for always doing good and helping the poor.
• 9:40 Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.
• 10:23 Peter shows hospitality to the Gentile men sent to him by Cornelius. This was against traditional Jewish law, but obedience to God.
• 11:29 Providing help to fellow disciples.
• 14:8-10 The man crippled since birth is healed.
• 14:28 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch "for a long time" with the disciples.
• 15:4 When Paul and Barnabas arrive in Jerusalem, the church, apostles, and elders welcomed them.
• 16:15 Lydia opens her home to Paul, Silas, Luke, and any other disciples traveling with them.
• 16:28 Paul and Silas stop the jailer watching guard over them from committing suicide.
• 16:33-34 Jailer washes Paul and Silas' wounds, brings them to his house, and feeds them.
• 18:3 Aquila and Priscilla allow Paul to share in their tent making business.
• 20:10-12 Paul raises Eutychus from the dead and the disciples were "comforted" from this.
• 21:4 Disciples in Tyre opened their home to Paul, Luke, Silas, Timothy, and any other disciple traveling with them.
• 21:7 Hospitality demonstrated by disciples in Ptolemais.
• 21:8 Hospitality demonstrated by Philip in Caesarea.
• 21:16 Hospitality demonstrated by Mnason in Jerusalem.
• 21: 17 The brothers warmly greeted Paul and his traveling companions.
• 23: 16-22 Paul's nephew reported to the commander in Jerusalem of the 40+ men conspiracy to kill Paul.
• 27:3 Julius allows Paul's friends to provide for his needs.
• 28:2 People on island of Malta showed kindness to the survivors of the shipwreck.
• 28:7 Publius demonstrated hospitality for 3 days.
• 28: 8-9 Paul heals many people.
• 28:10 People of Malta furnished the sailors and passengers with supplies.
• 28:14 Hospitality was demonstrated for a week.
• 28:15 Brothers travel many miles (~43) to meet and Paul and his companions.

Goodness

Goodness - (from Wikipedia): as an infinite projection of love, manifest as goodness in the lives of people. In other contexts, the good is viewed to be whatever produces the best consequences upon the lives of people, especially with regard to their states of well being.

Often, when we consider goodness in the Bible, one of the first things that will pop into our heads is the "Good Samaritan" - Luke 10:25-37 Here we have a man, who out of the goodness in his heart, crossed all barriers to help another human being and we are told in v.37 "Go and do likewise" by Jesus, himself!

Also, in Matthew 7:15-19, we are again told by Jesus in the parable of "A Tree and It's Fruit", that "Every good tree bears good fruit". Goodness may be inside of us but is always manifested in our actions and kindness towards others. Jesus concludes in v.19 by saying, "By their fruit you will recognize them."

In the book of Acts, we see many manifestations of goodness in the lives and actions of people. Here are four examples from the book of Acts:

Acts 16:11-15: Upon Lydia's conversion she says, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." (Hospitality)
Acts 6:1-7: In the choosing of the seven, seven are being selected to "overlook the daily distribution of food to the widows."
Acts 4:32-37 : Barnabas sells his field and brings the money to the apostles' feet (Note: in Acts 5 we see the opposite of that with Ananias and Sapphira and how serious God takes the opposite of goodness.)
Acts 9:32-43 We find the death of Tabitha, "who was always doing good and helping the poor." All of the widows were standing around her crying and showing Peter all the clothes that Tabitha had made for them. Peter heals Tabitha.

Faithfulness

The entire Book of Acts demonstrates the Faithfulness of the disciples as they faced dangerous situations when spreading the Gospel message. They spoke with boldness and were faithful to their convictions.

In the first four chapters, the disciples were faithful and joined together to pray as they waited for the promised Holy Spirit. Peter was faithful and full of courage as he preached the message. Disciples devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship and to prayer. Acts 3 and 4 demonstrate the faithfulness of believers as they boldly preach.

Other examples are as follows: Acts 7 shows Stephen, full of faith even as he is stoned to death. Philip, in Acts 8, was faithful as he obeyed the angel's command and taught the Ethiopian eunuch. Ananias, in Acts 9, had a real fear of Paul but overcame his fear to faithfully convert Paul. Peter, in Acts 10, was faithful as he went to Cornelius and preached to Gentiles. Peter, in Acts 12, was faithful even in jail. The disciples were faithful also as they prayed for Peter.

Barnabas and Paul were faithful as they preached in several cities. Even in disagreement about John Mark, they were faithful to their convictions, went their separate ways, and continued preaching with different partners.

Paul was faithful when arrested in Jerusalem, tried before the Sanhedrin, tried before Felix, before Festus, and before King Agrippa. He was faithful through a storm and shipwreck. Acts ends with Paul under guard in Rome. He was "boldly and without hindrance preaching the Kingdom of God".
Faithfulness is certainly a major theme that permeates the entire Book of Acts and is an inspiration to us as we live our daily lives.

Gentleness

This fruit is evident in the Book of Acts as the disciples boldly preach and teach and deal with all kinds of situations in their lives. Harsh circumstances were handled with gentleness as the disciples taught and loved people.

A few situations jump out as we read this exciting book.
In Acts 8, Philip deals with the Ethiopian eunuch with gentleness and he explains the message to him. This stranger sees and feels the love, kindness, and gentleness in Philip and is drawn to what he is being taught. In a gentle way Philip brings him to salvation.

In Acts 9 Peter learns about the death of a good woman, Dorcas, and gently gets on his knees and tells her to get up. He takes her by the hand and helps her up. There is gentleness as he heals.

In Acts 16, Paul deals gently with Lydia in Thyatira as he teaches her about Jesus and helps her understand the love of God.

In Acts 18, Priscilla and Aquila are gentle with Apollos as they explain to him the way of God more adequately.

Many of the actions of the disciples were filled with love and kindness and gentleness in order to help people see God and His love for them.

Self Control

The disciples in the Book of Acts used self control daily as they faced ridicule, hatred, and misunderstanding from those who did not believe their message. Fear could have been the major emotion of each day, but their fear was overcome by faith and trust and by self control or, in other words, God control.

Instead of being angry, they displayed self control and saw beyond the moment to look at eternity with God.

Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 7, he had awesome self control even as he was being stoned to death. He asked God to forgive the people stoning him. He suffered, but saw God beyond the suffering and did not retaliate.

Paul and Silas showed self control when they were put into prison. They prayed and sang instead of showing anger and feeling unjustly imprisoned. Self control during this was a light to all those who saw and heard them. Even the jailer came to believe and he and his household were baptized that very night.

Paul demonstrated self control during his imprisonments and trials. He knew God was in charge and let God be in control of his circumstances.

Self control from the Holy Spirit has been changing lives since the Day of Pentecost. Just as it gave power to the first disciples, it gives power to us as we allow the Spirit to become more active within us.