(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles (Part - 6)
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Days of the Apostles
After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples greatly anticipated that the fullness of the kingdom would appear. They quizzed the Master, “’Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.” (Act 1:4-5). Although, Jesus does not give a specific time, His words “times…fixed by His (the Father’s) own authority,” hint that the return of the Master will occur at one of God’s “appointed times,” i.e., one of the biblical feasts.
A few days later, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Shavuoat) only reinforced the pattern that God was working out His plan for the kingdom on consecutive feast days. The apostles and disciples had previously witnessed the death of Jesus on Passover, His burial on Unleavened Bread, and His resurrection on Firstfruits. We can only speculate what first century believers thought would be revealed as they waited expectantly throughout the long summer months looking forward to the fall feasts of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles which begin around late September to early October.
Many believers must have anticipated the fullness of the kingdom appearing on the Feast of Trumpets. “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles,” (Acts 2:43). In anticipation of the coming kingdom, many believers stayed in Jerusalem. Why return home when you are witnesses to the unfolding of God’s plan? Every believer wanted to be in Jerusalem to witness the return of the Master (Zech 14:3), the gathering of the lost sheep of Israel (Mark 13:27), the rebuilding of the temple (Zech 6:12), and the crowning of Jesus as King to sit on the throne of David, (Luke 1:32). These are not the events of providence that a believer is satisfied to hear about when God has given a person the opportunity to experience.
Peace existed in the church like no other time in history, “The congregation of those who believe were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them,” (Acts 4:32). And knowledge of the LORD increased, “With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all,” (Acts 4:33). The kingdom was manifested in the actions of believers; “There were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer,” (Acts 2:42).
Believers opened up their homes to those who did not live in Jerusalem. “All those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need,” (Acts 2:44-45). Selling possessions provided for the needs of the community, is considered to be among the acts of righteousness, and earned believers “merits/rewards” that would become impossible to earn after the arrival of the kingdom. All met together for worship in the temple, all eat together, and all praised God and found favor among the people, (Acts 2:46).
The call to a higher level of righteousness and blessing came with a greater level of personal responsibility and judgment on those who “put the Spirit of the LORD to the test,” (Act 5:9). This was the case for Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property, but then lied to the apostles about the selling price and kept some of the proceeds for them selves. Even in the prosperity of the coming fullness, judgment will still come, on the unthankful, the sinner, and those who reject the knowledge of God and the grace that will be offered.
The pattern of unity, understanding, and worship among believers never repeats to this degree in scripture, “they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico,” (Acts 5:12). Men and women were constantly being added to the group of believes and people “even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them…and they were all being healed,” (Acts 5:14-16).
The fullness of the kingdom that was manifested by believers after the day of Pentecost remains as a pattern for believers to follow today. This fullness continued until the persecution of Stephen, which may have come as quickly as the fall feast of Rosh HaShanah. Unfortunately, the fullness promised by Jesus and the prophets would be delayed until a time that “the Father has fixed by His own authority,” (Acts 1:7).
(to be continued - Scott)
No comments:
Post a Comment