Preparing for the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:12-26

• Preparing for the Holy Spirit by resting from our efforts, believing the word of God, and joining believers by heart and Spirit.
• Bible prophecy of the betrayal of Jesus Christ [the giver of the Holy Spirit].
• Prepare for the Holy Spirit by changing relationships.
• Choosing between two Christians in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Prepare for the Holy Spirit by resting from our works, believing the word of God, and joining believers by heart and Spirit.
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts 1:12-14

“Then they returned” refers to after witnessing the ascension of Jesus Christ, as described in Acts 1:9-11. The Apostles of Jesus were eyewitnesses to the literal ascension of Jesus Christ, which no Chrisitan of today can be a witness to. By hearing, we have faith to believe this to be true as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. A “Sabbath’s day journey” refers to being limited to traveling 2/3 mile on the Sabbath, any more than that would be considered working on the Sabbath. Today, we rest from trying to please God by the works of our own efforts and place our faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to us because we believe the word of God and we trust in Him above human endeavors.

The Apostles who went to the upper room were eleven, the twelfth Apostle was not there because he is the one who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, whose name was Judas Iscariot. All eleven Apostles, with the women and Mary [the mother of Jesus], and the brothers of Jesus Christ, were all united in their prayers and requests. Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters…” Matthew 13:55-56 As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to us as we join our heart and spirit with our brothers-and-sisters-in -Christ in cities across the globe.

From these verses, we know that the Holy Spirit comes to us 1] as we rest from our own efforts and place our faith in Jesus Christ. 2] as we believe the word of God. 3] as we join our heart and spirit with fellow Christians in every city around the world. In today’s atheistic world, we are physically separated from fellow believers, but we are joined together by the Spirit of Christ.

Bible prophecy of the betrayal of Jesus Christ [the giver of the Holy Spirit].
“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)” Acts 1:15-19

Click here for a post from Habakkuk that lists fulfilled prophecy since 1945.

Jesus chose His twelve Apostles from among His many disciples that followed Him. Every person who believes God through Jesus Christ are His disciples. The Apostle Peter spoke to about 120 disciples of the way of Jesus Christ [also speaking to us] concerning how the Scriptures of the Old Testament had to be fulfilled. What separates the Apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ from the Jewish culture is that we see Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as fulfillment of Bible prophecy. This is known as the “scarlet cord” that unites the Old Testament scriptures to Jesus Christ. We see the whole Bible in the realm of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The scripture Peter is referring to, being spoken by David in the Psalms, is this, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them. By this I know that You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity and set me before Your face forever.” Psalms 41:9 This describes what happened in these following verses, “He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:23

Although Judas Iscariot, once a friend and Apostle of Jesus Christ, betrayed Jesus to deliver Him up to be crucified on the Cross, Jesus was resurrected from the grave and was victorious over His enemies.

Peter speaks of Judas Iscariot being a guide to those who arrested Jesus, which refers to the betrayal with a kiss when Jesus was arrested, “…a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48

Today, we live in a culture that has no value for relationships and bonds that form outside the realm of the entity that gives people what to feel, do, speak, and think. This includes people close to us, those who call themselves friends, family members, and associates of all types. They betray Jesus Christ with a “kiss”, betray with false friendship we who live for Him, and betray the existence of Christianity. Jesus says, ““Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves…Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:16, 21-22

Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was an Apostle of Jesus Christ who was given the power to heal and cast out demons, as quoted, “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” Matthew w10:1-3

The Holy Spirit says this about those among us who seek to betray our faith in Jesus Christ, “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear… Jude 1:12

In Acts 1:18, Judas is said to have bought the “Field of Blood”, while in Matthew 27:3-9 the chief priests took the money and bought the “Field of Blood”. In other words, this was Judas’ money, and he threw it to the chief priests who bought the field. They were both involved in the purchase. The “Field of Blood” refers to the blood money used to shed the blood of Jesus Christ as well as well as being known as the place where Judas took his own life. Matthew 27:5 says that Judas hung himself, whereas in Acts 1:18 Judas is said to have “fell headlong” over a cliff. The Holy Spirit is making it clear that it is not profitable to betray Jesus Christ and amounts to suicide.

After the betrayal of Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot took his own life. Property was bought with the money used to solicit the betrayal of Jesus, and in that field was a cliff. Judas jumped from the cliff, headfirst, and upon landing he was ripped open and his entrails gushed out. In today’s culture, which is global, people betray God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in order to gain material wealth and prosperity in this world. They have bought into the “Field of Blood” and are heading over a cliff, as our Lord Jesus says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36 The destruction of the global economy is described in Revelations 18.

Prepare for the Holy Spirit by changing relationships.
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 1:20-22

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ with a kiss and he symbolizes everyone who betrays Jesus with an atheist’s version of kindness, goodwill, and love. Peter quotes from Psalms 69, “Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded.” Psalms 69:25-26 They are desolate of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life as they persecute the wounded, maliciously speak of the grief of others, and are unmerciful towards the vulnerable and sheep of this world. Peter continues by quoting from Psalms 109, “Let his days be few and let another take his office.” Psalms 109:8

Our born-again testimony is one of changing our lifestyle and previous way of living after saying “Yes!” to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Part of that life-changing experience is to separate ourselves from those who are hostile towards belief in God, who scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and fight against the presence of the Holy Spirit. We seek for others to set in the place of worldly so-called “friends”. The Holy Spirit comes to us as we separate from friendship with this world, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4

As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to us as we put away the enemies of Christ from our friendship circle. Our friends must be those who are among the family of Jesus Christ, in cities around the world, where Jesus walks among us through the Holy Spirit. These are friends who are baptized inthe Spirit of Christ and are a witness to the resurrection of Jesus living in us through our born-again experience [which is the Gospel of Jesus written on our heart].

Peter and the other Apostles had to choose someone to be the twelfth Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. Peter gave a clear description of the qualifications of an Apostle, 1] Someone who was among the other 11 Apostles when our Lord Jesus Christ walked among them. 2] Someone who was with the other 11 Apostles from the baptism of John to the day of the ascension of Jesus Christ. 3] Someone who was able to be a witness with the other 11 Apostles of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus walked on this earth for 40 days after His resurrection, showing Himself to many. The chosen Apostle would have to be willing to speak of the resurrection of Christ Jesus, in face of persecution, imprisonment, and even death.

Choosing between two Christians in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
“And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:23-26

The Apostles had it in their heart and spirit that the number of the Apostles had to be 12. Jesus chose twelve Apostles because this would symbolize the transition from the Twelve tribes of Israel to the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. This represents moving from living for God through the laws of Judaism to living for God by faith in Jesus Christ. Also, the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and earth has the name of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written on the gates but has the name of the Twelve Apostles written on twelve foundations. “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel…Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelations 21:12, 14

The Apostle Matthias is one of the Twelve whose name is written on the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem. The Apostles are the foundations on which the new Jerusalem is built, having the testimony of Jesus Christ, and building the family of Christ from ground zero. The Twelve Tribes of Israel are the gates of the New Jerusalem because they opened the door to the coming of Jesus Christ, Jesus being a Jewish person from the tribe of Judah.

“To cast lots…” was a common way of making decisions during the Old Testament, which is similar to “drawing straws” nowadays. Whoever was signified by “casting lots” would become the next Apostle of Jesus Christ. This process wasn’t as random as it sounds, because of all the multitudes of Believers, there were two chosen, Barsabas [Justus] and Matthias. Both of them were men “…who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 1:21-22 The decision could have went either way, or both could have easily been chosen, but that would had made 13 instead of twelve Apostles. They prayed in the Spirit before casting lots and Mathias was chosen.

As followers of Jesus Christ, what would we do if someone said we could only invite one of two of our Christian friends to be with us during a period of time. Instead of having to make a choice of one over the other, we could very simply draw straws, and the matter would be settled. The straws would be drawn in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the will of God. Any Christian friend is acceptable over worldly “friends” who betray Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11