Ascension Day with high expectation

Ten days before the Jewish feast of Pentecost, Jesus met with his disciples on a normal Thursday. The disciples had high expectations that Jesus would now establish the kingdom.

But Jesus did not want to set a time for this and promised them divine power through the Holy Spirit, who would lead them into the whole world (Acts 1:6-8).

As Jesus ascended to heaven before their eyes on the Mount of Olives and disappeared from their sight through a cloud, Jesus opened a new chapter. God’s presence is experienced new through the Holy Spirit.

Suddenly, two angels appeared and explained that Jesus was now in heaven and would one day return to earth from there.

Kingdom of God versus magic

As Paul had promised, he returned to Ephesus. Like Jesus, he preached about the kingdom of God and not about optimising life (Acts 19:8-22). Extraordinary miracles took place through Paul.

After the failed attempt by the seven sons of Skeva to drive out spirits with the name of Jesus, it became clear that Jesus would not allow himself to be instrumentalised. Complete submission to his rule (kingdom of God) is necessary. It is therefore important that Jesus is accepted as Lord.

In magic, people try to utilise spiritual powers for personal advantage. In doing so, they become dependent on people and spirits.

Hidden sins are revealed in the presence of God. This is the reason spiritual books were publicly burnt in Ephesus.

The kingdom of God cannot be instrumentalised for our purposes. We must recognise Jesus as Lord and King.

The Bible – myths and facts

The Bible describes how people experienced God and what he showed them. It does not philosophise about what God might be like.

Faith without biblical history becomes philosophy instead of theology.

The different perspectives make the picture more complete and therefore more credible.

Peter puts it in a nutshell in 2 Peter 1:16: ‘We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.’

Paul writes to Timothy: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16).

Israel 2025

6.6.25

Reports indicate that five people were killed and twelve injured when explosives were detonated and a building collapsed on an Israeli infantry force.

Retired Lebanese General Ashraf Rifi (a Sunni who previously served as Lebanese Minister of Justice): Hezbollah needs to understand that it has two choices: either hand over its weapons to the Lebanese army or have them destroyed by Israeli drones and planes.

Iran ordered materials from China to produce hundreds of ballistic missiles.

Continue reading Israel 2025

Spirit-led faith

Apollos believes in Jesus, but he lacks the immerse in the work of the Holy Spirit that enables him to live an empowered life in Christ (Acts 18:25).

It is the difference between an intellectual faith and a Spirit-led faith with a living relationship with the heavenly Father.

Apollos is willing to listen to uneducated believers. Priscilla and Aquila share their experiences of faith and widen Apollos’ understanding of the way with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit guides and inspires people to follow Christ.

This experience makes him a newly blessed instrument in the hand of God in the region of Achaia, where Corinth is also located.

more from Acts: https://jesus-news-israel.net/tag/acts/