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GUIDANCE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

Boyce Mouton · 11 pages · 4,468 words

GUIDANCE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

It is obvious that the disciples followed Jesus while He was with them upon the earth.

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It is equally obvious that Jesus went away to a place where they could not follow. He said: "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now . . . " (John 13:36.)

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It cannot be denied that Jesus promised to come back as a Spirit and guide His disciples. This is a central theme of the Upper Room Discourse, as well as many other passages of Scripture (John 13:31 - 16:33, etc.)

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The book of Acts begins by affirming that the Gospels only record what Jesus "began" to do and teach (Acts1:1.)

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Luke wrote the book of Acts and this inspired history contains the continuation of Christ's ministry by means of the Holy Spirit.

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Jesus specifically commanded His Apostles not to depart from Jerusalem until they have received the promise of the Father (Acts1:4.) Luke wrote: "And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me . . . but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:4,8.)

The book of Acts is a record of the way that the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles.

CASTING LOTS

Devout people have always sought guidance from God and for many years they did so by casting lots. The Scriptures teach, for example, that a successor to Judas was selected by casting lots. This happened in the upper room before the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. This is the last mention of casting lots in the Bible. Peter concluded from his Bible study, that David had predicted the betrayal of Jesus (Acts1:16-18.) He also concluded that another should take his place (Acts 1:20.)

The process of elimination began with strict qualifications. The man who would take the place of Judas, had to have been with the Apostles from the baptism of John until the ascension. He also had to have been a witness of the resurrection.

Two men were put forth, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. They prayed "and they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26.) The Holy Spirit evidently honored this choice, for hereafter the Apostles are referred to as "the twelve" (Acts 6:2.)

The casting of lots was a time honored way of seeking the will of God. It seems that the Jewish High Priest did so. He wore what was called "a breast plate of judgment." The front of this breast plate had a pouch which contained the urim and thummim stones. These stones were used to discern the will

of God. Since we have no record of their beginning, some have assumed that they were used by the patriarchs before the time of Moses. Nor can we speak with certainty about what they were like. At any rate, they were unquestionably a part of Hebrew worship. Moses wrote: "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually" (Ex. 28:30.)

The word"urim"comes from the Hebrew "arar"and means "to curse." The word "thummim" comes from "tamam," and means"to be perfect." Some have assumed that these were two stones, and that each stone had two sides. When seeking the will of God the priest would cast the stones from the Ephod. If the two "yes"sides were up, the Lord's answer was yes. If the two"no" sides were up the answer was no. If there was one "yes"and one" no,"the Lord was not giving an answer. This would help to explain I Sam. 28:6: "And Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."

Here are a few examples from the Bible of casting lots:

Aaron cast lots to select the scape goat (Lev. 16:8.)
Achan was found to be a thief by casting lots (Josh. 7:14.)

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The inheritance of the Hebrew people in Canaan was determined by casting lots (Josh. 18:6-10.) To this very day we refer to a portion of ground as a "lot."

Saul was selected as king by lot (I Sam. 10:20-21.)
Jonathan was found to have disobeyed Saul's command by casting lots (I Samuel 14:42.)
Jonah was discovered to be the source of God's anger by casting lots (Jonah 1:7.)

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See also I Chron. 25:8; 26:13-14; Neh. 10:34; ll:l; Psa. 22:18; Joel 3:3; Obadiah 1:11; Nahum 3:10; etc.

The process of casting lots was cumbersome and time consuming. Sometimes the priest with the sacred stones was many miles away. Sometimes he may have not been available to help. It is thrilling and exciting to realize that we no longer have to journey to Jerusalem to know the will of God. God makes his abode within us. We are God's"lot,"or"heritage."

The Greek word for "lot" is "kleros." This is the basis of our English word "clergy." The Bible uses this word to refer to all of God's people. I Peter 5:3, for example, admonishes elders not to lord it over God's "heritage," but to be examples to the flock. This word "heritage," is the word "kleros," or "clergy." All God's people are His special inheritance, or clergy, not just preachers.

PENTECOST

Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world, but He told them not to leave until they received power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 8). The Holy Spirit came upon them at the Feast of Pentecost.

As you know, there were three feasts which the devout Jew was required by law to attend. "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty" (Deut. 16:16.)

The Feast of Weeks was called "Pentecost" because it fell on the fiftieth day after the wave offering of the Passover (Lev.23:16.) The word "Pentecost" comes from "pentekonta" which means "fifty." The Scriptures teach: "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5.) These men had come to the Passover, and remained in Jerusalem until Pentecost. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit came. Please study reverently the second chapter of Acts. The prophets had predicted this (Acts 2:16-21.) John the Baptist had predicted this (Matt. 3:11.) Jesus had predicted this (Lk. 24:49, John 14: - 16:, Acts 1:4-8, etc.) This experience was of pivotal importance in the lives of the apostles. It empowered them, and gave them boldness. After they received the Holy Spirit they had the courage to go from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

SOME OF THE WAYS GOD GUIDED IN BOOK OF ACTS

It is with some reluctance that the following list is presented. Before reading the list, please consider the following:

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God is infinite, and we are finite. We must avoid the erroneous idea that we can ever completely understand God. Paul expressed it beautifully: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:33)

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Consider the vastness of the universe. On a clear night man can only see about 2,500 stars with the naked eye. With the aid of a telescope, however, we have discovered billions of stars. In fact, some of what we once thought were "stars," turned out to be whole galaxies. Scientists now think there are hundreds of billions of stars. The universe is so vast, however, that no one knows how many stars there are. Since the Creator is obviously greater than the universe He created, it is ridiculous for finite man to place any restrictions upon Him. Jesus said it like this: "The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God" (Lk. 18:27.)

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The Scriptures are "God breathed, "or "inspired." They are like a living seed. The Word of God will grow and produce fruit when it is planted in good soil. While the Bible remains the same, our understanding of it does not. It is therefore possible for us to be constantly learning new truths from an old Scripture. Our children will undoubtedly learn truths from the Bible which we have never seen.

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As we have said before, the Gospel of Luke only records what Jesus "began to do and teach" (Acts 1:1.) The book of Acts is a continuation of His ministry by means of the Holy Spirit. The chronology of Acts concludes with Paul in a Roman prison, but the ministry of the Holy Spirit did not stop there. The HolySpirit is eternal, and His ministry will never end. What Jesus began to do in the body, the Body continues to do in Jesus.

With this brief disclaimer, let us proceed to consider some of the ways that God guided His people in the book of Acts.

THE SCRIPTURES

It is difficult for modern man to understand the devotion of the Hebrew people to the Word of God. In traditional Jewish education, students by the age 6 would attend synagogue schools. By around 10 years of age, they would have learned and memorized the first 5 books of the Bible, called the Torah. The Word of God became an integral part of everything they did. When Jesus, for example, was tempted by the Devil to turn stones into bread, He quoted the Scriptures: "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4.) Each time Jesus was tempted He quoted a Scripture. This was what every Jew was supposed to do.

In addition to the training which the apostles received in their homes, and synagogues, they also had three years of special training by Jesus. Jesus not only expounded the Scriptures to them, He sent the Holy Spirit to enable them to remember everything He taught them (John14:26.) We should not be surprised, therefore, to find constant reference to the Scriptures in the book of Acts.

Consider this partial list of references regarding how the apostles were guided by the Scriptures:

Acts 1:20 – Psalms 69:25; 109:8
Acts 2:21 – Joel 2:28-32
Acts 2:35 – Psalms 110:1
Acts 3:23 – Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19
Acts 3:25 – Genesis 22:18; 26:4
Acts 4:11 – Psalms 118:22
Acts 4:26 – Psalms 2:1-2
Acts 7:3 – Genesis 12:1
Acts 7:7 – Genesis 15:13-14
Acts 7:28 – Exodus 2:14
Acts 7:32 – Exodus 3:6
Acts 7:34 – Exodus 3:5, 7, 8, 10
Acts 7:37 – Deuteronomy 18:15
Acts 7:40 – Exodus 32:1
Acts 7:43 – Amos 5:25-27
Acts 8:33 – Isaiah 53:7-8
Acts 13:33 – Psalm 2:7
Acts 13:34 – Isaiah 55:3
Acts 13:35 – Psalms 16:10
Acts 13:41 – Habakkuk 1:5
Acts 13:47 – Isaiah 49:6
Etc.

The Bereans were said to be more noble than those in Thessalonica, because "they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11.)

If you want to know the will of God, it is imperative that you study the Word of God. Christians in the First Century were diligent students of the Scriptures, and this was obviously one of the primary ways that God provided them with guidance.

Those who are immature in their knowledge of Scripture can be tossed to and fro by deceivers (Eph. 4:14.) Those who are "unlearned," and "unstable," may wrest the Scriptures unto their own destruction(IIPet. 3:16.)

One of the primary ways that God guided His people in the book of Acts was by means of Scripture!

CIRCUMSTANCES

God also guided His people in the book of Acts by circumstances. We must not think of history as random occurrences happening by accident. The Scriptures teach that God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11.) God orchestrates history so that: "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28.) As in the story of Job, Satan can do nothing to the Christian without special permission from God.

Consider these circumstances that resulted in evangelism:

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When the Holy Spirit came a great crowd came and Peter preached to them. 3,000 were saved after hearing only one sermon (Acts 2)

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When Peter and John healed a lame man another crowd gathered and Peter preached to them and the number of disciples grew to about 5,000 men (Acts 4:4).

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When people were in need they were guided to share with one another so that no one starved (Acts 4:32-37).

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When the Grecian Jews complained they were guided to appoint seven men to solve the problem (Acts 6:1-7).

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Persecution led to the death of Stephen but it also scattered the church and everyone used this as an opportunity to preach (Acts 7 - 8)

Persecution caused the unconverted Saul to go to Damascus (Acts 9:2.)
Persecution also caused the converted Saul to leave Damascus (9:23-25.)
Persecution then caused Saul to leave Jerusalem (9:29-30.)
A famine set the stage to unite Jews and Gentiles (11:28-30.)
Persecution drove Paul from Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra (13:49 – 14:20.)
An earthquake resulted in converting a jailer (16:25-34.)
Etc.

Nothing was happening to these people by accident. No matter what happened to them God turned it into something good. Murmuring in the church brought the first deacons. Persecution brought evangelism. Earthquakes, famines, storms, and ship wrecks were orchestrated by God into some beautiful benefit for who love God and are called according to His purpose. Paul put it like this: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:37-39.)

The apostles had been with Jesus for three years. During that time Jesus had been interrupted many times, but every time Jesus used that interruption to glorify God. When Jesus was interrupted by a man being lowered through the roof, Jesus healed the man and proved that He had the power on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12). When Jesus was interrupted by a sick woman touching the hem of His garment, Jesus used that interruption to teach about the power of faith (Luke 8:43-48). When a greedy man interrupted Jesus and wanted Him to divide his father’s inheritance, Jesus used that interruption to teach about the perils of riches (Luke 12:13 -21). Now the Holy Spirit was guiding the apostles do use every circumstance and interruption to glorify God just as Jesus had done!

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ANGELS

The word "angel" is found 201 times in the Bible, and "angels" 93 times. The disciples learned a great deal about angels from Jesus. Angels, as you know, were very much involved in the Christmas story. Angels made announcements to Zacharias, Mary, and the Shepherds. An angel directed Joseph to flee to Egypt, and later to return toNazareth. Angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness temptations and in His agony in Gethsemane. Angels rejoice when one sinner repents. The little ones have angels who always behold the face of the Father. Jesus said that more than twelve legions of angels were waiting for instructions from Him. An angel rolled away the stone when Jesus was resurrected. Two angels were sitting in the tomb, one at the head, and the other at the feet of the place where Jesus had lain. An angel spoke to the women and said: "Fear not, for I know ye seek Jesus, which was crucified." When Jesus ascended into heaven, two men stood by the disciples in white apparel. Many think these men were angels. They said: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

At this time, however, we are going to narrow our focus to the book of Acts. We are talking about the guidance of God, and it is obvious that angels were used by God to give guidance to His people. Consider these passages:

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Acts 5:19ff - An angel liberated the apostles from prison and told them to go stand and speak in the temple all the words of this life.

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Acts 8:26 - An angel directed Philip to leave Samaria, and to go to a deserted road between Jerusalem and Gaza.

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Acts10:3 - An angel directed Cornelius to send to Joppa for Simon Peter. He promised that Peter would tell him what he ought to do.

Acts 12:7ff. - An angel delivered Peter from prison and death.
Acts 12:23 - An angel smote Herod because he did not give glory to God.

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Acts 27:23 - An angel spoke to Paul in a storm and assured him that he would not die, but would be brought before Caesar.

The Scriptures teach that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who are the heirs of salvation" (Heb. 1:14.)

PROPHETS

The Bible has a great deal to say about prophets. Prophets did not always predict the future, but they did speak the message of God. The early church was not only guided by the inspired message of

the Old Testament prophets, but by contemporary prophets as well. The church was built upon a "foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20.) Paul wrote that God had "set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets (I Cor. 12:28.) He also wrote that the Lord gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministering (Eph. 4:11.)

Here are a few references to prophets in the book of Acts:

Joel predicted that in the latter days that sons and daughters would prophesy (Acts 2:17.)

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Acts 11:27-30 - Prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus, signified by the Spirit that there would be a famine through out all the world. Based on this information, the disciples determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea.

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Acts 13:1-4 - Five prophets and teachers are named in the church at Antioch. While these men fasted and prayed, the Holy Spirit said to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had called them to.

Acts 13:6 - a sorcerer, named Bar-Jesus, is called a false prophet.

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Acts 15:32 - Judas and Silas, being prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

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Acts 16:1-3 – Paul selected Timothy to be his companion in travel. I Tim. 1:18 reveals that Timothy was selected for this honor by of prophetic utterance.

Acts 19:6 - Paul laid hands on some disciples and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

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Acts 20:23 – The HolySpirit testified in every city that bonds and afflictions were waiting onPaul.

Acts 21:7 - Philip, the evangelist, had four virgin daughters which did prophesy.

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Acts 21:10-14 – Agabus, the prophet, bound his hands and feet with Paul's girdle and predicted that Paul would be thus bound in Jerusalem.

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If you have the gift of prophecy, then prophesy according to the measure of your faith (Romans 12:6).

VISIONS

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Acts 2:17 - Joel predicted that "your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

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Acts 9:1-6 – Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus. He commanded him to go into the city and it would be told him what he must do.

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Acts 9:10-21 – The Lord appeared to Annanias in a vision. He instructed him to go a street called Straight and heal Saul of his blindness.

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Acts 10:3 - Cornelius received a vision that told him to send for Peter, who would tell him what to do.

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Acts 10:9-18 - The Lord gave Peter a vision of many animals, reptiles, and birds that he was supposed to eat.

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Acts 10:19 - While Peter thought on the vision the Spirit told him that three men were seeking for him. He was to go with them, nothing doubting, for God had sent them.

Acts 11:5 - Paul described his vision to those who were of the circumcision.

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Acts 12:9 - When Peter was delivered from prison by an angel, he initially thought it was a vision.

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Acts 16:9-10 - After the Holy Spirit would not let Paul preach in Asia, or Bithynia, he came to Troas. Here he received a vision of a man of Macedonia asking for his help. He reflected on the vision and concluded that God was calling him to preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

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Acts 18:9 - The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and said: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."

Acts 26:19 - Paul told Agrippa that he was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.

THIS LIST IS NOT COMPLETE

Jesus was baptized when he was about thirty years old (Lk.3:23.) His public ministry lasted about three years. John reflected on the many things that happened in only this brief time and wrote: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen" (John 21:25.)

As we have pointed out before, the Gospels only record what Jesus "began" to do and teach. What Jesus began to do in the Body, the Body continues to do in Jesus. The same Holy Spirit that operated in Jesus during His earthly ministry, continues to operate in the church.

In His physical body, Jesus could only be one place at a time, but when Jesus returned to the earth as a Spirit He could be everywhere at the same time. This is at least one reason why it was expedient for Him to go away.

Though we have already mentioned this many times, it still bears repetition and emphasis. Focus again on these words of Jesus to Nicodemus: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou

hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8.)

Jesus has been filling people with His Spirit for nearly 2,000years. Certainly we should never claim to have exhausted all of the ways that the Holy Spirit can, or cannot work. God is Infinite, and we are not. The finite mind cannot comprehend "eternity," or "infinity." Neither can we fully understand God.

Believers have a special relationship with Christ which others do not. Acts19:13-20 tells of seven sons of a Jew named Sceva, who tried to cast out an evil spirit by using the name of Jesus. The evil spirit answered: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" The man with the evil spirit leaped upon them and over came them. They fled naked and wounded. We must always approach involvement in the spirit world with great humility.

The book of Acts does not tell everything that happened. It contains some of the acts, of some of the apostles. The few ways that we have listed are just a starting point to open your mind to infinite possibilities.

STEP NUMBER ONE

God is not some lowly slave who is duty bound to do whatever we ask. He is the Sovereign of the universe to whom we must surrender everything. The most important commandment in the Bible is to “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). God told Jeremiah: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

So step
1 to receive guidance from God is to completely and totally surrender everything to Him.

When you totally surrender to God you will immediately obey Him in every way you can. You will repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and be baptized. With the help of the Holy Spirit you will arise from baptism to walk in newness of life. Like a new born baby you will crave the Scriptures like a baby craves milk. You will be regular in attending church, you will delight in taking communion, and you will give generously. Your transformation from the works of the flesh to the fruit of the Spirit will happen because Christ dwells in your heart by faith! You will let your light shine that others may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Remember! Those who are sons of God are led by the Spirit of God!

GOD IS NOT LIMITED IN THE WAY HE GUIDES HIS CHILDREN!

SOME WAYS THAT GOD GUIDES HIS CHILDREN ARE MENTIONED IN THIS BRIEF ARTICLE, BUT ACTUALLY, GOD CAN GUIDE YOU IN AN INFINITE NUMBER OF WAYS.

GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE AND HE CAN GUIDE YOU ANY WAY HE WANTS TO!

So - “TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS” (PROVERBS 3:5-6)