Bible Studies

*Mark 16: 20* And they went out and preached everywhere, the LORD working with [through] them and “confirming” the word through the accompanying [miraculous] signs.

NOTE: This is the reassurance of authenticating the truthfulness (veracity) of the Word and the power in serving the only True and Living God.

Acts 8: 18-19 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power (authority/Heb. shal’tan) also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

NOTE: Some Bible teachers and theologians today contend that another reason for believers not performing miraculous works is that an Apostle has to lay hands on an individual, like Peter and John coming to Samaria in order for this to take place. In this instance, however, there is no mention that Ananias was an Apostle (Cp. 9: 10-11).

Acts 10: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power (Heb. g’burah), who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 Corinthians 2: 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of [a]human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (Heb. g’burah),

1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4, 8-9 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 

1 Thessalonians 1: 5a 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, (Heb. g'burah) and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; 

2 Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (Heb. g’burah) and of love and of a sound mind.

1 Corinthians 14: 12 Even so you, since you are [a]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the [b]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1 Corinthians 1: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

COMMENTARY: If only the Christian Church today really understood the awesome responsibility and authority that she has, namely, to proclaim and re-introduce to an unbelieving world that the Kingdom of God is more than just a religious experience but rather it is the divine government and power of the Creator impacting and changing society in all areas. There are far too many individuals in hospitals, mental institutions, or living with cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, heart attacks, birth defects, addicted to alcohol and drugs, pornography, sickness, diseases, blindness, paralysis or lameness, suicidal tendencies or clinical depression, etc., and all the average believer does [including the author] is attend worship services for the traditional Bible study and hearing a sermon preached, singing hymns, praying, and tithing. On a few limited occasions when a visitor seeks a miraculous healing and it doesn’t happen, the petitioner’s lack of ‘faith’ is often used as the reason for this failure.

Among various denominations within Christianity are echoes of the popular refrain about receiving the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost but what is the evidence of this experience? It is more than just “repentance” [teshuvah] and living under the Lordship of Jesus [Yeshua], even if a believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cp. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). To be sure, there are members of Pentecostal and Holiness congregations who speak in tongues and even priests in the Catholic Church practice the centuries-old rite of performing exorcisms, but outside of these and a few scant other such practices, the Christian Church as a whole is woefully lacking in manifesting to a significant extent the miraculous healing gift of the Holy Spirit.

Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 6, 2018
robertrandle[email protected]