Where a Car Is Mentioned in the Bible

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                          Acts 2:1

Where a Car Is Mentioned in the Bible

by Robert T. Cooper

Years ago a joke went around: Where is a car mentioned in the Bible? They were all in one Accord.

After the Ascension, the believers in Jesus spent 10 days in a 24/7 prayer meeting waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t know it would be 10 days. They just started praying and kept right on praying until the prayer was answered.

After Pentecost, there would be too many people for everyone to meet together in one room. There just were no rooms in Jerusalem at the time that would accommodate over 3000 people (and that number was probably just the adult men). Then, a meeting of all the believers would require going to the mountainside outside of town.

But during this time, there were 120 (again, that number is probably just the adult men, and we know for certain there were women in addition; don’t know about children 12 and younger) who all met together. It is traditional to think this was in the Upper Room at the home of John Mark’s parents. But it is unlikely a private residence would have had an upper room that would hold that many people. A more likely location for this room was in the Temple complex. It being the Pentecost season, it was possible such a room could have been reserved and used.

Note that they were all together. Not many churches can boast of a 100/% attendance for a single hour of any meeting anytime. And it is probable that during the 10 days not all of the 120 were present at all times. But when Pentecost morning rolled around, those who had prayed all night and those who were coming for the morning prayers were all 100% present and accounted for. All together in one place.

When the KJV says they were in one accord, it also implies that there was no dissension among the group. There was no party spirit. Everyone was in perfect agreement as they prayed together. Again, it is rare for a church of any size to be in one accord regarding any particular thing. But on that day, at that time, the 120 were in one accord.

Unity in the local congregation is a condition that allows the Holy Spirit to be free to do His work. Discord hinders the complete, free work of the Holy Spirit.

Take a moment to pray. Ask the Lord whether there is anything for which you need to repent so that your congregation may be in one accord. Ask whether there is anyone with whom you need to be reconciled so that your congregation may be in one accord. As far as it depends on you, seek this Acts 2:1 condition in your church life.

Has your congregation ever been in one accord? Please share about it in the comments section.

This Same Jesus

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                        Acts 1:11

This Same Jesus

by Robert T. Cooper

The Jesus Who ascended from the ridge of the Mount of Olives some 40 days after His Resurrection is the exact same Jesus Who will return to Earth to the very same ridge of the Mount of Olives.

There have been several attempts throughout history to characterize the Jesus of the Day of the Lord as a “different” Jesus. There have been the attempts of cults to create a Jesus with a different backstory and a different future. There have been the attempts of non-Christian religions to create a Jesus who is not a Person of the Trinity, the Second Person, God the Son, in particular. Sometimes this Jesus is a mere prophet. Sometimes He is an angel. Sometimes He is simply the Christ Spirit.

But the Jesus Who ascended is the exact same Jesus known personally today by those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Jesus who is known personally today by Christian disciples is the exact same Jesus Who is coming again.

Those who have not yet placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior cannot fully comprehend the certainty of Christian disciples. However, they are invited to repent and believe. Then they will commence a relationship with Jesus, Who is and Who is to come.

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, briefly comment about your relationship with your personal Redeemer.

Or

If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are invited to do so at this time. When you do, record it in the comments section so we may rejoice with you.

What Does It Take to Make You Cry?

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                              Acts 1:3

What Does It Take to Make You Cry?

by Robert T. Cooper

Some people are tough and some are tender. Some cry over sunsets, kittens and babies. Others don’t shed a tear even when physically abused. Some cry in empathy at nearly every TV show or movie. I cry in some, but I confess that The Passion of the Christ had me weeping over what my sin caused my Lord to suffer.

In truth, I had heard and even told verbal descriptions of Christ’s suffering on several occasions over the years. You can find various descriptions of the sufferings of Jesus from His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane all the way through His being pierced in the side with a spear. The brutality was fierce. In fact, while the portrayal in The Passion film was the most graphic to date, even it was not fully authentic. The truth was simply too gruesome to show in its entirety.

Isaiah wrote, “And with His stripes we are healed.” This did not mean that Jesus’ suffering would result in physical healing for believers. Rather it means that in Jesus’ shed blood and death on the cross He would take our sin on Himself, dying in our place, that if we will repent of our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

When I was a teenager, Jesus Christ, Superstar created quite an uproar. It first came out as a double LP record album. One of the criticisms against it was that the recording ended with the Crucifixion. So when the rock opera is staged, it is done in a way that hints at the Resurrection.

For us as believers, the Resurrection shows God’s Power over sin, death and hell. It shows that Christ is indeed the firstfruit from the dead. It shows that we too have hope in resurrection, that we too will rise. Since there was an “after the suffering” for Jesus, there will be an “after the suffering” for us as well.

Now, back to the question in the title, or perhaps a better question. As you reflect on the suffering that Jesus endured on account of your sin, what feelings do you experience?