The subject of Acts is the propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the churches--the kingdom of God (Lee, Witness. Life Study of Acts. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1985, Print).As I was considering this subject, the Lord brought to my mind John 12:23 and how He said concerning His own death that from it He would "bear much fruit." Is not one grain becoming many grains a propagation?
Then I thought about how after the Lord's resurrection He told Mary: "...but go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God" (John 20:17). The Lord knew that as soon as He breathed His divine life into the disciples, which is recorded in John 20:22, they would be reborn or regenerated with the Father's divine life and become His children.
The Bible shows us that God's plan is not just that Jesus would always be the only begotten of the Father, but that the Son would be the Firstborn as it says in Romans 8:29 "Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated, to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers." God wants to have many children, and think about it-- throughout the centuries God has regenerated millions of people, and in doing so He has propagated His divine life all over the earth!
Last week I also started to listen to some of the messages on Acts that were produced by Living Stream Ministry--each broadcast has both message clips of Witness Lee's sharing and radio commentary. What a resource--and all of these radio messages are archived there not only for the book of Acts but for every Life Study that was given on all the books of the Bible! Check that out below.
You can listen to excerpts from the Life Study of Acts along with excellent commentary by tuning into the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.
Other Blogs on the Life Study of Acts:
In the Book of Acts What is Christ Doing in Ascension?
What Does the Early Church Look Like in the Book of Acts?
According to Acts 5:31 What is the Lord Doing as the Ruler of the Earth?
How Did the Lord Spread the Gospel in Acts 8?
What Vision Did Saul Have at His Conversion in Acts 9:3-8?
How Does the Gospel Reach the Gentiles in Acts 10?
How is Acts a Book on God's Move & Prayer?
Seeing God's Move & Satan's Frustration in Acts 14
Prayer, the Spirit, & the Word - The Way the Lord Carries out His Work in the Book of Acts
Seeing God's New Testament Economy in the Book of Acts - Part 1 of 2
Seeing God's New Testament Economy in the Book of Acts - Part 2 of 2
Praise the Lord for His continuing ministry being carried out through His believers on earth (this is from a footnote by Witness Lee in Acts 1). What a glory to God that we are His many brothers to spread Him as the gospel throughout the entire world for God's expression. Halellujah!
ReplyDeleteYour comment makes me think of Acts 1:8 and how the Lord told His disciples, "...and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." And yes it is a glory that we can be His witnesses all over the earth!
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