The Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14)–the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob–has come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. Having brought His saving gospel to the Jews of Judea and having been rejected by them, He has willingly died for the sins of all mankind. But before leaving the earth He has assigned 12 men to take the gospel to the other 10 tribes whom He had scattered throughout the world many years earlier. Having given them their commission, He then returned to the Father in heaven where He now waits for word from Him to return to earth where He will establish the Father’s kingdom.

Now it is time to bring the past, present and future together officially by administering His rules of engagement–the Ten Commandments–to all who seek to spend eternity with Him and the Father. But this time He would provide His rules in a different form. The first time He gave His Law in the form of words hand written on stone; this time He would administer them spiritually–He would write them on the hearts of His chosen people and those Gentiles who would join them in their quest for eternal life. But Bible students know that this act was promised many years earlier when the Almighty looked forward to the time when men would indeed obey Him and would indeed seek Him in spirit and in Truth. They would do so because of their love for Him.

In Jeremiah31:31-34 we find Him speaking the following Words audibly to His prophet: “Behold the days will come when I will make a NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL (10 “LOST” TRIBES) AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH (JUDAH, BENJAMIN AND LEVI) ….” He goes on to say that He will establish a new covenant with His chosen people by WRITING HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS ON THEIR HEARTS (place them in their minds) so that they will obey Him from within because they want to, not because the have to as did the Old Testament Israelites after He brought them out of Egypt. The Church in the Wilderness (Acts 7:38)  had broken that stone-etched covenant. His New Covenant Church–His true saints–would obey His Law written in their hearts. Because they would do this, “… I will be their God and they will be My people.” At that point “they (true saints) will all know Me … and I will forgive their iniquity (past Law-breaking) and I will remember their sins (iniquities) no more.” He would write His Ten Commandment Law on their hearts using His Holy Spirit which He would “pour out” upon those who would truly seek Him with a heart to obey Him unto salvation. This took place many generations later on the Day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. which we read about in the second chapter of Acts where the Lord’s true believers were gathered together. We find the episode recorded in chapter two. Here the Holy Spirit has fallen on the 120 or so local believers, causing them to speak in many different languages (tongues). When this took place the word of it quickly spread throughout Jerusalem. The people came running to where the disciples were speaking in the languages of the Jews who had gathered in the city from all over the world to celebrate the Holy Day.

Confused and astonished that they were hearing God being praised in their own languages, they asked the disciples for an explanation. Peter answered as recorded in verses 14-18. Here he tells the Jews that THIS (reaction to the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit) is (the beginning of) THAT which was promised by the Prophet Joel (2:28), ‘And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all (God-seeking) flesh …. And on My (male) servants and My (female) handmaidens I will pour out My Spirit in those days ….'”

Note upon whom the Almighty poured out His Holy Spirit–those who had gathered in Jerusalem ACCORDING TO HIS COMMAND: “Behold I will send the promise of the Father upon you, so tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are given power (the Holy Spirit) from on high (Lk. 24:49). Then in Acts 1:4 we find that: “(Jesus) being assembled together with them (the disciples), He commanded them to ‘remain in Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father, which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'” L.J.

Israel part 9