Part 19-1

Download Notes

The Acts of the Hebrews – Part 19-1

19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Shaul having passed through the upper borders came to Ephesus: and finding certain talmidim, 2 He said to them, Have you received the Ruach Hakodesh when you believed? And they said to him, We have not even heard whether there is any Ruach Hakodesh.

1. Being Baptized into John or Being baptized into Yahusha! 
2. Limiting יהוה or being empowered by יהוה 
3. Being overcome by difficulties –  John – “should we keep on working, seeking searching for another who should come? Prison and chains.
4. Or…“accepting” His power and overcoming all difficulties –  Yahusha – ascending up on high, leading captivity captive, where He gives gifts unto men.

Context: The Mission in Ephesus. First of to get the context we need to understand what Shaul was up against, Ephesus was a center of occult magic, a center of the pagan ways of the Roman world. 

Apollos was well trained in and learned, adept in handling the Scriptures. 

Js. 3:1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

1 Ti 1:6 Some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 1Ti 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

We should all strive to be like Apollos; well trained, learned and adept in handling the Scriptures…our goodness is but as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away. As we slay others with the words of our mouth we forget we’ll be slain by those very words and  יהוהs  judgments are as the light that goes forth. For יהוה desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of his Goodness more than burnt offerings. But we have all sinned and dealt treacherously with one another and our God. (Hos.6:4)

2 Sa 24:12 (after David erred in numbering Israel) Thus saith the יהוה , I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

essentially plead guilty, not guilty or…there is another way…

2Sa 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the יהוה; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

Always choose the third option, the one that will never be disclosed to the philistine.

2 He said to them, Have you received the Ruach Hakodesh when you believed? And they said to him, We have not even heard whether there is any Ruach Hakodesh.

Romans 9:20

20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to Elohim? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

LIMITING יהוה DUE TO NOT HEARING THE RUACH HA KODESH…

It’s akin to being baptized into JOHN rather than baptized into YAHUSHA.

The baptism of JOHN is a parable for the limited state of faith…form without substance, religion without full indwelling Spirit relationship.  

John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Yahusha Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Master Yahusha. 

(Exodus 20:4-6) The natural mind cries out for something to “help” it worship יהוה, but nothing in man’s limited imagination can measure up. So any time a man devises an image of god other than the true Elohim, a predictable effect will occur. 

Psalm 78:40-41: “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tested יהוה, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will [have] a form of godliness but [deny] its power – the RUACH. And from such people turn away!” 

Limiting יהוה creates idolatry because we must turn to another source if we want to be delivered from what is unsettling us. 

In Psalm 78:40-42 Provoked means “rebelled against.” Israel’s disrespect and irreverence produced the fruit of limiting YHWH’s  willingness and power to provide for them in any situation. 

In their minds, they set boundaries upon what they thought He would or could do. 

The psalmist shows in their lack of faith they mentally drew lines, concluding that יהוה could not or would not provide for them in their circumstance. 

They chose to arrive at their own solutions that resulted in sin and death. They were not living by faith but by sight. Hebrews 4:1-2 confirms this was at the base of Israel’s failure in the wilderness – limiting יהוה and lacking reliance upon His Spirit. 

4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

At times, too, we can be tempted to acquiesce to the majority, and in doing so, go against the RUACH’s touch on the conscience, damaging our faith and conviction.

3 And he said to them, Into what then were you immersed? And they said, Into Yochanan ha Matbeel’s mikvah. 4 Then said Shaul, John the Baptist truly immersed with the mikvah of teshuvah, saying to the people, that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Moshiach gauvh.

5 When they heard this, they were immersed in the Name of the Master gauvh. 6 And when Shaul had laid his hands upon them, the Ruach Hakodesh came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.

Now, more than ever is to be watchful of those you surround yourself with, beware of those that come from a very strange background, where they are completely ignorant about the Holy Spirit. 

INTO WHAT WHERE YOU BAPTIZED?

It can’t be just repentance…JOHNS…it has to be both a repentance and faith decision. 

Realize in Yahusha’s baptism – repentance and faith we are empowered to overcome skepticism, even when we lack the means….we do what the Father asks of us…and it’s up to him to provide the means for us…YHWH’s power will always be the primary means to accomplish anything in life. We can find riches in “impossible,” desolate places.

No matter how hard a location; how hard a circumstance. 

Truly, where faithfulness exists, יהוהs work will be done. 

His power overcomes all difficulties.

Never let our problems devalue יהוה, never let it become an obstacle to our faith. 

There will always be people V. 9 who have become hardened and speak evil of you before men…fear not…

v.9…But when some were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them.