The book of Acts gives a remarkable account of the day of Pentecost in chapter 2. This event marked a pivotal moment in history when God sent His Spirit in an extraordinary way. The apostles boldly proclaimed God’s message, and the world around them paid attention. Some people today suggest that every church gathering should aim to recreate such experiences. But is that expectation realistic given the unique context of Pentecost? And how should this passage influence the church now?
Pentecost was an exceptional, one-time event. It was not intended to set a recurring pattern for Christian worship. The Holy Spirit visibly descended like tongues of fire, and the apostles spoke in real, identifiable languages—not meaningless sounds but known languages that people understood in their native tongues. Acts 2 makes it clear that this miraculous sign served a distinct purpose: to demonstrate the Spirit’s arrival and signal the beginning of the church.
Similar events occurred later in Acts, such as among the Gentiles in chapter 8 and followers of John the Baptist. These moments introduced different groups into the church but were not meant to define the regular Christian experience. These miraculous signs were God’s way of confirming His work during that unique time in history.
While Christians today may not witness such dramatic signs, the message of Pentecost remains vital. It reminds us that God’s Spirit empowers His church to proclaim the gospel to all nations. As Paul wrote, “For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The church’s focus should be on living out this unity and sharing God’s word, not on seeking miraculous signs as a norm.
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In chapter 11, Dr. McGee begins by noting that after Jesus enunciated his ethic, performed miracles, and sent out his disciples, the reception of his message was rejection. This chapter marks a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Even John the Baptist, in prison, sent two disciples to ask Jesus, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”. Dr. McGee finds this a logical question, as John might have expected Jesus to have assumed power by this time. Jesus did not rebuke John but told his disciples to report what they had seen and heard – the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, lepers cleansed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised, and the poor having the gospel preached to them. These were the credentials of the Messiah prophesied in Isaiah. Jesus then defended John to the multitudes, emphasizing that John was not a “reed shaken with the wind” but a strong voice. He was rugged and more than a prophet, being the forerunner prophesied in Malachi 3:1. Jesus stated that there had not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist among those born of women, yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he because of being in Christ. Dr. McGee interprets the difficult verse about the Kingdom of Heaven suffering violence as referring to both external forces seeking to destroy it and the wholehearted commitment needed to enter it. He notes that John is the Elijah who was to come if they had received Christ. Jesus then likens that generation to spoiled children who were never pleased. They criticized John for his austerity and Jesus for eating and drinking. A significant change occurs as Jesus begins to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works were done because they did not repent, pronouncing judgment on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, stating it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, and even Sodom, in the day of judgment than for them due to the greater light they rejected. Jesus then thanks the Father for hiding these things from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes. He declares that all things are delivered to him by the Father and invites all who labor and are heavy laden to come to him for rest, offering his easy yoke and light burden, which Dr. McGee identifies as the burden of sin.
Chapter 12 marks open conflict with the religious rulers. The conflict begins when Jesus’ disciples pluck and eat corn on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees accuse them of harvesting. Jesus defends his disciples by referring to David eating the showbread and the priests working in the temple on the Sabbath, claiming that “in this place is one greater than the temple” and that “the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day”. This claim of superiority leads to greater bitterness from the Pharisees. In the synagogue, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, further provoking the Pharisees who then take counsel to destroy him. Despite this, great multitudes followed Jesus, and he healed them all, charging them not to make him known, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about his servant. A man possessed by a demon, blind and dumb, is brought to Jesus, and he heals him, causing the people to wonder if he is the Son of David. However, the Pharisees accuse him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus refutes this, warning that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand and that if he casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come. He speaks of the unpardonable sin as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which occurred when they attributed his works to Satan despite the Holy Spirit’s power. Dr. McGee clarifies that this specific sin cannot be committed today, but resisting the Holy Spirit’s work in offering forgiveness still leads to a lack of remedy. Jesus then rebukes that generation as vipers, stating that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. When the scribes and Pharisees ask for a sign, Jesus says the only sign will be the sign of Jonah – three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, a resurrection sign. He contrasts their rejection with the repentance of the men of Nineveh and the wisdom-seeking of the Queen of Sheba, both of whom will condemn that generation. He gives the parable of the unclean spirit returning with seven more wicked spirits to an empty house, illustrating that reformation without true conversion is insufficient and leaves one in a worse state. Jesus then emphasizes that the strongest relationship is the spiritual one with Christ and fellow believers, not blood ties.
Chapter 13 is described as one of the high points of Matthew’s Gospel and key to understanding the Kingdom of Heaven. Dr. McGee asserts that the Kingdom of Heaven is not synonymous with the church but is Christendom, encompassing the church. He interprets the seven (or eight) parables in this chapter as revealing the mysteries or the condition of the Kingdom of Heaven during Jesus’ rejection. The first is the Parable of the Sower, which Dr. McGee considers the key to the other parables because Jesus himself interprets it. The sower is the Son of Man, sowing the seed, which is the Word of God, in the world. The wayside hearers are those from whom the devil snatches the word. The stony ground hearers receive the word with joy but lack root and fall away during tribulation. The thorny ground hearers are choked by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. The good ground hearers understand the word and bear fruit. The next parable is the Parable of the Tares and Wheat, where an enemy (Satan) sows tares (false doctrine, children of the wicked one) among the wheat (children of the Kingdom). The householder (Jesus) instructs the servants not to pull up the tares prematurely, but to let both grow until the harvest (end of the age), when the angels will separate them. This illustrates the current state of Christendom. The Parable of the Mustard Seed describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a small seed that grows into a large tree where birds (evil, Satan) lodge, representing the outward growth of the organized church (Christendom) becoming influenced by evil. The Parable of the Leaven likens the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven (always a symbol of evil and corruption) hidden by a woman (a principle of evil in doctrine) in three measures of meal (the Word of God), signifying the corruption of the Word. Dr. McGee considers this a key verse in the Bible, illustrating how various isms and cults use and distort the Bible. Jesus interprets the Parable of the Tares and Wheat again for his disciples. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure in a field (the world) represents the nation Israel, hidden and scattered but to be bought (redeemed) by the man (Christ) who sells all he has. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price depicts the merchant man as Christ, seeking a goodly pearl (the church), who sells all he has (his riches, becoming poor, shedding his blood) to buy it, with the pearl formed by sin (foreign matter) being covered by Christ’s righteousness. The Parable of the Dragnet cast into the sea gathering all kinds of fish represents the end of the age when angels will separate the wicked from the just. Finally, the parable of the householder (every scribe instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven) brings forth things both new and old from his treasure (the Word of God). Dr. McGee concludes by noting the rejection Jesus faced in his own country, Nazareth, where their unbelief limited his mighty works. This unbelief can limit God’s power today as well. The sermon ends by introducing chapter 14, highlighting the growing antagonism towards Jesus, leading to the slaying of John the Baptist, and foreshadowing the ultimate crisis.
The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the bible. Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy
In Matthew chapter 8, following the high ethical standards presented in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew introduces a series of miracles performed by Jesus. These miracles are not presented in chronological order but rather in a logical sequence to demonstrate that the King who gave the ethic also possesses the power to enable its accomplishment. Dr. McGee emphasizes that just as believers today can do nothing without Christ, these miracles reveal Jesus’ divine power. The chapter begins with Jesus descending from the mountain, followed by great multitudes, and proceeds to narrate six miracles showcasing his power over various realms.
The miracles in Matthew 8 illustrate Jesus’ comprehensive authority. He heals a leper through touch, signifying his power over human disease. He heals the Centurion’s servant from a distance, demonstrating his authority without physical contact and marveling at the Centurion’s faith. Jesus then heals Peter’s mother-in-law by touching her and casts out demons, moving into the supernatural realm. He further demonstrates his power over nature by stilling a storm. Finally, he casts out demons from two men, highlighting his authority over the spiritual realm and a particularly difficult case. These miracles are presented to show the multifaceted power of the King.
Moving into Matthew chapter 9, the theme of Jesus’ power continues with six more recorded miracles. Upon returning to Capernaum, Jesus heals a paralytic, notably connecting the healing with the forgiveness of his sins, a power exclusive to God. Matthew himself is called to be a disciple, and Jesus associates with publicans and sinners, emphasizing his mission to call the sick rather than the righteous. The chapter also includes the healing of a woman with a twelve-year issue of blood after she touched his garment, and the raising of a ruler’s daughter from the dead, marking the first instance of Jesus raising someone from death in the Gospels. Additionally, he heals two blind men and a dumb man possessed by a demon, further displaying his widespread healing power.
In Matthew chapter 10, having demonstrated his power through these twelve miracles, Jesus commissions his twelve disciples, now referred to as apostles, to go to the nation of Israel and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. He gives them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease, providing them with the same credentials he possessed. Their specific mission is directed towards “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and they are instructed to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons freely. Dr. McGee emphasizes that these instructions were specific to that time and mission to Israel, not necessarily a direct mandate for all Christians today.
While the specific instructions given to the apostles in Matthew 10 were for a particular context, Dr. McGee points out that the chapter also contains general principles applicable to all believers. Jesus warns them of coming persecution, instructing them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. He tells them not to fear those who can kill the body but rather fear God. He assures them of God’s care and the importance of confessing him before men. The chapter concludes with a call for total commitment and the promise of reward for those who receive his messengers. Dr. McGee encourages listeners to interpret these instructions within their historical context while still recognizing the enduring spiritual truths they contain.
The thought of evangelism often stirs mixed emotions—excitement, nervousness, and even fear. This is not surprising, as the New Testament recognizes these reactions and addresses them directly. The Apostle Paul boldly declared in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” While most Christians would agree they are not ashamed of the gospel, many still admit feeling anxious about sharing it. But is there a distinction between anxiety and shame, and what did Paul mean by his statement?
Anxiety and shame are indeed different. Anxiety often arises when we approach someone with the gospel because of the nature of the message. It involves telling people hard truths: that humanity is sinful and deserving of eternal punishment. This can feel daunting because it’s not the easiest conversation to begin. However, acknowledging the problem of sin is essential since the question of salvation hinges on being saved from something—and that something is eternal separation from God.
Paul’s encouragement not to be ashamed reminds believers to move beyond their fears. Sharing the gospel requires confronting these feelings and focusing on the incredible hope offered through salvation. The good news of Jesus Christ is the most transformative message anyone can hear. A practical way to start is by framing it positively: “I have the best news you’ll ever hear.” This approach can help ease anxiety and create an opening for deeper conversation.
Evangelism calls for courage, but it also reminds us of our mission to share God’s love and redemption. As Paul demonstrated, confidence in the gospel’s power can overcome any hesitation.
Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of January 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (December.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.
1 Collingsworth Family – Praise The Lord 2 Gold City – When it’s gone for good 3 LeFevre Quartet – The Things We Cannot Change 4 Brian Free & Assurance – Grateful For the Gospel 5 Lee Park Worship – Why Wouldn’t I Run 6 Red Words – The Erwins 7 Justified Quartet – The Good, Bad and the Ugly 8 Earnie Haase & Signature Sound – You’ll find Him there 9 Triumphant Quartet – Big old stone 10 Tim Livingston – More Than You Know 11 Tim Menzies with The Isaacs – What Are You Waiting For 12 Scotty Inman – Man On The Middle Cross 13 The Sound – Jeans and Jesus 14 The Browns – No one greater 15 Jim And Melissa Brady – Covered 16 The Taylors – He is good to me 17 Susan Whisnant – Faith In Place 18 Heart 2 Heart – When The Saints Begin To Pray 19 Nelons – There’s a Hole in the Heart 20 The Hoppers – Glory Up Ahead 21 Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Dear Lord 22 Down East Boys – Something to shout about 23 Kristy Cox – God Never Made A Mountain 24 Legacy Five – Bigger on the Inside 25 Poet Voices – I Remember Lost 26 The Inspirations – My Name’s Already There 27 2nd Chance Ministries – Find My Hallelujah 28 REAL Southern Gospel Quartet – Here I’ll stand 29 Sound Street – Through the furnace fire 30 Kingdom Heirs – Until prayer changes me
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