Atlantic Gospel Hour

In the opening verses of the book of Acts, the apostles spend 40 days with the risen Lord.  During that time, He taught them the things concerning Himself, and "the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3)  Surely the disciples would have been encouraged to be in the presence of the resurrected Christ.  They likely would have been eager to go out into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But instead of telling them to go out into the world, the Lord told them to wait in Jerusalem for what the Father had promised.  In order for them to succeed in their new mission to spread the Gospel, they required the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them.  This is the same Holy Spirit which indwells and empowers every believer in the Lord Jesus.
Thank you listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through God's Word.

The Book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke are, in essence, are two parts of the same book.  Acts continues where Luke's Gospel leaves off.  And so we interpret the Book of Acts in the context of what Christ has done.  As such, the Book of Acts then becomes a bridge connecting what Jesus has done to what Christ is doing in His church today.
As we begin our study into the book of Acts, we begin by examining the work of Christ in the Gospels.  We see that Jesus is building His church through the proclamation of the Gospel.  And while the work is finished through the blood of Christ, there is still work to be done through applying the work of the Cross through preaching the Gospel.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.

We make choices every day.  Some choices are insignificant, such as what to eat, or what to wear, etc.  Other choices are more significant, sch as education, marriage and family.  And some choices have impacts that echo into eternity.
In today's lesson we look at two people who made choices based upon their faith in God.  We consider the choices made by Moses, as well as those made by Moses' mother.  In the end, we find that while none of us will hold up a staff to part the sea, or come down from the mountain carrying tablets of stones, we can all be like Moses' mother.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed as we study God's Word together.

The Book of Acts is often referred to as "The Acts of the Apostles."  While this is the most traditional title, it is not necessarily the most accurate as most of the apostles are not named.
Another possible title often considered is, "The Acts of the Holy Spirit."  Again, while the Holy Spirit is prominent in the events of the book, this view diminishes the work of Christ through the apostles.
As we begin a new series on the book of Acts, we consider a third possible title.  Although longer than the rest, it sums up the realities of the events recorded in this book.  We therefore, consider the title as, "The Continuing Words and Deeds of Jesus by the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles."
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed as we study God's Word together.

Every believer at some point in their walk with the Lord experiences questions, and even doubts.  Life is filled with troubles that grieve us; leaving us to wonder how we reconcile our trials and tribulations with the promises of God in Scripture.
 
In his life, Abraham also dealt with questions.  The man referred to as the friend of God, and the father of all who believer, struggled with questions.  In Genesis 15, we see that in the midst of these deep questions, the Lord meets Abram in the midst of his struggles.  We see God responding to Abram's questions with grace and patience.
 
We can take comfort in knowing it is OK to come to God with our questions.  For in the midst of our suffering, we get a glimpse into what God has done on our behalf through the cross of Christ.
 
May you be blessed as you listen to today's lesson.
 
Thank you for listening.

In many ways, Isaiah 53 is the ultimate Messianic passage in scripture.  Like few other passages in the Old Testament, it defines the role of the Messiah in receiving glory through suffering.  When Jesus was with His disciples and following Peter's confession of the Christ, we read that, "He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day" (Matt. 16:21 NASB).  Likewise, when He met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus exhorted them, "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His Glory?" (Luke 24:26 NASB).
 
Throughout Isaiah 53, the Song of the Servant, Isaiah has been writing from the perspective of future Israel looking back at Jesus as the one whom they had pierced.  But now, in the closing verses of Isaiah 53, we see a shift in perspective.  Now, Isaiah speaks from God's perspective looking forward and telling of the result of the suffering Servant.  We see Yahweh exalted.  We see Yahweh satisfied with the work of the Servant.  We see victory through the intercessory work of the Servant who "bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors."
 
May you be blessed as you listen to this week's lesson.
 
Thank you for listening.

Isaiah 53 is often referred to as the Gospel According to Isaiah.  With his song of the Servant, Isaiah, beginning in Isaiah 52:13, gives the perspective of future Israel looking back at the cross and the Messiah whom they pierced.
Through this series, we have seen the exaltation of the Servant, the rejection of the Servant, the substitionary work of the Servant and the silent submission of the Servant.  Before completing this series, this lesson slows down to focus on one verse, Isaiah 53:10, in which we see the Servant crushed.  We examine how the Servant was crushed, and why it pleased the Lord to crush Him.  Seeing Isaiah 53:10, in the context of the Gospel, we come to a greater understanding and appreciation for the Cross of Calvary.
May you be blessed by God's Word as you listen to today's lesson. Thank you for listening.

If someone does wrong to you, many will say, "Don't get mad, get even."   But Scripture takes a different approach to the wrongs done to us.  Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32 NASB).  Peter wrote to the church in Asia, "not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead" (1 Peter 3:9 NASB).
In today's lesson we examine the life of Joseph.  Here was a man sold into slavery by his brothers; wrongfully imprisoned in an Egyptian prison; and finally forgotten and left imprisoned by a man he helped.  But rather than getting mad, or getting even, Joseph continued to entrust himself to the Lord's will.  And when finally in a position to get even with his brothers, rather than bringing retribution, or seeking reparations, he forgave.
What lessons can we learn for ourselves from the life of Joseph?  May you be blessed as you listen to today's lesson.
Thank you for listening.

The current cultural climate increasingly focuses upon social justice.  Protests, both peaceable and violent, speak out regarding claims of injustice against minority groups.  Surely there is a time and place for speaking up.  Jesus spoke with authority and demons were cast out, the sick were healed, the lame walked, etc.
The greatest injustice in history saw the only innocent man in all of history arrested, brutalized, spat upon and ultimately executed in a trial that broke the very Law the religious leaders swore they were protecting.  And the only person who had a right to speak up and speak out against this injustice remained silent.
Some 600 to 700 years before these events, the prophet, Isaiah, spoke of the servant and His silent submission.  "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7 NASB). What does the silence of the servant in the face of His oppressors mean for us today?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.