Bible Study with David Hathaway (TV Audio Podcast)

Baptised in the Holy Spirit / Acts Bible Study Chapter 11 (TV Audio #484)

"I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started with my sermon, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as He fell on us at the beginning! Then I thought of the Lord’s words when He said, ‘Yes, John baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ And since it was God who gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?” When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God! “Yes,” they said, “God has given to the Gentiles, too, the privilege of turning to him and receiving eternal life!” (Acts 11.15-18.)
In Acts 11, we see a significant shift in the early church's understanding of its mission, as it embraces the inclusion of Gentiles and expands beyond its Jewish origins. 
At Pentecost the Gospel began with the Jews, but Jesus came to save the world. We are intructed by Jesus in the Great Commission to bring salvation to all people. Jesus told the parable of the Wedding Feast: the invited guests didn't enter into the celebration, so we Gentiles have been invited. During the ministry of Jesus He healed the Centurion's servant; from this we can understand that Jesus came to save the whole world, just as He said in John 3.16, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
'Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them...
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.' (Matthew 22.)

Preach the Gospel to all / Acts Bible Study Chapter 10 (TV Audio #483)

'God shows no favouritism. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all — that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.' (Acts 10.34-43, NKJV.)
Acts 10 recounts the significant event where Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, receives a vision from God that challenges his understanding of who can be included in the Christian community. In the vision, Peter sees a sheet descending from heaven containing various animals, both clean and unclean according to Jewish dietary laws. A voice commands Peter to kill and eat, but Peter refuses, citing his adherence to Jewish customs.
Meanwhile, Cornelius, a Roman centurion, receives a vision instructing him to send for Peter, who is staying in Joppa. Cornelius, a devout man who feared God, sends his servants to fetch Peter. As they approach Joppa, Peter also receives a vision from the Holy Spirit, telling him not to regard any person as unclean.
When Cornelius' messengers arrive, Peter goes with them to Cornelius' house, which is against Jewish custom because Cornelius is a Gentile. Peter preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, and while he is speaking, the Holy Spirit falls upon them, evidenced by their speaking in tongues. This convinces Peter that God shows no partiality and that Gentiles can receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, just as Jews can.
Peter baptises Cornelius and his household, marking a pivotal moment in the early church's understanding of the inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian faith. 

The transforming power of God / Acts Bible Study Chapter 9 (TV Audio #482)

Acts 9.1-31 is a pivotal chapter in the New Testament, showing the dramatic transformation of Saul from a persecutor of Christians to one of the most influential figures in Christianity. It also emphasises the power of God's grace and the role of believers in supporting and accepting one another. 
'I will show him how much he must suffer for my name,' (Acts 9.16): We mustn't be afraid of suffering for in the moment of your greatest tragedy, in the moment of your greatest suffering, when you’re hurting more than you’ve ever hurt before, Jesus is there. He’s not forgotten you, He’s walking nearer to you. Jesus said, ‘I will be with you always.’ Every day, every hour, in the middle of every storm, in the middle of every sickness, even in a hospital bed, Jesus will always come. Whatever the crisis, there’s never a moment when He’s not there. 
Suffering is identification; in taking up our cross, we identify with Jesus, and He identifies with us. Jesus said, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'

From persecution to great joy / Acts Bible Study Chapter 8 (TV Audio #481)

'At that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.... Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.... And there was great joy in that city.' (Acts 8.1-8, KJV.)
The Acts of the Apostles, with its challenges and miracles, demonstrates to us the work of the Believing Church, to prepare for and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth by sharing the Good News – the Gospel – in Power. Deliverance from sin and miracles of healing were the tools Jesus used. These, and the power of prayer, supported by our faith in God’s infallibility, the Holy Spirit working in and through us, are the Mission of the Church and you as part of God’s Mission!
I was recently evangelising in Poland to Ukrainian refugees. In the Saturday evangelistic meeting, we had 100 orphan children aged 14-18, bussed in by their Christian carers; over 150 refugees repented, we saw miracles of healing – testimonies were given on the platform, and others were shared on the buses as they went home. The pastors and missionaries who took part in this event shared their powerful memories of my ministry in Ukraine, Crimea, Belarus and Russia. They told of miracles which I didn’t know: that after my meetings in Gomel, Belarus, in 1994, they opened 50 new churches; in Evpatoria, Crimea, among the many outstanding healings, they brought one man on crutches, unable to walk unaided – he threw away his crutches, gloriously healed, and walked 12 miles home! These men and women from my past are so on fire, they are already missionaries and, as a result of the war in Ukraine, are evangelising Europe! What I want to show you is this, from the terrible persecution and hardship caused by the war can come blessing: God is using the displacement of people for the furtherance of the Gospel, just as He did in Acts 8.

Full of the Holy Spirit and Power / Acts Bible Study Chapters 6&7 (TV Audio #480)

'And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.' (Acts 6.7-8, KJV.)
These chapters are significant because they illustrate the challenges faced by the early Christian community, the importance of serving all members of the community, and the courage and faith of individuals like Stephen, who remained steadfast in their beliefs even in the face of persecution and death. Additionally, Stephen's speech in Acts 7 provides a concise summary of Israel's history, emphasising God's continual pursuit of His people despite their repeated disobedience.

Steadfast in faith and righteousness / Acts Bible Study Chapter 5 (WebTV #479)

Verses 1-11 highlight the importance of integrity within the Christian community. It emphasises the importance of sincerity, honesty and generosity in our dealings with God and fellow believers. Jesus taught that those who are faithful with little will be faithful with much. But the reverse is also true, if we are not faithful with what God has given us, we cannot be trusted with more. Faithfulness and trustworthiness are important virtues for the Christian.
In verses 12 to 20, we witness the extraordinary power and presence of God working through the apostles. The passage begins with the apostles performing many signs and wonders among the people. Gaining them great favour with the crowds. Despite the growing opposition from the religious leaders, the believers gathered in Solomon's Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord. Many were healed simply by being in their presence.
The impact of these miracles was so significant, that people brought their sick out into the streets hoping that Peter's shadow might fall on them and bring healing. Multitudes of people from neighbouring cities, also gathered in Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits. Astonishingly, everyone was healed.
In verse 31, Peter declares to the assembled council of religious leaders, that God exalted Jesus to His right hand as Prince and Saviour, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. He emphasises that they are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. Peter's message is about the exaltation of Jesus by God, the opportunity for repentance, and forgiveness of sins, and the role of the Holy Spirit in confirming these truths to believers.

The Power in the Name of Jesus / Acts Bible Study Chapter 3 (TV Audio #478)

In Acts 3, Peter and John headed to the temple for prayer. They encounter a man who was lame from birth, begging for alms at the temple gate called Beautiful. Peter commands the man to rise up and walk in the Name of Jesus Christ. Miraculously, the man is healed and leaps up, walking and praising God. This causes a commotion among the people, who are astonished at the miracle.
Peter seizes the opportunity to preach to the crowd, explaining that it was not his own power but the power of Jesus Christ that healed the man. He emphasises that the people had denied Jesus and called for His crucifixion, but that God had raised Him from the dead. Peter urges the crowd to repent and turn to God, promising forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who believe.
Many who hear Peter's message believe and join the early Christian community, which grows rapidly in Jerusalem. This chapter illustrates the power of faith in Jesus Christ to bring about miraculous healing and transformation, as well as the boldness of Peter and John in proclaiming the Gospel despite opposition.

The Day of Pentecost / Acts Bible Study Chapter 2 (TV Audio #477)

'When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.' (Acts 2.1-4, NIV.)
Acts 2 describes the events of Pentecost, which occurred fifty days after Jesus' resurrection. The disciples were gathered together in one place when suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the house, and tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
A large crowd gathered because they heard the disciples speaking in their own languages, and they were amazed and perplexed. Some accused the disciples of being drunk, but Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, explaining that what was happening was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy concerning the pouring out of the Spirit in the last days.
Peter preached boldly about Jesus, his crucifixion, and resurrection, declaring him to be both Lord and Messiah. His words pierced the hearts of many in the crowd, and about three thousand people repented and were baptised that day.
The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. They shared everything they had, and signs and wonders were done through the apostles. The community grew in number daily, and they praised God together, finding favour with all the people.
This chapter marks a significant moment in the early church's history, as it describes the empowering of the disciples by the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church through the preaching of the Gospel.

All things are possible with Jesus (TV Audio #476)

All things are possible with Jesus: I began working in the Soviet Union in 1961. For thirty of these years, I worked under communism. In 1990 I was evangelising in Bulgaria; when I was invited to speak in a large church in Sofia, the pastor fled town, he was so afraid of what the communists might do to him afterwards! The next day, I was invited to speak in a church on the far side of Bulgaria, in Yambol. The building was packed out, and the Power of God was so strong, the young people under the Power of the Holy Spirit were speaking in pure English! Sensing the move of God, I got the idea to take a stadium to evangelise openly. The local pastors warned me it was impossible, nevertheless they went with me to ask for permission. Predictably the communist director of the stadium said, “It’s against our law to rent you the stadium.” But then he added, “There is nothing in our law to stop us giving it to you for free!”
I shall never forget the dramatic and exciting evangelism we held in Yambol, Bulgaria, before communism finally fell there. It was August. The music group Vinesong and I arrived the day before the opening. What could we do? Nothing? No!!! So, without permission, we decided to hold an open-air service in the big square in front of the Communist Party Headquarters in Yambol! This city of 100,000 had never witnessed such scenes before! As darkness fell the beautiful worship music drew the crowds. But when Vinesong sang in Bulgarian, ‘I bow the knee to Jesus’ – the whole crowd, 10,000 strong, knelt in prayer with their hands raised in worship and acceptance of Christ! Even the communist police on duty took off their hats, and the Communist Party Flag, which until then had been fluttering bravely in the breeze, hung down limp as if it too was bowing before the Name of Jesus!

The healing power of Jesus / Matthew 8 (TV Audio #475)

In Matthew 8, a centurion beseeched Jesus for his servant lying at home, sick of the palsy. He simply said, ‘I ALSO am a man under authority,’ – thus recognising Christ’s authority – ‘just speak the word!’ Once we accept the authority given us we can also become ‘men under authority’.
The centurion said to Jesus, ‘I am not worthy that you should enter my house… but I am a man under authority, I say to my servant go and he goes.’ The centurion had AUTHORITY to COMMAND obedience! And he recognised this same authority in Jesus to command, when he said to Him, ‘Speak the word only and my servant will be healed.’ This is exactly what Jesus meant when, in Luke 9:1, He gave His disciples ‘power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases’.
The centurion recognised authority, and demonstrated such great FAITH in Jesus and in His authority, it was enough even to heal his servant with one word! This is the secret of power over sickness and evil – authority – and I believe that we have this same authority that Jesus had. Look at Matthew 10:1 where He gave His disciples authority to cast out unclean spirits and heal all manner of sickness and disease, and at verses 7-8 where He says to them, ‘Preach… Heal the sick… Raise the dead!’ If we want to heal the sick, we need boldness and authority to cast out the sickness!