As I prepare this article, it is as if I am hearing more and more about the lack of good, solid, solid leadership in the nations of the world, where men of integrity and trustworthiness are indeed trustworthy. Corruption seems to be a plague in these times when transparency easily breaks too many tongues.

In the Bible there are lessons and warnings and guidance and direction in the areas of leadership and discipleship and we would be wise to start paying attention.

Many of our serious situations and circumstances could be resolved if we would just stick to what God has said in the Old and New Testament scriptures.

When I was asked to give ten lessons, ten talks, seeking to cover the entire Bible in ten sessions, I found it exciting, and also very challenging.

In our journey through the Bible seeking to have an overview of these last 6,000 years, we came to the prophets. Since the days of Moses there have been prophets, but it is when we get around 700 BC that we have several books written by the prophets.

Previously the words of the prophets were included in the content of the historical books.

The prophets were very ordinary men, but they were given a CHARGE, an ORACLE or a WORD, which they spoke, preached, proclaimed or shared.

The prophet not only spoke for God, but first had to listen to God. We have to receive before we can give.

The prophets basically challenged God’s people, and occasionally confronted kings, or priests, or false prophets.

They also comforted people, and that too is part of New Testament prophecy.

Let me jump right in at this point and mention the prophetic book of ACTS: As we try to go through the Bible and get a quick overview of God’s Word, we now come to the book of ACTS. Acts is written by Lucas-this is the second volume of him.

Beginning after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it deals with the details of the Ascension, a much-neglected aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry.

We are talking about the first 30 years of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Then we continue reading about that mighty day of Pentecost – when the Church of Jesus Christ was born – launched – in the Temple of Jerusalem – with thousands present – and 120 disciples of Jesus baptized in the Holy Spirit – anointed – filled – and overflowing.

AND ALL spoke in tongues – ALL praised God in languages ​​they had never learned. Those who were watching thought they were drunk—and Peter explained, basing his explanation on Scripture—as to what God had done.

Here we are reading about how we come to the Church of Jesus Christ and how we should behave once we come to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Luke was a doctor, a scientist, a man who used to be careful in observation and record keeping. He has examined the life of Jesus—now he is examining the life of the Church, and in these first 11 or 12 chapters we have most of the basics of the Christian life.

Speaking in Uganda and Kenya at 3-day seminars for pastors and leaders, I took these men through the first 15 chapters of the book of ACTS.

On the Day of Pentecost, when Peter explains what has been happening, the people want to do something – Acts Chapter 2 verses 37ff. – and Peter is simple, direct and clear – repent – be baptized – receive the Holy Spirit.

Then we read about the importance of teaching – and these four basic areas of life in the fellowship of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Peter and John meet that crippled man, and he’s healed, and Peter and John are put in jail. The persecution has begun – within the first few days.

But there is a boldness and a courage displayed by these apostles – and a fellowship that is so strong and dependable and supportive and prayerful.

God also maintains a purity within the fellowship during the first few weeks – hypocrisy is dealt with severely – Acts Chapter 5.

But then a complaint arises, and people are appointed to deal with this unnecessary problem.

Leaders would not deviate from their priorities, and we read about it. His priorities were prayer and the ministry of the Word. The priorities for leaders and leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ have never changed, altered, or modified.

The Gospel begins to spread outside of Jerusalem – when a man goes to Samaria – but the job is not done completely – adequately – completely – and Peter and John go down to Samaria to make sure that these new believers in Jesus are born again, just as the believers in Jerusalem. Acts Chapter 8.

The persecution increases, and we meet Saul of Tarsus, responsible for the death of the first disciple of Jesus to die for his faith.

Saul is arrested by Jesus outside Damascus, and is transformed. Jesus sends him a friend to help him: Ananias. Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit – baptized in water – and then eats something. He looks at his priorities. So he goes out to preach! The hunter is hunted. He has to escape.

Where will he go? Where can you go? Would anyone trust him? Was he a plant, a spy? Another man befriends him in Jerusalem: Barnabas. Saul, now called Paul, has to be taken to his hometown of Tarsus.

Acts is now concentrating on Peter, traveling around visiting everyone in need.

God arranges for him to be taken north to Caesarea, where the Gentiles are opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts Chapter 10 – and this puts Peter in trouble, as the Gentiles have come to faith in Jesus Christ and have been ‘born again’. Peter fully explains the leaders in Jerusalem, and when they are satisfied that God is working, they have “no more objections.”

However, there are more problems. James is murdered. So far we have read about Peter, James, and John; now Santiago is assassinated. The intention is to kill others as well. The persecution was growing rapidly.

Acts Chapter 13 – where we come to the first great missionary movement in the Church of Jesus Christ. See how it is born.

And outside, Paul undertakes three missionary trips, each lasting between TWO and FIVE years.

There was a real problem facing the Church in Acts Chapter 15: where people said that it took more than faith in Jesus Christ to be a Christian.

Later, Paul is arrested in Jerusalem and has to go on the run once more. This man has no rest, no free time, no easy period. He is imprisoned for two years in Caesarea, and then sent to Rome, where he finishes the book of Acts.

It is worth checking the details of that storm in the Mediterranean with precision – the currents – the movements of the ship – the type of cargo – how they hit a ship that was about to break – the weather conditions at that time of October of the year.

Paul remains a prisoner and writes some of the letters while imprisoned in Rome. We have the account of Paul’s conversion 3 times in the book of ACTS and he never got away from how he came to faith in Jesus Christ; he never got away from how ‘he was born again’. Some do!

If we didn’t have the book of ACTS, we wouldn’t know how to get into the Church. Please take the time to read or reread the book of ACTS as we approach another Ascension and Pentecost.

Notice that there were no buildings, no official clergy, no committees, no missionary societies to support the missionaries, the people were financed by their converts.

There was no headquarters or denominational divisions, and now we are around AD 65.

There is an emphasis on The Kingdom of God – the Name of Jesus – the power of the Holy Spirit.

These must be three main focuses within the Church of Jesus Christ today.

Jeremiah has become a nickname for doom and gloom: Jeremiah prophesied serious and sad words, all of which came true.

If someone calls you Jeremiah, and that is true, then that is a great compliment, it means that you are proclaiming the Word of God.

The people thought that Jesus was Jeremiah! Matthew chapter 16.

In the prophets we learn about GOD.

We learn that God is powerful – that HE is a GOD of miracles – that HE intervenes in history – that HE lifts up men – that HE judges men and nations, including His own chosen people – that HE is a GOD who forgives and has mercy.

The prophets indicate how personal God is, and how GOD approaches His people, and that HE speaks to people.

Isaiah – we look at his testimony – and we know precisely when he lived. This is a long, long book, and we have a scroll of this book, I have seen it in Jerusalem. It is dated around the year 100 BC.

Take a famous verse – Chapter 2 verse 4 – “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” That’s outside the United Nations building in New York. But – look at the whole verse – “He will judge between the nations.” This was sung at Donald Dewar’s funeral, and I remember thinking, these people have no idea what these words mean.

The first part of the verse is essential before the second part of the verse can happen!

When Jesus took the world stage, Jesus preached from Isaiah 61, and saw the fulfillment of that prophecy in his coming into the world, Luke chapter 4.

Isaiah – Jonah – Joel – Amos – Hosea – Micah – Nahum – Habakkuk – Jeremiah and Obadiah – all were before the Exile. Consider the lessons we can learn from these courageous and insightful men, men who were called of God and who carried something of God’s anointing.

They heard from God, they heard what God was saying at the time, and they had the courage and the ability to proclaim and preach what the people needed to hear, and often at great cost.

May this not be just an article, but allow you to deepen spiritually and bear fruit.

“Lord Almighty God, open us to the prophetic Word, open our hearts and minds to what you revealed to common men, many years ago. We thank you for their boldness and courage, and for the truth and truths they delivered. We thank you for these details about the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.This Easter season, when we remember what lies at the center of our Christian faith – O loving Father, we give thanks for the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ – and all that that that means, that we never lose sight of what lies at the heart and core, we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”