Ron and Nick's Best Friend Podcast

Daily 7A Movement Launch Meeting ⁠⁠⁠Launch Code⁠⁠5 minutes to light the fuseHear from GodRemember who we areReceive blessingGo change the worldRon and Nick talk religious platitudes like "I guess that's the will of God" and "I really want God to use me."Notes:Acts 1:15Peter stood up (also in Acts 2:14)There is a scene in The Matrix where Neo stands up to the representatives of the evil matrix for the first time and doesn't run away. When someone asks what he is doing, Morpheus replies, “He's beginning to believe.”  We can almost see the wheels going round in Peter's head when this moment comes. He's been a failure till now. A denier and a runner. But now he stands up. What gives him the right to speak to the assembly?  Who gave him a platform or authority?  He thinks he can rebuke Jesus. He uses swords when Jesus says put swords away. He spouts curses when he's afraid of associating with Jesus. And he goes fishing when it looks like Jesus's plan isn't working out. Now he stands up?  Shouldn't it be John? At least John didn't cut, curse, or run. But it's Peter who takes charge when the community is waiting for the gift. He recognizes the moment they are in together - the need for perspective and replacement of the traitor. He has no particular right to take a place of leadership himself. He is a traitor too. But he is beginning to believe something. He is beginning to believe the Jesus commissioning; the placement of Peter at the foot of the church (Mt 16:18). The declaration that he is not Simon but Peter. He is beginning to believe in his given name and place. Peter stood up because he began to believe the gospel. Jesus restoration and Jesus placement. Acts 1:16IdentityThe Holy Spirit is the one who Peter sees in the words of the Old Testament. He doesn't yet possess the Holy Spirit or vice versa but he knows him. The Holy Spirit identity is a writer and speaker. He is consistent from the beginning of time. He is always speaking to and through people who know him. Acts 1:17He was one of our number The implications of this statement are profound. Judas the betrayer was not an outsider. He was one of them. He was one that Jesus called to himself after praying all night (Luke 6:12-16). This means that Judas joined Jesus' ministry on purpose - God's purpose. The betrayal was not a mistake nor did God cause it. God knew it and He also knew how it fit in his plans.Acts 1:20In the PsalmsThere seems to be no doubt on the part of the earliest believers and teachers of Christianity that everything in the Scriptures related to Jesus, his life, his death, his earthly ministry and his future ministry. All of everything related to Jesus for them. It was a simple belief that they held and allowed them to look to the past present and future with confidence that since they belonged to him nothing could be beyond explanation and nothing could be out of control. If you need convincing read the Psalms quoted here and see how little they have to do with "systematic theology."  No modern theologian would try to make these connections. They would be run out of their school. We can have a better theology and a better life if we adopt the view of these simple believers. Everything is about Jesus.

Daily 7A Movement Launch Meeting ⁠⁠Launch Code⁠5 minutes to light the fuseHear from GodRemember who we areReceive blessingGo change the worldRon and Nick talk about community and hearing from God together.notes:Acts 1:14Their instinct was to be together and to pray together. They had just experienced a whirlwind of mind bending activity. Arrest, trial, and death of their leader.  Resurrection. 40 days of learning from a man who was dead but is now alive and then some fantastic departure to heaven. And their response is to go back to Jerusalem, stay together and pray.  This has to be a result of their life with Jesus. This is not my instinct. When I am confused or instructed to wait I tend to isolate and pray by myself. Is community at the core of my life and my life in Jesus?  It seems like it should be if I've really spent time with him.

Daily 7A Movement Launch Meeting ⁠Launch Code5 minutes to light the fuseHear from GodRemember who we areReceive blessingGo change the worldRon and Nick discuss sources and the names we are called and how some people are bigger to us than others. Plus our continuing walk through the book of Acts with the Holy Spirit.Notes:Acts 1:11I feel like I want to keep looking into the cloud where I last saw you Jesus. I don't want you to leave and I'm unsure of what to do next. It was so easy and bright and clear just a moment ago when you showed yourself to me but now I'm looking at nothing but clouds. I'm looking at where you were and I'm standing here with no desire to look around at this dirty dark world you've left me in. I'm sad and lonely. What do I do now?  Wait for power is what you said. Wait. Power. Spirit. Witness. Please Holy Spirit come and empower me and also fulfill the promise of comforting me. Comfort and power and direction and provision all are promised in you. Today I seek all in you. May I have some evidence of your direction for us today?  A breadcrumb of providence?

Daily 7A Movement Launch Meeting Launch CodeRon and Nick talk about the necessity of having a community of people around us to help us hear and hold what God is telling us AND we announce our daily online meeting of the movement to encourage us to live like the gospel is true.Notes:Acts 1:8IdentityThe Holy Spirit is power if a new and different kind than any power ever entrusted to men. It is a received power not an earned power or a built power.  He is the power and it cannot be separated from his presence.At This Time Jesus's teaching about the kingdom must have been like his other teaching: plain in some aspects and completely opaque in others. After 40 days of teaching about the kingdom the followers of Jesus are anxious for the kingdom to come but mistaken about what the kingdom meant.  Is it God's fault we don't understand his teaching?  Sometimes I tend to subconsciously place the blame for my misunderstandings at the feet I God. And there is some evidence that Jesus taught the crowds in ways they could not understand (mt 13:10-17) but not these people. They are the ones who have the keys and he tells them plainly about the kingdom. And still they are struggling to understand.  Why?  God's teaching is clear but our paradigms are not changed. In order to have God teaching we need God hearing. These followers heard kingdom and thought of power exercised through men. But God was telling them about a kingdom where power would be exercised through a Spirit. 

Launch Code for 7A daily zoomNotes:(vs 7)It Is Not For You to KnowThey ask a good question and Jesus doesn't rebuke them for asking it, he simply tells them it isn't their business to know. There are some things (many) that knowing will not do us any good and may harm us. The tree of knowledge is not the tree of life. Accepting God at his word and waiting upon him is better than analyzing rationalizing and predicting what God is up to. It is enough to know that our God knows. Knowing God is always better than knowing information.(vs 8) IdentityThe Holy Spirit is power if a new and different kind than any power ever entrusted to men. It is a received power not an earned power or a built power.  He is the power and it cannot be separated from his presence.At This TimeJesus's teaching about the kingdom must have been like his other teaching: plain in some aspects and completely opaque in others. After 40 days of teaching about the kingdom the followers of Jesus are anxious for the kingdom to come but mistaken about what the kingdom meant.  Is it God's fault we don't understand his teaching?  Sometimes I tend to subconsciously place the blame for my misunderstandings at the feet I God. And there is some evidence that Jesus taught the crowds in ways they could not understand (mt 13:10-17) but not these people. They are the ones who have the keys and he tells them plainly about the kingdom. And still they are struggling to understand.  Why?  God's teaching is clear but our paradigms are not changed. In order to have God teaching we need God hearing. These followers heard kingdom and thought of power exercised through men. But God was telling them about a kingdom where power would be exercised through a Spirit.

Notes:Restore the kingdom This is a logical question. Jesus began his ministry with the appellation "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand" and here he is declaring his work as coming to an end. This must mean the kingdom is coming into being. With no other way of understanding a kingdom these people are expecting it to come as it always had - with power over the land and the political system. Established borders and law and order. They did not conceive of the kingdom Jesus inaugurated by completing his work and sending the Holy Spirit.Donna and Jamie Winship podcast

Notes:Command (vs 4)Jesus gives a Jesus command. I'm not sure anyone else could have done this or would have done this. Wait here and don't move until the gift appears. How long? No answer. How will we know the gift is here? No answer. What should we do while we wait? No answer. What kind of power? No answer. Notice they don't actually ask any of these questions - at least not that we are told. But they do want to know about what the power will do for them. Will it displace the Romans?  Will we get our nation back? Will we get our lives back? In other words, we are willing to wait without questions if this is going to get us what we want out of it. Identity (vs 5)The HS identity is a gift just as Jesus was a gift.  It is important to see him this way.  Gifts are given not earned.  They must be accepted.  They must be unwrapped or taken into our lives.Wait in Jerusalem Jesus commands his followers to wait in the place of their greatest defeat and worst tragedy. It is also the location of immanent danger to anyone associated with his name. They know Jesus is alive. He tells them about the kingdom. How exciting must this be?  How incredible to see these things and sense you are on the verge of all your dreams come true?  And Jesus command is to wait. That's fine. But he isn't going to wait with them. And that is not so fine. Jesus is leaving and we are waiting a "few days."  What does that mean?  We know God's sense of time and ours are not at all similar (2 pet 3:8). Waiting an indefinite amount of time without the real presence of God in Jesus and without the internal presence of God in the Holy Spirt, in a dangerous place full of bad memories is a daunting task.  This is a great act of faith. Why would Jesus leave them in this position?  What's the point?

Acts 1:2 IdentityThe Holy Spirit will now be the identity who moves through the earth and everyone who comes in contact with him is trying to figure out who he is and who they are relative to him.  Now he is the Jesus identity fully present.  This is the handoff.Giving instructions through the Holy Spirit If Jesus is with them and showing them convincing proofs he is alive, why is the Holy Spirit mentioned here as the agent of instruction?  Isn't Jesus himself instructing them?  Is this a combination of Jesus speaking and the Spirit affirming in their hearts?  This is a very curious statement. Couple this with Jesus' command for them to wait on the Holy Spirit and it becomes even more curious. The Spirit is present and active but not fully present and active or as present and active as He will be when Pentecost comes. This brief period of time must be like a turnover of command on a ship. Both captains are present at once but the outgoing is giving power and authority to the incoming.  What could be the reason(s) for this?  Perhaps it is so the disciples are ready to recognize the Spirit when he comes. They are getting both voices at one time and can hear that Jesus and the Spirit speak the same language - have one voice. Maybe this is the burning experienced by the disciples on the way to Emmaus when Jesus was opening the Scriptures to them.  Was this "turnover" of command a new way of being led by Jesus who had only followed the Father's leading before the resurrection?  Now the Spirit is leading the risen Jesus and so he is experiencing what his followers must experience after he leaves. This would complete his identification with us who will be led through the Holy Spirit and he will completely understand what it is like to be a Christian dependent upon the Comforter.Acts 1:3Kingdom After 30+ years and a brutal separation from God the Father, Jesus the Son is not in a hurry to get home. This is counterintuitive. The work is done - he said so himself on the cross (John 19:30). Why 40 days more?  Whatever it is you'd think it must be pretty important to delay his return to heaven.  But we do not get the inside story on Jesus's 40 day seminar. We only get the table of contents as it were. He proves his identity beyond their doubts and he teaches about the kingdom.  What can we make of this?  Knowing that Jesus is alive is essential - He offers many convincing proofs. Knowing about a new administration is essential - it is the only subject Jesus teaches. What we know is that Jesus is alive and a new kingdom is either in place or coming or both. This must lead to the conclusion that Jesus's command for his followers to wait upon the Holy Spirit must have something to do with both his revealed, resurrection-type life and the kingdom. Holy Spirit is the kingdom come not just as an administrator of life like human kings but as the indestructible life that enters the heart of believers and sets up an internal administration. A life like Jesus's life. 

Ron and Nick begin a weekly study through the book of Acts looking for and listening to the work of the Holy Spirit.Notes:First account... began to do and to teachLuke has begun a research project that takes him from the birth of Jesus to the birth of the church. Along the way he ceases to be an observer/journalist and falls into the story. The “they did” will become “we did” (see Acts 16:10). Luke is meticulous. Of all the gospel writers he is the most detailed. He uses words precisely. When he says his first account was what Jesus began to do and teach we need to take note. Luke's first work is the gospel of Luke where Jesus is the lead character from start to finish, but in this second work, Jesus is going to make a brief appearance and strangely depart. How are we to understand the word “began”? Luke implies that Jesus is going to continue both doing and teaching. How?  The way this is written is supposed to make us lean in and look for the answer right at the outset. We are supposed to enter here looking over the shoulder of the Jesus Christ, the resurrection man; listening to a dead man teach about how to live now in light of his destruction of the laws of sin, death, and physics. He is going to continue doing things and teaching us things and we'd better pay attention. He is no longer the peasant prophet, he is now the ruler of life and death. We listen in to the conversation and find out that he is not planning on sticking around and that some other person is going to shape and guide the movement he has begun. It is the Holy Spirit. It is not an it but a He; a person. He is the Spirit of Christ. What does that mean?  It means we should look for and expect Him to act like Jesus; to do the kinds of things Jesus did and say the kind of things Jesus said. He is not unknown to us. The whole gospel of Luke tells us what to expect from Him. Now we wait to see how He will arrive on the scene and what the gospel of Acts will be. 

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick talk about wandering away from the Spirit and how it effects us.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick talk about the definition of love and how Love defines our lives.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick talk about the proper perspective on being married.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick talk about how we get divorced long before we go to court.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick talk about the reasons for affairs and what happens after one.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Ron and Nick ask, "what difference does it make to hear the voice of God in your marriage?"

Ron and Nick talk about the impossible commandments of marriage.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Nick finishes his interview with Ron about his 13 year long battle with treatment resistant depression.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Nick continues his interview with Ron about his 13 year long battle with treatment resistant depression and his recovery.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Nick interviews Ron about his 13 year long battle with treatment resistant depression and his recovery.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.

In between interviews about recovering from treatment resistant depression Ron prays for all of us.

Re-broadcast of verse by verse study through John 11 with the Holy Spirit.