Abri Brancken - The Chaplain’s Commentary

Acts 2:4 - and they spoke in tongues.... This message is a study on speaking in tongues.

A study on Acts 2 - Why did the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happen? What did it mean?

A study on Acts 1

A cloud took Jesus out of their sight. Clouds appear frequently in the Bible and often symbolise God’s presence, glory, guidance, judgment, mystery, and divine power. In this Study we focus on the various types of clouds in the Bible. The cloud that took Jesus into heaven is not carrying Jesus away into the weather system. It is supernatural, and it is the visible sign that He is entering the sphere of divine glory and authority.

Jesus said that the Father promised the Holy Spirit, but when did the Father promise the Holy Spirit? Where do we find that promise in the Bible? There are instances in the Gospels where the Holy Spirit is promised, e.g.• John 14:16 – The Father will give “another Helper” (the Spirit of truth).• John 14:26 – “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name…”• Luke 11:13 – “The heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”• Luke 24:49 – “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you…”Even though the Holy Spirit is promised in the Gospels, we need to go further back to understand Jesus’ statement in Acts 1:4. In this session, Abri takes us through a journey of the Hebrew Scriptures to better understand the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts.

The opening chapter of Acts describes the events surrounding Jesus’ departure, marking the beginning of a new phase in God’s plan of salvation. In Acts, we see that the work of Jesus Christ is both finished and unfinished. His monumental work of redemption is complete (John 17:4), but his ministry and proclamation continue through his followers. The remainder of the New Testament narrates the continuation of this work. The promise of the Holy Spirit is mentioned repeatedly during Jesus' earthly ministry, but why did Jesus command the disciples to remain in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit? Why not another place? There are several reasons, but one significant reason is... ENJOY THE SESSION.

The New Testamentis deeply rooted in the language, imagery, and theological framework of the OldTestament. Its writers consistently employ allusions, quotations, and narrativeechoes drawn from the Hebrew Scriptures to interpret the life, death, andresurrection of Jesus and to articulate the identity and mission of the earlyChristian community.  These OldTestament allusions are not merely decorative or incidental; they function as aprimary means of communication, shaping meaning and grounding new claims in theauthoritative texts familiar to their original audiences. When we as modernreaders fail to recognise these allusions, we risk overlooking the richness anddepth of the New Testament’s message and, in some cases, misunderstanding the writer’sintent altogether. When we get to a passage in the NT thatalludes to the OT, we need to locate the OT passage and read it so that weinterpret the NT passage in the redemptive historical context that the authorintends you to locate it. When the apostle Paul is alluding to a passage inDeuteronomy, we need to go and read that passage or else depth is lost. Missingthe allusion is missing the message that Paul, Peter, John, etc. want us tounderstand.

OUR STUDY FOCUS AND WHAT WE’RE EXPLORINGWelcome to our captivating exploration of the Book of Acts, a profound journey through the vibrant beginnings of the early followers of Christ. I invite you to embark on this enlightening path with us as we delve into the Book of Acts. Throughout this enriching study, we will journey through Acts chapter by chapter, offering a thorough examination that unveils the complexities of this foundational text. In studying the books of the Bible, we uncover the intricate and awe-inspiring tapestry of God’s dealings with humanity, which undoubtedly has a profound and lasting impact on our faith today.

From Genesis to Revelation,Scripture consistently pulls back the curtain on a world beyond sight, filledwith angels, fallen angels, and demonic powers, and other spiritual entities,contending for influence. The Bible never treats this realm as myth but as apresent and active reality shaping human history and destiny. For the believer,the real battlefield is not fought in flesh and blood, but in the unseenspiritual arena where faith, obedience, and authority in Christ determinevictory. As a born-again follower of Christ,you have been given authority to live a victorious life over the forces ofdarkness. Jesus gave authority to His Body, the believers, meaning that I donot have more authority than anyone else. Authority does not rest in a person,but in Christ.

We are living in changing and perilous times. As followers of the LORD, we must discern properly. In this message, Abri focuses on the importance of having Bible based discernment.

In our walk with the LORD, we gothrough various stages of spiritual growth. Not only do individuals go throughthese stages, but churches and even cultures do as well. Understanding thestages will help you extend more grace and mercy to those around you who arenot at the same Stage you are. Here are the four stages of spiritual development.

A father anchors the family with stability, direction, and protection. His words and actions shape how his children understand love, responsibility, and faith. By leading with integrity and presence, he builds confidence and security in those who depend on him. A father’s quiet strength and steady guidance often become the unseen foundation on which the whole home stands.

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, commemorates God dwelling with His people in the wilderness, and it prophetically points to Jesus as the true Emmanuel, God dwelling among us, who provides living water and eternal shelter for all who believe in Him.

This is part 3 of a series entitled "Go tell the world". In this session, Abri will share how to structure your testimony. It is all about sharing your testimony as a witness to others. This series aims to help Christians share their faith in Jesus Christ practically and straightforwardly. We will focus on the salvation of people and how you can play a role in guiding someone to Christ. Although the information I will be sharing is “basic” and “simple,” it will be life-changing if applied to your life.Many well-known verses in the Bible are often poorly obeyed. One such example is found in Matthew chapter 28, "Go and make disciples...". As believers, it is not enough to merely believe; we must also act in accordance with our convictions and beliefs concerning Biblical truth.

This is part 2 of a series entitled "Go tell the world". It is all about sharing your testimony as a witness to others. This series aims to help Christians share their faith in Jesus Christ practically and straightforwardly. We will focus on the salvation of people and how you can play a role in guiding someone to Christ. Although the information I will be sharing is “basic” and “simple,” it will be life-changing if applied to your life.Many well-known verses in the Bible are often poorly obeyed. One such example is found in Matthew chapter 28, "Go and make disciples...". As believers, it is not enough to merely believe; we must also act in accordance with our convictions and beliefs concerning Biblical truth.

This is part 1 of a series entitled "Go tell the world". It is all about sharing your testimony as a witness to others. This series aims to help Christians share their faith in Jesus Christ practically and straightforwardly. We will focus on the salvation of people and how you can play a role in guiding someone to Christ. Although the information I will be sharing is “basic” and “simple,” it will be life-changing if applied to your life.Many well-known verses in the Bible are often poorly obeyed. One such example is found in Matthew chapter 28, "Go and make disciples...". As believers, it is not enough to merely believe; we must also act in accordance with our convictions and beliefs concerning Biblical truth.

This is Part 2 of the Episode entitled, "The Tallit".For us to understand he Bible better, we must adopt a hermeneutical (Bible interpretation) approach that prioritises interpreting the Bible within its original ancient context. This means that we should aim to interpret the Bible through the historical and cultural lens of its original audiences. To achieve this, a careful examination of the contextual background, original languages, and the surrounding ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures is required to gain a deeper understanding of how the biblical writers and their contemporaneous audiences would have interpreted the text. The Tallit, also known as the Jewish prayer shawl, is a traditional garment worn by men during prayer. It symbolises several things, including reverence, obedience, and a sense of covenantal identity. The Tallit is prominently featured in several biblical texts. Still, because many Christians are not familiar with the Tallit, they read over those passages without understanding the deeper “heartbeat” of the Biblical story. Let’s explore the meaning, symbolism, and purpose of the Tallit, as well as its usage within Jewish customs. This study will shed light on how this garment enriches our understanding of various biblical narratives and enhances our interpretation of Scripture in its original context.

For us to understand the Bible better, we must adopt a hermeneutical (Bible interpretation) approach that prioritises interpreting the Bible within its original ancient context. This means that we should aim to interpret the Bible through the historical and cultural lens of its original audiences. To achieve this, a careful examination of the contextual background, original languages, and the surrounding ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures is required to gain a deeper understanding of how the biblical writers and their contemporaneous audiences would have interpreted the text. The Tallit, also known as the Jewish prayer shawl, is a traditional garment worn by men during prayer. It symbolises several things, including reverence, obedience, and a sense of covenantal identity. The Tallit is prominently featured in several biblical texts. Still, because many Christians are not familiar with the Tallit, they read over those passages without understanding the deeper “heartbeat” of the Biblical story. Let’s explore the meaning, symbolism, and purpose of the Tallit, as well as its usage within Jewish customs. This study will shed light on how this garment enriches our understanding of various biblical narratives and enhances our interpretation of Scripture in its original context.

When it comes to the most prominent and significant events in Scripture, God’s pattern is one of intimate protection. He walks with His people through fire, flood, famine, persecution,and wrath while judging the world around them. “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23). That is something to rejoice over. Jesus never taught escape theology. He promised persecution and His presence in it. AsGod’s children, it is imperative that we anchor ourselves in the pattern of God’s divine protection.

Parallels between Sinai and Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.

About this podcast:Chapter 1: God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. Jonah disobeys and boards a ship to Tarshish. A violent storm hits; Jonah tells the sailors to throw him overboard. As soon as they do, the sea calms, and Jonah is swallowed by a great fish.Chapter 2: From inside the fish, Jonah prays a poetic prayer of repentance and thanksgiving. After three days and nights, the fish vomits Jonah onto dry land.Chapter 3: God gives Jonah the same command to go to Nineveh. This time he obeys. He delivers a message: “Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The people of Nineveh believe, repent, fast, and even the king puts on sackcloth. God sees their repentance and spares the city.Chapter 4: Jonah is angry that God showed mercy. He sits outside the city, hoping to see its destruction. God causes a plant to grow for shade, then sends a worm to kill it. Jonah is more upset about the plant than the city. God uses this to teach Jonah about compassion.One of the central themes of the book of Jonah is “God’s offensive mercy to sinners and to Israel’s enemies”. In this sermon message, we take a closer look at this aspect of the book of Jonah.

Understanding Bible verses and passages withintheir historical and cultural contexts is essential for grasping their true meaning. Without an awareness of the customs, religious practices, and worldview of the time, we risk misinterpreting the significance and depth of the text. In our exploration of why the Hebrews created a golden calf in thedesert while Moses was meeting with God on Mount Sinai, we need to familiarise ourselves with the mindset of the Hebrews. We have to understand Egyptian culture and religious practices because that is the setting in which the Hebrews found themselves for about 400 years. Throughout ancient history, no civilisation understood the power of art, image and form quite like the Egyptians. For them, art was not merely decorative. It was a sacred“technology”, a tool used to influence, summon, bind, or repel supernatural beings and spiritual forces. The Egyptian belief that art influences the supernatural would extend far beyond Egypt’s borders. It exists to this very day. When the Hebrews crafted the golden calf in the wilderness, they were notinventing a new religion but replicating an ancient Egyptian practice, which God told them not to do.

If we claim to be Christ followers, we must develop the courage to assess and analyse what we believe and why we believe it. We must ask ourselves the question, “Am I right in what I believe the Bible says or am I following a popular view within the church or my Christian community that seems to be what the Bible is saying, but in fact is not. This exploration can be beautiful, but needless to say, also extremely challenging. Why is it important to examine your beliefs and theology about truth and what you think the Bible is saying? It is important because your beliefs shape your life and steers it.

The Rabbis of Jesus’ day were famous for using specific teaching techniques when communicating God’s Word to people. The first-century rabbis were master storytellers and taught God’s Word using clever techniques. Through these teaching techniques, Jesus claimed to be God, their Messiah. Because we do not understand Jesus’ teaching techniques, we fail to see just how often Jesus claimed to be God. Let’s explore some of Jesus’ teaching techniques. REMEZFor the first-century Jewish disciple who has a good knowledge of the Text — the rabbi has hidden a special treasure that is unlocked with a familiarity with the Text. The rabbis often assumed that the audience knew the Text. If the audience does not know the Text, they will not understand the deeper meaning of what the rabbi is trying to say. Also, the rabbi buries what is called a Remez into the teaching. Remez is a Hebrew term that means “hint” or “suggestion.” The Bible is full of hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered, and understanding Remez is a way to uncover these treasures. In the context of the Bible, Remez refers to a teaching technique where a word or phrase hints at something more profound, often pointing to a larger scriptural context. Remez links the disciple to a passage in the Hebrew scriptures that will give context to the more profound meaning the Teacher is driving at. I trust that you will enjoy this insightful session.

We often do not understand Jesus' teaching because we do not understand his teaching techniques. In this episode, we will explore some of the techniques Jesus used to share His message.

What did discipleship look like in Jesus's day? In this episode, Abri explores the first-century culture and views regarding discipleship.

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The Bible is filled with parallels. These parallels teach us various lessons about the nature of God, humanity, and the overarching themes of the Scripture. Looking at the parallels, we realise that someone greater than “man” was involved in putting the Bible together. It shows us that His plans for us were made since the beginning of time and are exact down to the last detail. That is a great comfort to us because it indicates that He is deeply involved in our everyday lives.

What was Jesus doing in and through this miracle? This miracle has multiple layers and purposes. Jesus did not only perform this miracle mainly to give the blind man sight but also to reveal his true identity to the people.

In the Bible, we often read about stories of people trusting God even though it did not make sense at the time. The beauty of following God even when they didn’t understand what God was doing is that each time they obeyed and trusted, God gave them a tremendous victory.   There are also examples in the Bible where a principle or teaching goes against human nature. Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings are full of these types of principles. We also see them often in the book of wisdom, Proverbs. In our walk with God, His ways will not always make sense to us if we look at it from a carnal, natural perspective.

Forgiveness is something that we should extend to those who hurt us. This does not mean that you will be reconciled with the person, but we must forgive. The Bible has a lot to say about this topic and in this session Abri shares important principles about forgiveness.

In this sermon message Abri talks about the importance of running the race set before us. This year is going to be a very strategic and life altering year. As Christians, we need to be correctly positioned in the LORD for this year.

God desires our worship. But how should we praise and worship Him through music, song and dance? The Bible is filled with examples, and there are different ways of expressing our adoration, praise, and worship of God. The English and many other translated Bibles use the term “praise” or “worship”, without telling us what type of praise or worship the Bible is referring to. We should remember that the Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. In these languages, there are different words from which we get our words, praise and worship. The original languages have various types and expressions of praise and worship. In this sermon, Abri explains some Hebrew words for praise and worship because they will help us understand the diversity and freedom in our expression during gatherings and services.

The Hebrew Exodus from Egypt was a deliverance accomplished by God, not man. God is the central figure in Exodus, so it shall be in the second Exodus. The first Exodus lead the Hebrews to a lasting relationship between God and Israel. God was Israel’s God in a special sense, and they were God’s people. With the return of Christ, a greater Exodus will establish us in a special relationship with God for eternity.

The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-28), also known as Yom Kippur, was the most solemn holy day of all the Israelite feasts and festivals, occurring once a year on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. On that day, the high priest was to perform elaborate rituals to atone for the sins of the people. Described in Leviticus 16:1-34, the atonement ritual began with Aaron, or subsequent high priests of Israel, coming into the holy of holies. The solemnity of the day was underscored by God telling Moses to warn Aaron not to come into the Most Holy Place whenever he felt like it; he could only come on this special day once a year, lest he die (v.2). This was not a ceremony to be taken lightly, and the people were to understand that atonement for sin was to be done God’s way. Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.tiktok.com/@abribrancken

The Feast of Trumpets marked the beginning of ten days of consecration and repentance before God. It is one of seven Jewish feasts or festivals appointed by the LORD and one of three feasts that occur in the autumn. The Feast of Trumpets began on the first day (at the new moon) of the seventh month. Its name comes from the command to blow trumpets (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1-6). The Feast of Trumpets was important for several reasons. First, it commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. Also, the Day of Atonement fell on the tenth day of this month, and the Festival of Booths began on the fifteenth day. The blowing of the trumpets on first day of the month heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement; this preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance” or the “Days of Awe.” The trumpet sound was an alarm of sorts and can be understood as a call to introspection and repentance. We join Abri for a sermon he preached on the Feast of Trumpets. Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.tiktok.com/@abribrancken

The Fall Feasts of the Bible by Abri Brancken. The Fall Feasts of the LORD, which are prophetic shadows of the LORD'S return. The first of the Fall Feasts is called Yom T’rooah- The Day of Trumpets. The second of the Fall Feasts is called Yom Kippur-The Day of Atonement. The last of the Fall Feasts is called Sukkot- The Feast of Tabernacles. This feast is a joyous and happy time of giving thanks to God for His provision. We read about this feast in Leviticus 23:34-42 “On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD… You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD… It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations… You shall live in booths for seven days.” Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.tiktok.com/@abribrancken

One goal of spiritual maturity is to become more sensitive to the voice and desires of the LORD. In this sermon, Abri shares principles around becoming more sensitive in your walk with the Messiah. Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.tiktok.com/@abribrancken

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. — 2 Timothy 4:3,4 The apostle Paul describes the unique challenge that believers would face as a last-days deception occurs not only outside, but inside the Church. He wrote that at the end of the age — in the period just before Jesus returns — large numbers of people in the Body of Christ would be led astray. Since there also will be a group of believers emerging who will hold to the ageless Word of Truth and proclaim its timeless teaching, let’s make sure that is the group to which we belong! Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary

In this episode, we join Abri for a sermon preached at Shiloh Fellowship in Auckland, NZ. The episode presents interesting yet disturbing information regarding the role of AI and the Beast System in the last days.

In this episode, we will focus on Revelation chapter 13.

Does God ever use deception to fulfill His purposes? This is a fundamental question, and the answer might surprise you. Abri preached this message at Shiloh Fellowship in Auckland, New Zealand. Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.tiktok.com/@abribrancken

It is becoming more accessible to alter (change) digital Bibles. It is also becoming more challenging to know whether you are reading the "original" Bible version you have always read or if it has been altered. In the future, Christians will have to resort to printed Bibles for safety and accuracy reasons.

It is vitally important to properly discern what is happening in the world. In this session, Abri shares a short message about this topic. It was part of a prophetic update that he gave during a service.

About this episode: Your words are very powerful, more than you might believe. Your words can destroy your life and the lives of others. On the other hand, they can bless and bring breakthroughs and success. In this episode, we join Abri for a sermon message he gave on this topic. Follow us on social media: https://www.patreon.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.facebook.com/thechaplainscommentary https://www.instagram.com/thechaplainscommentary

The book of Habakkuk is one of the 12 minor prophets in the Bible. The situation which Habakkuk faces is the imminent invasion of the southern kingdom of Judah by the Chaldeans. Habakkuk is unusual as a prophetic book. Habakkuk never addresses the people of Judah directly. He does not speak to them on God’s behalf. Rather, it is a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk lived during a time of great injustice and idolatry in Judah. Habakkuk saw Judah’s rapid moral and spiritual decline, and this deeply troubled him. The book of Habakkuk tells us about Habakkuk’s struggle to believe that God is good when there is so much tragedy and evil in the land. Although Habakkuk did not fully understand God’s ways, he learned to rely totally on God’s wisdom and justice. He knew God could resolve issues in ways he could never have imagined. This God is certainly worthy of Habakkuk’s praise and worship, which is how the book ends. The book Habakkuk is truly an encouragement to us living in this world where injustice, greed, corruption, war, death and destruction appear everywhere. Christians, live by your faithfulness to God!