The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:1-41 (day four)

God had placed the nation of Israel at the crossroads of the world.  At the Day of Pentecost, there were devout men from every nation under heaven present.  God had assembled His band of ambassadors to carry the gospel around the world.  The Holy Spirit spoke through the disciples so that every man heard the message in his own native tongue.  The message each man heard was of the mighty deeds of God.  Immediately, the Spirit began to give insight and understanding of Scripture.

Today, we look for and attribute many deeds to the Holy Spirit.  Lest we forget though…the Holy Spirit leads people to God.  Evangelism is the work of the Holy Spirit.  In our electronic age of internet and social media, we have an even greater opportunity to spread the gospel to every nation under heaven.  God used Israel’s position at the world’s crossroads to distribute His message…how will he use our church to be His spokesman in the center of our city?

Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:1-41 (day three)

“They have had too much wine.” It is a feature of this universe that what one looks for, he will find.  One might say, “Well I looked for financial wealth and didn’t find it.”  Ah, but what is actually being sought in the search for money is a zero-sum world—and whether you find riches or not, you certainly find that world.  So again, you find what you seek.  If you decide to explain events by ruling out some things in advance to satisfy an anti-miracle bias, you seek a miracle-less world, and that’s the world that will be your home.  God’s Spirit could blast a city with sound and light and super-human abilities, and some will call it a bender.  What do your explanations reveal about what you’re seeking?

Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:1-41 (day two) 

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart…” – vs. 37

What is the power of the gospel fueled by the Holy Spirit? It is the power to pierce the heart of anyone who hears. Consider that these people who were pierced were only a few verses earlier accusing Peter and the others of being drunk. How do you go from callously dismissing someones ramblings to being utterly convicted by their testimony? That is the power of the Spirit. Jesus said that it was to our advantage that he go away so that the comforter might come (John 16:7). Do not think that your testimony lacks power. Jesus used ordinary men. He still does. His message can still pierce the heart of the unbeliever. Who will go and tell the world his story?

Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:1-41 (day one) 

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”–v 17-18

Pentecost was what God promised!  What John predicted.  What Jesus prepared us to receive. (See John 20:22)  The blessings of God’s Spirit poured out on all flesh!   Not “all” in the sense of “every”, but “all” in the sense that no one is excluded by gender or age or social standing.  Sons/daughters.  Young/old.  “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”–Romans 10:13.  Whoever is saved will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit–Acts 2:38.

In the Old Testament era, the Holy Spirit came to a small, selective group of people.  In the New Testament era, the church age, He comes in power to ALL OF US.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day seven)

“My first account. . .(was) about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day He was taken up into Heaven, after He had, by the Holy Spirit, given orders to the apostles.”–v 1-2

We call it the ascension.  An amazing end to an amazing life.  (And not actually the end–that’s the point.)  As the disciples watched, Jesus was physically lifted up into Heaven.  (Please see the stained glass window on the East end of the Great Hall)

To meditate on this truth is to expand your mind. Jesus is still alive!  Still a man.  Sitting beside the Father– counselor, Son, Sovereign and intercessor.  As active in the world as ever!

Please notice.  Before leaving, the LORD (He takes this title seriously) gave ORDERS to the Apostles. (Every text repeats this emphasis.  See Mark 16:19, Acts 1:9)  His absence will not mean loss of momentum.  He will act (until He comes) through us!

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day six)

“And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised.”–v 4

Both Pastor Don and Aaron have written about waiting this week. I figured I would have a go too (no need to excuse the pun). Jesus told his disciples they must wait for what the Father had promised, the Holy Spirit. They had to wait because they had no power of their own to fulfill God’s eternal purpose, to be witnesses, to make disciples, or even to teach (Matthew 28:20).

We on the other hand have no need to wait. We can go. We must. Why? Because the Holy Spirit has already come. We don’t even have to guess what God wants us to do. He has told us and he given us His Spirit. Stop waiting. Go.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day five)

The power of the Holy Spirit promised in Acts had a very specific application to the believer- to be a witness for Jesus. “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” . There is both great comfort and clear direction in Jesus’ words. When the power of the Holy Spirit has influence in us and through us, we become witnesses, not merely advocates. We have the capacity to speak and share with the firsthand experience of someone who has tasted and knows who Jesus really is, and what he has done. So, begin to think how you can share the answers to these questions: “What did Jesus do in me when I became a believer?” “How did I change?” “What is Jesus doing in me now, because I know Him as Lord and Savior?” “How am I being changed?”  We can tell the world from our personal experiences the reality of the Living Christ. The promise is this power and witness will take the message of Christ to the ends of the earth.

 

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day four)

As we begin our new study in Acts about the beginning of the early church, let’s put some things in perspective.  One of the biggest differences between today’s church and the early church was the lack of authoritative Scripture.  The Canon of Scripture did not yet exist…the New Testament was just being written.  Most of the Old Testament was available, but was not yet collected and established as God’s Word.  The Church was guided by the Holy Spirit speaking through the leaders and elders of the Church.

Today, we have not only the full Canon of Scripture, but also the understanding that it is God-breathed and Truth.  This ‘new’ tool should only serve to make the modern church more effective in ministry and witness.  We continue to have the Holy Spirit to bring us understanding and direction, but now with the inspired Word of God available to teach us.  What will be the legacy of the modern church?  To whom much is given, much is required! (Luke 12:48)

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day three) 

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  Yes, powers will rise and fall, cultures will conquer and get conquered, and nations will go from ruler to ruled.  But Jesus invites the disciples out of obsessing over a geopolitical conundrum and into occupying an eternal kingdom.  This is invitation done perfectly.  It doesn’t squash peoples’ interest in matters at hand and try to sell them a bigger idea.  Jesus’s invitation just says, “Yeah, some questions will work your soul to death.  Or we can use our energy in a way that will make those questions seem too small.  Ready to get to it?”  We can build a workaround for our current circumstances, or we can rethink our future, but we can’t do both.  What if a church put that invitation in front of people?

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day two) 

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” – v. 6

Waiting is the worst. When you are ready to move nothing can frustrate like having to wait. Perhaps you are ready to leave for school, work, or church and nobody else in the house is ready. Does this try your patience? Waiting for good things can be difficult too. Sometimes the 9 (+) months of pregnancy seems to feel much longer. Promotions, graduations, vacations, there are many things that we long for and seemingly they never come fast enough.

Jesus says wait before he says go. Wait, pray, prepare these are needed for the task ahead. You may think you are ready, but God surely knows best. If you are in that waiting place, ask God to reveal how to best prepare for the next move.