"When the day of Pentecost arrived..." (Acts 2:1)
Consider these two questions. What did the disciples do to cause Pentecost to come? Was Pentecost a day that the disciples primarily learned something, or did something?
First, what did the disciples do to cause Pentecost? I believe the answer to that question is, "Absolutely nothing." Jesus told them before His ascension that the Holy Spirit was coming. It was a sovereign act of God in fulfillment of His promise.
Secondly, I believe the disciples primarily did something. Actually, something was done through them. But it was not primarily a learning moment in a classroom. We have too much of that in the American church and not enough action.
For 10 days the disciples waited in prayer. They were asking God to prepare them to maximize the opportunity He would provide. God gives us incredible opportunities to proclaim His message everyday. Are we ready? Have we found time to be alone with God so that He could prepare us? What will you do with the opportunities God gives you today to proclaim His word?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Direction
"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Ps. 119:105)
I memorized that scripture verses many years ago in Vacation Bible School one summer, but find it is still important day by day in my life. Often the Bible describes living as a "walk". So as you walk life's path, what is it that guides your life? Where do you find direction? Many today find their direction from their peer group, or even from television. Others look to Pastor Phil or Pastor Oprah. But God says that we should allow His Word to direct us.
Someone has said, We need to study the Bible so that we can master God's Word. But more importantly, we need to take another step. We need to allow God's Word to master us. In other words, God's word is living (Heb. 4:12) and it speaks directly to our life. And through it God calls for us to make decisions related to obeying Him. So when we read God's Word, we allow it to speak to our hearts, and then we surrender to it to obey.
I memorized that scripture verses many years ago in Vacation Bible School one summer, but find it is still important day by day in my life. Often the Bible describes living as a "walk". So as you walk life's path, what is it that guides your life? Where do you find direction? Many today find their direction from their peer group, or even from television. Others look to Pastor Phil or Pastor Oprah. But God says that we should allow His Word to direct us.
Someone has said, We need to study the Bible so that we can master God's Word. But more importantly, we need to take another step. We need to allow God's Word to master us. In other words, God's word is living (Heb. 4:12) and it speaks directly to our life. And through it God calls for us to make decisions related to obeying Him. So when we read God's Word, we allow it to speak to our hearts, and then we surrender to it to obey.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Prove It
"Feed my sheep." (John 21)
Three times in John 21 Jesus asks Simon Peter, "Do you love me?" Each time Simon affirms that he does indeed. And each time Jesus then says, "Feed my sheep." It is almost as if Jesus says, "Ok, if you love me, you don't prove it by how loudly you sing, 'O How I love Jesus,' but by obeying me. Feed my sheep."
It is the process that the apostle Paul instructed young Timothy with in 2 Tim. 2:2, "The things you have heard from me among many witnesses, these same things teach to others, who will in turn be able to teach others also." We are not all preachers or teachers, but we are all to be disciples and we are all instructed to make disciples.
Sheep are often stubborn and smelly. They will butt you when you are not looking. They are so dumb that they constantly wander off where they are in great danger. Jesus says, "It is not out of love for sheep that you are to obey me, but out of love for me." Do you love Jesus today? Then prove it. Feed His sheep.
Three times in John 21 Jesus asks Simon Peter, "Do you love me?" Each time Simon affirms that he does indeed. And each time Jesus then says, "Feed my sheep." It is almost as if Jesus says, "Ok, if you love me, you don't prove it by how loudly you sing, 'O How I love Jesus,' but by obeying me. Feed my sheep."
It is the process that the apostle Paul instructed young Timothy with in 2 Tim. 2:2, "The things you have heard from me among many witnesses, these same things teach to others, who will in turn be able to teach others also." We are not all preachers or teachers, but we are all to be disciples and we are all instructed to make disciples.
Sheep are often stubborn and smelly. They will butt you when you are not looking. They are so dumb that they constantly wander off where they are in great danger. Jesus says, "It is not out of love for sheep that you are to obey me, but out of love for me." Do you love Jesus today? Then prove it. Feed His sheep.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Who or What do you love Most?
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15)
It is after the Resurrection, and fresh in Peter's memory was the night of his denial of his Lord. But now it is time for restoration and renewal. Jesus and Peter walking alone delve into the most significant of all question. "Simon, I need to know, what is most important in your life? Where is your heart? Are you devoted to me with all of your being? Do you love me more than anyone or anything else?"
This first place love for Jesus is so important than in Rev. 3 we discover that Jesus warns the church at Ephesus if they do not return to their first love, He will remove their lampstand, which is a symbolic way of saying they will cease to be a church. So many people today have a place in their life for Jesus, but it is not the place of pre-eminence. He is resident in them, but He is not allowed to rule as Lord.
Sometimes we are so busy serving God and ministering in the name of Jesus that we forget that the most important matter is this, "Do you love me more than these?" And like Simon Peter, when Jesus presses that issue, we are grieve to be so exposed. "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?'" (Jo. 21:17)
It is after the Resurrection, and fresh in Peter's memory was the night of his denial of his Lord. But now it is time for restoration and renewal. Jesus and Peter walking alone delve into the most significant of all question. "Simon, I need to know, what is most important in your life? Where is your heart? Are you devoted to me with all of your being? Do you love me more than anyone or anything else?"
This first place love for Jesus is so important than in Rev. 3 we discover that Jesus warns the church at Ephesus if they do not return to their first love, He will remove their lampstand, which is a symbolic way of saying they will cease to be a church. So many people today have a place in their life for Jesus, but it is not the place of pre-eminence. He is resident in them, but He is not allowed to rule as Lord.
Sometimes we are so busy serving God and ministering in the name of Jesus that we forget that the most important matter is this, "Do you love me more than these?" And like Simon Peter, when Jesus presses that issue, we are grieve to be so exposed. "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?'" (Jo. 21:17)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Where are the Aarons and Hurs?
"Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he wsat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword." (Exodus 17:11-13)
Joshua and the army of Israel were fighting against the Amaleks. Throughout the day they fought the same. The variable in this story is the position of Moses' arms, which represent prayer. When Moses was faithful to stand in the gap in prayer, the Israelites prevailed. When he grew weary and did not, they were being defeated. Aaron and Hur undergird him. They support him. They pray with him.
Prayer is not something we do when we cannot do something else. It is the most important aspect of our work for God. When Jesus said to the disciples in John 14 that He was returning to the Father, He promised them they could do even greater works than He did. But how? He said through prayer. So where are the faithful prayer warriors?
Joshua and the army of Israel were fighting against the Amaleks. Throughout the day they fought the same. The variable in this story is the position of Moses' arms, which represent prayer. When Moses was faithful to stand in the gap in prayer, the Israelites prevailed. When he grew weary and did not, they were being defeated. Aaron and Hur undergird him. They support him. They pray with him.
Prayer is not something we do when we cannot do something else. It is the most important aspect of our work for God. When Jesus said to the disciples in John 14 that He was returning to the Father, He promised them they could do even greater works than He did. But how? He said through prayer. So where are the faithful prayer warriors?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Who's Your Teacher?
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:13)
Babies need predigested food, so they nurse on their mother's milk. But how many followers of Christ continue to drink milk that is food predigested by someone else? Who is teaching you the Word of God? Have you considered whether or not you are leaning on other people all the time to digest God's Word for you? If all you every receive is instruction from a pulpit, a Sunday School teacher, a commentary, or a devotional book, then you are still eating like a baby. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. All of these things are helpful, but they should not become our main diet.
God Himself wants to be your teacher through the person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will teach you from the Word of God if you will allow him to, if indeed He lives in you. Why not draw aside today with God, and ask Him to speak to your heart as you open His Word. Why not make that a daily habit in your life.
God bless you as He leads you.
Babies need predigested food, so they nurse on their mother's milk. But how many followers of Christ continue to drink milk that is food predigested by someone else? Who is teaching you the Word of God? Have you considered whether or not you are leaning on other people all the time to digest God's Word for you? If all you every receive is instruction from a pulpit, a Sunday School teacher, a commentary, or a devotional book, then you are still eating like a baby. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. All of these things are helpful, but they should not become our main diet.
God Himself wants to be your teacher through the person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will teach you from the Word of God if you will allow him to, if indeed He lives in you. Why not draw aside today with God, and ask Him to speak to your heart as you open His Word. Why not make that a daily habit in your life.
God bless you as He leads you.
Monday, January 11, 2010
What an Awesome Gift
"In him (Christ) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." (Eph. 1:13)
The normal Christian experience is that when a person responds to God's offer of eternal life through Christ by faith, God moves into that person's life as the Holy Spirit. By faith we understand that God is one God in three persons. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, are all the one and same God. So understand this. When a person becomes a believer, God comes to live in them. Their body becomes God's temple.
What was impossible through the entire Old Covenant becomes suddenly possible. No longer does someone simply adopt a religion and try and imitate the behavior that God desires. Every world religion offers that. Uniquely, becoming a Christian means that God moves into a person's life and gives them the ability to live the Christ life. Instead of imitation, suddenly the Holy Spirit is reproducing the character in Christ as long as we abide in Him (John 15:5)
Vs. 14 of Ephesians 1 speaks of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our ultimate deliverance in
eternal life. How do you know whether you are a Christian or not? It is not by the externals of things like baptism, or church membership, or doing anything. It is by the witness of God's Spirit in our heart. WOW!. Praise the Lord.
The normal Christian experience is that when a person responds to God's offer of eternal life through Christ by faith, God moves into that person's life as the Holy Spirit. By faith we understand that God is one God in three persons. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, are all the one and same God. So understand this. When a person becomes a believer, God comes to live in them. Their body becomes God's temple.
What was impossible through the entire Old Covenant becomes suddenly possible. No longer does someone simply adopt a religion and try and imitate the behavior that God desires. Every world religion offers that. Uniquely, becoming a Christian means that God moves into a person's life and gives them the ability to live the Christ life. Instead of imitation, suddenly the Holy Spirit is reproducing the character in Christ as long as we abide in Him (John 15:5)
Vs. 14 of Ephesians 1 speaks of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our ultimate deliverance in
eternal life. How do you know whether you are a Christian or not? It is not by the externals of things like baptism, or church membership, or doing anything. It is by the witness of God's Spirit in our heart. WOW!. Praise the Lord.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Fruit Happens
"Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Gal. 5:16
I do not mean to imply by titling this "Fruit Happens" that we are to be lazy or undisciplined. Paul describes two contrasting ways of life. One is a life that is lived by human effort that can at best produce the "works of the flesh". And we can read in this text what a nasty list that is. The other life is one that is lived surrendered to the Spirit of God working in us, so that He can produce His harvest of fruit. Paul tells us that these two lives are diametrically opposed to one another.
In John 14 as Jesus prepared the disciples for His departure, He told them He would send the Holy Spirit to live in them. Can you imagine? No longer would God simply be with them, He would live in them. Every Christian is indwellt by God's Spirit. If you are a believer, God lives in you. The more completely we manage to surrender to Him, the more He manifests His power to enable us to live the life that He created us for. So to use Paul's imagery, "Walk by the Spirit." Our responsibility is to stay vitally connected. If we stay connected, He will produce fruit that glorifies God in our lives.
I do not mean to imply by titling this "Fruit Happens" that we are to be lazy or undisciplined. Paul describes two contrasting ways of life. One is a life that is lived by human effort that can at best produce the "works of the flesh". And we can read in this text what a nasty list that is. The other life is one that is lived surrendered to the Spirit of God working in us, so that He can produce His harvest of fruit. Paul tells us that these two lives are diametrically opposed to one another.
In John 14 as Jesus prepared the disciples for His departure, He told them He would send the Holy Spirit to live in them. Can you imagine? No longer would God simply be with them, He would live in them. Every Christian is indwellt by God's Spirit. If you are a believer, God lives in you. The more completely we manage to surrender to Him, the more He manifests His power to enable us to live the life that He created us for. So to use Paul's imagery, "Walk by the Spirit." Our responsibility is to stay vitally connected. If we stay connected, He will produce fruit that glorifies God in our lives.
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