The Daily Dose

Jesus is Lord

Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:3

I am thrilled to go through chapters 12 – 14 of 1 Corinthians.  These chapters are so very powerful and enlightening.  These words stir the energy of God’s Spirit that lives on the inside of me and I love learning more about spiritual giftings every time I read them.  Sadly, these chapters get passed over by many believers for several reasons.  One reason is because people think they are hard to understand.  Second, many believe these gifts are not for today and thirdly, the gifts of the Holy Spirit make many believers uncomfortable. Lastly, the enemy of your soul does not want you to believe that you have supernatural power available to you as you yield to the Holy Spirit inside of you.

The verse I want to talk about today is verse 3.  It is not talking about gifts, but it is talking about the name of Jesus.  It is actually an identifier and locator of the heart of whom the Holy Spirit releases His gifts through.  Anyone operating in spiritual gifts that speaks against Jesus or uses His name in vain is not working with the Holy Spirit of God.  Likewise, when the Holy Spirit is at work, it will be made clear that Jesus is Lord and all gifts point to Him.  Anything from the Holy Spirit is not possible without glorifying the name of Jesus.

Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit coming while He was ministering in this world.  In John 15:26 He said that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will testify or bear witness with Me (Jesus).  He also said in the next chapter of John that when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide God’s people to the truth and He doesn’t do it through His own authority but God’s.  The Holy Spirit of God points to Jesus, that is why those being led by the Spirit of God can be identified by saying and living to display that Jesus is Lord!

As we go through the following verses about the work of the Holy Spirit through God’s people, keep in mind that operating in these gifting will always point back to Jesus.  They are not for bringing glory to the individual that He is working through.  If you see those that are trying or saying they are using these gifts, but they want to be recognized for the miracles that come through them, you can discern the wrong spirit behind their actions.  Also keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is the one who decides when, where and what gift is best for each situation. Our job is only to surrender to His power and follow the prompting that He may give to you at the time the gift is needed.  That is one of the many reasons it is so important to walk closely with Him and know His voice when you hear it in your heart.

Today I want to encourage you as we go through the gifts of the Spirit of God, to open your heart to whatever the Holy Spirit wants to show you or teach you about the gifts.  Allow God’s supernatural work to be done in your heart through this study and passage.  Put away all pre-conceived ideas about spiritual giftings and let the Holy Spirit proclaim Jesus is Lord as you give your heart and life to becoming His vessel for His gifts to flow.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-3

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Despite the circumstances

However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.  Acts 4:4

 Sometime the circumstances of my life do not seem ideal.  There are times when I feel disappointed in the things going on around me.  In those moments, I rarely “feel” like encouraging other people.  In fact, what I do consider is that I am in no position to bless or inspire someone.  Mostly, when the outward conditions are against me, I feel deflated and drained of energy.  I find myself thinking: I don’t have the capacity to offer someone some of God’s goodness or why would that person want any help from me.  I am the one that needs encouragement right now.  Ironically, in those instances, if I take the step of faith to help or reach out to someone in need, I actually feel refreshed and better about what I am going through.  Suddenly I see possibilities and hope for the situations surrounding me.

In today’s reading, Peter and John were ministering to a large group of people, but it didn’t go so well for them.  They were arrested and put into custody.  However, despite the circumstances of their arrest, many came to believe.  In fact there were 5000 added to the church that day.  If Peter and John had kept quiet because they did not want to be harassed by the authorities, there would not have been that growth in the kingdom.  Even in the middle of the interrogation with the high priest, Peter spoke in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances of life are each moment of the day.  Life is going to happen, but we must remain strong and steadfast in our faith in order to become an effective witness and accomplish God’s plan.  Each day there may be new obstacles to encounter, but the mission is to stay focused and keep your aim set on the purpose you are given breath today.  Let the winds of the storms around you blow as you stay steady on your course.

Today I want to encourage you to stay on mission no matter what circumstances of life you are going through right now.  Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs but those cannot take our attention from what is important at this time.  As God’s people and ambassadors in this world, we have to keep moving forward and taking new ground for the kingdom of heaven.  Just as the beginning church in the book of Acts stood up and moved forward each day amid extreme pressure to be silent, we too must let the world around us know there is hope and there is a future of blessing and God’s goodness available to step into.  Pray for God’s grace today to step into His strength and let all people know that God loves them and wants to include them in His great plan of redemption despite all circumstances they are up against!

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 4:1-12

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 

2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 

6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 

9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 

11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Take the Opportunity

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?  Acts 3:12

Have you ever missed out on an opportunity?  Maybe it was on a job or promotion at work?  Maybe you missed a big sale or lost out on a large purchase. How about in a relationship or with a close friend?  We all have missed opportunities in life, some by choice and some we have no say in at all.  My most disappointing missed opportunities are when I pass up on a leading from the holy spirit.  It has happened like when He gives me an unction to pray with some one and I debate that the person probably has many people praying for them already or if I see someone needing money, but I don’t’ want to take the time to give.  I always regret it when the time is passed but then I can do nothing about it.  The good news is those random occasions always come back around and hopefully I get it right the next time.

In today’s reading, Peter seized the opportunity he had that day at the gate beautiful.  After the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus, Peter taught the crowd of on-lookers about the power that Jesus had left after He ascended into heaven.  We know Peter missed opportunities before then because many were recorded for us in the gospels, but thank goodness, the opportunities kept coming and the Holy Spirit didn’t give up on Peter when he missed it.

The truth is, the Holy Spirit is always presenting us with moments to reach people.  You cannot turn Him off if you are a believer, but you must take time to listen.  You have to first learn what those promptings and nudges sound like in your heart and in your thoughts.  Mostly, you will recognize His leading by just doing the right thing or taking time to love and encourage people.  Let me put it this way . . . The Holy Spirit of God is never calling you to ignore people.  He is never telling you, do not pray with someone.  He is never saying don’t share or give to others and He never tells you to give some one a piece of your mind.  What He does do is show us examples in the scriptures and that is the same way He sounds today in your heart.

So, the next time you are face with the option to give someone a helping hand or make up an excuse why you are not available, the next time you are faced with speaking a kind and encouraging word or walking quickly by to complete your next task, consider the prompting you sense inside from Him.  Don’t miss the opportunities God is putting before you today, when you choose the people option, you are following His plan.  You are in this world to rescue people and you can be sure that when you choose the people, you will never have regrets.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 3:11-26

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 

15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 

16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 

18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 

20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 

21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 

22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 

23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 

24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 

25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 

26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

Your Marching Orders

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

You are probably familiar with the scripture passage we are looking at today.  It is the account of the Apostles Peter and John going up to the temple for prayer and meeting a lame man at the gate, Beautiful.  The guy was put there daily to receive anything that the people passing by would give him.  That was his entire reason for existence, to wake up each day to be laid at the gate to receive a handout.  Enough to get by until the next day.  I’m sure there were days he was taken advantage of and certainly many days that he was discouraged.  However, the passage says that He was there every day, and the reason was because someone brought him there.  He had no choice in the matter but to do exactly what someone else decided for him.  He was paralyzed and depended completely on others to take care of him.

On the day Peter and John showed up, things drastically changed for the lame man.  This day, he didn’t receive alms, he received his walking orders, literally.  Peter told him, “I don’t have any money, but what I do have will change your life and that is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Peter told the man to get up and walk.  Then he helped the man get up and sent him out to tell the good news of his healing and salvation.  This man had been held down his entire life because of a condition that he was born with.  He was born lame and unable to be free from this circumstance because there was no cure.  But God had an answer and God had a purpose for this man to be called to a new life and get out from under the constraints that he was born with.  He was now released from what held him back his entire life.

You were born with a condition also; we all were.  It is the condition of being under sin and being held down by the enemy of our soul.  We were born into the bondage of the old nature and until we are rescued by the Savior, we remain in that condition without a possibility of getting up from it.  But praise God you have called on the name of the Lord Jesus for help and He has saved you and given you a orders to get up and walk.  Walk out your mission in the world.  You have your marching orders to tell others the wonderful works of God in your life.  You are part of God’s army now, deployed to be on a rescue assignment.  You are called to get up from what had been holding you down and go!  Go tell the world around you about the good news of salvation and help rescue those who are still caught in the curse and lost in this life.

We all are on the same mission. We have been chosen and called to reach those far from God and bring them close to Him so they can receive His love and provision to have a relationship with Him.  This is an all hands on deck call and it is time to get up from what is holding us down and walk out our mission each day.  We can do this in the same way the lame man did back on the day he was rescued.  He went out walking and leaping and praising God.  He proclaimed the wonderful works of God in his life and you can tell others about the great things God has rescued you from also.  Your story is your greatest witness.

Today I want to encourage you to get up and walk!  Walk out the plan of God for your life to rescue others.  Walk out the purpose you were born for by praising God and walk out the mission your have been called to by proclaiming the love of God to the world around you.  Your marching orders are the same as the man’s at the gate Beautiful.  Get up from under the things that are holding you down and walk out your days in the freedom of the salvation that Jesus died to get you.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 3:1-10

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 

5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 

7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 

10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Continue Daily

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,  Acts 2:46

This is quite a picture of how the New Testament Church started.  On the day of Pentecost, three thousand people were added to those that were in the upper room.  Then, they all continued together going to the temple each day, fellowshipping with one another and having meals together as people were being added to the church every day.

I realize this is a bit unrealistic today to expect the church to go to the church building every day, and then spend all our days fellowshipping with each other.  The biggest obstacle with that is the size of the church in the world today, not to mention that we are spread across the entire globe.  However, we can spend time with God each day on a personal level.  Now that we are the temple of God’s Spirit that lives in us, we can spend time each morning offering up our temple as a living sacrifice and committing to fellowshipping with other and encouraging others to be part of the body of believers wherever we are.

This is not an impossible thing to do.  In fact, many, and I dare say most believers already have that special time set aside each day to spend with their heavenly Father.  Praising and worshiping, talking with and learning about Who He is and how He loves each one of His people.

If you feel it would be a hard meeting to fit into your schedule, especially first thing in the morning, below is a list of ideas for you to consider to help make it happen.

1. Set your alarm for ½ – 1 hour earlier than you would normally get up in the morning.
2. Set an appointment on your calendar and prioritize it as you would an appointment with your employer or business associate.
3. Go to bed ½ – 1 hour earlier than you usually would.
4. Ask for supernatural empowerment from the Holy Spirit to make time with Him a priority.

Your time spent in the presence of God is the most important time of the day.  He will energize and motivate you for the things you have to accomplish each day.  He will remind you and show you the things you need to remember and to be ready for all that is coming up in your day.  He will also go with you through the day and call “audibles” (inside your heart) when you need to make an adjustment to your plan.  He will be working all things together for the good of your calling and purpose as you commit each day to Him.

Today I want to encourage you to come together every chance you have with other believers.  Whether that is in weekend service or small groups, realize how important that time is for you to stay close and be connected with other parts of the body of Christ.  Next, I want to encourage you in your daily time spent with your Father in heaven.  Make it a priority each day because His requirement is always to be first not last.  He is not a selfish Father.  The reason He has to be first is so that you open the door for His involvement in your day and direction.  He has your best interests in mind always, but it is up to you to give Him that first place.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 2:40-47

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 

45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Agree?

When you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there are also factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.  1 Corinthians 11:18 &19

I look forward to the day when we as believers in Christ Jesus come into unity in our faith.  It is going to happen, in fact it is the one thing left to happen before Jesus returns in the sky to get us.  He said He is coming back for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish.  Holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:27)  That certainly means we will be well prepared and operating as a bride, put together and ready to be united with her groom.  However, that is not quite what we look like today. 

The church in Corinth had similar issues that we see within the body of our current day believers.  Different denominations with different doctrines. Diverse beliefs with legalistic leaders that mandate behavior to solidify salvation.  Can these divisions actually separate us from one another?  Not at all.  No matter what rules that are imposed and whose doctrine is being enforced, we still all agree that in order to become a Christian you must receive salvation through the provision Jesus made at the cross.  It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong when it comes to rules and regulations, what matters is that you invite Jesus into your life and then surrender it all to Him to be baptized into His body of believers, the church.

In today’s reading, Paul talks about how we as believers come into agreement in that covenant that Jesus made with His Father in Heaven.  We really had nothing to do with it, so why would we think that we can cling to some ordinance to get us into God’s Kingdom.  It is all about the agreement and commitment God the Father made with His Son, Jesus.  They sealed that covenant in blood, the blood of Jesus. Now it is available to all who will accept and receive eternal life through their pact.  Then Paul explains that this is why Jesus established the Lord’s supper, so we could remember that it is all about His love for us and has nothing to do with our different ideas of having the right theology.

Jesus set up symbols of His broken body and poured out blood so that we could not only come into agreement over these symbols, but also remember that this redemption is all about His love and life given for ours.  Jesus said that when you eat the bread and drink the cup you are agreeing over the sacrifice of His death for our salvation until He comes back for us.

Today I want to encourage you to turn your attention toward the things we agree on as believers.  Stop the division of trying to behave righteously and just let Jesus be our righteousness.  He became sin, who knew no sin so that we could become His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He did all the work, now let’s allow that work to bring us into agreement!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

The gift

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is (her) man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3

I like to give gifts.  Whether it is for birthdays, Christmas or some other special occasion, it is just one of the greatest joys for me to be able to bless others with some kind of gift.  My favorite time to give is when there is no special reason at all.  Just because I want to make someone feel special and let them know I am thinking of them.  Usually, they are not overly expensive things, just a little something to bring a smile to someone’s face.

I’ve come to realize that the reason I like to give is because I learned it from my Father, my Heavenly Father.  He has always been a giver and it brings Him such great joy to give to His people and His children.  The very first gift He gave after the gift of life, was to Adam.  It was a very special and precious gift . . . a wife.  Adam was alone in the garden that God had made for him to live in.  He had many animals surrounding him, but there was no other person like him.  God saw that Adam needed a companion, friend and someone to help him accomplish the things that God had planned for them to do in the earth.  Namely to be fruitful and multiply.  Adam certainly couldn’t do that by himself.

God put Adam into a deep sleep so He could take a part out of Adam and make another person from the same material. Then when Adam woke up, God presented him with the greatest gift that Adam could have hoped for at that time.  A helper, a wife.  Adam had seen how all the animals had a mate like themselves and it was obvious that he didn’t have one that matched him.  I love how it is written in the original language.  It says God formed man, but He fashioned woman.  He made her extra special because she was a gift and God wanted His man to know how much He cared and loved Him.

This brings me to today’s point.  The scripture for today says that the head of the woman is that man.  Many women take issue with being expected to submit to this role and to be subject to her husband.  It doesn’t say that she has to submit to every man, just her husband.  That is the only man that is head over her.  Most women do not realize that they were created to be a present/gift to her husband.  A helper.  They also do not realize what a position of great influence they have been given when they submit all to their husband.  It is really one of God’s secrets and one that will defeat any enemy that comes against a marriage.  When a man and woman come into agreement in the order that God created them to be in, the is no thing or person that will ever be able to stand against this force of power in unity.

Today I want to encourage first of all husbands.  Love and cherish your wife as a great gift from God.  If you treat your wife as the most precious person and voice in your life, she will have no trouble at all submitting to you.  Recognize that submission is a voluntary thing, and a husband cannot force his wife to submit.  Otherwise, it is not submission, it is oppression.  I want to encourage wives to honor and respect your husband.  As a most precious gift to him, it is up to you to be that precious gift in the way you speak and care for him.  You are a gift, but a wife must make the decision to act like a gift that her husband wants to have around him all the time, not one that is set aside and thought little about.  Together surrender all your life to the Lord and help one another to complete the mission you were called to while you have your time together in this world.  God made you for each other and for Him, get the order right and you will be successful in all He has for you to do.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man.

9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

What should we do?

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

In the world we live in today, we have an unlimited selection of activities, pastimes and hobbies to occupy the time we have been given here.  From crafting to sports, reading to videos, tv to movies and cooking to dining out.  Not to mention school, work, neighborhood and community events.  We have become a society of business and entertainment.  Most people are distracted and fully pursuing the “American dream” of having the latest amenities and being the most comfortable. This place has become focused on making ends meet and looking out for number one.

In today’s reading, the Apostle Peter is faced with a question from the multitudes after giving a message about the Holy Spirit and salvation in Jesus.  The crowd asked: “What should we do?”  Amazingly, Peter doesn’t tell them to go to college and get a good education so that you can get the best paying job.  He doesn’t tell them to climb the corporate ladder to be in position to retire early and take it easy.  He doesn’t even tell them to go to church weekly to learn all the laws and regulations so you can be a good person.  He told them: “Repent before God and be baptized. Then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to direct you through this life.”  Peter went on to tell them that the promise was not only for them but for their children after them and for the generations after them.

The answer to this question is the same for us today.  It is a lie to think that we live for a few short years in this world to just accumulate to goods and comforts it has to offer.  That this life is all about retirement and taking it easy.  The truth is, it doesn’t matter how early you retire in life, your purpose for being alive will always be the same and that is to pursue the One who made you and tell others about Him.  Repent and receive the gift of God’s Spirit to be your guide and empowerment to reach the world around you!

Today I want to ask you a question. What are you pursuing?  Take a look inside your heart and honestly answer if you are running after God and His plan and purpose or if you are chasing after things and collecting all the enjoyment of the stuff that is fading away?  Make the decision today to repent and turn back to God.  Receive His Spirit to be your source of all, then He will show you how to use the good things in life that you have accumulated to reach the lost world around you.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 2:22-39

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 

25 For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 

30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 

31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 

32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 

33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

35Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

How can we hear?

We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” Acts2:11

What a wonderful thing to consider.  On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the first New Testament believers, the first act of the Holy Spirit was to make sure that the people on the outside could hear and understand the wonderful works of God!  It didn’t matter what language they knew. the Holy Spirit spoke directly to them in their own tongue so that they could know the message that God had for them that day.  As a result, many were saved and added to the church!

Today we live in a world with so many different languages, it is hard to keep track of them all.  Yet there are ministries out there working hard to translate God’s word into every known language so that the message of salvation can reach across the globe.  However, what about in our own area.  Yes, we can read the word of God, but many do not even look at it or understand the love of God flowing from it.  How can they hear the Holy Spirit talking still today?  Certainly, He makes provision for those next to us to encounter Him personally to be moved to change their direction in life just as He did when He first came into the world so many years ago.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost quoted an Old Testament scripture prophesying the many ways that the Holy Spirit will make Himself known in these latter days.  Below is a list of ways that the prophet Joel said the Holy Spirit would pour out in the days we live in.  He said:

These signs are physical evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and according to this scripture, He can be seen all around us in nature.  The Holy Spirit is not trying to hide from the outside world, He wants to make Himself known and He wants to fill every believer up to the over flow.  Just as He spoke to the people on the day of Pentecost, He is speaking to the world today and has a plan to pour out Himself out again in these last days. We can hear and see Him in these days, we only need to look and see.

Today I want to encourage you to look for the Holy Spirit’s manifestations all around.  Start by asking for a fresh filling and following the directions He whispers to you on the inside.  Then begin to notice signs around you and be ready to answer the questions of those who may not recognize what is happening in the world today.  Begin today to point others toward Him then many will call on His name and be saved!

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 2:5-21

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 

6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 

7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 

8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 

11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Minister from the overflow

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 1:4

 Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked a hard question?  Something beyond what we can know for sure in this world?  Or maybe you were called on by a friend to pray with and encourage someone but didn’t know what you were going to say when you got there.  No matter how hard you tried to prepare, in the end you still needed the Holy Spirit’s help and direction for whatever the circumstances were.

In today’s reading, we find the disciples in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit to come.  They had many questions and even though they knew what their assignment was, to go into all the world, they still wondered about many things. They had hard questions like when would Jesus set up His kingdom on earth?  However, instead of trying to prepare and learn all the perfect answers to all the hard questions, they waited as they were told to by Jesus when He last spoke to them.  Then when the day of Pentecost (a day of celebrating first fruits) came the Holy Spirit came into the room and filled each one of them with His power and presence.  Immediately everyone in that room was filled up with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak with the languages of heaven and earth.  Suddenly, they were full of confidence to tell others what was happening.  It wasn’t because they were doing their homework and talking to each other about how to answer the hard questions.  It was because there were where they were supposed to be at the right time and in complete agreement. They had positioned themselves to receive that empowerment of the Holy Spirit be following the direction they were given by the head of the church.  Then they began to go out in the streets and tell the people there what was going on and how they could be filled up with God’s Spirit too.

Here are a few scriptures about the Holy Spirit that show us He will give us exactly what we need at just the right time to help those around us.  We don’t need to fill up with knowledge of how to answer every hard question just right.  All we need to do is fill up with the Spirit of God by pressing in feeding on His Word and promises each day and let God’s Spirit guide us into all truth and wisdom.

He will teach you what to say – Luke 12:12 – For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

He will teach and remind you what you have learned – John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

He will guide you into all truth and show you things to come – John 16:13 – However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

He gives you power from on high to be His witness – Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

He makes intercession for us – Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

He lives inside of us – 1 Corinthians 6:19 – Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

He anoints us to know all things – 1 John 2:20 – But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

Those are some extremely powerful promises and as you can see, when we are filled up with the Holy Spirit of God, we don’t need to learn everything.  Instead, He will give us what we need at just the right time.  We will minister and bless others from the overflow of His Spirit within us.  As we are filled, that anointing will flow out of our hearts and into the lives of those around us.

Today I want to encourage you to not be stressed or worried about how to help or encourage someone who is going through a rough time in life.  Instead, take time to fill your heart up with the Word and promised of God. Press into Him by praying in the Spirit and allowing Him to make intercession for you.  He knows what that person needs and He will give you exactly what you need to help them at just the right timing.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 2:1-4      

 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.