Hey team,
I don't want to miss out on a chance to "meet together" in between our sessions so I will send you out some notes whenever I can. These posts are meant to keep us grounded in God's Word and united in our hearts.
Take a moment and read Acts 1:1-11 in your Bible. The NIV is below.
Acts 1:1-11
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Some notes on the text
-Jesus' instruction to the 12 (imagine being one of them) was done "through the Holy Spirit" (vs. 2). All those stories. All those teachings. The powerful, deliberate, life-giving words, all given BY Jesus THROUGH the Holy Spirit.
-The disciples had gone through a lot together but Jesus told them that "they hadn't seen nothin' yet" as they were about to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. (vs. 5) This Holy Spirit, the same One THROUGH WHOM Jesus had power.
-Re-read verse 8. Seriously? The work of the Holy Spirit is POWER to be witnesses to areas near and far.
-Jesus freaked them out one more time, being "taken up right before their eyes."
Reflections for Us:
1. The same power given to the 12 and through whom Jesus taught is living inside each of us. Romans 8:9 tells us that if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” You and I have the wisdom, the creativity, the depth and the power of God within us. QUESTION: What keeps you from believing God's best in you?
2. Our journey with Jesus is supposed to keep blowing our mind and taking us out of our comfort experiences. We are never meant to coast, but to thrive. QUESTION: How can we spend significant time with Jesus to allow him to keep changing us?
3. The fruit of the Spirit's work in us should resemble power to reach new people. The disciples were sent to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. QUESTION: Will you commit to praying each day for people that don't know Jesus? Pray specifically for people that you know. Pray that God would put you in the path of them?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July 31 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 148-150
Reflection Text - Psalm 150
Take a moment and write down all that God has done for you this week. Where has God given you provision? A good friend? A warm meal? A working vehicle? Discretionary funds? Joy?
Re-read Psalm 150...maybe from The Message.
Write out a BREATH PRAYER that you can say all day long to praise God. This breath prayer is something that you say in your head as you exhale and then inhale. Something like, Exhale - Jesus you are good. Inhale - Thank you for joy.
Enjoy the song.
Reflection Text - Psalm 150
Take a moment and write down all that God has done for you this week. Where has God given you provision? A good friend? A warm meal? A working vehicle? Discretionary funds? Joy?
Re-read Psalm 150...maybe from The Message.
Write out a BREATH PRAYER that you can say all day long to praise God. This breath prayer is something that you say in your head as you exhale and then inhale. Something like, Exhale - Jesus you are good. Inhale - Thank you for joy.
Enjoy the song.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 30 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 145-147
Reflection Text - Psalm 145
Read the Psalm silently.
Now read it out loud, slowly.
What sticks out to you?
Now listen to this version and pray the words that hit you.
Reflection Text - Psalm 145
Read the Psalm silently.
Now read it out loud, slowly.
What sticks out to you?
Now listen to this version and pray the words that hit you.
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 29 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 142-144
Reflection Text - Psalm 142
When God told Moses that He was going to use Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt's oppression, God said "When you have brought this people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)
Freedom's end result was worship of God.
Psalm 142:7 says, "Bring me out of prison, SO THAT I may give thanks to your name."
When God sets us free, we abound with thanksgiving and praise.
What have you been set free from? What is the praise you give today to God?
Reflection Text - Psalm 142
When God told Moses that He was going to use Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt's oppression, God said "When you have brought this people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)
Freedom's end result was worship of God.
Psalm 142:7 says, "Bring me out of prison, SO THAT I may give thanks to your name."
When God sets us free, we abound with thanksgiving and praise.
What have you been set free from? What is the praise you give today to God?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July 28 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 139-141
Reflection Text - Psalm 141
What happens when you feel attacked by someone?
What is your normal response to accusation?
If you're anything like me, you tend to defend yourself or to make a case against those "against" you. David, in this poem (as in many others) feels the weight of others' attack on him. Instead of berating them (I can't believe he always respected King Saul's authority, even when it was used to try to kill HIM), David prayed,
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it."
When opposition came, David prayed for a holy tongue.
He asked God to shut his mouth.
He asked for and welcomed righteous accountability.
He didn't play victim or think that he had the right to say or do what he wanted. He asked that God would watch over his words and bring righteousness to him through accountability.
What would it look like if we saw every opportunity, even when we are hurt, as an opportunity for greater accountability before God and others?
Reflection Text - Psalm 141
What happens when you feel attacked by someone?
What is your normal response to accusation?
If you're anything like me, you tend to defend yourself or to make a case against those "against" you. David, in this poem (as in many others) feels the weight of others' attack on him. Instead of berating them (I can't believe he always respected King Saul's authority, even when it was used to try to kill HIM), David prayed,
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it."
When opposition came, David prayed for a holy tongue.
He asked God to shut his mouth.
He asked for and welcomed righteous accountability.
He didn't play victim or think that he had the right to say or do what he wanted. He asked that God would watch over his words and bring righteousness to him through accountability.
What would it look like if we saw every opportunity, even when we are hurt, as an opportunity for greater accountability before God and others?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
July 27 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 136-138
Reflection Text - Psalm 138
These 2 verses are hitting me deeply today.
"6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar."
-God is close to the lowly, despite being so "above" them. Those who are proud have no need for God, therefore God is removed.
-How do I try to hide my "lowliness" with false pride?
-What are my pride triggers?
-Is there a link to those who we'd call lowly (poor, broken, weak) and closeness with God? What can I learn from them?
"8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever."
-Do I believe that God has more invested in me that what I give God credit for?
-How do I practically give myself to God's enduring love?
Reflection Text - Psalm 138
These 2 verses are hitting me deeply today.
"6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar."
-God is close to the lowly, despite being so "above" them. Those who are proud have no need for God, therefore God is removed.
-How do I try to hide my "lowliness" with false pride?
-What are my pride triggers?
-Is there a link to those who we'd call lowly (poor, broken, weak) and closeness with God? What can I learn from them?
"8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever."
-Do I believe that God has more invested in me that what I give God credit for?
-How do I practically give myself to God's enduring love?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 26 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 133-135
Reflection Text - Psalm 133
Seriously, may these 2 verse inspire us.
"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes."
This oil is a lavish precious, pouring of oil onto the head of a new chief priest. Oil was also used to heal wounds and to mark one's entrance into the role of prophet, priest or king.
The writer is saying that when Christ-followers live in unity with one another it's a lavish, precious marking of the other's dignity.
...All those around are healed
...Service begins and is given authority.
But unity is difficult isn't it?
I think it's often hard because we think unity = sameness. I am united to my wife but we are not the same (in a lot of ways :)). Unity is a commitment of intent, of passion and of values. It is a lifestyle of saying, "I'm not willing to walk through life without you so I'll do what it takes to walk with you."
In my experience, we don't like UNITY because it is too difficult to live out. It requires confronting false peace. It requires hearing the other's heart and letting their needs trump ours. It requires letting people into our lives, on our soil, even when our living room is a mess. Unity requires a belief in something bigger than ourselves.
But I've seen God's people get it right too. I've seen friends pour our their whole selves to one another. I've seen churches rally around a cause that is bigger than anything. I've seen wives return to marriages because they refuse to let evil win. In all these cases, HEALING has been the fruit.
May we so be healed!
Reflection Text - Psalm 133
Seriously, may these 2 verse inspire us.
"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes."
This oil is a lavish precious, pouring of oil onto the head of a new chief priest. Oil was also used to heal wounds and to mark one's entrance into the role of prophet, priest or king.
The writer is saying that when Christ-followers live in unity with one another it's a lavish, precious marking of the other's dignity.
...All those around are healed
...Service begins and is given authority.
But unity is difficult isn't it?
I think it's often hard because we think unity = sameness. I am united to my wife but we are not the same (in a lot of ways :)). Unity is a commitment of intent, of passion and of values. It is a lifestyle of saying, "I'm not willing to walk through life without you so I'll do what it takes to walk with you."
In my experience, we don't like UNITY because it is too difficult to live out. It requires confronting false peace. It requires hearing the other's heart and letting their needs trump ours. It requires letting people into our lives, on our soil, even when our living room is a mess. Unity requires a belief in something bigger than ourselves.
But I've seen God's people get it right too. I've seen friends pour our their whole selves to one another. I've seen churches rally around a cause that is bigger than anything. I've seen wives return to marriages because they refuse to let evil win. In all these cases, HEALING has been the fruit.
May we so be healed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)