Tag Archives: Pentecost

Pentecost, June 10, 2019

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

One of my kids lives in a little town in Texas called Bandera. It has this big sign as you come into town that announces that it is the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Throughout the week, the population in the little rural town is less than a thousand, but when events happen around their claim to fame of being the cowboy capital, the place can burgeon up to 30,000.

I think of that little town and what happens there and can picture what Jerusalem must have been like on the three pilgrimages the faithful Jews took each year. The Roman soldiers had their hands full when these things happened. Jews from the known world gathered as the Torah required.

It was true at the previous festival, Passover. Extra soldiers were everywhere because of the festival. Visitors were packed into every space and all the surrounding villages. Tension was high then because riots were not uncommon. The Jews didn’t particularly want to be under the rule of a foreign government, but they were. The religious leaders wanted to rule the nation as the Torah demanded. The nation blew it when they put Saul on the throne and the religious leaders thought they could fix it.

They wanted power. They had power since they had the ear of the representatives of the Roman rulers. But the common people didn’t particularly care for the Romans. Now Jesus came along, and tensions got even higher. Another rebel. Another potential bonfire about to ignite. The soldiers would be the ones put in the middle to quell the violence if it happened. They would stop the violence with overwhelming violence of their own.

The Nazarene caused more than just tension that last Passover. The man called Jesus had a following, but the Roman’s crucified him at the bequest of the Jewish leaders. But now there was this group that saying the man wasn’t dead. This bunch of uneducated followers said they saw him rise up into the sky on clouds and saw angels who told them he was coming back. So now, instead of just one to worry about, there were dozens. No doubt the Roman soldiers were worried about this new influx of visitors into the city.

We’re talking about Pentecost, one of the three pilgrimages in ancient Judaism that brought thousands of Jews into the city of Jerusalem. Also called the Festival of Weeks, they celebrated the wheat harvest and the anniversary of God giving the Torah to Moses. The city burst at the seams with people. But in the middle of all the crowds, there was a small group that wanted something special to happen. Jesus told those who watched him ascend into heaven they should go to Jerusalem and wait power.

They had no idea what that meant at the time. Those 120 knew Jesus promised power but had no idea what it looked like or felt like. The disciples watched Jesus perform miracles time after time. They listened to his words in public and private. They sat at his feet for more than three years and watched him every day. But still didn’t know what to expect. Still, they followed Jesus’ command and waited. And in doing so, they followed his example and prayed while they waited.

A hundred twenty of those followers prayed in the upper room of one of the buildings in Jerusalem. Here’s what Luke said happened in Acts chapter 2.

A sound roars from the sky without warning, the roar of a violent wind, and the whole house where you are gathered reverberates with the sound. Then a flame appears, dividing into smaller flames and spreading from one person to the next. All the people present are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in languages they’ve never spoken, as the Spirit empowers them.

Because of the holy festival, there are devout Jews staying as pilgrims in Jerusalem from every nation under the sun. They hear the sound, and a crowd gathers. They are amazed because each of them can hear the group speaking in their native languages. They are shocked and amazed by this.

Pilgrims: Just a minute. Aren’t all of these people Galileans? How in the world do we all hear our native languages being spoken? Look—there are Parthians here, and Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, and Judeans, residents of Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygians and Pamphylians, Egyptians and Libyans from Cyrene, Romans including both Jews by birth and converts,Cretans, and Arabs. We’re each, in our own languages, hearing these people talk about God’s powerful deeds.

Their amazement becomes confusion as they wonder,

Pilgrims: What does this mean?

The sound of wind, the appearance of fire, speaking and hearing languages never known before. Power! Incredible deeds about to be done. Jesus told them they would do more than he did after he leaves and God’s spirit comes. These 120 begin to do incredible things. They burst out of the room ready to talk about what happened to them. They spread the word about Jesus. They felt compassion for those around them. They wanted others to know about the love they felt for all of those God created.

So that from the fifteen languages noted from at least as many countries these men and women began to disperse among the crowd and tell these pilgrims they came to the right place to find freedom. Not freedom from Rome, because that kind of freedom doesn’t really matter. They told of freedom from the guilt of sin. The blood sacrifices in the temple did so little, but the perfect sacrifice by the son of God, Jesus, frees us completely.

These men and women began doing things people could not explain. Why would they give what they had to others? Why would they associate with the low-lifes of the city and do things that would pull them up? Why would they promise hope to those who really had no hope in this life? Why would they promise forgiveness to those caught in the act of things everyone knows is wrong? Why would they talk about peace in the middle of this city bursting with soldiers ready to kill anyone who looked at them cross-eyed?

How do you explain Pentecost? You can’t except to say the church was born when the Holy Spirit fell on those 120 faithfully waiting for something to happen. And when it did, they were never the same. They began to execute the mission Jesus gave them on the mountainside the day he ascended into heaven. The power he promised became evident as they moved throughout the city and country and world. The power of God’s spirit moving through the lives of his people has changed the world.

Jesus said something would happen when those 120 waited for it. The same is true today. When we earnestly seek the holy spirit in our lives, he comes and resides not just with us, but in us. When he does, the powerhouse that raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter, is the same powerhouse available to us to live in a world full of those who need God in the worst way.

We celebrated Pentecost this week. Enjoy the celebration. Stop and remember what it is about. Give thanks for the promise Jesus made to those gathered around him and the fulfillment of that promise 50 days later as God’s spirit rushed through that room touching the senses of those gathered there. The world has changed because of that day. You can be changed, too. Wait and pray.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Anticipation, April 2, 2018

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Bible Reading Plan – www.Bible-Reading.com; The Story, Chapter 28; You Version Bible app Engaging God’s Story Reading Plan Days 190 through 196

Anticipation. Sometimes it feels good doesn’t it. Sometimes it just tears at us. Let me give you a couple of examples. Kids anticipate Christmas. They are excited about the approach of the day and what they might find under the tree. They might have climbed into Santa’s lap and told him and no doubt they dropped hints around the house about what they really wanted. As the day approaches, so does their anticipation. It goes and grows and feels pretty good as the day gets closer.

But then there is the other side of anticipation. Some friends of mine built a house a few years ago that their contract said would be done in about five months with a guarantee to be finished before Thanksgiving. Five months came and went. Halloween found them without a home. Thanksgiving passed them by without a place to call their own. Christmas. New Year’s Day. The five months of construction and a seven month guarantee ended up being more than a year and still took them to court because the construction was of such poor quality.

Their anticipation brought nothing but more pain and heartache and bills and living on the edge waiting for their house to become at least habitable, though never as complete as they dreamed.

Jesus stood on a hillside the last time his disciples saw him and told them he would be back. He told them he’d come to take his bride to a place he was building for her. A new heaven and new earth. Then he told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for power to carry out the mission he gave them until he returned.

Now if you heard his words that day, wouldn’t you expect him to come back in a few days or weeks? If your boss said, “I’ll be back soon.” Wouldn’t you think that meant he took a short vacation or had a business meeting somewhere and would be back in the office before you had a chance to retire…or die! That’s what the disciples thought. They anticipated his return. Soon. But they also had a task to do before he came back.

Remember his mission for them and us? “Go into your neighborhood [Jerusalem], go to those that live near you and are somewhat like you [Judea], go to those that you don’t like very much [Samaria], and go to places and people you don’t even know [the uttermost parts of the world] and make disciples. Teach them everything I have taught you. Baptize them into the same faith into which you have been baptized, the one that proclaims the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

They went to Jerusalem. They went to a room they had met in before. All day and night, without a break, they took shifts praying, asking for something they didn’t understand. Jesus told them to wait for power and they asked for direction, for Jesus’ return, for power. Finally, they quit asking for Jesus to return. They quit asking for the Romans to be defeated. They quit asking for the pockets to get full. They quit asking for the Sanhedrin to stop looking for them or harassing them. They stopped asking for health. They stopped asking for everything…except the power to do the mission Jesus gave them to do. They didn’t know what they were asking for but finally all of them agreed what they needed was the power to carry out the job.

120 of them. All in one accord. All praying for one thing. To receive the promised power to do the work God asked them to do. Then it happened. God’s Spirit came and rested on, and filled each of them. They went out into the crowd that had gathered for the annual celebration of Pentecost, the first harvest. 120 mingled through the crowd telling them what had happened over the last seven weeks and the message that Jesus left us. Repent. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Believe in him and have everlasting life.

Peter preached that morning and the number of converts grew from 120 to 3,000. A pretty good evangelistic sermon that morning. Read it in Acts Chapter 2. They didn’t have any fine churches with steeples and fancy altars. They didn’t have praise teams and bands or choirs and orchestras. They didn’t have pulpits or lobbies with café’s and doughnuts. What they did have was the power of God’s spirit living in them.

Have you ever thought about that? When God’s spirit takes hold of us and we let him take charge of us, we have the same power in us that raised Jesus from the dead. We have resurrection power in us. You’ve probably heard a song like that. But it’s absolutely true.

There is one catch, though. Remember the disciples spent 40 days and nights waiting and praying for the promised power. They didn’t know exactly what they were praying for, but quite frankly, until God’s spirit lives in us, we don’t know what we are praying for either. It’s indescribable. It’s something that can only be experienced.

I’m afraid too many today don’t do the waiting and praying necessary to really know what it means to have God’s spirit in their life. I don’t see his power in the lives of his people much despite the words said. It’s easy for us to make church more like a concert than a time of giving ourselves to God’s will. We rush in, find a seat, listen to great music and 20 minute sermon, rush out the door and pretend our lives are God’s.

That’s not the mission Jesus gave his disciples and that’s not the mission he gives us. If my math is right, those 3,000 people won to the church on that first day, met together in groups of about 30 in a hundred different homes. They ate meals together. They prayed together. They shared each other’s praises and each other’s hurts. They believed who Jesus was and what he could do for them. They experienced peace and joy because they waited on the promised power and they didn’t accept a McDonald’s kind of religion. They prayed until the promise came through. And the promise didn’t come through until their heart and mission and vision changed to align with God’s heart.

As we look at the early church, they didn’t play games with words. They were much like the Christian churches in Syria or Somalia today. They risked life and death by proclaiming Jesus name. They often met in secret because death was around the corner at the hands of the Romans or the hands of the priests. Their faith meant they lost jobs. They lost property. They lost their children and families. They lost their lives. Being Christian meant real commitment and real faith, not just words to them or to those in nations today with severe persecution of those who follow Christ.

So how about you? Are you ready to take up the mission Jesus has given all who claim his name? The great commission is for all of us. But we cannot carry it out without the power he promised them and us. The question is, am I willing to pay the price to receive that power? Am I willing to wait on God and lose myself in him so that I can gain all he has for me and complete the mission he has prepared for me in this place?

It took forty days for the 120 disciples to get past themselves to find the promised power of God. Are you willing to spend the time necessary to get past yourself to find the resurrection he has for you? You won’t regret it.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

Nothing is impossible (Mark 14:27-31;66-72), November 3, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 14:27-31; 66-72

Set – Job 25; Mark 14

Go! – Job 25; Mark 13-14

Mark 14:27-31; 66-72
Jesus: ²⁷ All of you will desert Me tonight. It was written by Zechariah,
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will scatter.
²⁸ But when I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
Peter (protesting): ²⁹ It doesn’t matter who else turns his back on You. I will never desert You.
Jesus: ³⁰ Peter, mark My words. This very night before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.
Peter (insisting): ³¹ No, Teacher. Even if it means that I have to die with You, I’ll never deny You.
All the other disciples said similar things.
^66-67 While Peter was waiting by the fire outside, one of the servant girls of the high priest saw him.
Servant Girl: You were one of those men with Jesus of Nazareth.
Peter: ⁶⁸ Woman, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
He left the fire, and as he went out into the gateway, a cock crowed.
⁶⁹ The servant girl saw him again.
Servant Girl: Hey, this is one of them—one of those who followed Jesus.
Peter: ⁷⁰ No, I’m not one of them.
A little later, some of the other bystanders turned to Peter.
Bystander: Surely you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean. We can tell by your accent.
⁷¹ And then he swore an oath that if he wasn’t telling the truth that he would be cursed.
Peter: Listen, I don’t even know the man you’re talking about.
⁷² And as he said this, a cock crowed a second time; and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.”
He began to weep.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Be careful about making promises you can’t keep. Peter thought he would never deny Me when he made his declaration. It was just a few short hours, though, and he not only denied Me, but sealed his denial with an oath. Fear for his life caused him to forget the thin boast he made that he would die before he would leave My side. It only took the sight of the soldiers’ swords in the night to dissuade him from following further to his own crucifixion.

It wasn’t that Peter didn’t believe he would stand with Me until the end, but he didn’t have the strength by himself to do so and because My Spirit had not yet come to stay with you and in you, he just couldn’t do it. He fled just like Zechariah said all of My disciples would. None had the intestinal fortitude to stand by Me in those darkest hours. They had all witnessed crucifixions. They had all seen the floggings and beatings inflicted by the Romans. They knew what could happen if they didn’t escape … and quickly. So they ran. All of them.

It was partly because of Peter’s experience he became such a fervish missionary for Me. Once he learned to lean upon Me and trust in My strength instead of his own, Peter discovered he could keep his promise and not fear physical death. Once Peter saw Me after My resurrection and had My Spirit living in him, he knew nothing could keep him from following Me wherever I led him. Even to the cross where he requested he be crucified upside-down because he felt he didn’t deserve to die the same way I did.

What was the change in Peter? The upper room was the change. He and those who spent time with him in that room waited for the third person of the triune Godhead to invade their lives. The Holy Spirit came to them after they prayed through. What does that mean? They gave up everything. They emptied themselves of self and let Me have control of their lives. They vowed to do what I asked them to do…whatever it might be or whatever it might cost. Peter and those with him held nothing back.

You can do the same. It’s not just the words, “I give myself to you,” though. It means you have to really do it. You really pray through and give Me everything…everything. It’s not always easy to give everything up, but you must give Me everything if you expect to have the strength of those like Peter, Paul, James, John, and so many others through the centuries.

Peter couldn’t keep his promises until I lived within him. Neither will you. But once you let Me transform you with My mighty power, there is nothing impossible through Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Become extraordinary (Acts 6), October 17, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 6

Set – Job 2; Acts 6

Go! – Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

Acts 6
¹ Things were going well, and the number of disciples was growing. But a problem arose. The Greek-speaking believers became frustrated with the Hebrew-speaking believers. The Greeks complained that the Greek-speaking widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. ² The twelve convened the entire community of disciples.
The Twelve: We could solve this problem ourselves, but that wouldn’t be right. We need to focus on proclaiming God’s message, not on distributing food. ³ So, friends, find seven respected men from the community of faith. These men should be full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom. Whomever you select we will commission to resolve this matter ⁴ so we can maintain our focus on praying and serving—not meals—but the message.
⁵ The whole community—Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking—was very pleased with this plan, so they chose seven men: Stephen (a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a Greek-speaking convert from Antioch). ⁶ These men were presented to the apostles, who then prayed for them and commissioned them by laying their hands on them. ⁷ The message of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples continued to increase significantly there in Jerusalem. Even priests in large numbers became obedient to the faith.
⁸ Stephen continually overflowed with extraordinary grace and power, and he was able to perform a number of miraculous signs and wonders in public view. ⁹ But eventually a group arose to oppose Stephen and the message to which his signs and wonders pointed. (These men were from a group called the Free Synagogue and included Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asians.) ¹⁰ The Holy Spirit gave Stephen such wisdom in responding to their arguments that they were humiliated; ¹¹ in retaliation, they spread a vicious rumor: “We heard Stephen speak blasphemies against Moses and God.”
¹² Their rumor prompted an uprising that included common people, religious officials, and scholars. They surprised Stephen, grabbed him, and hauled him before the council. ¹³ They convinced some witnesses to give false testimony.
False Witnesses: This fellow constantly degrades the holy temple and mocks our holy law. ¹⁴ With our own ears, we’ve heard him say this Jesus fellow, this Nazarene he’s always talking about, will actually destroy the holy temple and will try to change the sacred customs we received from Moses.
¹⁵ The entire council turned its gaze on Stephen to see how he would respond. They were shocked to see his face radiant with peace—as if he were a heavenly messenger.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Everyone can show grace every once in a while. Everyone can be kind to someone else or show mercy to another of their fellow-man. Everyone can give to another on occasion or comfort someone who is hurting or in need. Everyone has some spark of decency within them when some special occasion calls for it. No one is complete and pure evil because I created each person in My image.

However, Stephen continually overflowed with extraordinary grace and power. Did you get that? It came about because Stephen gave himself to Me. He decided he no longer wanted to follow the ways of man and would follow Me. So Stephen emptied himself and let Me fill his life with My Spirit. He let Me direct his life. When he saw someone in need and I nudged him to do something about it, he didn’t hesitate, but instead, went out of his way to do what he could to help that person.

Stephen mimicked My actions when I walked alongside you in the flesh. When he saw someone hungry, he gave them food. When he saw someone sick, he did what he could to minister to their ills. When he saw someone in prison, he cared for them and ministered to them. When he saw widows and orphans who could not care for themselves, he cared for them. Stephen did what I did when he saw others around him that he could help.

So what made Stephen so different from everyone else? The difference was his upper room experience. He was a man full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit, My Spirit. He prayed through on the morning of Pentecost and found what I asked him to find. He found Me that morning in all My glory as Stephen let Me live in him as his comforter and guide. With Me living in him, Stephen could wear the countenance of an angel. He could be at peace in front of the Sanhedrin who accused him of blasphemy even when innocent of the charges. He could face death at the hands of false accusers and false witness and ask for their forgiveness because his spirit was given over to My Spirit.

You can do the same. Stephen wasn’t special, except he gave himself to Me. Then, Stephen became extraordinary!

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Search, you will find God (Acts 2:14-42), October 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 2:14-42

Set – Nehemiah 10; Acts 2

Go! – Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

Acts 2:14-42
¹⁴ As the twelve stood together, Peter shouted to the crowd,
Peter: Men of Judea and all who are staying here in Jerusalem, listen. I want you to understand: ¹⁵ these people aren’t drunk as you may think. Look, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this isn’t drunkenness; this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. ¹⁷ Hear what God says!
In the last days,
I will offer My Spirit to humanity as a libation.
Your children will boldly speak the word of the Lord.
Young warriors will see visions,
and your elders will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Yes, in those days I shall offer My Spirit to all servants,
both male and female, and they will boldly speak My word.
¹⁹ And in the heaven above and on the earth below,
I shall give signs of impending judgment: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will become a void of darkness,
and the moon will become blood.
Then the great and dreadful day of the Lord will arrive,
²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be liberated into God’s freedom and peace.
²² All of you Israelites, listen to my message: it’s about Jesus of Nazareth, a man whom God authenticated for you by performing in your presence powerful deeds, wonders, and signs through Him, just as you yourselves know. ²³ This man, Jesus, who came into your hands by God’s sure plan and advanced knowledge, you nailed to a cross and killed in collaboration with lawless outsiders. ²⁴ But God raised Jesus and unleashed Him from the agonizing birth pangs of death, for death could not possibly keep Jesus in its power. ²⁵ David spoke of Jesus’ resurrection, saying:
I see the Lord is ever present with me.
I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He guides my right hand.
²⁶ My heart is glad; my soul rejoices;
my body is safe.
²⁷ You will not abandon me to experience the suffering of a miserable afterlife,
nor leave Your Holy One to rot alone.
²⁸ Instead, You direct me on a path that leads to a beautiful life.
As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.
²⁹ My fellow Israelites, I can say without question that David our ancestor died and was buried, and his tomb is with us today. ³⁰ David wasn’t speaking of himself; he was speaking as a prophet. He saw with prophetic insight that God had made a solemn promise to him: God would put one of his descendants on His throne. ³¹ Here’s what David was seeing in advance; here’s what David was talking about—the Anointed One would be resurrected. Think of David’s words about Him not being abandoned to the place of the dead nor being left to decay in the grave. ³² He was talking about Jesus, the One God has raised, whom all of us have seen with our own eyes and announce to you today. ³³ Since Jesus has been lifted to the right hand of God—the highest place of authority and power—and since Jesus has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has now poured out what you have seen and heard here today. ³⁴ Remember: David couldn’t have been speaking of himself rising to the heavens when he said,
The Master said to my master,
“Sit here at My right hand,
in the place of honor and power,
³⁵ And I will gather Your enemies together,
lead them in on hands and knees,
and You will rest Your feet on their backs.”
³⁶ Everyone in Israel should now realize with certainty what God has done: God has made Jesus both Lord and Anointed King—this same Jesus whom you crucified.
³⁷ When the people heard this, their hearts were pierced; and they said to Peter and his fellow apostles,
Pilgrims: Our brothers, what should we do?
Peter: ³⁸ Reconsider your lives; change your direction. Participate in the ceremonial washing of baptism in the name of Jesus God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. Then your sins will be forgiven, and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be yours. ³⁹ For the promise of the Spirit is for you, for your children, for all people—even those considered outsiders and outcasts—the Lord our God invites everyone to come to Him.
⁴⁰ Peter was pleading and offering many logical reasons to believe. ⁴¹ Whoever made a place for his message in their hearts received the baptism; in fact, that day alone, about 3,000 people joined the disciples.
⁴² The community continually committed themselves to learning what the apostles taught them, gathering for fellowship, breaking bread, and praying.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Such a beautiful sermon from an itinerant preacher that day. Peter and 119 others experienced what I promised them in the upper room that day. They couldn’t contain their jubilation. The locked door burst open and they filled the streets with their praise and the message of the coming of My Spirit into their lives. I still come into the lives of those who earnestly seek Me and invite Me into their presence. It’s more than a few tears, though. It’s true repentance, turning from your worldly ways and turning to Me. Then I welcome you and My Spirit will teach you all things. Start praying and searching. You will find Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Get rid of the selfish streak (Luke 22:7-46), October 9, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 22:7-46

Set – Nehemiah 1; Psalms 133; Luke 22

Go! – Nehemiah 1-2; Psalms 133; Luke 22

Luke 22:7-46
⁷ They came to the Day of Unleavened Bread, a holy day when a special lamb (called the Passover lamb) had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus chose Peter and John and gave them instructions.
Jesus: Go and make all the necessary preparations for the Passover meal so we can eat together.
Peter and John: ⁹ Where do You want us to make preparations?
Jesus: ¹⁰ When you enter the city, you’ll encounter a man carrying a jar of water. Just follow him wherever he goes, and when he enters a house, ¹¹ tell the homeowner, “The Teacher has this question for you: ‘Where is the guest room where I can share the Passover meal with My disciples?’” ¹² He’ll show you a spacious second-story room that has all the necessary furniture. That’s where you should prepare our meal.
¹³ They did as He said and found everything just as He said it would be, and they prepared the Passover meal. ¹⁴ When the meal was prepared, Jesus sat at the table, joined by His emissaries.
Jesus: ¹⁵ It has been My deep desire to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. ¹⁶ Know this: I will not eat another Passover meal until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
¹⁷ He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it.
Jesus: Take this; share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ Know this: I will not drink another sip of wine until the kingdom of God has arrived in fullness.
¹⁹ Then He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them.
Jesus: This is My body, My body given for you. Do this to remember Me.
²⁰ And similarly, after the meal had been eaten, He took the cup.
Jesus: This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant, made in My blood. ²¹ But even now, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on this table. ²² As it has been determined, the Son of Man, that firstfruit of a new generation of humanity, must be betrayed, but how pitiful it will be for the person who betrays Him.
²³ They immediately began questioning each other.
Disciples: Which one of us could do such a horrible thing?
²⁴ Soon they found themselves arguing about the opposite question.
Disciples: Which one of us is the most faithful, the most important?
Jesus (interrupting): ²⁵The authority figures of the outsiders play this game, flexing their muscles in competition for power over one another, masking their quest for domination behind words like “benefactor” or “public servant.” ²⁶ But you must not indulge in this charade. Instead, among you, the greatest must become like the youngest and the leader must become a true servant. ²⁷ Who is greater right here as we eat this meal—those of us who sit at the table, or those who serve us? Doesn’t everyone normally assume those who are served are greater than those who serve? But consider My role among you. I have been with you as a servant.
²⁸ You have stood beside Me faithfully through My trials. ²⁹ I give you a kingdom, just as the Father has given Me a kingdom. ³⁰ You will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will have authority over the twelve tribes of Israel.
³¹ Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. ³² But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here.
Peter: ³³ Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You—to prison, to execution—I’m prepared to do anything for You.
Jesus: ³⁴ No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. ³⁵ Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything?
Disciples: Not a thing.
Jesus: ³⁶ It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. ³⁷ Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true.
Disciples: ³⁸ Look, Lord, we have two swords here.
Jesus: That’s enough.
³⁹ Once again He left the city as He had been doing during recent days, returning to Mount Olivet along with His disciples. ⁴⁰ And He came to a certain place.
Jesus: Pray for yourselves, that you will not sink into temptation.
⁴¹ He distanced Himself from them about a stone’s throw and knelt there, ⁴² praying.
Jesus: Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done.
⁴³ Then a messenger from heaven appeared to strengthen Him. ⁴⁴ And in His anguish, He prayed even more intensely, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. ⁴⁵ When He rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, weighed down with sorrow. ⁴⁶ He roused them.
Jesus: Why are you sleeping? Wake up and pray that you will not sink into temptation.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Can you believe it? I had just explained to My disciples the significance of the meal they were sharing with Me and they start talking about who was most important among them. That selfish streak that seems to pop its head up just couldn’t stay away. It would take another 50 days, until Pentecost, before they would really understand what losing themselves to Me really means. To find out what I wanted them to know, I asked them to pray. So they did. And they prayed some more. And then they prayed some more. Until finally they let go and let My Spirit purge their lives and take control of their whole being.

It can still happen today. I still want My children to experience Pentecost. I want My Spirit to flow through you as it did My disciples in the upper room. But it takes prayer, letting go, letting Me take charge of your life. I’ll do the same for you that I did for them. Be willing to spend time on your knees with Me and you’ll be amazed at what I can do for you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Pentecost, more than a feast day (Acts 2/1-21;43-47), Jan 26, 2015

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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Acts 2
Pentecost had come and gone countless times for the Hebrews through the centuries. People came from everywhere to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. The day commemorates the giving of My Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. But after My Son returned to heaven, My Spirit came as He promised. What better day than Pentecost for Him to settle upon the hearts of men and women ready to receive Him fully?

Some special things happened that day that many concentrate on when talking about Pentecost, the sound of rushing wind, the flames of fire on each person in the room, the languages spoken and heard by each person in the crowd. Certainly, those things should not be forgotten. They were important in letting both those present and future generations know something different, wonderful, and miraculous happened when My Spirit came to inhabit hearts. But the audible and visible signs of the day were not what made Pentecost special to Me.

What made Pentecost special were the changed lives seen by everyone around them. Luke recorded some of those changes in later verses of the second chapter of Acts, often overlooked because of the spectacular events in the opening verses. But I want you to think about the real change and what I find most important.

Luke describes an intense sense of togetherness among all who believed. Did you get that? No fighting each other, no gossip among that group, no back-biting or slander. They had an intense sense of togetherness. That’s My Church! They were generous with their material goods helping not only their fellow believers, but others in the city in need. They were unified in worship in the temple – day after day! They enjoyed each other’s company and shared meals together, opened their homes to each other, shared each others burdens, joys, and sorrows. Luke describes My newly filled people with glad and generous hearts enjoying the goodwill of all the people of the city.

Why did they enjoy the goodwill of the others? Because they were genuine in their generosity, genuine in their compassion, genuine in their love. How can they exhibit those characteristics in an occupied city whose leaders a few weeks early killed their Savior? Because My Son lives…forever! And My Spirit, His Spirt, We, now lived in them. We can live in you, too. If you let Us. You can experience the same genuine joy they did on that Pentecost day Luke describes in his letter to Theophilus describing the acts of the apostles. As promised to Joel, My Spirit is poured out for the asking. But like any gift, He must be accepted into your life. Do it today.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 2:1-21; 43-47
Set – Exodus 15; Acts 2
Go! – Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

Acts 2:1-21; 43-47
¹When the holy day of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover, they were gathered together in one place.

² Picture yourself among the disciples:

A sound roars from the sky without warning, the roar of a violent wind, and the whole house where you are gathered reverberates with the sound. ³ Then a flame appears, dividing into smaller flames and spreading from one person to the next. ⁴ All the people present are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in languages they’ve never spoken, as the Spirit empowers them.

⁵ Because of the holy festival, there are devout Jews staying as pilgrims in Jerusalem from every nation under the sun. ⁶ They hear the sound, and a crowd gathers. They are amazed because each of them can hear the group speaking in their native languages. ⁷ They are shocked and amazed by this.

Pilgrims: Just a minute. Aren’t all of these people Galileans? ⁸ How in the world do we all hear our native languages being spoken? ⁹ Look—there are Parthians here, and Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, and Judeans, residents of Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygians and Pamphylians, Egyptians and Libyans from Cyrene, Romans including both Jews by birth and converts, ¹¹ Cretans, and Arabs. We’re each, in our own languages, hearing these people talk about God’s powerful deeds.

¹² Their amazement becomes confusion as they wonder,

Pilgrims: What does this mean?

Skeptics: ¹³ It doesn’t mean anything. They’re all drunk on some fresh wine!

¹⁴ As the twelve stood together, Peter shouted to the crowd,

Peter: Men of Judea and all who are staying here in Jerusalem, listen. I want you to understand: ¹⁵ these people aren’t drunk as you may think. Look, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this isn’t drunkenness; this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. ¹⁷ Hear what God says!

In the last days,
I will offer My Spirit to humanity as a libation.
Your children will boldly speak the word of the Lord.
Young warriors will see visions,
and your elders will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Yes, in those days I shall offer My Spirit to all servants,
both male and female, and they will boldly speak My word.
¹⁹ And in the heaven above and on the earth below,
I shall give signs of impending judgment: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will become a void of darkness,
and the moon will become blood.
Then the great and dreadful day of the Lord will arrive,
²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be liberated into God’s freedom and peace.

⁴³ Everyone felt a sense of awe because the apostles were doing many signs and wonders among them. ⁴⁴ There was an intense sense of togetherness among all who believed; they shared all their material possessions in trust. ⁴⁵ They sold any possessions and goods that did not benefit the community and used the money to help everyone in need. ⁴⁶ They were unified as they worshiped at the temple day after day. In homes, they broke bread and shared meals with glad and generous hearts. ⁴⁷ The new disciples praised God, and they enjoyed the goodwill of all the people of the city. Day after day the Lord added to their number everyone who was experiencing liberation.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.