Tag: Holy Spirit

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Great Things

Daily Reading

Acts 1-3

Daily Thought

You would think seeing Jesus alive would fire up the disciples, empower them to take the good news of Jesus to the world, but it didn’t happen that way. After Jesus rose from the tomb, the disciples locked themselves in a room “for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). Jesus appeared to them and showed them the nail holes in his hands and his side where the spear had pierced him. One week later, the disciples were in the same room, doors locked again. Jesus showed up again, same routine. What happened after that? “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I’m going fishing’” (John 21:3), and off they went.

We are made in God’s image, but we are dead in our sin and we must be awakened. We, too, must rise from the dead and we don’t summon that life because we experienced an event, no matter how dramatic. Our batteries are not drained, they are dead; they cannot hold a charge. God must reach inside us and renew our life. 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~Acts 1:8 

A short time later, the disciples were gathered together in a room “and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, and divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4), and it was then that a bunch of faint-hearted followers transformed into world-changing warriors.

Daily Prayer

Jesus, You said that we, Your followers, Your church, will do greater things than You did. I mean, You are the salvation of the world. Yours is the Name above all names. What could be greater? It is a wonderful humility to know it is not in our power to do great things for You, but through Your power in us great things will be done. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, we carry the message, the Good News of salvation to the world. Through Your power, lives are changed. That’s pretty great!

Father God, may I be faithful to follow Your Word, going to the world, in the power of Your Spirit, in the Name of Your Son, with the gospel of grace. I will be faithful to plant the seeds and water the soil and leave it to You, God, to make it grow.

Amen

Daily Question

What is it like to have the power of the Holy Spirit filling you?

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Barking Dogs

Daily Reading

Psalm 32-35

Daily Thought

Psalm 32 contains King David’s inside thoughts about the events of 2Samuel 11 and 12. The story begins, “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, King David remained in Jerusalem” (2Samuel 11:1). Sin shows up when you are not where you should be. The soldiers were away, and the wife of one of them was available. She conceived a child. To cover it up, the king brought the husband home from battle. If Uriah would enjoy a night with his wife, no one would know David had, but Uriah was one of David’s mighty men, an honorable man who does not take pleasure when his fellow warriors battle. The king got Uriah drunk, but Uriah’s integrity was stronger than the wine and Uriah slept on the porch. So, the king sent Uriah back to battle and arranged his murder in battle. David believed, at last, his secret was secure. He could rest. When you finally get a sin wrapped up all nice and tidy, you breathe a sigh of relief.

Except for the dogs. Dogs bark to protect their master’s home. Annoying barking dogs. Uriah’s dogs began to bark and kept barking. David had robbed his home, so they barked. David could hear them in his sleep. Adultery, Woof, Deceit, Woof. Murder, Woof. They don’t let up. King David thought he got away with it, and he almost did.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. ~Psalm 32:3-4

Pray that you never find rest in sin. Worse than the barking would be peace with iniquity. Because of the dogs, David found the just discipline of the Lord, and it hurt. But through the pain, he also found God’s mercy and grace. He found peace.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. ~Psalm 32:1, 7

Thank goodness for barking dogs.

Daily Prayer

Father in heaven, you are holy, you are good. Your kingdom is righteous. I long to live forever, a righteous man in a righteous kingdom. Do what it takes to prepare me for Your kingdom.

Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. If there is any wicked way in me, straighten my path. Lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you appreciate your conscience or does it annoy you, or both?

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Great Things

Daily Reading

Acts 1-3

Daily Thought

You would think seeing Jesus alive would fire up the disciples, empower them to take the good news of Jesus to the world, but it didn’t happen that way. After Jesus rose from the tomb, the disciples locked themselves in a room “for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). Jesus appeared to them and showed them the nail holes in his hands and his side where the spear had pierced him. One week later, the disciples were in the same room, doors locked again. Jesus showed up again, same routine. What happened after that? “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I’m going fishing’” (John 21:3), and off they went.

We are made in God’s image, but we are dead in our sin and we must be awakened. We, too, must rise from the dead and we don’t summon that life because we experienced an event, no matter how dramatic. Our batteries are not drained, they are dead; they cannot hold a charge. God must reach inside us and renew our life. Jesus said to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). A short time later, the disciples were gathered together in a room “and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, and divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4), and it was then that a bunch of faint-hearted followers transformed into world-changing warriors.

Daily Prayer

Jesus, You said that we, Your followers, Your church, will do greater things than You did. I mean, You are the salvation of the world. Yours is the Name above all names. What could be greater? It is a wonderful humility to know it is not in our power to do great things for You, but through Your power in us great things will be done. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, we carry the message, the Good News of salvation to the world. Through Your power, lives are changed. That’s pretty great!

Father God, may I be faithful to follow Your Word, going to the world, in the power of Your Spirit, in the Name of Your Son, with the gospel of grace. I will be faithful to plant the seeds and water the soil and leave it to You, God, to make it grow.

Amen

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The Mighty Men

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 9-11

Daily Thought

This is an account of David’s mighty men (1Chronicles 11:10). What follows are names and exploits of fierce warriors who stood beside David in battle. They gathered around when Saul was trying to kill David before he was king, and stayed with David once he’d gained the throne. Their devotion was such that, when David yearned for a drink of water, they broke through a Philistine encampment to draw from the well of Bethlehem. When handed the cup, David looked at the water, then at the men, and thought the price too high to quench the thirst of a king. They had risked their lives, and he would not drink it. “He poured it out to the Lord” (1Chronicles 11:18), an offering worthy only of God.

The movie “Blindside” begins with a monologue, “One Mississippi. Joe Theismann, the Redskins quarterback takes the snap and hands off to his running back. Two Mississippi. It’s a trick play, a flea flicker, and the running back tosses the ball back to the quarterback. Three Mississippi. Up to now the play’s been defined by the what the quarterback sees. It’s about to be defined by what he doesn’t. Four Mississippi. The year is 1985 and Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player in the NFL.  There will be no Five Mississippi. Quarterback Joe Theismann never played another down of football.”

Lawrence Taylor knocked Joe Theismann out of football. Lawrence Taylor and his kind are the reason why Tom Brady gave cars to Patriots linemen at Christmas, why Saints linemen had vacations of their choice paid for by Drew Brees, why 49er linemen sported Rolex watches, gifts from Joe Montana. “Watches. Custom suits. Stereo systems. Sony Blu-ray players before they even got on the market,” Indianapolis Colts linemen show off gifts from Peyton Manning. “He takes care of his guys.” Tom, Drew, Joe, and Peyton are quarterbacks, the kings of their teams. The king does not become king, does not remain king, without his mighty men.

Except one king, the King of kings. In him, the roles are reversed, for his men and women become mighty because their King gathers around them. And, still, he showers his mighty with gifts and we lay them back at his feet in worship. 

Daily Prayer

My King of kings and Lord of lords, great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God, having finished the work of salvation and now reigns in heaven. You have called us to battle, to stand strong in Your grace, and to take Your Good News into the kingdom of darkness.

Jesus, may I be among those who, through no strength of my own, but by the power of Your Spirit, become mighty, bringing light into darkness, bringing life out of death and love to the lost and lonely. You are for me, none can stand against me.

Amen