Bible League: Living His Word "After this,I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women." Our verses for today were the first Bible verses that the Apostle Peter quoted when he gave his sermon on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:14-41). The godly Jews from around the world who were present in Jerusalem at the time wondered how the Apostles could proclaim great things about God in their own languages. Peter cited the words of the prophet Joel to explain it to them. It was the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that Joel had prophesied. Jesus himself had promised His disciples that He would send them the "Helper from the Father," that is, the Holy Spirit (John 15:26). Jesus had also told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had been "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5). In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit was usually only given to special people, at special times, and for special purposes. At Pentecost, in contrast, the Holy Spirit was for the first time poured out as a permanent possession for everyone who believed the gospel message. The Spirit was poured out on "all kinds of people," "men and women," and even "servants." In point of fact, ever since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been given to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and the gospel message. There are no longer any barriers to the reception of the Holy Spirit. Anyone and everyone who believes receives His supernatural help and empowerment. There are many possible manifestations of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Joel specifically singles out three of them for mention: prophecy, dreams, and visions. The people of God, therefore, should not be surprised if the Holy Spirit gives them a prophetic word, like He gave Agabus (Acts 11:27-30), or a dream, like He gave Paul (Acts 16:9-10), or a vision, like Peter (Acts 10:9-16). Indeed, the people of God should not be surprised if the Holy Spirit gives them any of the possible manifestations of His presence. After all, the Holy Spirit is a supernatural source of help working inside of us. The Holy Spirit has been poured into you. Don't be surprised, then, if His supernatural expressions manifest themselves in your life. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 1, 2, 3 Ezekiel 1 -- Ezekiel's Prophecy at Kebar; The Visions of Four Figures and Divine Glory NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 2 -- Ezekiel's Calling and Instruction NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 3 -- Ezekiel Eats the Scroll; Warning to Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 9 Hebrews 9 -- Christ has Entered into the Holy Place Once for All NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Insight Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? Paul says we should “devote” ourselves to prayer and be “alert” in prayer. Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Faith shouldn't die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God's way of working his will in our lives. Challenge When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering—maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that he knows are best. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Peter 1:7 The trial of your faith.Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves not to its harbor; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God's strength had you not been supported amid the water-floods. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too. Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will be measured out to you in due season. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Psalm 40:12,13 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. • Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; Make haste, O LORD, to help me. Hosea 12:6 Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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