Wednesday, Pentecost Week -- June 11
HealthFitNow
Posts: 1,205 Member
Meditation
Wednesday, Pentecost Week, should remind people that not every action or word is understood at the time it is stated.
The Psalmist declared the glory and protection of God, but yet, the end of the Psalm revealed the writer wishing that there would be no evildoers in the world. If all people understood the ramifications of disbelief, there would be no unbelievers.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus continued the story about the Spirit of God resting on Moses, by adding that Moses became the conduit by which the elders received the Holy Spirit as they gathered at the tabernacle, which held the Holy of Holies. In addition, two elders that had stayed at the encampment received the Holy Spirit and also prophesied, like the elders in the sacred place of worship.
Ironically, Joshua—the same spiritually focused future leader of Israel, who would spy out the villages in Canaan and lead the Israelites to victory—misunderstood here. He told Moses that the elders, Eldad and Medad, should be silenced, “Forbid them,” He missed the point.
Moses cautioned him about defending Moses out of envy, instead teaching Joshua that God worked anywhere, with anyone, using anything, and all for God’s glory, not human glory. In fact, he wished that the Holy Spirit would overwhelm everyone around the camps.
But Moses knew that any pouring of the Holy Spirit—any praise of God—that gave glory to God was valid and valuable.
Growing up in the church, with my father being a pastor and three out of four sisters in my mother’s family being missionaries, we knew what the status quo was. We knew how “Christians” should behave.
A church-goer complained about a religious zealot walking up and down the street during a parade, wearing a sandwich board with the words, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” painted crudely on both sides. Such behavior was an embarrassment to “real” Christians. I would nod my agreement, with my nose a little higher in the air after each down sweep.
Then, I read the story of a man, who, lying in the gutter in a stupor from overindulgence, awoke to such a sign. He was instantly convicted of his sin and learned that day how to become a Christian from that man, willing to be an embarrassment for God.
God uses all types. Maybe I will never don a sandwich board and walk the streets proclaiming the Kingdom is near, but I no longer disparage anyone who does. God reaches out to all, not just those who look and behave a certain way.
Whether I preach Christ or another does—who—is not the issue. The important fact is Christ is being shared.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Pentecost Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 104:24-35;Numbers 11:24-30;John 7:37-39&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT (multiple versions)
Wednesday, Pentecost Week
Psalm 104:24-35
Numbers 11:24-30
John 7:37-39
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 8:14-15
New Century Version (NCV)
14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.
15 The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 7:37-39
King James Version (KJV)
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, thank you for your Holy Spirit which equips all believers to rise up and achieve great things in your name. We pray for that indwelling and presence, so that we might honor and glorify you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, Pentecost Week relayed the opportunity for believers to see that even if we were lacking comprehension the first time around, that did not stop the blessing of the Spirit, nor accomplishing things in the name of God. Joshua didn’t ‘get it’ when the Holy Spirit rested on two elders in the midst of people and they prophesied. Joshua wanted to quell the elders, but Moses stayed him. Only God can give the Holy Spirit, so if it shows up, let God manage it.
Jesus, in the New Testament lesson, spoke of the fact that the believer would be like a river of water. In a country that faced drought and lack of water, the concept of a constant supply of water would resonate. But even Jesus noted that they hadn’t understood the context that the ‘living water’ was going to be the receipt of the Holy Spirit after Jesus returned to glory.
Simply, any person can be a vessel for God’s Spirit to pour through. It doesn’t require education and degrees, like mine. It doesn’t require a special talent like the gift for gab or the ability to preach with charisma. God chose a hodge-podge of fishermen and ordinary people to be Jesus’s disciples. Jewish leaders complained of his association with sinners, tax collectors (mafia types) and prostitutes.
1) God calls the right people. 2) God equips believers with the Holy Spirit. 3) Whom God chooses, we must not disparage or disrespect. 4) Instead, prayerfully encourage all receivers of the Spirit. 5) Not all indwelling of the Holy Spirit requires speaking in tongues or prophesying.
38 “If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart, as the Scripture says.” NCV
Jesus used the word, “anyone.” Since not everyone speaks in tongues or prophesies (according to other Scriptures, we each have different gifts of the Spirit), we can’t declare that anyone who has not experienced those ‘events’ in his/her life, is not filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared the opposite. If you believe, you will be given the Spirit. It will be a constant source of living water.
Water is, after all, the source of life. Humans cannot live without water. California suffers a drought. We must conserve water. But Christ spoke of a more important source of life. The Holy Spirit brings us the nourishment and sustenance to survive and thrive. We need only believe and it becomes possible.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Wednesday, Pentecost Week, should remind people that not every action or word is understood at the time it is stated.
The Psalmist declared the glory and protection of God, but yet, the end of the Psalm revealed the writer wishing that there would be no evildoers in the world. If all people understood the ramifications of disbelief, there would be no unbelievers.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus continued the story about the Spirit of God resting on Moses, by adding that Moses became the conduit by which the elders received the Holy Spirit as they gathered at the tabernacle, which held the Holy of Holies. In addition, two elders that had stayed at the encampment received the Holy Spirit and also prophesied, like the elders in the sacred place of worship.
Ironically, Joshua—the same spiritually focused future leader of Israel, who would spy out the villages in Canaan and lead the Israelites to victory—misunderstood here. He told Moses that the elders, Eldad and Medad, should be silenced, “Forbid them,” He missed the point.
Moses cautioned him about defending Moses out of envy, instead teaching Joshua that God worked anywhere, with anyone, using anything, and all for God’s glory, not human glory. In fact, he wished that the Holy Spirit would overwhelm everyone around the camps.
But Moses knew that any pouring of the Holy Spirit—any praise of God—that gave glory to God was valid and valuable.
Growing up in the church, with my father being a pastor and three out of four sisters in my mother’s family being missionaries, we knew what the status quo was. We knew how “Christians” should behave.
A church-goer complained about a religious zealot walking up and down the street during a parade, wearing a sandwich board with the words, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” painted crudely on both sides. Such behavior was an embarrassment to “real” Christians. I would nod my agreement, with my nose a little higher in the air after each down sweep.
Then, I read the story of a man, who, lying in the gutter in a stupor from overindulgence, awoke to such a sign. He was instantly convicted of his sin and learned that day how to become a Christian from that man, willing to be an embarrassment for God.
God uses all types. Maybe I will never don a sandwich board and walk the streets proclaiming the Kingdom is near, but I no longer disparage anyone who does. God reaches out to all, not just those who look and behave a certain way.
Whether I preach Christ or another does—who—is not the issue. The important fact is Christ is being shared.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Pentecost Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 104:24-35;Numbers 11:24-30;John 7:37-39&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT (multiple versions)
Wednesday, Pentecost Week
Psalm 104:24-35
Numbers 11:24-30
John 7:37-39
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 8:14-15
New Century Version (NCV)
14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.
15 The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 7:37-39
King James Version (KJV)
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, thank you for your Holy Spirit which equips all believers to rise up and achieve great things in your name. We pray for that indwelling and presence, so that we might honor and glorify you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, Pentecost Week relayed the opportunity for believers to see that even if we were lacking comprehension the first time around, that did not stop the blessing of the Spirit, nor accomplishing things in the name of God. Joshua didn’t ‘get it’ when the Holy Spirit rested on two elders in the midst of people and they prophesied. Joshua wanted to quell the elders, but Moses stayed him. Only God can give the Holy Spirit, so if it shows up, let God manage it.
Jesus, in the New Testament lesson, spoke of the fact that the believer would be like a river of water. In a country that faced drought and lack of water, the concept of a constant supply of water would resonate. But even Jesus noted that they hadn’t understood the context that the ‘living water’ was going to be the receipt of the Holy Spirit after Jesus returned to glory.
Simply, any person can be a vessel for God’s Spirit to pour through. It doesn’t require education and degrees, like mine. It doesn’t require a special talent like the gift for gab or the ability to preach with charisma. God chose a hodge-podge of fishermen and ordinary people to be Jesus’s disciples. Jewish leaders complained of his association with sinners, tax collectors (mafia types) and prostitutes.
1) God calls the right people. 2) God equips believers with the Holy Spirit. 3) Whom God chooses, we must not disparage or disrespect. 4) Instead, prayerfully encourage all receivers of the Spirit. 5) Not all indwelling of the Holy Spirit requires speaking in tongues or prophesying.
38 “If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart, as the Scripture says.” NCV
Jesus used the word, “anyone.” Since not everyone speaks in tongues or prophesies (according to other Scriptures, we each have different gifts of the Spirit), we can’t declare that anyone who has not experienced those ‘events’ in his/her life, is not filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared the opposite. If you believe, you will be given the Spirit. It will be a constant source of living water.
Water is, after all, the source of life. Humans cannot live without water. California suffers a drought. We must conserve water. But Christ spoke of a more important source of life. The Holy Spirit brings us the nourishment and sustenance to survive and thrive. We need only believe and it becomes possible.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
0
This discussion has been closed.