“42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…44And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” –Acts 2.42, 44
Search the pages of Scripture and see how often you see people standing alone in their faith. Most likely, if you look closely enough, you’ll realize that even those who seemed to be completely alone had a brother or two around them. Are we called to trust Jesus regardless of whether we have anyone to support us? Certainly, yes. However, does God leave any one of us as the only person around to trust in Him? Almost never.
The work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost first led people to personal hunger for salvation; those individuals trusted in Christ. But the work of the Spirit did not end there. The words directly following verse 41 (“those who received his word were baptized”) tell us that they began taking part in the life of the church. Not only did they believe, but they began sharing life together as believers! The Holy Spirit may begin His work by calling individuals, but His final goal is to collect the entire body of people who will live to glorify God together forever.
1. Why would God want us to live in community rather than by ourselves in our faith?
2. How does the Holy Spirit need to work in your life to build up community with other Christians? Ask God to open your eyes to the answer to this question.
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June 10: The Spirit in Jesus
“1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” –Isaiah 11.1-2
The Holy Spirit’s primary work came in the person of Jesus. Even in the Old Testament it was already being made known that the Spirit’s main work would be in His work through Jesus. Here in Isaiah it’s revealed that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Christ. In a sense, when the Holy Spirit came down throughout the Old Testament – on Joseph, Daniel, Bezalel, Samson, Othniel, David, and others – He eventually ascended again. He completed the special work which He desired to do through those men, and then withdrew that special intimacy. However, Isaiah tells us that the Spirit would rest upon Jesus, never leaving Him, and dwelling fully in Him.
Then, see the beautiful nature which the Spirit would bring upon Christ: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. By the indwelling Spirit, Jesus taught and lived in all wisdom, understanding, and fear of the Lord. What a comforting thought, to know that all of Christ’s teaching came from the wisdom and understanding of the Spirit of the Lord. We can fully rely upon His words and life, because they came straight from the heart of God’s Spirit.
1. Knowing that Jesus’ teaching is full of God’s wisdom and understanding, how should your life be more oriented around the words of Jesus?
2. Since Jesus fully understood the mind of God through the Spirit, what does this mean for how we interpret the Old Testament through His words and life (personally, in our preaching, etc.)?
The Holy Spirit’s primary work came in the person of Jesus. Even in the Old Testament it was already being made known that the Spirit’s main work would be in His work through Jesus. Here in Isaiah it’s revealed that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Christ. In a sense, when the Holy Spirit came down throughout the Old Testament – on Joseph, Daniel, Bezalel, Samson, Othniel, David, and others – He eventually ascended again. He completed the special work which He desired to do through those men, and then withdrew that special intimacy. However, Isaiah tells us that the Spirit would rest upon Jesus, never leaving Him, and dwelling fully in Him.
Then, see the beautiful nature which the Spirit would bring upon Christ: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. By the indwelling Spirit, Jesus taught and lived in all wisdom, understanding, and fear of the Lord. What a comforting thought, to know that all of Christ’s teaching came from the wisdom and understanding of the Spirit of the Lord. We can fully rely upon His words and life, because they came straight from the heart of God’s Spirit.
1. Knowing that Jesus’ teaching is full of God’s wisdom and understanding, how should your life be more oriented around the words of Jesus?
2. Since Jesus fully understood the mind of God through the Spirit, what does this mean for how we interpret the Old Testament through His words and life (personally, in our preaching, etc.)?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2: The Eternal Ordering Spirit
“1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” -Genesis 1.1-2
Christians should never be willing to say that the Holy Spirit only began working at any point in history – not Pentecost, not Jesus’ baptism, not the formation of the church. He has always been at work alongside of God the Father and Jesus. Since the beginning of Creation the Holy Spirit has taken part in God’s good works.
The beautiful part about the Holy Spirit’s work in the very beginning of scripture is that He was instrumental in creating and sustaining life. Genesis says that when God began, “the earth was without form and void.” There was chaos, and there was confusion. But the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, went out over the empty waters and from then on God produced order and life (Gen. 1.3-2.3).
God’s Spirit still works like that today! When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, chaos and confusion came back into their hearts and into the world (Rom. 5.12). But because of Jesus, the Holy Spirit brings joy, understanding, and order to people’s lives and to the world.
1. What difference does it make that the Holy Spirit has existed and been working since even before the creation of the world?
2. What evidence do you see in your life, in your community, and in the world that when the Holy Spirit comes He brings order and life?
Christians should never be willing to say that the Holy Spirit only began working at any point in history – not Pentecost, not Jesus’ baptism, not the formation of the church. He has always been at work alongside of God the Father and Jesus. Since the beginning of Creation the Holy Spirit has taken part in God’s good works.
The beautiful part about the Holy Spirit’s work in the very beginning of scripture is that He was instrumental in creating and sustaining life. Genesis says that when God began, “the earth was without form and void.” There was chaos, and there was confusion. But the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, went out over the empty waters and from then on God produced order and life (Gen. 1.3-2.3).
God’s Spirit still works like that today! When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, chaos and confusion came back into their hearts and into the world (Rom. 5.12). But because of Jesus, the Holy Spirit brings joy, understanding, and order to people’s lives and to the world.
1. What difference does it make that the Holy Spirit has existed and been working since even before the creation of the world?
2. What evidence do you see in your life, in your community, and in the world that when the Holy Spirit comes He brings order and life?
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