The Power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-13

New International Version (NIV)

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-13&version=NIV)

When the Holy Spirit makes His presence known He does so in a mighty way.  In looking at this scripture it became apparent to me that God does mighty works when we are all united and worshipping together.  Yes, He does mighty works individually as well but this moment was more than likely beyond description.  It is hard to imagine how I might have reacted to such an amazing event except to bow down and worship Him.  There is no doubt that this was something far beyond the control of humankind.  Yet, people tried to blame it on them just being drunk.  There will always be people who refuse to believe no matter what miraculous works that God does.  The point is, for those whose lives were changed they had the responsibility to share their amazing story.

What does this mean for us?  Have you felt the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Have you sensed His presence through a hug, not from human arms, during times of trouble?  Have you sensed His presence through goose bumps or chills during worship time?  Have you been gifted to speak in other language so that others can hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their own language?  Have you ever had words flow from your mouth and think, “where did that come from”.  All of those, seem to be to be ways that the Holy Spirit works in the lives of the believer. 

There are many different beliefs as to when the Holy Spirit indwells us but it was very clear as to when it happened to these people.  He did not indwell them so they could remain together in their room, worshipping together, although the Holy Spirit did a miraculous act during that time.  He indwelt them so they could go out and spread the Gospel to everyone.  He does not want us to keep Him to ourselves but He wants us to share Him with others.

As you seek Him today, go and share the Good News, that you have found, with others who need to hear it.  Some will receive it while others will scoff at it, nothing different than the first day that the Holy Spirit made Himself known.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

What is Best for God’s Kingdom

Acts 1:15-26

New International Version (NIV)

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A15-26&version=NIV)

                                                                                            

As I read this scripture today I once again became amazed at the Words that I read.  In all of Scripture we read of the 12 chosen disciples of Christ who followed Him throughout His ministry but now we read that others also did so but were not His chosen twelve.  The men in this passage did not just happen upon the group and decide to see what they were doing, they followed them from the beginning of the ministry. 

Being human the disciples could not decide which one would be the best to replace the betrayer.  Did you ever think, Jesus could have chosen one of these and not have been betrayed.  That is what I would have wanted to do.  If I knew someone was going to betray me, I would stay clear!  This was not the plan of God though and Jesus was doing the will of the Father.  It is amazing as I look at what could have been, see what was, and anticipate what will come.  Jesus ministry moved forward into our days because of His betrayal.  We would have never had the Gospel had the betrayer not been there.

The way the replacement was chosen was also an interesting method.  Many would scoff at this method today but these men were putting their full trust in the Lord.  They were recognizing that God has control of even the “chances” in this world. They did not just flippantly cast the lot but they prayed prior to doing so.  I believe they must of fervently prayed and asked for the Lord’s guidance. How often do we pray and then go about pursing our own desires and do not give God full control.  I remember a time when a church leader decided that we needed to practice this.  He wanted everyone to draw straws to see who would be on a committee.  I don’t know how much we really stopped and prayed about it but I do know that we were not all in one accord, two important things that need in place for God to fully be at work in our lives. 

We can say that God is in control but I believe He allows us to take the helm at times just so we can see that His ways are much better than ours.  I know I have learned that lesson a time or two in this life. 

Today I am going in for a job interview.  This is something that I never really like to have to do.  Feeling honored to be invited and very excited about the possibilities, the dreaded letter is always in the back of my mind.  So, as I read this story I had to think of Barabbas, also called Justus, how might he have felt to not be the chosen one. He had been with Jesus as much as Matthias and  he most likely loved Jesus.  If I would have been him, I am afraid that I would have be questioning why I wasn’t chosen, what I had done wrong, what was wrong with my heart.  There is no mention of any of that going on.  Maybe he was relieved that he was not chosen.  The lesson I take from that is, God knows our abilities, our desires, our hopes, our dreams, He knows our hearts better than we know them ourselves.  He may let us have something we think we want only to find out it was not for us.  We need to put our full trust in our Lord and Savior and know without a shadow of a doubt that He knows what is best for us.  Whether our name is chosen or not, we need to know that He knows what is best for His Kingdom and we need to trust and obey.  We are able to do this when we first seek Him with all our hearts.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Gathering Together

Acts 1:9-14

New International Version (NIV)

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A9-14&version=NIV)

How many times do we stand and stare into the heavens and look for Jesus to return?  Or probably more so, how often do we pray, “Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!” and then go about our own business?  We want His quick return but then we go about life as if it is the only life we have.  We busy ourselves with work, with family, and then we take a break and go to church.  We worship in song and we listen to the pastor and then we go home.  The cycle begins again week after week.

Today I had to take special note as to what happened once Jesus ascended and the “two men dressed in white” scooted them along.  They did not go back to their homes and continue life as if nothing had ever happened; they were changed, forever.  They walked back to the city, a distance of about .6 miles and then went to a room where they were staying.  All of them, went to the room, and they were joined with the women and they all prayed.  They didn’t go to their separate homes, they didn’t divide and conquer they were joined by a special bond and they prayed.

How often do we say, “I’ll pray for you” but not really stop and pray with someone who is hurting?  We may pray for them but do we really go to the throne of God and humbly pray for and with them?  What do we do when we gather together?  Do we truly pray for one another or do we let the preacher pray and then go on about our routine worship?   What are those prayer requests?  Are they request that bring glory and honor to God, further His kingdom, or are they prayers for our own well-being, safety, and health?  What do you think those men and women prayed?

I love Christian fellowship.  I love going to church.  I love seeing my Christian friends.  How often though do I really stop and in one accord pray with them?  All too often our speech is not on the spiritual things of life it is on the worldly happenings.  What would happen if our focus shifted not on what is happening in the world but rather on what has happened in our lives that has set us apart from the world?

When we seek Him and we find Him, we need to share Him with others.  We need to fellowship in One Accord, remembering the One who saved us has also saved our brother/sister in Christ.  The One who has done miraculous things in us has done so also for our brother/sister in Christ.  Why aren’t we sharing those things?  What would happen if we were in One Accord? 

While on prayer, a little side note:  Recently I have been convicted of the “I want” prayer.  Now every time I catch myself saying, “I just want”, I quote Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”.  I challenge you to think of this too as you seek Him, realize that He is the One who provides, we do not have a need for a want!

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Spread the Gospel

Acts 1:1-11

New International Version (NIV)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A+1+-8&version=NIV)

I think that it is amazing to have this Bible setting before me.  It is a book filled with history and prophesies.  The very men that encountered Jesus on this earth sat down and wrote an account of the man and the God that they met.  These men died for what they believed and they believed because they experienced Jesus first hand, in the flesh.  What an amazing blessing God has given us through this book.  Yet, often times it sits on the shelf and waits for Sunday morning to come.  We do not take advantage of the mighty accountings that are written in this book.  It is a book that has tried to be destroyed by mankind for many years but yet it has been protected by God and is still here with us today to read of these accountings.

Many believe the author of this book is Luke and in the first part of the scripture today we see that Theophilus is mentioned just as he was in Luke.  The reason Luke or the author of these books wrote to him was to help him know, with certainty, that what he had been taught was true.  He must have been one that was struggling with his faith and the author, having been an eyewitness, sat down and wrote of his accountings to strengthen this man.  That is one reason I write this blog.  It is to help strengthen those of you who read it while strengthening me as well.  To give an account to others that I too struggle but we have a God that is far superior to any of out troubles who gives us the strength to sustain us.  I believe that Theo was having some difficulties and just was not quite sure about all that he had been taught about Jesus.  Have you ever been there?  If so, join me in this journey of Acts and lets see how our own faith can be strengthened.

What stood out to me today, were the words of Jesus, stating, it is not for us to know the time or the date of His return.  Many people have tried to predict the end of this earth.  They seem to think that they are able to look at the rotation and the stars and can figure out that before long meteorites that fall from the sky will destroy the earth.  There are movies about it and many predictions.  What they seemed to forget is that our God is the one that placed us here and began the rotation and placed the stars in the sky.  At any time He could change the course of any of those elements, it is not for us to know or to decide. The Word is clear that we cannot determine this but only our Father in Heaven knows the time and the hour.  It is our responsibility just as it was the apostles, to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to others.  Some of us may go to the ends of the earth and some of us may stay right in our communities but we need to be spreading the Gospel.  I have been able to spread this news to people in places I have never been through this blog.  After my break from the blog, I found that I lost those readers from other countries.  My prayer is to continually pray that they will return.  We need to not get caught sleeping but be diligent in spreading the Gospel of the One who saved us.  Seek Him and know Him so that you are able to spread His word to others.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila