Preparing for Pentecost!

The birth of the Christian church ...

Acts 2:43–47 (NRSV) Awe came upon everyone, 

because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 

44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 

45 they would sell their possessions and goods 

and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 

46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, 

they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 

47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. 

And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Praise God for the growth of His Church throughout the world!

Preparing for Pentecost!

Romans 12:6–8 (TM)  let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, 

without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, 

or trying to be something we aren’t. 

If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; 

7 if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; 

8 if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; 

if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; 

if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, 

keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; 

if you work with the disadvantaged, 

don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. 

Keep a smile on your face.

Know your spiritual gift!

Be your spiritual gift!

Do your spiritual gift!

God is the Giver of ALL good gifts!

Hallelujah

Preparing for Pentecost!

Acts 2:1–4 (The Message) When the Feast of Pentecost came, 

they were all together in one place. 

2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—

no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 

3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 

4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages 

as the Spirit prompted them.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Preparing for Pentecost

Jesus spoke these words before He endured the agony of the Cross. 

John 16:12–14 (NLT) “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. 

He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. 

He will tell you about the future. 

14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

His words were meant as an encouragement to the sorrowing disciples

who had just been told that Jesus was going to leave them ...

John 16:7 (NLT)  But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, 

the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

It would be another forty days before the disciples truly understood

the meaning of Jesus' words.

Acts 1:4 (NRSV) While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, 

but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 

The Promise of the Father ...

God's Holy Spirit.

The Advocate, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

This week we will focus our hearts and minds on preparing for Pentecost ...

remembering the birth of the Christian church

out of the hearts of Jesus' faithful followers ...

a birth that is replicated every time a new church is planted

somewhere in the world;

a birth that brings spiritual renewal to individuals 

who seek the filling or refilling of God's Holy Spirit in their lives.

Remember!

Every prayer matters!

Come Holy Spirit, come!

Joel 2:28 (The Message) “And that’s just the beginning: After that— 

“I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: 

Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters. 

Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions.

Every prayer matters!

Be committed to find grace in the 'unraveling of life'!

Go forward in freedom ...

you are wound in a Love that has no bounds.

Every prayer matters!

Praise God today for His strength,

His comfort and His light for your life.

 

Every prayer matters!

Every prayer matters!

Every Prayer Matters!

Especially this one.

This is the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ gave to us as a model.

Use it! Adapt it! Modify it!

Rejoice in the depth of it!

Pray it daily.

Amen

 

Every prayer matters!

 

Matthew 21:22 (NLT)  You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.

Acts 2:42 (NRSV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

1 Peter 3:12 (NRSV)  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their prayer. ...

 

DL Moody was in the courtroom where a man was being accused of heinous crimes.

The crowd was loudly vocal against the man.

Moody stood and addressed the crowd ...

This man did not have a praying mother!

He sat down.

The crowd was quiet.

 

Never stop praying for your children.

Every prayer matters!



 

Every prayer matters!

Ephesians 6:18 (The Message) ... prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.

Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters.

Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up

so that no one falls behind or drops out.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) Never stop praying.

Matthew 6:6 (The Message) ... Find a quiet, secluded place

so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.

 Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.

 The focus will shift from you to God,

and you will begin to sense his grace.

Every prayer matters!

James Goll Lifestyle of a Watchman webinar

Romans 8:26 (NLT)

²⁶And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.

But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings

that cannot be expressed in words.

Hebrews 4:15 (NRSV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize

with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect

has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

Pray to Him! He hears! He understands!

 

Jennifer Rothschild wrote a segment called Waves:

Whatever is going on in our world today; whatever is going on in your world…

no matter how crazy it may seem or feel—God’s got this thing under control.

The same God Who tells the ocean how far it can go,

is the same God Who is ultimately sovereign over the events

in your life and in our world.
Jeremiah 5:22b (NRSV) ... though the waves toss, they cannot prevail,

though they roar, they cannot pass over it.
The waves may roar but they won’t take you under!

HILLSONG: Still
Hide me now Under Your wings Cover me Within Your Mighty Hand

 When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with You above the storm
 Father, You are King over the flood I will be still and know You are God

 

Find rest my soul in Christ alone Know His Power in quietness and trust

 When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with You above the storm
 Father, You are King over the flood I will be still and know You are God

 

Your Joy O Lord  will be my strength, renouncing fear we stand in your glorious grace.

 When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with You above the storm
 Father, You are King over the flood I will be still and know You are God

 

The Promise of Provision!
Philippians 4:19 (NRSV) And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours

according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (The Message) You can be sure that God will take care of everything

you need, His Generosity exceeding even yours

in the Glory that pours from Jesus.

Have you or your children ever been left begging for bread?

Have you or your children ever been homeless

or in the dire circumstances of extreme poverty? No!

Our God is good, especially to those who revere Him,

honouring Him with their life, love and prayer.
Our promise today states that God will fully supply ALL your needs

according to His Riches IN Christ Jesus.

This is a specific promise that those who are faithful and devoted to Christ

will never suffer lack.

I read a description of v19 today that likens it to ‘a note drawn upon the bank of faith’ …
My God—the name of the Banker …
Shall supply—the promise to pay …
All your need—the value of the note …
According to His riches—the capital of the bank …
In glory—the address of the bank …
By Christ Jesus—the signature without which the note is worthless.
Amazing!

Yes! God our Father knows your needs but have you listed them/itemised them

so that you can check them off as they are supplied to you?
Fully satisfy—think about that today.

How does God fully satisfy you?

Are you fully satisfied?

 If not, why not?

Is it an attitudinal matter or a matter of not having because you have not asked?
James 4:2b (NRSV) …. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Today, meditate on what fully satisfy means to you and present your case to God

in your prayer closet.

He loves to have you ask for that which He loves to give!

Be prepared to be abundantly blessed!

The Promise of Newness of Life!

Isaiah 43:19a (NRSV) I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

Our Lord always has unprecedented new things planned and purposed for our lives

that reflect His wonderful character. Just as with a germinating plant the growth is silent,

certain and gradual. Just as growing plants requires preparation,

growing us into His Image requires preparation.

Papa God will not put new wine into old wineskins.

The pressure would be too much and disaster would ensue.

He must do something significant in your life now

to see you throw off the old in order to embrace the new.

 

In His Word He graciously gives us a hint of what He is doing …

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

He is preparing you for the new …

allow Him to do His Work fully in you so that you can put on your new nature

and be renewed as you grow into your image of Christ.
This promise in Isaiah is fulfilled in the New Testament.

Jesus!

The new thing is happening IN you!

Not only will you be prepared but you will also need to be pre-prayered!

Pray constantly for this new thing to be revealed to you and rejoice IN Him!

The Promise of Healing!

Jeremiah 30:17a (NRSV) ¹⁷For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord … …

Sometimes it seems that our health and our wounds are incurable … but that is what the evil one would want you to think. He is a thief wanting to rob you of your best life. Remember John 10:10? One comes to plunder lives whilst the Other comes to bring abundant life.

Our suffering at times may be like a bitter medicine however it can be the way of healing a wounded heart and an ailing body. As Hebrews 12:11 implies … in times of suffering we need to live for the joys of ‘afterward’. Hang in there! If suffering is bringing you down, let God lift you up and open your spiritual eyes to see His purpose and provision. Even if you’re weak, He will ensure that you run and grow not weary. You will walk and not be faint! Wait for your healing to arise … it is there ready and waiting for you. Reach for it! Praise Him for it! He is our Restorer and Healer.

Exodus 15:2 (NLT) — 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—

The Promise of Breakthrough!
Isaiah 45:2–3 (NRSV)  I will go before you and level the mountains,

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, …
Isaiah 45:2–3 (The Message) “I’ll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road.

 I’ll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances.

3 I’ll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables—… …

 

What a relief! God goes before us making the rough places smooth, pushing over the hurdles

placed in our path, breaking through seemingly impenetrable barriers.

AND THEN!

He opens up His Treasure Chest revealing His secret caches of valuables … all for us!

All too often we look at the size of the mountain before us and feel intimidated.

But no more … today we look at the mountain in front of us and say …

My God is Bigger and Stronger and Wiser than you … MOVE ASIDE in Jesus’ Name!

The mountains standing before us need to be levelled.

His Treasures need to be released.

Do not fear the temporary darkness that encircles you.

Embrace it and learn in it.

This Promise says that God goes before you—preparing the way.

This surely gives you cause to exalt His Holy Name!

Preparing the way for your new future!

Praise be to God!

Restoration is at Hand!

Joel 2:25a (NRSV) I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten …
Joel 2:25a (NLT) 25 “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts,… …
Joel 2:25 (The Message)  “I’ll make up for the years of the locust,

the great locust devastation—locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts,

locusts of doom, that great locust invasion ...
Joel 2:25 (NCV) ... those swarming locusts and hopping locusts,

the destroying locusts and the cutting locusts that ate your crops—

I will pay you back for those years of trouble.

Our Loving Lord Jesus knows just how much the locusts have eaten in our lives … land / homes / health / possessions / relationships / time / talent / treasure / finances. In some cases we have even lost our name. However, whatever the locust has eaten in our lives we can trust Jesus to repay us in greater measure than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Even before we see the outcome with our physical eyes we can thank Jesus for the total restoration of ALL things we have ever lost. We can thank Him for obliterating the wastings of our past. We can thank God that He is the ALL Consuming Fire Who burns away ALL that was flammable in our lives.
He not only gives us back what we lost but He makes all things new! He restores the years the locusts have eaten and leaves us as His Precious Vessel holding His Spirit—the Precious Treasure within. We are His Jars of Clay.

Job 42:12a (NRSV) 12 The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; … …

Job 42:12a (NLT) So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. … …

 What are your ‘blessed latter days’?

What has gone before these days that perhaps seemed ‘less-blessed’?

Our lives are made up of seasons—change—transitions in which former things pass away

and new things begin to emerge.

For me, my former days were of earthly inner-chaos

whereas in my maturing years I have been blessed with inner-healing that has seen

peace restored and spiritual life renewed.

 I await with eager expectation the outworking of these latter-day-blessings

Papa God has promised and prepared for me.

Today I declare that …

Our mouths are anointed with the Power of God Almighty!

God has released His Favour upon us through His Amazing Anointing of Restoration!

God is ushering in a new season of growth

and we will be open to change and not become stagnant and hold on to the old.

God has something better in front of us …

new doors of opportunity, new relationships and new levels of favour.

 

Loving Father, You ARE working in ALL things for Your Glory and our good!

You ARE working all things together after the counsel of Your Will!

You ARE summing up all things IN Christ!

Thank You. Amen.

The Promises of God …

Today we embark on a series of daily reflections on the Promises of God. Essentially the series will be based on a portion of my own daily devotions entitled Promises.ca. Why .ca? Because major promises have been fulfilled in our coming to Canada and a fresh focus has arisen for all of us in different ways.

This series was inspired by the book A Well Worn Path—31 Day Devotional

written by worship leader Dan Wilt (published by David C Cook).

I have taken today's daily from Day 21-Prosper into Your Future.

Dan Wilt writes ...

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)  For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Today, you will prosper into the future God has designed for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 holds the promise that is one of the most comforting statements God

makes in the Scriptures. The phrase “I know the plans I have for you”

puts the fearful heart at rest.

It's a promise that God will prosper us, keep us from harm,

 and give us a living hope that will define our future.

You and I are dreamers. From the first moment we relinquished our lives

to God’s care, His dreams have been alive in us—

daring us, distracting us, inviting us into His creative future for the world.

We are promised that even when our hearts fail within us in the midst of those dreams,

God is greater than our unstable confidences and

will do what He said He would do.

You will prosper in ways that are meaningful to God.

You will be scarred, but you will not be destroyed.

You will see your hope face-to-face, and your future is very, very bright.

Prayer

Father God! You know the end from the beginning, and You know the plans You have for me.

I do not need to know those plans. I just need to be reminded that You have them for me.

In this moment, I rest in knowing that my future—and the future of those I love—

is in Your care. Thank You. Amen.

 

 After the weakness comes the Power.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (The Message) Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

Limitations! How we long to shrug them off and to be strong! But when they become a prompt to see God working in our lives we come to treasure those weaknesses and limitations. How differently we are called to see our lives IN Christ!


'Every weakness you have is an opportunity for God to show His Power!' What mighty words to encourage us today. For so long I have regarded weakness as a thing to be subdued, overtaken, dispelled! But not any more! From today onwards I will regard it as it should be regarded ... an opportunity for God to step in and show forth His Glory!

When we are weak, He steps in revealing His Power and Glory - His Glorious Power!

2 Corinthians 12:9a (NRSV)  but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is made perfect in weakness.” ...

2 Corinthians 12:9a (The Message)  and then he told me, My grace is enough;

it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. ...

 

 

 

 

 

After the crucifixion comes the resurrection!
Each one of us is a Mary who feels the pain of an ending and the joy of a new beginning ...

even when we are unsure of the nature of that new beginning.

What we are sure of is that we trust in God for His faithful love ... no matter what.

Good Friday—Love Died in the Dark
John 20:11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

Mary Magdala wept by the tomb. Her faith, hope and love betrayed by the leaders, authorities, those with the power who had crucified her Lord: pierced His Side with the sword of hatred, vengeance and death. And so her love died in the dark that day—that Friday when chaos reigned—that Friday that brought the end of her dream of the coming of King Jesus’ Kingdom.
This Man Jesus Who had said to her
Woman your sins are forgiven …
Such love in the words: such release from life’s pains: such healing of a broken heart that had died daily in the dark of the oldest profession of all.
Your sins are forgiven …
The words washed her clean: the layers of pain fell away: the hard outer shell of pretence and protection melted at the sound of the words spoken from the Purest of Hearts. And now this Man lay dead in the tomb—destroyed by the hatred of men and women who could not bear His Light to shine in the darkness of their own lives … for their own lives had also died in the dark.
Mary remembered the night she anointed the Head and the Feet of her Lord. She remembered the act of total devotion, not knowing it would be the final act of beauty before He walked up the hill to Calvary—she remembered the words of Judas, so cutting, so mocking. (What was wrong with him? Could he not see how much I loved our Lord because He had set me free from the sins that entangled me?)
Mary wept all the more at the memory of love that she felt for her Jesus, her Lord. She wept tears of despair, disappointment, deep sorrow for her Love Who had died in the dark of that afternoon of violence and hatred and death reigning all around. The day Jesus died was the day the world knew, what it was to have Love die in the dark_________________________

Resurrection Day—All in Three Days
Matt 28:1-10

I know He is risen, for He is not there and the angel has said it is so:

He rolled back the stone and invited us in to see—and it was so.
I was not afraid of this angelic being. I knew he had been sent from God

to reveal the Truth of my Risen Lord: to know the Power of the Empty Tomb …
This earthquake—it shook!
This light—how it shone!
But fear did not flood my being ...
I knew in my heart there was Love in the air that had come down to earth

to comfort and share the delight of our Risen Lord!
He rolled back the stone (with great ease I might add!) and sat as I watched the scene.

I then entered the Tomb where He had laid … I knew He’d been here and was not afraid

for I knew the Power and the Presence of this One sent from God

to comfort and strengthen and guide us aright.
And then as I left I looked up and saw in joy and wonderment, amazement and awe—

the One I call Love standing there in the trees!

In love and adoration I feel to my knees, for I knew it was true that my Jesus had risen …

had beaten the terror of death and the grave.
And He spoke …
Do not be afraid!
The words etched into my soul: they flooded my being for with Jesus my Lord

there is nought to be conquered again … He accomplished it all in three days!

Jesus goes before you and He is your Rearguard!

After the wilderness come the miracles

Psalm 130:1 (NLT) From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.

The wilderness: a time of waiting, watching and wondering. A time of feeling alone yet knowing you are not alone. A time of being parched, dry, hungry and thirsty - spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, relationally … bereft and not seeing the end in sight. A time of crying out to God and hearing nothing in return - or so you think. But deep within you, your heart is hearing and your spirit is stirring in response to the depth of your inner pain - the reality of your pain that can no longer be hidden. When you face that reality that is the moment when God steps in and you realise He is there and He knows everything about you and  He loves you still!

Psalm 18:16 (NLT)  He reached down from heaven and rescued me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

The miracle: the recognition: the awe and wonder of your encounter with the Living God … in so many ways in response to so many situations but always the right response for each person. Therein lies the miracle … He knows you! He loves you! He has a plan and purpose for you! And now He can begin to reveal it to you because you know that He knows and it is all going to be put right.
God bless you as you seek your miracle today!

After the famine comes the fulfilment
John 10:10 (NRSV)  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The famine is a time of loss … loss of a loved one, loss of health, loss of financial security, loss of location … and any loss leaves us feeling vulnerable and empty. And yet it is in that very emptiness our Lord works with us/works in us - moulding us, reviving us, restoring us … placing our feet on a different path and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. Emptiness to our Jehovah Rapha - God our Healer - is the very canvas upon which He re-creates us according to His Original Design. Sometimes we simply have to be moved out of our comfort zone and into His Trust Zone.

That period of 'famine' in our lives inevitably leads us into that fresh, green pasture of abundant life. What famines have you experienced in your life? What fulfilments ensued? I'm sure you will find that your life is littered with famines that resulted in a more abundant life than you had before. What a glorious Lord we serve so joyfully! What a Creator God - Bara - Who takes delight in us and wants only His Best for us. Delight in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart. Now surely that is abundant life?

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) We now have this light shining in our hearts,

but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.

This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 

Psalm 40:2 (NLT)  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

 

After the pit comes the palace.

Joseph was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his brothers who were jealous of him.

Being thrown into a pit is like being fenced in by a current set of circumstances … whether in the present time or back in your past. It is important that you remember the dark times of being fenced in, but it is more important to remember the sense of release that came with being set free. Sometimes freedom comes in a major and spectacular way … other times it comes in small but significant ways that are worthy of remembrance and thanksgiving.

Always freedom releases us into a new life - a new way of living - a new perspective on our journey. Give thanks to God today for as many releases into a new level of freedom that you can recall. You will be blessed that He has been with you in the large and the small places!

Our palace awaits us still …
John 14:2 (NRSV) In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?