Listening to the Word

Job 3-4; Acts 8-9 “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:29-31 The Spirit of God is on a mission to reach people and nations with the good news of Jesus. Philip was invited by the Spirit of God to stay near a moving chariot so he could converse with the Ethiopian official. We, too, are invited to stay near people who are on the move so we, too, can have gospel conversations in the course of everyday life. Spiritual seekers are often unable to understand the Bible until they receive the Holy Spirit. They need available servants of God who are willing to walk (or run) with them. Are we listening to the Spirit of God for our daily assignments, and are his promptings given throughout the day? Our obedience could affec...

Job 1-2; Acts 6-7   “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” Job 2:9, 10 How we respond to the tests that God allows in our lives exposes our character and our level of spiritual maturity. After the death of Job’s children and the destruction of all he owned, Job’s wife urged him to curse God and die. How would we respond? How do we respond? The heresy that God only prospers those he loves is exposed in Job’s story. We are living for an eternal glory that far outweighs the burdens of this life. Job understood that. Are we prepared to accept both good as well as trouble from God? Job chose to hold his tongue despite the prodding of his wife. That self-control is remarkable and an inspiration to us when we, too, are tested by those closest to us whom we love. Passing tests leads to promotions ...

Malachi 3-4; Psalms 148; Acts 5 “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap…So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers…” Malachi 3:2, 5 “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened…Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events…Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” Acts 5:5, 11, 14 Jesus came to save, cleanse, heal and deliver. He came to teach, refine, and purity for himself a people that were his very own. When Ananias perjured himself and lied to the Holy Spirit (and to Peter), the Lord himself judged Ananias and struck him dead. Paul later said in his letter to the Corinthians that those who don’t “discern the body of Christ” drink judgment on themselves (1 Corinthians 11:29, 30), which is...

Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1, 2; Acts 4 “’My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 1:11 The greatness of God’s name is magnified by the worship of those who know him. This prophesy that God’s name would be great among the nations was made possible by the salvation found in the name of Jesus, opening up relationship with God to all nations. What are the incense and pure offerings that are being brought to the Lord in every nation? Intercession, prayer, and worship are like incense before God. It is the offerings of our lives and resources that honor him. These sacrifices and acts of worship magnify the name of the Lord. If our lives were the only witness our nations had of who God is, would his name be great? “Lord God, you are worthy of my best. I offer it to you with joy and love, for your glory.” ...

Nehemiah 11-12; Psalms 1; Acts 3   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:2, 3 Our level of fruitfulness in life is determined by where we are planted. A tree planted by “streams of water” will yield fruit in season and remain resilient, even in dry seasons. When we plant our lives in the presence of the Lord through daily meditation on his Word with renewal through the streams of the Holy Spirit, we, too, will experience the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Listening and obeying the Word through the Spirit feeds our Spirit and soul and renews our strength in the Lord. Many are planted in front of the TVs or screens much more consistently than they are planted by “streams of water”. Prospering spiritually affects everyone who meets us. All are able to enjoy the fruit of God’s prese...

Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2   “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:33, 38 This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks, the harvest festival. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not just the birth of the Church; it was the launch of the mission-harvest and ingathering of souls which continues to this day. There are large portions of Christendom where churches are empty and faith has been abandoned; they appear to be in a ‘Pre-Pentecost’ state. Other places in the world including much of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are experiencing their Pentecost moment, evidencing itself in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon repentance and water baptism leading to mission and spiritual ha...