He Knows Our Frailties

1 Corinthians 1:14 (The Message)

 ^13-16I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?" I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.)


Paul's observation may lend insight as to why Jesus let His disciples baptize.  Someone baptized personally by Jesus might lord it one who was not.  Jesus knows our frailties.  

Freedom

Freedom is another name of the kingdom of God.

Filled And Enabled

Acts 2:4 (NIV)  ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Holy Spirit enables as needed for God's purposes.  He is the seal of promise, our comforter, and the power of God working through us.  Here the disciples began to speak in other tongues so that the many foreigners in town would hear the gospel without a language barrier.  The Spirit gave them the word and and the words for the sharing of that message.  They were filled and enabled.

Do Not Suppose

Matthew 10:34 (NIV)  ³⁴"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

The gospel is not preached in places where the idol of inclusiveness is worshipped. It is not welcome when the truth of God contradicts the good sense and truth of man.  Jesus brings the peace of God, not of man.  A man of true peace is a man of God.

To Rest On Each One

Acts 2:3 (NIV)  ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Though assembled as a group, the Spirit came to rest on each one.  There is one Spirit, but He is given to each of us.  The Spirit descended on Jesus at the time of His baptism, but it was still possible for Him to be tempted.  Immediately, He was led into the wilderness where He faced Satan.  He overcame, and because of this, He offers the grace of salvation.  That salvation is offered to each one of us, and we stand alone in that decision.  If we decide to believe and accept God, we will never be alone again.

Yes

Acts 9:10 (NIV)  ¹⁰In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

      "Yes, Lord," he answered.


Ananias answered with a yes.  He was listening and heard the Lord, for he was in relationship with Him as a disciple.


How might the world be different if you and I said yes today?  

Together In One Place

Acts 2:1 (NIV)  Acts 2

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

One place physically and in mind.  They were ready for a revelation.  Jesus brought them to this place.  He is about to do a new thing.  We can be in that same "place".

I Am My Love

To quote my friend Russell about his wife, “I am my love”.  This is God’s message to us.  So He is, so are we to be.  Thus we are defined and made visible.  The closer we draw to Him, the more we become like Him.  This is the light that has come into the world.

Evangelicals

We are all evangelicals because our lives preach one thing or another.  

What Do You Accept?

John 6:60 (NIV)  ⁶⁰On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

It there some of His teaching that you cannot accept?

Leaving Her Clay Jar Behind

John 4:28 (NIV)

²⁸Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,²⁹"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

She came to fill her jar as usual, but instead found the living water of life.  She left her clay jar behind.  Perhaps it was no longer needed.  This living water fills another sort of vessel.

Is Found

Luke 15:32 (NIV)

32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

In this parable we are reminded of what is at stake in believing Jesus.  Being lost is equated with death.  Jesus came to find us in the darkness.  If we listen, we can hear His voice.  

There is much joy in heaven when one begins walking in the light, when what was lost is found.

A Different Person

1Samuel 10:6-7 (NIV)

6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

These words were spoken to Saul, but apply to us all.  Once the Spirit enters the heart, a fire is lit.  It is a holy fire and light, a presence that leads to change.  It is God working within, just as He did in His Son Jesus.  Whatever we then do in that light glorifies God, our Father, for He is with us. It is to our glory and His.

Only Reveals

To say there is no truth only reveals one has not found it.

Questions and Answers

Job 38:1-3 
¹ Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
 ² "Who is this that darkens my counsel
       with words without knowledge?
 ³ Brace yourself like a man;
       I will question you,
       and you shall answer me.


It is easy to misunderstand, forget, or twist the meaning of Scripture verses.  That  is why it is important to stay in the Word everyday.  It is there light is revealed, as the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to the things of God.  


At the same time, it questions and provides answers. Looking into the mirror of the Word, we are able to see ourselves in the light of God.  We can see ourselves relative to the Holy One, and as a child of the Father.  A dialog is begun.  From there is wisdom and knowledge to all that seek Him.   

Shining In The Darkness

John 1:5 (NIV)

5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The word translated as “understood” here is translated as comprehend, or overcome, or comprehended in other translations.  One uses the word “mastered”.  Seized is part of the meaning.  

This is how violence is done to the gospel.  That which is opposed to the gospel is served through the omissions, deviations, and rejections of the Word.  Building one’s own god and elevating self have always been the hallmark and struggle of man.

The darkness of the world tried to put out that light in the man Jesus, attempting to cover it with death and placing it in a tomb, removing the unwelcome light, or so they thought.  That life and light is not to be denied.  Jesus rose, overcoming the world. That life continues to shine in the darkness.  

Playing In The Garden

The Garden of Eden is at play and is played out in each man and woman.

That Life

John 1:4 (NIV)

4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

There is something different about the life in Jesus.  Within His mortal frame was the life of God.  Flesh and Spirit came together, blazing brightly to give light to those lost in a dark world.  It will be given to all who see it and follow after.  

Beginning With The Word

John 1:3 (NIV)

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Jesus has always been God’s way of relating to creation.  Through Him all things were made.  Through Him we are saved from ourselves and made new. What begins on the inside will become manifest on the outside.  It has always been the Word.