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Be Blessed by Receiving Manifold Measures of Grace by Relating with God through the Lord's Appointed Times of Pentecost
Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
Following the LORD’s resurrection, the disciples had been spending time with one another in prayers and devotion. While they were celebrating this feast, a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind came and filled the whole house where they were. The disciples were “filled with the Spirit,” as recorded in Acts 2. On Shavuot—Pentecost—their lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit! In their devotions and celebration, God’s Word connected with His Spirit and brought completion—or fullness—to the revelation of God’s covenant. It therefore, brought fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy expressing the fullness of God’s covenant. (Isaiah 59:21) They also came to a new understanding of God's love and what the LORD meant by “a fountain of water” that would spring up within and bring refreshing new life.
Our understanding of our significance in life becomes magnified once the reality of the love of God and Holy Spirit’s infilling becomes real to us. In fact, it will change your life! It’s a matter of growing into the fullness of this revelation as you continue to receive refreshment and truth from the Holy Spirit.
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
REFERENCES
Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
As Moses read to the people, they declared, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7 NKJV) They, therefore, rededicated themselves to following God’s Word, and renewed their faith in God. Pentecost, therefore, serves to remind us to pause and value the love of God expressed through Christ; and specifically the illumination of His Word by His Spirit. The harvest we reap is new insights from what is happening around and through us so that we may grow in wisdom and discernment and be a blessing to others, glorifying God.
For this reason, Paul declared, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18 NKJV) In other words, you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting God’s law into legalism. In order to maintain the vitality of the Spirit, Paul further exhorted the disciples to be continually filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) This is accomplished by regular reading and meditation of God’s Word, and communing with God, praying in the Holy Spirit. It also involves reaching and releasing outward towards others—giving away what God has given to you, so He can refill His reservoirs within you with more of His substance!
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE How do you refresh your thoughts and opinions? How open are you to new revelations of truth God would offer you? Are there any areas of your life where your frame of reference may be somewhat legalistic? Are there any opinions that you have that might be a bit too dogmatic?
REFERENCES
Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
He knew His resurrection would glorify the Father. Even more, He knew the release of the power of the Holy Spirit would glorify the Father. He declared to the disciples:
Throughout life we experience all sorts of trials and conflict. In addition we get to participate in the awesome things that God does as opportunities arise to serve God and people in need of God's intervention. As we do, our character and faith is tested. We have the opportunity to exercise trusting faith so God’s power may be displayed through us and He be glorified. Through the process we get to be instruments through which the life of the Holy Spirit can flow. That’s how we grow and experience the awesome grace of God’s transforming work in us. It’s even better when we experience it with others so God’s testimony can go out and glorify His name.
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
REFERENCES
Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
Upon receiving the LORD in your heart, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul admonishes believers to understand what the will of the Lord is and, therefore, “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17 JNT) How is this accomplished? Paul explains in Colossians 3:16-17, it comes as we allow the richness of God’s word to live fully inside, as we teach and counsel each other in His wisdom, and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in our hearts. You are, therefore, continuously filled with the Spirit by filling yourself with God’s Word, communing with God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you by yielding to Him in faith and obedience. It’s like driving your car. Upon filling your tank, you move forward, go places, and eventually need to replenish your tank! Such a repeated infilling should result in character growth that reflects the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. It should also open up your heart to receiving measures of His love and grace, your mind to God’s continuous enlightenment and revelation of truth and your spirit to the manifestation and realization of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE How has your life been a reflection of this infilling?
REFERENCES
Walking in Spiritual Reality by Relating with God through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
The Law demanded performance of all kinds of works to be justified before God. Messiah Jesus came in the power of God's love to reveal grace and release the enabling power of the Holy Spirit so we could experience freedom in God!
So, full independence in God would be expressed by depending on God’s Word breathed by His Spirit—the Holy Spirit. This is what the LORD revealed towards the end of His ministry in the upper room.
This is also what Paul had in mind in expressing what liberty in the LORD is about: standing free, not being “entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1) As the LORD has discharged us from the debt to the law of sin and fully acquitted us from the guilt of the effects of sin, we have the capacity to be empowered to walk in the Spirit of liberty! That capacity is realized by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; the enabling power to resist worldly influences and carnal impulses so the LORD’s nature can dominate our thought processes and actions. This happens as we allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to resist the ways of the world and sways of sin: the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life. The more we yield to the LORD’s nature by the Holy Spirit, the more we appropriate His victory in our life. This is what the LORD meant in declaring, “He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life!” (John 12:25 JNT) He was referring to a real kind of life transformation: where our life absorbed in satisfying the desires of the flesh become renewed; and we become more focused on satisfying the desires God imparts in our heart and purposes He has towards us—which have the capacity to bring more fulfilling measures of liberty and the real joy and peace of God. This transformation comes as the Holy Spirit enlightens your mind and heart to truth, bringing God’s real refreshment and liberation! The more you yield to the Holy Spirit, the more you are able to resist temptations and be free from the pulls that lead to anxiety and fear—so God can bring you to His rest, His settling state of peace.
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE What thoughts can you release to the LORD so the Holy Spirit can empower you to greater measures of freedom, peace and joy?
REFERENCES
Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost
In appreciating the value of the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit, Paul encouraged believers to understand the nature of the Holy Spirit, and how He works and communicates with us.
One of the primary attributes of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to console and comfort those in despair; the depressed and broken of heart, those without hope. Touched by compassionate servants of faith, the Holy Spirit can release the healing virtue of God to bring stability and comfort to wounded hearts and set in motion God’s healing process. Real transformation happens in time through God’s process as we submit and surrender to Christ, and allow ourselves to be conformed to His nature. It entails allowing Him to increase and the self nature to decrease. For most of us, that's more easily said than done! As we do, though, the Holy Spirit establishes and confirms our alignment with Christ by manifesting the sweet peace of God. That peace gives us the confidence of God’s presence and assurance of His favor.
The result of God’s process yields good fruits. The more we submit to the Spirit, the more we reflect His character and the fruit of the Spirit. “Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.” (Galatians 5:25 JNT)
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE How do you think you can recognize the working of the Holy Spirit? How does He speak to you? How might you confirm what the Holy Spirit is doing? In what ways has God been transforming you, growing greater measures of His nature in you?
REFERENCES
Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Good Shepherd
While the disciples were celebrating this very feast, 50 days after His resurrection on the day of the feast of First-Fruits, the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst them. It became known as Pentecost. Whereas this feast had been celebrated by remembering the giving of the Law to Moses, now it would truly represent the fullness of God’s covenant—His incredible love and amazing grace expressed through His Word and Spirit.
It was also about 550-600 years after the prophet, Ezekiel, spoke of the condition of His people and of His future solution…
He continued…
In the midst of escalating political tension and corruption that was spurring an impending revolution against dominant Roman powers, the LORD arrived on the scene to make a difference. The religious leaders expected a political type to take his place as the Messiah-King. The LORD did take His place as the Good Shepherd of God’s flock. He came fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.
The LORD expressed a greater dimension of God's love, revealing it in a whole new way. He came full of compassion. He came “moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season? What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights? What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE How do you spend time with the Shepherd daily, receiving His insights, counsel and wisdom? |
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