pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Holy Spirit


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Love and Power

Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Verse 44: “All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

This week’s passage in Acts 2 paints a beautiful picture of the early church in Jerusalem. These words represent the church at its best. In a world where division and argument seem to be the norm, maybe one wonders if this is still possible. We must remember that the world was far from perfect for these early Christians. They lived in an occupied land that was primarily populated by a majority religious group that was against their religion. Even so, this beautiful community existed and thrived.

The early church was built first and foremost on Christ’s love. Because of this great love, they wanted to know Jesus more and to grow more like him. They “devoted themselves” to his teachings and to his example. The Spirit was alive and well in this community – “wonders and miraculous signs” were happening. Generosity and mutual care were the norm. Being selfish and inwardly focused – these were absent from this community. Needs that arose were me by the faith community. The early church both worshipped and fellowshipped together. This way of living in community attracted attention: “the Lord added daily to their number.”

Yes, the political and social atmosphere today certainly work against such a community. And, yes, the culture and society that we live in can make it hard to practice a spirit of love and generosity and compassion. But the power to live and be such a community didn’t and doesn’t come from the body itself. It comes from the love of Christ in us and through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and amongst us. Here is the love and power to sustain and nourish and grow such a beautiful community of faith. Day by day may we connect to this love and power.

Prayer: Lord God, at her best, the church is a place of love and welcome, acceptance and support, generosity and connection. Guide us to rely on your love and power to enable us to truly be such a community of faith. May it be so, O Lord. Amen.


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In the Power

Reading: Acts 2:14 – “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd.”

Today’s verse is the start of a long sermon by Peter that culminates with tomorrow’s passage. Pentecost had just happened, drawing a large crowd of Jews from all over the world. This miracle has prepared hearts and minds to hear what Peter has to say. The Holy Spirit fills Peter with power as he shares about Jesus and how he was revealed through the Hebrew scriptures and through the “miracles, wonders and signs” done during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Peter is bold and fearless as he stands up, raises his voice, and begins to address the crowd. What a contrast to the Peter who ran from the courtyard in tears, filled with shame and regret. He couldn’t even claim his faith in Jesus to a few people standing around a warming fire and now he dives in full of confidence standing before thousands. What has changed in Peter and in the other disciples?

The primary change has come through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Soon after his resurrection, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. The living, powerful presence of Jesus Christ now dwells in their hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit empowers them to act and speak on behalf of God, just as Jesus himself did. Standing together as one, Peter tells the good news of Jesus Christ. It could’ve been James or John. It could’ve been Matthias. If born in a different time, it could’ve been you or me. You see, all who call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are filled with the same Holy Spirit that empowered Peter this day. May we too live and act and speak with boldness and confidence, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord God, today, when I have the opportunity that Peter had, fill me with your Spirit power and use me to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Whether in word, action, or example, may my faith and trust in you be evident to all. Amen.


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Witnesses

Reading: Acts 2:14 and 22-32

Verse 32: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”

As we jump into Acts 2, Pentecost had just occurred. The Holy Spirit has fallen on a group of Jesus followers. This event has drawn a large crowd of Jews “from every nation under heaven” (verse 5). It is to this crowd that Peter speaks in today’s passage. He recounts the crucifixion of Jesus. He begins by recalling who Jesus was: “a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs.” And then, “by God’s set purpose,” Jesus was put to death by the Jews with the help of the Romans. We can choose to focus on the role played by the Jews (or Romans) or we can choose to focus on the fact that the crucifixion was always part of God’s plan for Jesus. I choose that latter.

Filled with the same Holy Spirit that fell at Pentecost, Peter continues, quoting from Psalm 16. Here David looks to the Lord, envisioning “the Lord always before me,” the one that assures him “that my body will live in hope.” David has this living hope because it has been revealed to him by God that God will not “let your Holy One see decay.” This prophecy speaks of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Peter connects this dot for his audience and for us in verse 31, where he says, “Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ.” It was all part of God’s plan, spoken by David about 1,000 years before the life of Christ.

Our passage closed with a statement that is true in 2 ways. In verse 32 we read, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” Peter, the other disciples, and about 500 followers have seen, encountered, spoken with the risen Christ. This is one truth. The other truth is the witness that we can offer. We know this to be true because the risen Christ lives in our hearts, filling us too with this same living hope. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, today I am once again amazed by the arch of your story. Centuries before Jesus, David spoke of Christ, his eternity, his death and resurrection. Your plan has clearly been at work for generations and generations. Lord, empower followers today to bear witness to Jesus Christ, our living hope. Amen.


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Seeds and Soil

Reading: John 12:20-36

Verse 24: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.”

In today’s passage Jesus speaks of life and death. There are layers to these words that Jesus shares. He is speaking personally as his own death looms just days away. In verse 24 we read, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.” Christ, the single seed, must die so that the Holy Spirit can come, empowering more than one person to produce fruit for the kingdom of God. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus will be present in spirit in the hearts of all who believe.

Jesus is talking to Andrew and Peter, to all the disciples, and to all the disciples who will one day read these words. Like Jesus we too must be willing to surrender self to God – to hate this earthly life. Once we surrender then we become that kernel of wheat that dies so that it can produce other seeds. These seeds that we plant in the hearts and lives of others are what the Holy Spirit can work with to build the kingdom of God.

There is another connection, another layer here too. In Luke 8, in the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of the soil and of sowing seeds. The parable discussed 4 “soils,” from the hard path to the fertile soil. Part of the Lenten journey has been to look within, to reflect on the condition of our soil. Our soil must be good in order to help produce a crop 100 times what was sown for the kingdom. The parable also addresses how to sow. Abundantly is the answer. We are to share the light and love of Jesus Christ with all people – even the ones who appear hard-hearted. There is no limiting the power of the Holy Spirit!

To close, a John Wesley question: How is it with your soul?

Prayer: Lord God, day after day help me to surrender self to you. Help me to lay my pride, my judging, my self-doubt at the foot of the cross. Lead me from there to live a life that shines the light and love of Christ on others, planting and nourishing the seeds of faith in their soil. Amen.


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Walk in the Light

Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

Verse 8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”

Throughout the scriptures God and good has been represented by the light. It is first reflected in how God created the world. Light shone into the darkness. Light signals the start of each new day; it brings life to our souls and to the physical world. In contrast, evil and chaos are represented by the darkness. Under the cover of dark we feel that our misdeeds are somehow covered up or are at least less likely to be exposed.

Paul picks up on these themes in today’s writing. In verse 8 he writes, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Before choosing to live with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we were in the darkness. We lived for self and to satisfy the cravings of the flesh. When we live in the dark, our eyes adjust and we get accustomed to that lifestyle. But once we come to Christ, the light becomes our norm. The light first illuminates the darkness right around us, exposing the evil in our lives and in our hearts. It can be hard to adjust to being in the light, at first. In general it grows easier and easier to live in the light. Sometimes, however, it is harder. But hard in a good way.

Walking in the light grows easier as we draw more and more upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ to lead and guide our lives. Faith becomes the norm that we live by. Faithful living becomes our daily way of living. Here a part of the walk also becomes harder. The light continues to shine, working its way into the nooks and crannies. There we come to see that this or that really is a sin. What was “ok” before is no longer ok. The light reveals that habit or behavior and we come to see that it too must be put to the cross.

As we seek to grow in Christ, may we ever shine the light both within our hearts and out into the world, encouraging a walk in the light of Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, this journey of faith leads us deeper and deeper into our relationship with you. Joy, love, hope, grace – they grow in abundance in our life with you. In the light the refining process continues too as selfish habits and prideful ways continue to be exposed. Grant me the courage to surrender these things to you. Amen.


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Eyes on Christ

Reading: Romans 5:1-11

Verse 1: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Photo credit: Josh Calabrese

Today in Romans 5 Paul writes of the peace and joy that we come to know as we walk with Jesus Christ. This journey begins as God goes to work in our hearts. As we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are justified or made right with God. This, however, is not a once-and-done process. We need to be made right again and again because by nature we are sinful. But we are justified by grace – the unending, undeserved free gift of God that loves us back into right relationship again and again. As God pours out love through the Holy Spirit, filling our hearts, we receive joy upon joy. Being loved so deeply and unconditionally, we experience reconciliation with God every time we repent and turn back to God. What a merciful and loving and graceful God we serve!

Now, if only we lived with this joy and hope and confidence all of the time. If we could only set our eyes on Christ and walk steadily and without falter each moment of each day. We can and do at times. But I find myself glancing sideways now and then as a bright shiny object or a scary dangerous threat nears me. If it draws enough of my attention, my gaze can linger. Maybe you too take a glance now and then. Maybe once in a while your gaze lingers. And sometimes I look back over my shoulder, looking to see who is catching up or sneaking up. I do this when I fall into the doing or achieving mode. Maybe you fall to these temptations once in a while too. If only we could fix our eyes…

When we falter, when our gaze is drawn off the path that leads to life abundant, may we always remember that while we were in that sinful state, Christ died for us. He died so that we can always be reconciled. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, my life is so much better when my eyes and heart are focused on you. Even in the trials, there is hope and joy and peace in you. Train me more and more to focus on your love and grace and mercy – day by day helping me to walk more and more with Christ. Amen.


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The Battle

Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-7

Verse 17: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Photo credit: Paul Garaizar

Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday. We begin this week’s readings in the garden with God, Adam, and Eve. It is a story of temptation and sin. In verse 17 God says to Adam, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” God has provided an abundant bounty of food for Adam’s physical needs. In verses 18-25 God addresses Adam’s relational needs as God creates Eve. Then, in chapter 3, the serpent plays on Adam and Eve’s weakness, tempting them with knowledge and power – to be like God. Unable to resist, they eat and their eyes are opened. They “realized they were naked.” With the knowledge of good and evil, without clothing became“naked.” Since that moment, humankind has wrestled with sin and temptation, with the battle between good and evil, between God and Satan.

These themes will run throughout our week, in each of the passages. In the same way these themes are intertwined in our day to day lives. Our battles with good and evil can be relatively small – that candy bar in the store quietly makes its way into our pocket or we go for the little extra pour or scoop when we’ve already had enough. Sometimes the battle is “just for fun” – how fast can this car go late at night on this deserted interstate? And other times the battle involves real stakes, real consequences for our lives and for our souls.

Because sin and evil and temptation are real and because the shiny fruit looks really good, we must always be aware of the battle. Often a small step in the wrong direction leads to another step and soon enough we’re plunging headlong into deep and dangerous waters. The only path to true life here and to abundant life eternal lies in the path walked with God. Holy Spirit, guide us to walk as a child of the light.

Prayer: Lord God, the human one within me is strong. The evil one remains crafty and deceitful as ever. Lord, I need you. By the power of the Holy Spirit living in me, help me to resist the temptations. And when I do fall, Lord, draw me back quickly and restore me by your grace. Amen.


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Reflections

Reading: Psalm 15

Verse 1: “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?”

Psalm 15 begins by posing a general question and then proceeds to unpack the answer. David begins by basically asking who is able to stand in God’s presence, day by day, moment by moment. This is a deep question of faith. David’s brief answers revolve around how we live out our faith in both our relationships with God and with each other.

Verse 2 addresses both relationships. David identifies those who are blameless and righteous and truthful as those who are able to abide with God. These three qualities should apply to all of our earthly relationships as well. In the next three verses David gives us some examples and counterexamples of how one who abides in God reflects or reveals these qualities. Such a person does not slander or speak slurs against others. Such a person despises evil and honors the faithful. Such a person keeps his or her word and does not take advantage of others. These are but a few insights into holy living. This is a limited list. There are many other ways that being blameless, righteous, and truthful are lived out in our lives.

The Psalm concludes with this verse: “He [or she] who does these things will never be shaken.” David is referring to these core qualities – being blameless, righteous, and truthful. How we live these out in all of our relationships reflects the condition of our relationship with Jesus and it reflects our faith out to the world. Do these reflections reveal you to be one who abides in the presence of the Lord?

Prayer: Lord God, how do my words and actions reflect my relationship with you? In those times when I am less than you call me to be, help me to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice and to respond well. In the moments when I am faithful, please shine through me, out into the world, out into the lives of others. Amen.


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Do Not Wait Idly

Reading: Revelation 21:1-6

Verse 3: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and God will dwell with them. They will be God’s people, and God will be with them and be their God.”

As we turn to the new year we receive this vision of a new heaven and earth. In John’s vision he sees “the new Jerusalem” coming down to earth. As 2023 begins there is a sense of possibility ahead. There is hope for our lives and for our faith. God’s promise is right here.

In his vision John hears these words: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and God will dwell with them. They will be God’s people, and God will be with them and be their God.” It is a return to life as it was in the garden. God will walk and talk with us. God will be present so there will be no death, no pain, no tears. Life as we know it – “the old order of things” – it will be no more. Christ declares, “I am making all things new.” The one who is “the beginning and the end” will usher in an eternity of love and light, of grace and peace, of unity and joy. What a day it will be.

Hearing this promise, getting a sense of what this day will be like, it brings us joy and hope. We long for the day. And yet we do not wait idly. We do not just hang out and watch the world go by. No, the kingdom of God has already drawn near. And it remains near, as close as the Holy Spirit that dwells in our hearts. We are called to live with hope and joy, with light and love, with grace and peace. We are called to share these with a world in need. May it be so as we await the one who makes all things new.

Prayer: Lord God, as we wait, may we build. As we live as your witness in the world may we draw others in. As we live faithfully may others come to look to you, the only hope we have. Amen.


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Names

Reading: Matthew 1:21-25

Verses 21 and 23: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins… they will call him Immanuel.”

Continuing on in Joseph’s dream, we learn of the names that will be given to the one conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel first says that Mary will give birth and then tells Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This name will be his earthly name. Under this name, Jesus will minister to the people, saving many from their sins. At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus will give his life for the sin of the world, saving us all from our sins. Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Two verses later we learn of another name: “Immanuel.” This name means “God with us.” In the incarnation, Jesus was literally God living with the people. Setting aside the glory of heaven, God took on flesh and came as a helpless baby. In ministry, Jesus revealed what God’s love looks like when lived out here on earth. In this way Jesus brought heaven to earth, showing us what it looks like to live daily with God. Towards the end of his ministry Jesus promised his followers a gift. He told them that after he left he would send the Holy Spirit, his living presence, to dwell in their hearts – literally, “God with us.”

In this Advent season we rejoice in Jesus’ first coming and we look forward to the second Advent, when he comes again. We celebrate the coming of the Savior and we praise God for the gift of the Spirit within us. And may we, like Jesus, live in ways that encourage and invite others to experience God’s saving grace and holy presence in their lives. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, in this season of Advent, use me to share your love and presence with others. May my joy overflow and may your love be seen and felt in all I do and say. Amen.