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Devotions this week based on the Message: “The Spirit of God Launches His Church!”

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Sometimes it’s helpful to go back to the beginning to reset the present.

We can get off track and need to be reminded what is most important.

This week is an opportunity to do that as a Christian Church…as individuals.

This morning I invite you to simply read through Acts 2, the account of Pentecost.  Ask yourself, “What are the miracles of God’s Spirit that happened on this day?”  And “Are those miracles happening still today?”

2              When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17           “ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18           Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19           I will show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20           The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21           And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:

“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

26           Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will live in hope,

27           because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

28           You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 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. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

35           until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Apply: What aspect of Pentecost event would have impacted you most if you were there?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for beginning your Church in such an amazing and powerful way. Help me to see in your start the essence of what you want your Church to be. AMEN.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”

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Where is God?

It seems hard to reconcile sometimes what we see in our country and communities when it seems like the forces that are removing God from the public sphere are stronger than those that are trying to bring his message to hearts.

It’s hard to reconcile evil when it shows up daily in our news feed and experienced in our personal lives.

It’s easy to blame God for all that is happening.  And perhaps it’s natural and in some ways an acknowledgment of the authority and leadership of God.

That is…if God is truly in control, why does he allow all the evil and injustice and persecution against his people to exist?

After all, the saying goes: “Everything rises and falls with leadership.”

There’s much to unpack in those statements, however if we are going to see victory in life and the power of the message of Jesus prevail over evil, we must trust our leader.

Here’s the truth:

Ephesians 1: 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus is ruling over everything for the benefit of his church.

So while I don’t always understand what God is up to, a statement of truth like this forces me to ask a different question.

Instead of “God where are you?” it’s “God where are you?”

Wait that’s the same question.  Perceptive!  However one is asked with a heart of doubt and implies, “God I don’t think you are here.”  The second is asked with a heart of faith and implies, “God I know you are here, reveal to me how you are showing up.”

In some of the greatest challenges of history, God showed up and his kingdom prospered and prevailed.  The Roman government did everything they could to kill off Christianity – it thrives to this day and the Roman empire is gone.  The pandemics of the ages gave Christians the opportunity to care (Black Plague; Spanish Flu; Covid; etc.  Racial unrest gives the Gospel to unify hearts around the value of every person and the healing forgiveness we need.  I could go on.  In every struggle, hardship, difficulty and dare I say evil, is an opportunity for the power of the Gospel to show up in a powerful way.

Why? Because Jesus IS the leader.  And every leader will see and take advantage of every opportunity for the win of the Gospel.

And we get to share in that victory as members of HIS body, the church.

So don’t despair.  Here’s the truth:

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58)

Enjoy living today and each day in the victory Jesus gives to you!

Apply: What situation in your life are you blaming God for being absent?  What does he reveal to you if you consider he was present or is using an awful experience for your blessing and benefit?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for ruling over all things for my benefit as a member of your church. Amen.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”.

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(Sorry I am late in sending this today…)

In an athletic match up, strength is often the key.  Athletes know this so whether one plays football, basketball, soccer or whatever they spend time in the weight room.  Part of strength is endurance.  Part of strength is the amount of weight you can move.  Strength makes a difference to win.

So do resources.  If a team HAS a weight room, that matters.  If a team has resources to buy the best equipment, that matters.  If a team has the resources to have the best coaches, that matters.

Defeat is easy to obtain when I feel like I don’t have the power or resources to overcome my opponent.

Do you ever feel this way as a Christian?

Does it ever feel like the forces against us are stronger than the forces for us?

Does it seem like the opposition to Christ has a stronger effort and set of resources than do Christians?

I will admit, it does.  And it feels discouraging.

Until I realize that I am looking at manmade strength and man obtained resources.

Look at what the Apostle Paul wants us to see:

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

He then goes on to explain that power…read this slowly…let it soak in…

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

The power…that RAISED Jesus from the dead!

The power…that ASCENDED Jesus into heaven!

The power…that he has at the RIGHT HAND of God!

The power…that is ABOVE every…EVERY other power on earth today and in the age to come!

That power is ours to tap into for the sake of our faith and the spread of the Gospel.

And resources?

Psalm 24: 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;  for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

All power.  All resources are at God’s disposal and he is more than ready to share them with us…not for selfish gain or personal power, but for us to see the power of the Gospel and be part of its spread.

So this morning, I repent Lord of admitting defeat in my life when I’ve exhausted my personal strength and limited resources.  Open the eyes of my heart to see and trust that the incomparably great power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power you are working in me and for me.  Lead me not to despair but to trust…even when I can’t see the possibility, you have the power to win the victory.

Apply: What area of life are you trying to figure out with your strength and resources?  What happens if you turn that to the Lord in prayer and ask him to figure it out with his power and his resources?

Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see the incomparably great power that you are working in and around and through us who believe.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”.

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Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Key #3 Wisdom

A winning team knows how to take information and experience and combine it to pull off a strategy to out play their opponent.  At times in a contest there are crucial moments where a decision has to be made to execute a play.  The ability to make the right call is a mark of wisdom in the coach.

In the realm of religion, many belief systems claim to have the right truth, the right behavior, the right beliefs.  It certainly takes wisdom to sort through something so important.

The disciples of Jesus, shortly before Jesus went back into heaven asked him, “Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

They still had an idea that Jesus was going to establish an earthly kingdom.  Jesus didn’t try to explain it, he just told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came on them.  Then he ascended into heaven (pretty well squashing the idea he was here to establish an earthly kingdom!)

I can only imagine the conversation in heaven when the Spirit of God welcomes Jesus back and he is congratulated on completing the mission the Father sent him on.  After the welcome, I picture Jesus turning to the Holy Spirit and saying, “I tried for 3 plus years to get these people to understand clearly my mission and purpose and what my kingdom was all about.  Now it’s your turn.  Perhaps you can give them the wisdom and insights they need to carry out the task of making disciples.

The Holy Spirit did just that and gave the Spirit of wisdom to the disciples.  They understood more clearly.  They moved forward more resolutely.  They had wisdom from God’s Spirit to know Jesus, his work and impact more fully.

Key #4 Insight

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

A winning team has more insight than its opposition.  They study films, have scouts, practice harder and more to gain the advantage.  The coach wants to get his players to visualize winning, execute each play in their mind and experience the celebration win, even before it happens.

Paul is praying for the same insights for each of us to know we are on a winning team with Jesus:

1. Know the hope to which he has called you. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.”  You have been called by the power of the Word to believe the truth that our hope of eternity is ONLY found in Jesus.  You are on the team because God’s grace called you to the team.
2. Know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Visualize the victory!  Jesus has secured a wonderful inheritance in heaven for you!  You can go through life with the confidence that the glory of heaven is guaranteed through Christ.
3. Know the power at your disposal…more on this tomorrow as Paul explains it further. It’s incomparable!

At times it does seem like as Christians we are losing.  Perhaps these two keys, “wisdom and insight” might be at the heart of a prayer for God to help you see how his truth applies in the situation (wisdom) and what truth he wants you to see in the situation (insight).  Then as he grants you the Spirit of wisdom and the enlightenment of your hearts, you will see the obstacles Satan throws as opportunities and the seeming defeats as open doors.

Apply:  What is a situation that you are dealing with today?  What happens when you visualize the glorious riches of heaven God has promised you.  How does that change your perspective on the issue with which you are dealing?

Prayer: God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, please give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know Jesus better. I pray also that you would enlighten the eyes of my heart in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of Christ’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. AMEN.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”.

WATCH Full Sunday message

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Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Key #1: Belief

Belief takes a group of talent and forms them into a winning team.

The most recent example of this was Tom Brady (whether you like him or not) and his leadership which took an underperforming Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the Super Bowl in his first season with them.  How did he do this?

Chris Goodwin, a wide receiver for the Bucs explained: “I think the biggest thing that he brought was just the mentality of expecting to win over hoping to win,” Godwin said, via The Pat McAfee Show. “We’ve had a bunch of talented guys for years but could never really put it together. The history of the team kind of creeps into your mind. You go into games like, as a competitor you’re like, ‘Yeah we can win this.’ 

“But really you’re just hoping to win. But this year we approached every single game like, ‘We dxxx sure can win this game.’ … Once the playoffs hit there was no doubt in our mind that we were going to win.”*

No doubt.  Just belief.  Belief in a leader who has proven he can win.

Greater than any football quarterback is Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul thanks God for the Ephesians “faith in the Lord Jesus.”  Faith is a confidence and trust in one who has won and guarantees us we will win.

Jesus is a proven winner…

Illnesses? Cured.  Demons? Driven out.  Sin? Forgiven.  Death? Defeated. The list goes on.  Jesus has challenged and won the victory over the world’s toughest challengers…sin, death, and Satan.  So when we question whether being connected to Jesus is the winning team?  Who else is there to put your faith in than the one who lived, died, rose and ascended for you?

Key #2: Teammates

Great talent with great ego equals great losses.  Mediocre talent with great love for team equals amazing victories.

Paul commends the Ephesians for their “love for all the saints.”  They cared about, appreciated, loved others among them who had put their trust in Jesus as Savior.  How important is this?  We perhaps have all had church experiences where there is more internal bickering, backstabbing, and bad behavior than outside the church.  Satan loves to create dissension and division in the church.  He loves to take great people of God, turn them into themselves and their ego and against one another.  What happens?  Satan wins…the Gospel loses.

So let’s repent and him.  What happens when we express love, care and concern for our Christian teammates?  We begin to realize we are all on the SAME team!  Jesus loves us all.  Jesus died for us all.  Jesus rose for us all.  Jesus sends us all to do HIS work.  Doing it together as gifted, saints of God creates wins for the Gospel.  Go Team!

Apply: Take time today to send a note of appreciation to a fellow Christian teammate.  Let them know how much you and God’s team values them!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, thank you for calling me to faith in Jesus.  Strengthen my trust in him  to always love team Jesus and my fellow teammates!  Amen.