A Promise Kept
Sunday, December 15
Acts 2:1-13
When Jesus was here on earth, he talked with his disciples about the Holy Spirit. He told them that he must leave, but the Holy Spirit would come and remain in them. The Holy Spirit is Christ without the limitations of the flesh and of the material world. Thus Calvary opened the fountain from which was poured forth the blessings of Pentecost on the disciples. That fountain is still pouring forth its blessing on all of God’s people today.
That same gift of the Holy Spirit that transformed the disciples into humble, powerful witnesses for Christ also dwells within us. The Spirit dwells in the bodies of believers, for we are the temples of the living God.
Have you ever wondered, “How can I have a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and experience the transforming power the Holy Spirit endows me with? If I am indwelled with the Holy Spirit, then why do I feel so spiritually inadequate and impotent?” The disciples had been taught to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit in Luke 11:9-13 and they spent ten days in prayer before it came to fruition. Jesus kept his promise to the disciples, and he will keep his promise to you.
Dear God, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we might live the Christian lives you desire us to live. Amen!
The First Christian Sermon
Monday, December 16
Acts 2:14-21
In today’s passage Peter, who earlier denied Jesus, is filled with the Holy Spirit and delivers the first Christian sermon. Now, instead of uncertainty, there is conviction; instead of fear, boldness; instead of a hasty outburst (as in the Gospels), a detailed, well-reasoned discourse.
Peter’s sermon was given to an international audience and resulted in the first Christian converts. Peter explained that the good news of Jesus Christ is to people from many nations and regions of the world. Salvation was now available to all. About 3,000 new believers were added to the body of Christ on that day of Pentecost. On that day the church was empowered to do for Christ what had never before been attempted, the preaching of the good news of salvation to all nations.
We may not be able to preach a sermon like Peter, but we can all, with the help of the Holy Spirit, share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Lord, help us to proclaim the good news of salvation through Christ to all those we encounter. Amen
There Is Enough For Everyone
Tuesday, December 17
Numbers 11:24-30
In Scripture, the Holy Spirit came upon godly people such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses and was wonderfully active through them. The work of the Holy Spirit was then creative, directing, and energizing. The Lord said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee…yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10, KJV).
In today’s passage, Joshua complains to Moses about the two men who also had the Holy Spirit come upon them. He was upset because
he felt they didn’t deserve to have the Spirit. This attitude is similar to that of Jesus’s disciples in Mark 9:38-41 when they wanted Jesus to stop someone from casting out demons because “he is not one of us” (v. 38, NIV). These attempts to put limits on the Holy Spirit were condemned by both Moses and Jesus. They both knew, as we should know, that you cannot put limits on what the Holy Spirit can do, because the Spirit can work through whomever the Spirit chooses.
Dear God, help us to understand that when it comes to serving you there is room for everyone. Amen.
The Promise Made
Wednesday, December 18
John 7:37-39
The promise of Jesus to give the Holy Spirit to all who believe in him had the beginning of its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost and has since been available to all believers. We must remember that John wrote his Gospel to Christians who were aware of the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Maybe they needed to be reminded, as we do, of the change that should have happened in their lives as a result.
Jesus uses the symbolism of the gift of water to the thirsty to emphasize our significant need for the Holy Spirit. The picture that Jesus presents looks for the advent of the Spirit not from without and above, but from within and beneath, from the springs of our deepest being: “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (v. 38, NRSV).
Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me” (v. 37). As we strive to enter into the Spirit, we open the floodgates by which the living stream can well up from the hidden root of our being.
O Lord, please quench our thirst with the living water of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Endowment Of The Holy Spirit
Thursday, December 19
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
The use of spiritual gifts was dividing the church in Corinth rather than building it up and unifying it as they should have. The Corinthians saw the gifts as symbols of spiritual power to the point that some people thought they were better or more spiritual than others because of the gifts they possessed. Paul tried to correct this misunderstanding about the use and purpose of spiritual gifts.
The spiritual gifts, given to each believer by the Holy Spirit, are special endowments intended to minister to the needs of the entire body of Christ. There are many gifts and they are distributed to each believer by the Holy Spirit. There are different gifts and some believers are endowed with more than one gift. They all come from the same Holy Spirit and their purpose is to build up Christ’s body. No one gift is superior to another. We should never use our gifts in a manipulative way or to serve our own interest.
Dear Lord, teach us to use our spiritual gifts in the way you intended them to be used. Amen.
Unity Of The Spirit
Friday, December 20
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Paul compares the church to the human body, which has many parts with different functions working together. The church is the living body of Christ, the organism of which he is the living and eternal head. It is the Holy Spirit who puts us into one body of believers and who gives each member a gift. Different people are given different gifts, so that the body of Christ can function in all its necessary capacities.
We must remember that the Spirit of God is sovereign in all of this. God determines what is important and what is not important. The Holy Spirit wants us to use our gifts and to bring them under the lordship of Jesus.
Holy Spirit, help me to use my gifts for the benefit of the body. Amen.
The Glorious Works Of God
Saturday, December 21
Psalm 104:24-35
On the day that I received Jesus Christ into my life I wrote the following: “Today I stopped, and thought, and looked all around me. And buildings and all the things people had made was all I could see. Then I looked up, and saw the sky, the sun, and clouds, and became elated. And when I looked around again, I saw nature, and everything that had been created. I even saw the little ants rushing to store food in their holes, as if anticipating snow. And I saw the busy bees jumping from flower to flower, not knowing that they were helping them to grow. I saw the green grass dancing with the wind, and I could count each blade. And I saw the mountains standing so strong and tall, looking as if they were all handmade. I saw a robin’s egg in its nest about the crack its pretty shell of blue. And I saw the fish swimming in their waters, and it made such a beautiful hue. I saw the great oceans that cover most of the earth. And I saw all the plants and trees, and appreciated their worth. I looked up again at the heavens above. And I knew that all these things and more, were created out of love. And I thanked God.”
Great and wonderful God, help us to see you in everything you created. Amen.
