Month: January 2016

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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Scripture

Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

Observation

We have a body that has many parts but is just one body. In the same way, the church is made of many different kinds of people baptised into it and united by the one Spirit.

If a human body was all one part, it would be less for that. In fact it would not work at all. If the body were just an eye, it could not hear or smell.

In the same way every part of the Body of Christ, every member, is essential to it.

God appoints different roles and responsibilities to different individuals, but we are all parts of the same Body, put there by God.

Application

There are no unnecessary people in God’s church. We are all needed.

Sometimes it’s hard to work out where we fit, and it might even feel like we don’t fit at all. Yet, the Bible tells us we have a part to play in God’s mission in the world.

Equally we should not envy the gifts or ministries of other people, as if they are more important than we are.

Our bodies work because ultimately every part takes its cue from the head. The Body of Christ works best when every part takes its orders from the head, that is Christ.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to hear your voice so that I can understand who I am in you and where I best serve you in your Body. Amen.

Reflection on John 2:1-11

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Water-To-Wine

Scripture

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to do.”

Observation

Jesus and His mother and Jesus’ disciples are at a wedding in Cana when the wine runs out. Mary tells Jesus that they have no wine, and then tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.

Jesus then goes to the servants and tells them to fill six stone jars normally used for purification rituals. They do this, and He tells them to draw some to give to the chief steward.

The steward, unaware of all that is happening, is amazed because it is the good wine which would normally be served first.

Application

John describes this miracle as a sign which reveals the glory of Jesus. So what is revealed here?

  1. God is able to work contrary to what we think of as the laws of nature. In other words, He is greater than the world He created.

  2. God is interested in the small stuff. Running out of wine at a wedding might be embarrassing, but it’s not a disaster. God intervenes in the nitty-gritty of human interactions.

  3. God likes a good party. Jesus often used feasts as settings for parables.

  4. God does all things well. When Jesus makes wine it is a good vintage.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, at a wedding in Cana you turned water into wine. Please take my ordinary efforts today and turn them into a sign of your kingdom. Amen.

 

 

Ray Ortlund- “Himself”

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“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”  Exodus 40:34

In Exodus 40:16-33, Moses assembles the tabernacle.  He does so carefully, thoroughly, obediently.  The paragraph begins with a prospective summary in verse 16 and ends with a retrospective summary in verse 33, emphasizing the completeness of Moses’ obedience.  In between, seven times the text records that his work was “as the Lord commanded.”  What more could one hope for?

But the book doesn’t end with “So Moses finished the work” (verse 33).  There is still another, better paragraph to go.  In that final paragraph, verses 34-38, we read of what only God can do.  God’s glory comes down and covers the completed tabernacle.  After all, that was the whole point to begin with: “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8).

Our aim as pastors is not only that our churches will be well assembled, thoughtfully and carefully and biblically obedient in their doctrine and structures.  That is important.  But it is not ultimate.  We desire the dwelling of the risen Christ among us.  We desire his felt presence.  We desire him.

If we are not experiencing his glory coming down upon us, we need to ask if we have been disobedient in any aspect of what we have built or failed to build.  But even if we have built well, we need to ask if we have settled for mere constructional obedience.  The Lord has more for us than that.  He has himselfto give!

From The Gospel Coalition blog

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

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holy-spirit-fire

Scripture

All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Observation

Our confession about Jesus is a spiritual activity. Any time a person confesses that Jesus is Lord they are being led by the Holy Spirit. Nobody who curses Jesus is being directed by the Spirit.

There are various gifts and services but just one Spirit. We all may have a manifestation of the Spirit at any time for the good of all.

There are words of wisdom and knowledge, faith and healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. All this is by the Spirit of God.

Application

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by the Spirit to glorify Jesus. They are not given to glorify individuals.

These gifts are available to all believers. Because it is the Spirit who gives these gifts, we all have the potential to manifest the gifts from time to time.

The key to this is being open to the Holy Spirit. Our focus should always be on Him. The Lord will direct us if we are listening and are willing to obey.

Prayer

Holy Spirit be released through me. Teach me how to hear your voice and engage in your ministry. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 3:15-22

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OXYGEN VOLUME 13

Scripture

The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Observation

People are filled with expectation about the Messiah and wonder if John is the one. John tells them the Messiah is yet to come. John baptises them with water but one is coming who will baptise the with fire and the Holy Spirit.

Because of his teaching and rebuking, Herod would later have John locked up.

Jesus comes to be baptised by John. The heavens open up and the Holy Spirit comes upon Him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven affirms that Jesus is God’s Son.

Application

John’s ministry was all about Jesus. He was the one called to testify about the one to come and to build expectancy in people’s hearts.

We also share this calling. My life is not about my pleasure, my fame, my success. It’s all about testifying about Jesus, telling others about the glory of His grace.

Jesus brings us a baptism of fire and of Holy Spirit. We need to seek to receive this baptism, allowing the nature of God to surround us and fill us until we become just like Jesus.

Prayer

Lord baptise me in fire and Holy Spirit. Fill me with you so that I can demonstrate your grace in the world. Amen.

Non-apology From Cricket Player

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Chris Gayle is a jerk.

If you missed it, he tried to hit on a sports journalist during a live TV interview. Then the next day after a wave of public outrage he issued the stock standard celebrity non-apology.

I was going to write a blog post about it, but then I remembered I did that some time ago.

So read my rant here and find out the difference between a real apology and a fake one.

Reflection on Acts 8:4-17

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6.4.14

Scripture

Then Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Observation

Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the Good News. The crowds listen eagerly to the message which is backed up with great signs of healing and deliverance.

In that city, a practitioner of magic named Simon has a huge following. Many of his followers become christians and are baptised. Simon himself is saved and stays constantly at Philip’s side.

The apostles send Peter and John to investigate what is happening in Samaria. They discover that none of the converts has received the Holy Spirit, so they lay hands on them.

Application

Many christians have an incomplete experience of God. They may have received Jesus but the Holy Spirit remains a stranger to them.

It is not enough to simply ask Jesus into your heart. We need the fullness of the Holy Spirit to fulfil the calling that God has for us and to simply live out the christian life.

The Samaritans received Jesus, but until the apostles came and laid hands on them, they lacked power. Philip was doing the preaching, healing and demon removal. But after they received the Holy Spirit, the power of God was unleashed in every believer.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and fill me. Baptise me and release your power in me. Amen.