reflection

Reflection on Acts 1:12-26

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Scripture

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women and the brothers of Jesus.

Observation

The apostles return to Jerusalem to the house where they were staying. They constantly meet together, united in prayer with other believers.

During this time, Peter addresses a gathering of about 120 believers and tells them they need to elect a replacement for Judas. They nominate two men, of whom Matthias is chosen by lot.

Application

It seems that the disciples prayed for much of the time they were told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We are not given many details of these prayer gatherings, but it seems likely that they were seeking God together for most hours of the day, perhaps into the evenings, with people coming and going as they were able.

This is a remarkable amount of prayer to our modern minds. And this was before the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Students of revival often point out that all revivals (however we understand the term) are preceded by a movement of prayer and unity. People come from various congregations to gather, putting traditions and doctrines aside for the purpose of praying for the Holy Spirit to revive the church and the community.

The fact is that even this prayer born of desperation, has to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise people get bored, discouraged or distracted, before the real objective is achieved.

The starting point always has to be prayer. And if we fail in praying, we have to get back up and keep on praying. And when, after sustained communal prayer, the Holy Spirit comes, we will receive power to be witnesses.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come. Come and empower us to pray so that we might have grace to receive more of you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 1:1-11

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Scripture

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Observation

The Book of Acts starts with a kind of prelude pointing to the power of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the message of the Kingdom as far as the ends of the earth.

It begins with a quick recap of the facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection, including the command to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus promises they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes. Then, even as He is saying this, Jesus is taken up to heaven. Two angels appear to confirm that Jesus has gone to heaven but will one day return.

Application

The promise of Jesus is that when the Holy Spirit comes, we will receive power to be His witnesses everywhere.

In the church we have many evangelism training programs and classes. But Jesus did not say, “When you finish this course you will be my witnesses.”

We have many words, scripts and formulations, but Jesus did not say, “When you get the words right, you will be my witnesses.”

The professional evangelists, those with the ministry gift of evangelist, often try to guilt the rest of us into doing evangelism. But Jesus did not tell us to witness from a place of guilt, or feelings of religious duty.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, then we will receive power and we will be His witnesses. This is a promise that, in some way, the Holy Spirit will use each one of us to “be witnesses”, that is to have the nature of a person who points others to Christ. Under the power of the Holy Spirit this will happen naturally (or supernaturally) out of our new nature.

For too long, the church has brought training program after training program to “equip” people to share faith- with little result. Instead, we need to focus our attention on waiting for the Holy Spirit, receiving the Holy Spirit, being baptised in the Holy Spirit. Then we will be witnesses.

I long to see a church filled with people so full of the Holy Spirit that they can’t help but be witnesses to the love of Jesus.

Prayer

Come Holy Spirit. Fill me. Baptise me. Empower me. May I be your witness. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 4:1-11

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Scripture

Then Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Observation

The Holy Spirit pushes Jesus (literally “throws him out”) into the wilderness to fast and to be tempted by the devil. At the end of forty days, the devil comes to Jesus with three tests, all starting with the words, “If you are the Son of God.”

The first test is to turn stones into loaves of bread. Jesus says that the word of God is more important than bread.

The second test is to jump off the highest peak of the Temple, trusting angels to rescue Him. Jesus says, “You must not test the Lord.”

The third test is to receive all the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping satan. Jesus says that the Scriptures tell us we must worship the Lord alone.

Application

Temptation is part of being human, and is multiplied many times over when we are seeking to walk with the Lord.

Satan wants to smash the Kingdom of God by discouraging and disarming God’s people. So sin is always around us, and the devil always has his leg out trying to trip us up.

The tests always use the same mental weapons.

1. Sow doubt about God’s will. For Jesus it was, “If you are the Son of God.” For Adam and Eve it was, “Did God really say?” We need to hold onto God’s promises about who we are in Him and His directions for our lives.

2. Use the eyes to intensify desire. We live in a highly visual culture. Satan will happily use images to stimulate our desire for something that we should not have. We need to filter what we look at so that we focus on what is good, uplifting and God-honouring.

3. He will use Scriptures, out of context or twisted, to justify an act of sin.

4. Satan often gets us at times of physical weakness. He waited until Jesus had fasted forty days and nights and was very hungry before he attacked. We need to be especially alert when we are tired, stressed, busy or recovering from illness.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that when we fix our eyes on you we can stand firm and resist the temptations that come. Thank you that even when I fall you forgive me. Please grant me grace to grow in strength and in spiritual vigour. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 5:12-19

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Scripture

Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Observation

When Adam sinned, sin and death came into the world. We have all sinned, so we shall all die.

Adam is a symbol of Christ. Adam’s sin brought death to many. But God’s grace is greater, so that the gift of forgiveness came through Jesus. Adam’s sin brought condemnation, but God’s free gift in Christ makes us right with God.

Because Adam disobeyed God, we all became sinners. Because Jesus obeyed God, many will become righteous.

Application

We don’t have any choice about whether we are sinners or not. Being human means we will sin, that is do things that are displeasing to God.

That is our heritage from Adam. It is almost written into our DNA.

How tragic that human beings, made for fellowship with God, routinely cut ourselves off from Him by rebelling against Him. For many, this is so entrenched that they do not even think about it.

But another man came into the world to reverse Adam’s curse. Jesus, the Son of God, became a man just like us. His death on the cross paid for our sins.

So death came through Adam, but eternal life came through Jesus.

Condemnation came through Adam, but forgiveness comes through Christ.

Sin entered the world through Adam, but it was defeated by Christ.

All you have to do to trade the heritage of Adam for the life of Christ is to receive the forgiveness that Christ brings.

That Is amazing grace.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for trading my sin for your righteousness. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Amen.

Reflection on Genesis 2:15-3:7

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Scripture

This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Observation

The Lord places Adam in the garden, but warns him that he must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Then the Lord sets about making a suitable helper for Adam.

The serpent comes along with the intention of causing Adam and Eve to rebel against God. He plants a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, and pretty soon after that they eat the fruit they were commanded not to.

Application

From the beginning God has created a man and a woman for unity, oneness, communion.

There is a complementary nature between husband and wife with each supplying much of what the other lacks.

God instituted man and woman marriage- one man and one woman committed to each other for life.

Because marriage is such a sacred thing, satan comes and tries to rip husbands and wives apart, or use one to lead the other from God. This started in the Garden of Eden, but has continued to the present day.

Politicians and judges redefine marriage and pass laws to undermine it. At the same time, every husband and every wife is engaged in a daily battle with the enemy of our souls.

Marriage was intended as a refuge from the battles in the world, but often it becomes another battleground.

But praise be to God. The author of marriage can restore broken and battered marriages. It takes courage on our part and a willingness to change our own attitudes and habits. It takes prayer and listening to God as well as repentance for our own sins.

God loves marriage and He designed us to thrive in it.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for my wife and the security that comes from knowing I am loved. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Peter 1:16-21

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Scripture

Above all, you must realise that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke for God.

Observation

Peter defends his accounts of the powerful coming of Christ. He was an eye-witness to the glorious splendour that was revealed when God spoke to Jesus at the Transfiguration.

Because of this experience, Peter now has a greater confidence in the prophets for their words came not from human initiative but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Application

This verse from Peter about the prophets of Scripture is very similar to Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us about what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives.

Prophets in the Bible were anointed by the Holy Spirit in a particular way that makes all they wrote infallible.

There are many prophecies which told with great accuracy many of the details of Jesus’ coming. Often these are clothed in imagery and symbolism, but they speak accurately of Jesus coming into the world and dying to redeem all who will trust Him. They also speak of Jesus coming as a great king to rule over the entire earth.

The Old Testament prophets are not like many contemporary prophets who may make errors in their attempts to encourage and exhort. We must use spiritual discernment in receiving these prophecies. But with the Scriptural prophets we can have confidence that they speak truth.

The prophets genuinely spoke for God because they were moved by the Holy Spirit. This can be true of each of us, if we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, let my heart be filled with you, so that, like the prophets of old, I can speak for you. Amen.

Reflection on Psalm 2

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Scripture

The kings of the earth prepare for battle

the leaders plot together against the Lord and his anointed one

“Let us break their chains,” they cry,

“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

Many leaders- governmental, educational, in the media- are angry with God. They don’t just want to ignore Him; they want to destroy Him and His followers.

This is increasingly true in the West as much as in countries traditionally opposed to christian beliefs.

We can see this exemplified in two high profile sporting heroes over the last twelve months.

Rugby player Israel Folau was sacked for posting a reference to a Bible verse saying adulterers, thieves and homosexuals among others, were going to hell unless they repent.

Tennis great Margaret Court has been vilified for her view that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The woman who has achieved more tennis victories than any other in history was given a very grudging recognition by Tennis Australia

We know that there are many people who resist the “chains” that the Lord puts on people, as they perceive it. They are angry at a God they don’t believe in, and oppose the values of a book they have never read.

God’s response to such people is that He firstly laughs at them, and then He rebukes them. As if we could resist the Almighty God who created who created everything by a word.

As christians we are called to love those who oppose us, to not respond to evil with more evil. This can be hard at times, but it is the most effective way of silencing those who oppose God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to pray for those who oppose you today. Open their eyes and their hearts so they can see you as you really are. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

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Scripture

You are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are still controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

Observation

Paul says that when he was with the people in Corinth, he could not talk to them as to spiritual people. They were too worldly.

The church was divided into factions- one group following Paul, another Apollos. This, he says, is worldliness, sinfulness. The heroes they are following are just doing the work the Lord gave to them to do. It is God’s work. One may plant a seed, and another water it, but it is God who makes the plant grow.

Application

The sin of denominationalism was present in the early church.

Wherever people gather, there is a tendency to group into cliques of similar interest. The problem arises when we allow these smaller groups to become our focus.

These people who claimed to follow Apollos or Paul were not claiming to follow Jesus. They had truly lost the plot.

Today many people take pride in the label at the door of their church building. “I am Anglican”, “I am Catholic” and so on.

If the denominational affiliation of our congregation is our focus, then we are not looking to Jesus. We will never go beyond the most basic of teaching because we are not open to the spiritual things.

Churches, pastors, leaders, and in fact every member of a church, must always remember that while denominations are a convenient tag, Jesus must always come first.

To build up “my” church at the expense of Christ is idolatry. The Church belongs to Jesus, and He will build it in His way.

I am thankful for the variety of flavours of church (worship styles, governance etc) in my town. I am thankful for the other pastors who have gifts and callings that I don’t have. I rejoice when they are blessed, and I feel their hurt when they are set back.

There is only one church. We follow Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your church. May I always be faithful to Christ, seeking unity in the faith. Amen.

Reflection on Deuteronomy 30:15-20

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Scripture

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Observation

Moses addresses the people of Israel and offers them a choice between life and death, prosperity and disaster, blessings and curses.

If they love the Lord and worship Him alone, obeying His commandments, then they will live and multiply.

But if they refuse to listen, and instead worship and serve other gods then they will certainly be destroyed. They will not live a long, good life in the land.

Application

God gives us all the choice between blessings and curses, life and death, heaven and hell.

This is not complicated, although we do try to make it so. It is a choice- do I worship God alone and live for Him alone? Or will I serve some other god, or even myself?

The choice is obvious where false gods and idols permeate the streets, such as in India where shrines to the local idols are on nearly every corner. The presence of false gods there makes the choice so easy.

In the West, the false gods take more subtle forms such as money, pride, security and so on. Some of these seduce us with the notions of worldly wisdom. It is wise to save for a “rainy day” but when our peace comes from knowing we have money in the bank, then we are not trusting the Lord any more.

We must make a daily decision to serve the Lord in all we do, to worship Him only.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my life’s direction is in your hands. Please hep me to trust you, to serve and worship you alone. Let my heart never be turned away to other gods. Amen,

Reflection on John 21:15-25

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Scripture

Jesus did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Observation

After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Exasperated by the third time, Peter says, “Lord you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus commissions Peter to feed Jesus’ sheep. He goes on to say that when Peter was young he could go wherever he wanted, but when he is old he will be led by other people to places he doesn’t want to go.

John concludes the gospel by assuring us that because he testifies to these events we can know they are accurate.

Application

Jesus did so many things that the world could not contain all the books that might be written about Him.

What John is saying here is that the glory of the Lord Jesus is far greater than what can be recorded in words.

John’s gospel starts by telling us about the Word who was with God from the beginning and who is God. The gospel ends by telling us that the whole world is not big enough to contain all the words that might describe the Word.

Jesus is glorious, even more glorious than the stories told about Him. But we can only experience that glory through a personal encounter with Him.

John’s gospel points to the glorious one, hoping that we will take the step of faith to reach out and touch Him and invite Him into our hearts.

Scripture is not holy because it was written by holy people. It is holy because it draws us close to the holy one, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I see you are the glorious Word, the holy Son of God. Open my eyes so that I can see you as you really are. Amen.