Tag: new covenant

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Pray Your Calendar

krisshetter 
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31

Today is a new day of a new week in the month where we celebrate God becoming flesh. A time of celebration of the New Covenant. An earth shifting change which would take us from continual blood sacrifice to a sacrifice made in blood once and forever more for the cleansing of our sins. As we reflect on that event more than 2,000 years ago that God humbled himself to come live among us as fully man and fully God, let’s find new ways this week to show love to our ever-faithful God and Savior. 

What does the worker gain from his struggles? I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.  I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him. Ecclesiastes  3:9-14

Take time this morning or sometime today and lay out your calendar in front of you. With each day in mind pray over the activities already scheduled. Pray to seek Him in every circumstance. Pray for strength in accomplishing physical tasks such as your workout, cleaning your home, gardening, physical labor at work, putting up Christmas lights, or even moving. Glorify Him throughout for He can be your rock.

Pray for His Words, not yours, in potentially difficult meetings or circumstances that may typically trigger negativity for you — meetings with your boss, employees or co-workers. Phone calls with challenging family members. Times of chaos in your day. Or when disciplining your children. Encountering pesky neighbors. Glorify Him in the midst of trials because He makes all things work for our good.

Pray for your mind and emotions to be turned completely over to Him when dealing with challenging issues or problem solving at work, at home or even at church. Remove “self” from your mind and think only on God’s desires for you and those you encounter. Pray for new insight and revelation. Ask for His wisdom to descend on you, pushing your fleshly desires to the wayside. Pray that even in your commute or during errands God will reveal Himself to you. Glorify Him as you see His beautiful plans unfold as you release yourself to Him.

Pray for His provisions on our life and family. Recognizing that every thing we have is because of Him. He provided the job, your family, the funds for your meals, the roof over your head, the transportation you require. At every meal, at every entry into your workspace or volunteer space, every time you open your front door, give Him the glory for your sustenance, comfort and care.

Pray for your free time that it may be used to glorify Him in new ways. Seeking peace and renewal in this gift of time. Ask for ways to use our creative minds for new hobbies or to seek new knowledge. Pray for sleep so that you may be fully prepared to be His humble servant each day. Glorify Him in the beautiful, quiet places you find Him.

Pray in thankfulness for your friends, family, co-workers, and all people you encounter that God has placed them in your life for a reason. They give you joy and love, chances to practice self-control and gentleness, and opportunities to share the love of Christ. Give God the glory to all you encounter, taking not an inch of the spotlight for yourself but shining it all back on Him!

And pray for the peace of God to descend upon you. Try a new devotional or pick up the one you’ve set aside so you can be in His Word every day. May each day you awake you ask Him to help you live a life full of the Fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Because that my friends, gives all glory, honor and power to God.

Soli Deo Gloria

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The First 3,000

krisshetter 
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:41

My husband and I are back in the process of a church search.  For some of you, your church has been your lifelong home.  For others, you know all too well the difficult path of church searching.  We spent the last seven months trying out a church and realized it just wasn’t the right fit.  Great preaching and friendly people but there were a number of pieces missing that we didn’t see being resolved any time soon.  We left on friendly terms as we began our journey to the right home.

And this search led me to think about the first church.  That fateful day of Pentecost when 3,000 souls turned their hearts and lives over to Jesus when the Holy Spirit was delivered to Earth.  There could’ve been more.  Others stood in the temple that day and heard the sound of the violent wind.  They heard the Jews from every nation speaking to each other in their native tongues.  But they hardened their hearts.

Some however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”  Acts 2:13

The 3,000, selected by God, were urged by Peter to recognize what had just occurred.  He quoted the prophet Joel in explaining how the Holy Spirit would be poured out just as it had happened.  He reminded the Jews of David’s words when he spoke of God’s promise to fill them with the joy of God’s presence.  When Peter had his brief history lesson the 3,000 asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

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.” Acts 2:38-39

He answered with the message of the Gospel.  And he went on to plead with them to abandon their corrupt generation.  Imagine.  3,000 people all at once starting on their new beginning.  It must’ve been glorious!

But their baptism wasn’t the end of their stories.  What came next was an intense learning period.  They “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship.” (v2:42).  They ate together, worshipped together, studied together, prayed without ceasing, worked together to help those in need.  And they multiplied.

You don’t get the impression from reading about the first church in Acts that a bunch of individuals were saved then when to their own homes and began an intensive self-realization study.  Or went about their work day as though nothing spectacular just happened.  No, their common goal was to spread the news of Jesus Christ dying for our sins.  Remember, they spoke in many different languages.  So, they were preparing to go back home to make even more believers.  Preparing to go do difficult work.  That first church was all about discipleship.  I wonder how many of our churches can truly say the same?  I haven’t been a member of one yet.  But it’s what I’m looking for now.

The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we must become.

Henry Martyn

The act of baptism, confessing our faith in Jesus Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit, is typically a public affair.  It’s the starting point of our new beginning.  But after that one time event we call on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit to fill us continually for one mission – to be in service to God.  Those first 3,000 believers would need the Holy Spirit to continue on their mission.  They would most likely encounter adversity, opposition, violence, and yes, success.  Beautiful success.  

We should all celebrate the day of Pentecost, which comes on the 7th Sunday or 50 days after Easter Sunday (June 5, 2022). For the Old Testament Jews, it represented the giving of the Law to Moses.  But the new covenant, for all the world to partake, saw Jesus enter our lives.  And after Jesus’ foretold crucifixion He gave us the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  On that day 1000s of years ago, yet another promise was fulfilled by God.  His Spirit came to live in all of us, permanently.  And we were commissioned into His service.

As my faith and biblical knowledge has matured, my list of “must haves” for my new church has been honed.  I want a church that is biblically strong, always pointing me to Jesus, a joy-filled body of believers, and one whose primary goal is to create well-versed and confident disciples.  I hope you will pray for us in finding such a place.  

The modern church itself needs a new beginning.  As individuals, may we be spurred to greater expectations of our Christian communities.  And may we seek out ways to draw each other together in unity as our forefathers in Christ did on that day of Pentecost.