WATCHWORD:
3 During the forty days after his crucifixion he appeared to the apostles from time to time, actually alive, and proved to them in many ways that it was really he himself they were seeing. And on these occasions, he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 In one of these meetings he told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them in fulfillment of the Father’s promise, a matter he had previously discussed with them.
5 “John baptized you with water,” he reminded them, “but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit* in just a few days.” Acts 1:3-5
Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the believers met together that day, 2 suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:1-4
Meditation:
Spiritual insight through the minds and the pens of Oswald Chambers and Dietrich Bonhoeffer —
From Oswald Chambers: “When Paul received his sight, he received spiritually an insight into the Person of Jesus Christ, and the whole of his subsequent life in preaching was nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul, save the face of Jesus Christ.
We have to learn to maintain an unimpaired state of character up to the last notch revealed in the vision of Jesus Christ. The abiding characteristic of a spiritual person is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ within himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. This is the one concentrated passion of the life in Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this characteristic in a person, you feel he/she is a person after God’s own heart.
Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ. It is the test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you. When we discern that people are not going on spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our way to God. God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
From Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Spirit is the pledge of His abiding presence of Jesus, and of our fellowship with Him. He imparts true knowledge of His being and of His will. He teaches us and reminds us of all that Christ said on earth. He guides us into all truth so that we are not without knowledge of Christ and the gifts which God has given us in Him. The gift which the Holy Spirit creates in us is not uncertainty, but assurance and discernment. Thus, we are enabled to walk in the Spirit and to walk in assurance.
Spiritual persons, defined:
Christian meaning – Spiritual or Spirit-filled means the Holy Spirit of God is living within us and we are becoming more and more like Jesus every day, following the leading of the Spirit.
Secular meaning — Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. A spiritual person knows that we are all One, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness. A spiritual person is a kind person.
Bulletin Board:
From Maury Musselman: “God turned His back on His Son so that He would never have to turn His back on you.” — David Jeremiah
If anyone needs an ark, I happen to Noah guy.
Closing Prayer:
Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God, grant us in our misery [the grace] to do for You alone what we know You want us to do, and always to desire what pleases You. Thus, inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footprints of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And, by Your grace alone, may we make our way to You, Most High, who lives and rules in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified, God all-powerful, forever and ever. Amen.
