January 8-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 2:1-8, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, your people were obedient to your command to stay in Jerusalem and stick together until Your promised gift was revealed. When we’re obedient to Your word, we get to experience all of Your beauty and power. Your glory was revealed through wind, fire, and supernatural language empowerment. It would be a day your disciples would never forget. It would leave them forever changed. This is what the transforming power of the Holy Spirit looks like. It accomplishes only what You can do. The apostles miraculously spoke to the great crowd from many nations in their own languages. The people were in awe. How was it possible? But this is who You are! A Savior for the world. A Savior for each and every person. A Savior who cares enough to speak to us so we understand. Praise be to Your Name. Amen.”
January 9-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:1, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Observe what it is saying.
The term “Pentecost” means “fiftieth” and referred to the number of days after the Passover when the Jews celebrated the annual harvest festival known as the Feast of Weeks. This was the second of three festivals that all Jewish males were required to attend in Jerusalem. It occurred in early summer after the end of the grain harvest. This was a joyous occasion when they expressed thanks to God for His provision throughout the year. Later Jewish tradition associated this festival with the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. So, this was an opportune time for the Spirit to come since such a large crowd was already assembled in Jerusalem. I love the imagery that all the apostles and early followers were together in one place. It reveals their obedience to the Lord’s instructions and their unity as a body of believers. They were waiting in faith and hope in what the Lord would do next.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
Waiting isn’t idle time if we’re trusting and obeying the Lord.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Lord Jesus, give me such faith to wait in hope for the fulfillment of Your promises. Amen.”
January 10-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:2-3, Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Observe what it is saying.
In Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, the life-giving breath of God came as a wind and made the bodies live again. This prophecy was linked to the new covenant promise of the indwelling Spirit. Alluding to Ezekiel’s vision, Jesus himself described the coming Holy Spirit as a wind. During the period of the Exodus, when the Lord revealed himself to Moses, it was in a burning bush. After the Exodus, the Lord “descended on Mt. Sinai in fire” and gave the law to Moses. Luke points out that the coming of the Spirit was like these two natural phenomena. Tornadic wind is the bringing of new life, and tongues of fire bring supernatural empowering.
Relate it to your life.
God’s gift is for each of us to inhabit the new life and empowering presence of the Spirit.
Do something.
“Holy breath of heaven, revive us and send Your fire to equip us for Your great calling. Amen.”
January 11-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:4, All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Observe what it is saying.
No one who was in the room was left out. All who obeyed Jesus’ instruction to wait in Jerusalem for the coming gift experienced this awe-inspiring event. They were flooded with the Spirit of God who descended powerfully and took over their mouths. They spoke in other languages. It was as though a language app had been downloaded into their brains. Without a class, they were fluent in the language they were given. This is the supernatural power of God. As we will see, this wasn’t done for show but for the greater purposes of Christ’s kingdom would be accomplished.
Relate it to your life.
The presence and power of the Spirit within me accomplishes heaven’s purposes on earth.
Do something.
“Jesus, fill me full of You so I can accomplish Your will on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.”
January 12-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:5-6, Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Observe what it is saying.
Since Pentecost was one of the three major Jewish festivals, it provided for a large international crowd to be present. God’s planning and timing are perfect. We often think we know when and how God should act, but from His heavenly perspective, He sees and knows all things by which to make perfect decisions. The commotion from the Holy Spirit’s powerful descent caused the visitors to come running and wondering what was going on. What was even more surprising was that they heard their own languages being spoken. Something fabulous was being revealed.
Relate it to your life.
Because God knows what He is doing, I can trust Him.
Do something.
“Jesus, You have a perfect plan and timing so I choose to trust You at all times. Amen.”
January 13-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:7-8, Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
Observe what it is saying.
When the international visitors to Jerusalem heard these uneducated Galileans speaking their languages, they were overwhelmed with amazement. They could not make sense of this strange phenomena. This was a supernatural event that had no earthly explanation. God was reversing the curse of the tower of Babel when people were divided by language and geography. Now, the scattered worldwide worshipers were being reunited by the Spirit’s empowering the apostles to speak directly to them to draw them into the kingdom of God. Through this event God revealed His love for each nation and person around the globe. All were invited to be included in the kingdom of God fulfilled in Jesus’ work through the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
God has spoken directly to me that He wants me in His glorious kingdom.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I choose to receive Your invitation and accept the gift of the kingdom. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 2:1-8, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, your people were obedient to your command to stay in Jerusalem and stick together until Your promised gift was revealed. When we’re obedient to Your word, we get to experience all of Your beauty and power. Your glory was revealed through wind, fire, and supernatural language empowerment. It would be a day your disciples would never forget. It would leave them forever changed. This is what the transforming power of the Holy Spirit looks like. It accomplishes only what You can do. The apostles miraculously spoke to the great crowd from many nations in their own languages. The people were in awe. How was it possible? But this is who You are! A Savior for the world. A Savior for each and every person. A Savior who cares enough to speak to us so we understand. Praise be to Your Name. Amen.”
January 9-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:1, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Observe what it is saying.
The term “Pentecost” means “fiftieth” and referred to the number of days after the Passover when the Jews celebrated the annual harvest festival known as the Feast of Weeks. This was the second of three festivals that all Jewish males were required to attend in Jerusalem. It occurred in early summer after the end of the grain harvest. This was a joyous occasion when they expressed thanks to God for His provision throughout the year. Later Jewish tradition associated this festival with the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. So, this was an opportune time for the Spirit to come since such a large crowd was already assembled in Jerusalem. I love the imagery that all the apostles and early followers were together in one place. It reveals their obedience to the Lord’s instructions and their unity as a body of believers. They were waiting in faith and hope in what the Lord would do next.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
Waiting isn’t idle time if we’re trusting and obeying the Lord.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Lord Jesus, give me such faith to wait in hope for the fulfillment of Your promises. Amen.”
January 10-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:2-3, Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Observe what it is saying.
In Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, the life-giving breath of God came as a wind and made the bodies live again. This prophecy was linked to the new covenant promise of the indwelling Spirit. Alluding to Ezekiel’s vision, Jesus himself described the coming Holy Spirit as a wind. During the period of the Exodus, when the Lord revealed himself to Moses, it was in a burning bush. After the Exodus, the Lord “descended on Mt. Sinai in fire” and gave the law to Moses. Luke points out that the coming of the Spirit was like these two natural phenomena. Tornadic wind is the bringing of new life, and tongues of fire bring supernatural empowering.
Relate it to your life.
God’s gift is for each of us to inhabit the new life and empowering presence of the Spirit.
Do something.
“Holy breath of heaven, revive us and send Your fire to equip us for Your great calling. Amen.”
January 11-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:4, All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Observe what it is saying.
No one who was in the room was left out. All who obeyed Jesus’ instruction to wait in Jerusalem for the coming gift experienced this awe-inspiring event. They were flooded with the Spirit of God who descended powerfully and took over their mouths. They spoke in other languages. It was as though a language app had been downloaded into their brains. Without a class, they were fluent in the language they were given. This is the supernatural power of God. As we will see, this wasn’t done for show but for the greater purposes of Christ’s kingdom would be accomplished.
Relate it to your life.
The presence and power of the Spirit within me accomplishes heaven’s purposes on earth.
Do something.
“Jesus, fill me full of You so I can accomplish Your will on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.”
January 12-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:5-6, Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Observe what it is saying.
Since Pentecost was one of the three major Jewish festivals, it provided for a large international crowd to be present. God’s planning and timing are perfect. We often think we know when and how God should act, but from His heavenly perspective, He sees and knows all things by which to make perfect decisions. The commotion from the Holy Spirit’s powerful descent caused the visitors to come running and wondering what was going on. What was even more surprising was that they heard their own languages being spoken. Something fabulous was being revealed.
Relate it to your life.
Because God knows what He is doing, I can trust Him.
Do something.
“Jesus, You have a perfect plan and timing so I choose to trust You at all times. Amen.”
January 13-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:7-8, Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
Observe what it is saying.
When the international visitors to Jerusalem heard these uneducated Galileans speaking their languages, they were overwhelmed with amazement. They could not make sense of this strange phenomena. This was a supernatural event that had no earthly explanation. God was reversing the curse of the tower of Babel when people were divided by language and geography. Now, the scattered worldwide worshipers were being reunited by the Spirit’s empowering the apostles to speak directly to them to draw them into the kingdom of God. Through this event God revealed His love for each nation and person around the globe. All were invited to be included in the kingdom of God fulfilled in Jesus’ work through the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
God has spoken directly to me that He wants me in His glorious kingdom.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I choose to receive Your invitation and accept the gift of the kingdom. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals