January 15-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 2:16-21, …this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, we have been in the “last days” for several years. We are in the period of history where You promised the coming of Your Spirit to fill all believers. Young and old, male and female, even the lowest among us will be equally gifted with the presence and power of God within and upon us. There will be prophesies. There will be heavenly signs and earthly majesties. There will be many other cosmic events letting us know your return is coming soon. Thank you for making it clear that if we call on Your name in faith, trusting in You as Savior and Lord, we will be saved! Amen.”
January 16-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:16, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Observe what it is saying.
Peter was giving explanation to what happened in the pouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Some made accusations that said the apostles were drunk. However, who has ever heard of drunk people making sense, let alone speaking another language fluently? What an absurd suggestion. Many have a need to explain the miraculous away even if their idea is more absurd than the supernatural reality. Instead of such a ridiculous response, Peter said this was actually prophesied to happen by Joel the prophet. This isn’t as strange as it seems. It’s been in the books for 100’s of years. We just didn’t know when it would happen, but here it is. We’re standing in the middle of a major historical milestone that will forever be remembered and written about. Once again, the Divine has come to us and poured out power so the kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. The prayer has been prayed. The answer has begun.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
I don’t need to question that God’s word will be fulfilled in His timing.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Lord Jesus, I believe every eternal word that has been spoken will come to fruition in Your perfect timing. Amen.”
January 17-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:17-18, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Observe what it is saying.
According to Joel’s prediction, one of the key features of the Spirit’s coming is men and women prophesying. What the crowd witnessed on the day of Pentecost was one example of such a prophetic utterance being given in the languages of the international worshipers. The gift that had once largely been reserved for the patriarchs of the faith was now open to women, servants, and all ages. The coming of the age of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church would bring down barriers and open up avenues for all to participate in the glorious work of the gospel.
Relate it to your life.
I am without excuse since the barriers have fallen, and the Spirit has come.
Do something.
“Jesus, I am so grateful that I have Your loving and empowering presence within me. Amen.”
January 18-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:19, I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
Observe what it is saying.
This continued quote from the prophet Joel also predicts the occurrence of miraculous signs in space involving the sun and the moon. These astral phenomena, however, will occur later in connection with the future Day of the Lord. While the coming of the Spirit marks the beginning of the age to come and the start of the last days, the signs in heaven will point to the conclusion of the present evil age and the return of the Lord to make all things right, good, and beautiful once again.
Relate it to your life.
There is a better day coming on which I must keep my focus.
Do something.
“Jesus, don’t let me live for the temporary, but in all things, keep my mind on the eternal. Amen.”
January 19-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:20, The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Observe what it is saying.
The prophet’s quote continues to reveal the astral phenomena that will occur later in connection with the future Day of the Lord. The great and glorious day of the Lord is a day of judgment. However, for the true believer this is not a fearful thing but a positive hope-filled day. It’s a day where justice will be perfectly served and grace will win the day for all who follow Jesus. This is the day we must keep as our focus. This is the day that motivates our daily actions. This is the day that compels us to be faithful witnesses so others might hear, see, and believe.
Relate it to your life.
My life today has everything to do with the Day that is coming.
Do something.
“Jesus, keep me focused on the great and glorious day of what’s to come as I go about all my activity and conversations today. Amen.”
January 20-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:21, And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Observe what it is saying.
“The Lord” in Joel 2:32 is Yahweh, and in Peter’s sermon he connects “the Lord” with Jesus, which clearly shows the deity of Jesus. What has always been true with the Father is true with Jesus. The Lord rescues those who call on Him. The good news for all ages is that salvation is offered to all people on the principle of faith in the Lord. The name of the LORD is an expression that includes all the Lord is. So, to call on His name is to call on Himself as the true object of faith and as the only way of salvation. It is choosing to turn from trusting ourselves to trusting totally in Christ for the eternal help we need.
Relate it to your life.
Since the way of salvation has clearly been made known, I must decide what to do with it.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I choose to call on Your name for my salvation! Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 2:16-21, …this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, we have been in the “last days” for several years. We are in the period of history where You promised the coming of Your Spirit to fill all believers. Young and old, male and female, even the lowest among us will be equally gifted with the presence and power of God within and upon us. There will be prophesies. There will be heavenly signs and earthly majesties. There will be many other cosmic events letting us know your return is coming soon. Thank you for making it clear that if we call on Your name in faith, trusting in You as Savior and Lord, we will be saved! Amen.”
January 16-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:16, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Observe what it is saying.
Peter was giving explanation to what happened in the pouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Some made accusations that said the apostles were drunk. However, who has ever heard of drunk people making sense, let alone speaking another language fluently? What an absurd suggestion. Many have a need to explain the miraculous away even if their idea is more absurd than the supernatural reality. Instead of such a ridiculous response, Peter said this was actually prophesied to happen by Joel the prophet. This isn’t as strange as it seems. It’s been in the books for 100’s of years. We just didn’t know when it would happen, but here it is. We’re standing in the middle of a major historical milestone that will forever be remembered and written about. Once again, the Divine has come to us and poured out power so the kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. The prayer has been prayed. The answer has begun.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
I don’t need to question that God’s word will be fulfilled in His timing.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Lord Jesus, I believe every eternal word that has been spoken will come to fruition in Your perfect timing. Amen.”
January 17-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:17-18, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Observe what it is saying.
According to Joel’s prediction, one of the key features of the Spirit’s coming is men and women prophesying. What the crowd witnessed on the day of Pentecost was one example of such a prophetic utterance being given in the languages of the international worshipers. The gift that had once largely been reserved for the patriarchs of the faith was now open to women, servants, and all ages. The coming of the age of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church would bring down barriers and open up avenues for all to participate in the glorious work of the gospel.
Relate it to your life.
I am without excuse since the barriers have fallen, and the Spirit has come.
Do something.
“Jesus, I am so grateful that I have Your loving and empowering presence within me. Amen.”
January 18-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:19, I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
Observe what it is saying.
This continued quote from the prophet Joel also predicts the occurrence of miraculous signs in space involving the sun and the moon. These astral phenomena, however, will occur later in connection with the future Day of the Lord. While the coming of the Spirit marks the beginning of the age to come and the start of the last days, the signs in heaven will point to the conclusion of the present evil age and the return of the Lord to make all things right, good, and beautiful once again.
Relate it to your life.
There is a better day coming on which I must keep my focus.
Do something.
“Jesus, don’t let me live for the temporary, but in all things, keep my mind on the eternal. Amen.”
January 19-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:20, The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Observe what it is saying.
The prophet’s quote continues to reveal the astral phenomena that will occur later in connection with the future Day of the Lord. The great and glorious day of the Lord is a day of judgment. However, for the true believer this is not a fearful thing but a positive hope-filled day. It’s a day where justice will be perfectly served and grace will win the day for all who follow Jesus. This is the day we must keep as our focus. This is the day that motivates our daily actions. This is the day that compels us to be faithful witnesses so others might hear, see, and believe.
Relate it to your life.
My life today has everything to do with the Day that is coming.
Do something.
“Jesus, keep me focused on the great and glorious day of what’s to come as I go about all my activity and conversations today. Amen.”
January 20-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:21, And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Observe what it is saying.
“The Lord” in Joel 2:32 is Yahweh, and in Peter’s sermon he connects “the Lord” with Jesus, which clearly shows the deity of Jesus. What has always been true with the Father is true with Jesus. The Lord rescues those who call on Him. The good news for all ages is that salvation is offered to all people on the principle of faith in the Lord. The name of the LORD is an expression that includes all the Lord is. So, to call on His name is to call on Himself as the true object of faith and as the only way of salvation. It is choosing to turn from trusting ourselves to trusting totally in Christ for the eternal help we need.
Relate it to your life.
Since the way of salvation has clearly been made known, I must decide what to do with it.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, I choose to call on Your name for my salvation! Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals