acting as this community

Recap: The Holy Spirit is incredible.  The Christ Followers in the Community wanted this dangerous power… they wanted to be infused with this.   I love this following verse.

John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luke 3:16

Another reference to fire.  Before it was to make our tongues on fire for you… that’s a direct relation to what Jesus told the crowd in Luke.  Baptism from God isn’t just water… but it’s also fire from the Holy Spirit. May the baptism set your tongue on fire.

Okay back to Acts 2 now…

The entire second chapter is just phenomenal.  The community was given an ability to speak the Word of God.  Many think Acts 2:3-4 refers to the community speaking in tongues, but it’s not.  They’re speaking in known languages. Listen to the following verse.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
Acts 2:5-6

Amazing. They were shocked to hear the message for the first time. I pray that our community has the desire the community of Acts had to just be able to speak to any type of non-believer so that they can hear. and understand God’s Word.

They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
Acts 2:12

I think that this should be a part of a church’s mission.. and a part of each person’s mission.  Shouldn’t it be our goal to see people just stop in amazement and want to know more… What does this mean?  Tell me More! (Ah, God is soooo good and speaks to me with the most perfect verses.)

The best part of Acts 2 is that it shows that God is not just out there anymore… God is here. God is now.  The Living God is now living in us.  This story demonstrates what Jesus Christ can do IN me, not just WITH me.

It’s amazing what can happen in your life when you realize the difference between IN and WITH.

God, I pray that our community finds your Power IN them and I pray that this power you’ve instilled in us is used for your glory. Amen.

Filed under: daily blogging, acts, fire, verses

a week in vegas isn’t for the healthy, but its the acts in vegas that matter.

confession time. eight days in vegas can do two things to you spiritually – it can severely hurt you or light you on fire.  i think i was lit up as well as blown out. there are so many things that the city of sin needs… God is one of them.  It was neat however to see the missionaries there and the work they’re doing.  key word – the work. what would people say about the work you’re doing?

there is no better way to measure the work than to look at the church of Acts.  I’ve been studying the early church of Acts recently.

In Acts 2, the power of this work is talked about.  God’s work is powerful.  What I like about it – is that right before this talks about this community of Christ Followers just waiting for something powerful to happen… and God keeps telling them, don’t worry– just wait… I will give you something powerful.. you will have a dangerous power of my Word.

“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.”
Acts 1:8

So during the Pentacost… the promised one shows up… and delivers a power.

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
Acts 2:1-4

God deliver a power among the people now.  Make our tongues on fire for you.  Fill our spirit with yours!

(I’ll continue my Acts 2 journey with you in the next few days).

Filed under: daily blogging, acts, fire, verses, work

set the world on fire

Oh Lord, thank you for tonight. What a blessing it is when two or more gather in the presence of the Lord.

Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.
Matthew 18:18-20

Show us your love oh Lord. Bring your fire on us. Bring your presence on us. We’re ready. Our hearts are bursting with joy.

The wilderness has been set on fire… it’s crazy. Ages 15 to 26 were there tonight and in just 10 people, God’s work is being done.

Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
Hebrews 12:28-29

Thank you God for tonight and I pray for tomorrow night for your will to be done!

Filed under: daily blogging, fire, presence, verses