Devotions

For years builders and governments have been trying to build the ideal community. They always start with the housing and amenities and then add the attractive shopping destinations, all with the hopes of achieving a safe environment for families to raise their children. As lovely as these can get, they always fail because they can’t address the issue that tears cities down, and that is sin. In Act 2, we see a model community based on the work of the Holy Spirit.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Luke identifies the four main characteristics that made the early church a model community. They were devoted to the teaching of God’s Word, true fellowship, communion, and prayer. This didn’t happen in a large facility but from house to house as the church grew. The people came from all walks of life and from all over the Roman empire. They weren’t focused on themselves or their needs but on being apart of something bigger than themselves. This group turned the known world upside down, and millions of lives were changed.

There are few things more miserable than being cold and wet. Being out in the elements with no shelter can leave you frustrated. Once you get inside and

You don’t need a scientific survey to tell you that people are getting more impatient these days. All you have to do is pull out onto a public road and interact with other drivers. You can also sense it in the church. People expect a quick fix to their problems, and waiting on the Spirit to do a work in their heart and church is unthinkable. If we want to see Jesus bring revival to our land, we need to be willing to wait.

**Acts 1:8 **

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Jesus’ final words to His disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. It was ten days between the ascension and Pentecost, and the early church of about one hundred and twenty people prayed in the Upper Room. They waited and worshipped in expectation of something special. We don’t have that expectation anymore. We want it now, or we lose interest. Waiting on the Spirit to do something in church service can seem like an eternity, but good things come to those who seek in expectation

Do you ever feel like no one is listening to you? Does it seem like everyone is distracted and doing their own thing? Are you feeling alone? If

I can’t imagine the range of emotions that Peter went through from the time of his denial to this encounter with Jesus in Galilee. Always the brave and brash disciple, he was humbled by a rooster crowing and then distraught as Jesus was crucified. After thinking it was all over, his emotions shot up again at the news from Mary Magdalene that Jesus was alive only to find an empty tomb. Finally, Jesus appeared out of nowhere in the Upper Room, and at first, there was elation, but then it spiraled downward as Peter remembered how he had failed Jesus. After a morning of fishing, Jesus gently restored Peter to what he was called to be.

‭‭John‬ ‭21:16

“He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered that he did. Jesus then proceeded to tell Peter to “shepherd my sheep.” When Jesus first met Peter, he told him that he would make him a fisher of men. He wasn’t going to let him turn his back on that. Jesus wasn’t asking Peter if he loved Him to pump Himself up. He was asking to remind Peter of his love and his calling. Peter was going to be instrumental in the beginning days of the church, and Jesus needed him to be of the right mind.

The church today is lacking the power of the Holy Spirit. It is full of activity and good works, but it sees minimal life transformation. People are busy doing these works under their own power but soon fall victim to burnout. What you need is a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Let God pour out His Spirit upon you.

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:28

“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”

The second chapter of Joel is packed with spiritual goodness. First, God warns that the Day of the Lord is coming, then He tells them to rend their hearts and return to Him, now He promises that He will pour out His Spirit on all people, and people will prophesy, dream, and see visions. In this capsule, you see God’s heart for His wayward people. He sees them living far under what He intended for them.

You will hear people say, “God is love.” Usually, that means God accepts who I am and whatever I do. There are serious issues with that thinking because it overlooks your sin. Instead, we need to look at how He treats us. The prophet Joel tells us that God’s abounding love is gracious, compassionate, and slow to anger. We all need that.

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12-13

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”

Israel had strayed from the Lord, and God was calling them back through the prophet Joel. He tells them to return to Him with all their heart. This was more than a feeling. They had to do it through fasting, weeping, and mourning. This meant that it was a process they had to go through. Israel was used to pretending when it came to their repentance. They would make a public showing of tearing their garments and act sorrowful. Everyone was convinced except God. He wanted true repentance

Every once in a while, I will veer off the trail when I am riding my mountain bike. Usually, I can correct quick enough to get back on, but sometimes I crash and end up in a bush. The funny thing is that there were warnings that I didn’t heed before I crashed. Often I am going too fast or took my eyes off the path. Veering off the path for Christians can bring correction from the Lord

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:1‬

“Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near,”

Your first reading of this verse may have you thinking this is a good thing. The “Day of the Lord” sounds like it could something exciting, but it’s not. Usually, when you blow a trumpet, it announces the arrival of a king, and to a certain extent, that is true. The King of the World, Jesus, is coming, but it is to judge. The first sign we get something is wrong is when it says “sound the alarm.” An alarm means that trouble is coming, and people need to take appropriate measures. The “Day of the Lord” is a coming judgment against Israel for its past transgressions.

Are you expecting an inheritance when your parents pass away? Maybe there is a trust with your name on it? It is a good thing to set aside something to help your family after you are gone. Did you know that God is going to give His Son Jesus an inheritance? God tells Jesus in Psalm 2, “Here’s Your Inheritance.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2:8

“‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”

Psalms 2 is known as a Messianic Psalm. That means it has something in it that refers to the coming Messiah. God is telling His Son to ask for the nations because they are His inheritance. He will come one day and rule with an iron rod, something we know as the thousand-year reign. All of the nations and all of the earth will be His. He will sit on a throne in Jerusalem and rule with an Iron Scepter. The church, as His Bride, will rule with Him. Yesterday we talked about how He will be like a lamb on His eternal throne in Heaven, but here He will be the Lion of Judah.

I’ve seen a lot of tears as a pastor. It comes from all different situations. Often, there is little I can do except comfort them in their time of need. As a believer we have to accept that tears, and the plain that causes them, are a part of life. One day that will change. When Jesus returns He will lead us and God will wipe every tears away.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:17

“for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

The term “Lamb” is used to describe Jesus in several places in the Bible. Here John depicts the “Lamb upon the throne” as Jesus sitting at His rightful place, as the rightful ruler. He is depicted as a lamb because He was the perfect sacrifice, without spot of blemish, to appease God’s wrath and atone for our sin. He is also as gentle as a lamb and will act that way as He shepherds his people, guiding them to the spring of life. Who wouldn’t want to serve under a leader like that?