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“So shall My word be which goes
forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing
what I desire, And without succeeding in
the matter for which I send it.” Isaiah 55:11 NAS
My plans post Thanksgiving weekend, after special time with family and worship community, were as usual for this time of year: to prepare for Christmas and once again try to find time to let the meaning of the season be an anchor in the usual busyness.
My plans changed that Friday with a trip to the emergency room followed by admittance to the hospital.
My plans for this holiday season have been completely upended by the unexpected.
And yet as I've begun to adjust to this year's reality I find myself once again seeing and hearing Christ's gift once again as brand new, with the fresh life giving joy of a new born babe.
His entrance into our darkness in whatever form that might look like.
His SO unexpected grace that defies our sinful, selfish hearts.
His promises that are eternal, merciful, life giving, and fulfilled by His birth, death, and resurrection.
His Presence and hope upending our fears.
His surrounding protection of prayer and support of family and friends and total strangers that breathe mercy and care and time and understanding.
His understanding of how much we are broken. Of His poured out life for us.
Gift beyond measure. Grace beyond comprehension. Christ our Saviour is born.
Advent invites us to recognize the
shadows and barriers we have set around God’s promises and reopen His call to
pursue life under His influence. And watch our hope soar into new territory as we
see His glorious ‘impossibles’ unfold.
“The
people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”
“For a child will be born to us, a son will
be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name
will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of
Peace."
Blessing on this Advent. Blessings on your new beginnings ahead.
Call
We
are quick to call out
complaint—condemnation
put
each other into boxes
good—bad,
in crowd—out.
Grace
declares
everyone
who calls
on
His name alone
shall
be saved—
no
other measure.
Love
searches darkness
waiting
to embrace
accepts
all voices
that
respond with hope.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Do you believe that everyone who calls on His
name will be saved? Why or why not?
2.
In what ways does that make you uncomfortable?
3.
How can our actions and speech influence other
people’s perception of God and Jesus?
Share: What is
the most meaningful name of God to you?
Reading: Acts 2:21
“Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Everyone.
We are so busy categorizing each other. Putting each other in boxes,
including ourselves that we daily reject—sin—against the Lord’s absolute,
eternal, invitation. And sometimes we know that we do.
Who calls.
A choice. His gift of free will is not overridden. He calls everyone.
Not everyone responds. He alone knows whether each heart has fully answered or
is still struggling with whose name to follow. As Creator He alone knows
everyone most personally from the inside out.
On the name of the Lord.
How do we speak His name with or without words? Do others see His
truth, invitation, mercy, and desire to call on His name? Or do they see us
giving lip service while we hold tight to our personal likes and dislikes, our
self management of our own lives?
“Do you not
know? Have you not heard?
The
Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not
become weary or tired.
His understanding
is inscrutable.”
Isaiah 40:28 NAS
Lord, please build Your house into each of us, and build us into Your
house, that our diversity and uniqueness honor Your gift of life and Your grace
that alone saves.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:21
“So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that
moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of
every kind. And God saw that it was good.”
Glorious
Sun and moon created for light
brought into creation on fourth
day
brought herald new of Messiah’s
birth.
Show obedience only to God,
once again will announce events
of eternal significance.
Grasp darkness
begin battle
bring judgment and redemption.
Glorious day of Presence.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Do you think our world today, our personal
culture, and our houses of worship are in more danger of false ‘gods’ than
previous believers? Why or why not?
2.
Why does a façade need wisdom and honest clarity
to expose?
3.
Are there seasons or situations in our lives
when we are most vulnerable?
4.
How can we help to sustain an obedient,
believing faith for ourselves and for each other?
Share: What is one way you screen authentic
from false worship?
Reading: Acts 2:20
“The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the
coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.”
Signs that the Lord alone can bring about.
Regardless of our advanced sciences or technology. Far beyond the
capacity of special effects. Impossible for our most ingenious imaginations to
conceive.
Impossible to be manufactured by man or imposters. His display alone.
His power.
Centuries earlier God unveiled the weakness of the Egyptian gods
revered and feared by multiple cultures of that era. “One by one, the
Lord turned their idols of worship into symbols of disease, destruction and
loathing. Plague by plague He challenged each Egyptian god. He stretched forth
His hand and proved their gods false and powerless before Him, the Creator, the
true source of life-giving waters.”
Scripture reminds us that our world will again be called to
choose, “For a time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they
will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.”
2 Tim 4:3
Keep us, O Lord, from the allure and intimidation of false power. Open
our eyes to see Your wonders every day and trust only in You.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:20
“And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures,
and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’”
Portents
Portents in
the heavens
speak His
words
earth’s
ground
nature
rises in obedience
watch,
listen, discern,
time
does not arrive
un-announced.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Think of a personal situation that caught you
completely off guard but when you began to process you began to see a pattern.
What would have helped you to prepare ahead of time had you the ability to
perceive or receive warnings.
2.
Even in situations when a warning could not have
been given ahead, how did the Lord’s words carry you through because of
previous challenges you had faced with Him?
Share: What word
of hope would you give to someone who has been given a difficult “sign”?
Reading: Acts 2:19
“And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.”
How often do we look up: literally and figuratively?
How often do we pause to recalibrate with family, friends, work, God?
How often do we ask the Spirit to search out our heart motives and
winnow out any false attitudes or goals that have crept in?
How often are we caught by surprise when caught in a personal
upheaval?
Scientists have learned to track hurricanes, measure earthquakes,
monitor volcanoes. They give as much warning as humanly possible when danger
lurks, and yet, still, too often we ignore warnings. We become so confident
over the storms that fizzle out that we stop watching and listening.
The Lord does not come unannounced.
We may be too absorbed to look and listen and watch and pray; but His
signs for change will be spoken, whether words of warning or words of
preparation. He will speak into our lives through our bodies, our souls, and
our minds.
In nature His creation speaks. We watch sunrises and sunsets, cloud
formations, wind and rain, to gauge our external environment and sometimes we
listen. Sometimes His word is a quiet personal one to one message, as when He
sent Ananias to heal Saul’s vision. Sometimes His word is worldwide as in the
flood.
The Lord does not come unannounced.
Lord, please give us eyes to see, words to share, and hearts to trust
and obey.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:19
“And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day.”
Worthy
We measure by
age, influence,
status, riches, as to
whom we consider
approved to deserve
supplications.
Worthy measured by
awe, heart humility
Spirit’s breathe
working through
all servants
slaves and free.
Words poured out in abundance.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Do you tend to listen to Scripture advice by
some trusted friends but not by others? What marks the difference?
2.
Have you had the opportunity to share truth
unexpectedly? Has it helped you to recognize Spirit nudges on other occasions?
3.
Oswald Chambers says, “You may be a mouthpiece for God’s truth; but you cannot nourish the
sheep of God unless you are willing to let God use you as broken bread and
poured out wine to feed His sheep.”
How does
this thought connect with this week’s verse?
Share: Do you feel qualified or not to share
God’s word? Why?
Reading: Acts 2:18
“Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour
out my spirit; and they shall prophesy.”
Even upon My
bondslaves…, says the NAS translation. The prophecy repeated the message with a
difference, now cutting through presumed hierarchies and gender and wealth. How
astonishing the words must have been originally and here again repeated by
Peter, a lowly fisherman, and again today in our era where we add the
popularity of “who’s who” in our public consideration of others.
Bondslaves then bound by human ownership. Bondslaves now bound by
Grace—sacrificial love—redemption—Jesus.
When God’s Spirit is poured out the people will prophesy—will speak
His words into situations, into lives, into hope. Perhaps even without their knowledge or understanding.
“For as the rain and the now come down
from heaven,
And do not return there without watering
the earth,
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread
to the eater;
So shall My word be which goes forth
from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding, in the matter for which I sent it.
NAS
Isaiah 55:10-11
When the Spirit is present no one is exempt from receiving truth. When
our hearts are faithful and ready we are not exempt from being messengers of
His words.
Lord, please cleanse all our speech daily, by Your Spirit’s winnowing,
so that with or without our knowing we will speak Your truth regardless of seen
or unseen results.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:18
“To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light
from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
Visions
Holy
Spirit poured out
flowing
like water
over
everyone, just as
Joel
prophesied
new
visions—new dreams
fresh
from God’s heart
as
a returning sunrise
brings
dawn into day
so
arrives this beginning.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Why do we need to Biblically confirm dreams and
visions when they come into our lives?
2.
Do you think that sometimes we become so
committed to verification that we ruin or manipulate God’s words? How?
3.
How does Paul’s example free us to recognize
checks and balances without giving up?
Share: How have you
received a confirmation in the past from the Holy Spirit?
Reading: Acts 2:17
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my
Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
Just like the Israelites we
believe in God’s prophecies and we
know there are concrete stories of His revealed plans in visions and
dreams. And yet often we hesitate to expect them into our everyday plans or
even in quiet retreats for ourselves.
Or we do accept the dreams and visions and then promptly begin to
second-guess our interpretation. The path to the vision is not the way we have
chosen; it doesn’t seem to be well planned. It really doesn’t make practical
sense. We are too young or too old. The cost might be too high.
We have an abundance of worrying barriers that we set up as our litmus
test which too often wears us into such weariness that we give up before we
even let the match light the fire. We forget that God will break through our
ignorance and our misunderstandings.
At the end of his second missionary journey, after a sharp
disagreement that separated Paul and Barnabus, Paul, along with Timothy, began
a return trip through the towns and cities that had growing churches. However
they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia and were not
permitted to go to Bithynia. Can’t help but wonder if Paul questioned this
sweep of barricades.
And then Paul received a vision of a man in Macedonia appealing for
help. “..immediately we sought to
go…concluding that God had caused us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts
16:10 NAS
Paul didn’t worry over the closed and opened doors. He just kept
moving. His heart was set solidly on going wherever God led him regardless of
practicality, presumed common sense, or cost. He had learned to live actively
into God’s words—His flow in His time—His vision.
Lord, help us all to see the dreams You inspire, and then, seek Your
Spirit to guide us moment by moment.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:17
“God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth,”
Spoken
Spoken words of prophecy
so
long ago proclaimed
now
perhaps only a dream
never
to be fulfilled
sorrow
edged thought
stale
bread today.
No,
Peter shouts. Words
never
lost or forgotten
see,
listen, understand,
Spirit
has come as promised.
Reflection
Questions
1.
Why do you think it is difficult for us to
accept God’s promises as including us in the here and now?
2.
How does that sense of forgotten tempt us to
wander away from God’s plans?
3.
Or encouraged a sense of coldness in our hearts?
4.
What word from the Lord do you need for a fresh
vision now?
Share: What
helps you to ask in hope and anticipation?
Reading: Acts 2:16
“No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:”
‘Do you remember when…’ are often words leading into stories around
campfires and holidays when friends and family gather. And some reply to the
proclamations as ‘that didn’t happen’, or ‘you’re imagining it.’ Or perhaps, a
special circumstance is brought back from memories with a deep sigh and results
in joy. Or a bit of sorrow that a dream didn’t get fulfilled.
And often we still take that same attitude into our present lives.
It’s too late. That is meant for someone else—not me. I no longer care. I’ve
had too many disappointments to try again. It’s just another false promise.
Not only are we ourselves in the hand of the Lord, but all that
surrounds us. Our times make up a kind of atmosphere of existence; and all this
is under diving arrangement. We dwell within the palm of God's hand. C.H.
Spurgeon made this comment based on Psalm 31:15, “My times are in Thy hand”,
noting that we are never apart from God and, “Storms and calms vary the
seasons at the divine appointment.”
Peter reminded his audience that
the words of the prophet Joel were meant for now. In their own time they were
the recipients of the almost forgotten prophecies. Hear the words again he
said; listen to the promise.
When John the Baptist began his ministry he reminded his
listeners of Isaiah’s words, “Make ready
the way of the Lord.” Jesus
began His first sermon with Isaiah’s words of prophecy, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me..”.
The promises were spoken in the past, but the time is now.
Lord, please keep us from wandering away from Your plans and visions
You once ignited in our hearts and dreams. Give us clarity to recognize the
ones we do need to let go of if Your Spirit says no, but also give us courage to grasp those still
ahead, and especially those we need to remember right now regardless of the
atmosphere surrounding us.
Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:16
“God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and
the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.”
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