Bondslaves: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

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.”

Dreams: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

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: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            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.

Persecution: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:37, “…persecuted, tormented—”.

When asked to bring forth a prophet to confirm the word of the Lord, King Ahab of Israel reluctantly acknowledged Micaiah. Then added, “but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.”2 Chronicles 18:26

The prophet once again spoke the words the Lord gave and Ahab angrily ordered Micaiah to prison, to be fed sparingly until his safe return. To which the prophet added, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” I can’t help but consider the prophet’s answer had a touch of dry irony to it, yet regardless of tone he continued to speak the truth, no matter the consequences. He fully acknowledged his own capacity for error while affirming the undeniable truth of God’s words. And he stood firm on God’s words—willing to accept dire outrage.

What a contrast to the king who kept insisting Micaiah change his words to please him and refusing to listen to truth. So set on his own desires that he willfully chose to react with persecution over honest petition for direction.

Persecution seems a little beyond our own reactions to negative feedback, but is it? How often do we accuse others of malice or envy or misunderstanding or self-serving intent when we receive negative replies? Especially when we have sought out counsel. We may not actually say the words out loud; yet internally argue to mask our refusal to accept truth.

Lord, please give us integrity of heart to choose to listen and speak Your words, instead of refusing them for self-interest.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;

His praise endures forever.”