Week of Pentecost C - 05/23-29/2010

Week of Pentecost C

This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.

The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com (Please bookmark this link).

Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:

Daily Walk 3-Year C Weekly Lectionary

Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.


Podcast: Week of Pentecost - C

Pentecost Sunday - C
First Posted May 23, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Sunday C

Genesis 11:1-9 – The Tower of Babel;
Psalm 104:25-34 – God's Providence;
Acts 2:1-21 -- Pentecost;
John 15:26-27; 16:4-11 – The Promised Holy Spirit;

Genesis 11:1-9 Paraphrase:

After the flood, descendants of Noah had one language in common, and they spread out from the east and settled in on a plain in the land of Shinar (the Tigris-Euphrates basin). They decided to make make bricks and build, with bitumen for mortar, a city with a tower reaching into heaven. They wanted to achieve worldly success and status, so that they would not be scattered all over the earth.

The Lord God came down to see the city and tower they had built, and God said that since they were all one people with one language, this was but the first of the things humans would accomplish. From now on nothing would be impossible for them. God proposed to confuse their language, so that they could not understand one another. So God scattered them abroad over the face of the earth, halting the building of their city. Thus the place was named Babel because from there God confused (Hebrew: “Balal” meaning “to confuse”) the language of all peoples and scattered them abroad.

Psalm 104:25-34 Paraphrase:

Consider the ocean! It is vast and wide, filled with creatures great and small beyond counting! The ships of mankind are tiny in comparison to the vastness of the ocean and the great monsters it contains.

All the creatures of earth are totally dependent upon God to provide every necessity. When God provides, they gather it up. They are filled with good things as God opens his hand. When God hides his face from them they are dismayed. When he takes their breath from them they die and return to the dust from which they were created. When he sends forth his Spirit, they are created and the face of the earth is renewed.

Acts 2:1-21 Paraphrase:

On the Day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus were all together in one place (presumably the upper room where Jesus had celebrated the Last Supper). Suddenly there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind coming from heaven, and it filled the house where Jesus' followers were. Flames like fire were distributed and rested on each of them, and the Holy Spirit filled all of them and they began to speak in “tongues” (foreign languages) at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

There were Jews from every nation on earth living in Jerusalem, and at the sound (the wind and speaking), a crowd gathered, and the people were amazed to hear the disciples of Jesus speaking in the native languages of the people. The people wondered how the disciples, who they realized were Galileans, were speaking the native languages of Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Cyrene, Rome, Crete and Arabia. Each of the natives of these countries heard the disciples proclaiming the mighty works of God in their own native languages. They were amazed and puzzled, wondering about the meaning of this event. But some suggested that the disciples were drunk.

Peter, standing with the others of the original eleven disciples of Jesus, spoke up, saying that the disciples were not drunk, since it was only 9:00 a.m. Peter said that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel: That in the last days, God would pour out his Spirit upon all people. Their sons and daughters would prophecy, their young people would see visions and their old people would dream dreams. In those days the Lord would pour out his Holy Spirit upon his menservants and maidservants and they would prophesy (Joel 2:28-32).

In those days the Lord will show signs in the heavens and on earth: blood, fire, and smoke. The sun will be darkened, and the moon will be blood-red, before the Day of the Lord, the great and notable day. “And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord [now] shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

John 15:26-27; 16:4-11 Paraphrase:

Jesus promised his disciples that he would send them the “Counselor” (the indwelling Holy Spirit), the Spirit of truth, who comes forth from God the Father.

Jesus was telling his disciples what would follow when Jesus had ascended into heaven, so that when these things happened they would remember that Jesus had told them. Jesus had not told them earlier because there was no need, as long as Jesus was with them physically, but now Jesus was returning to God the Father who had sent Jesus. The disciples didn't ask where Jesus was going, but they were sad that he was leaving. But it was actually to their advantage that Jesus leave them physically, so that they could receive the promised Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit could not be given until Jesus returned to God the Father in heaven.

When the Holy Spirit came he would convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit will convince the world that sin is unbelief in Jesus (John 3:18), that God's righteousness is revealed at the cross of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 4:15), and that evil has been judged and defeated at the cross (John 12:31).

Commentary:

The first Creation was purged by the flood. Noah and his household escaped destruction because Noah walked in obedient trust in God's Word (Genesis 6:9). Noah believed and obeyed God's command to build the ark (Genesis 6:13-14). All the nations of earth came forth from Noah's three sons (Genesis 10:1-32).

When the flood receded, God created the “covenant of the rainbow” with Noah and his descendants (Genesis 9:1-19). God blessed Noah and his descendants, and promised never again to destroy the earth with water. But as Noah's descendants spread out in time and distance from the covenant of the rainbow they departed from the example of Noah. Instead of glorifying and serving God, they began to glorify and serve themselves.

They pursued worldly success and status in an attempt to achieve worldly security. They attempted to reach heaven and receive heavenly benefits by their own worldly efforts. Their efforts brought the very consequences they had attempted to avoid: being unable to communicate with one another, unable to complete their city and tower, and being scattered over the earth.

It was a replay of the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-24). Adam and Eve had pursued their own will rather than obeying God's Word (sin is disobedience of God's Word) and were expelled from paradise. After the flood, the earth was cleansed and mankind had a chance to start over, and the same sin of self-will got them scattered and their language confused.

God is the Creator of everything in our Universe, and is the provider of every good thing. The evil in the world is the result of mankind's sin. God intends that his providence be shared among all people. The reason that some people lack necessities is because others take more than their share. Many people today deny God's providence; they feel that they've earned whatever they have.

The meaning and purpose of life in this Creation is not to accumulate material things. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Both these goals are only achievable through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Only Jesus “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal daily fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:9; John 14:23). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth (through the Spirit of truth), the only way to be forgiven for sin (Acts 4:12) and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to be reborn to eternal life (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God determines when we die physically. He gives us the breath of physical life, and he gives the breath of spiritual eternal life to those who trust and obey Jesus.

The Day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. The personal infilling of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual birthday of the Christian. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily event. It is impossible to be “born-again” without being aware of it with complete certainty (Acts 19:2).

In Old Testament times only a few chosen individuals had a personal relationship with God by the Holy Spirit. Jesus' death on the cross became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin, to cleanse us so that we could become individually and collectively temples of the Holy Spirit.

It was Moses' prayer that God would put his spirit upon all God's people and that they would prophesy (Numbers 11:26- 29). The first Pentecost was the fulfillment of God's Word through Joel to put his spirit upon all [God's] people.

The Day of Pentecost is a reversal of the confusion of language at the Tower of Babel. Through Jesus Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, born-again Christian are guided and enabled to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

The risen Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission to go into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ from all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (note the doctrine of the “Trinity”), and teaching them to know trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20). But note that Jesus also commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church) until they had received the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit before going into the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the baptizer, to call people to repent and be baptized with water for spiritual cleansing to prepare them to receive Jesus Christ. Jesus himself did not baptize with water (John 4:2); only his disciples did. And only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:32-34). The Church cannot carry on the mission of Christ in human strength (Zechariah 4:6).

Tragically, in too many instances in the nominal Church today, the Church has failed to make born-again disciples. It is not difficult to find instances in the nominal Church where leaders and members are attempting to build buildings in order to obtain worldly success and status, and to build their own towers into heaven. There are several false teachings in the nominal Church today which were present in the first-century Church and are refuted in the New Testament (see False Teachings, sidebar, right).

There is a Day of Judgment coming when Christ will return to judge the living (“quickened”) and dead (John 5:28-29; 1 Peter 4:5) in both physical and spiritual senses. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been born-again and will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in heaven (paradise restored). Those who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus' name isn't a magic incantation; it isn't a “password” which will allow us to avoid condemnation and enter heaven, without having been his disciple. Jesus warns that it isn't those who call him Lord and call themselves Christian who will be saved but those who trust and obey God's Word (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46), and Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:14)

Whether Christ returns while we are physically alive, or if we die first, at that moment, our eternal destiny will be fixed and unchangeable. Today is the only day we can be sure of; today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Wouldn't you like to know with certainty that you will spend eternity in heaven in the presence of the Lord?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Monday - C
First Posted May 24, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Monday C

Psalm 8 – God's Glory and Man's Honor;

Paraphrase:

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1)!

The Lord's great glory in heaven is revealed in the songs of babies and infants. Because of his enemies he has established a bulwark to stop the enemy and avenger (those who bear a grudge).

Compared to the vastness of the heavens, the magnitude of the sun, moon and stars which the Lord has created, what is mankind, that God takes notice of and cares for him?

Yet God has made mankind only a little lower than God, and has given him glory and honor. God has given him dominion over God's Creation, and has placed all things under his authority. Every living creature on land, in the air and in the sea are subject to mankind.

The name of our Lord is majestic in all the earth!

Commentary:

The name of the Lord is more than just a label. His name is an expression of his character and reputation.

God is worthy of great glory on earth as he is glorified in his heavenly kingdom. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the final week before his crucifixion, children in the temple were crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah; the eternal heir to the throne of David; Matthew 21:15)” But the Jewish leaders tried to silence them. Jesus quoted Psalm 8:2, to teach that, in their innocence, young children are able to give perfect praise, while adults have been corrupted by their own selfish desires. The name of the Lord should be glorified throughout the earth, but many hate the name of the Lord and seek to destroy his reputation and remembrance.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the bulwark against the foes of the Lord. The enemies of the Lord sought to destroy him, but they actually fulfilled God's purpose of establishing the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin. Those who trust and obey Jesus are protected from their spiritual enemies, (sin, death, and Satan) by the body and blood of Jesus. The evidence of Christ's victory over Satan at the cross is Christ's resurrection from physical death to eternal life.

Jesus is the name of the Lord! Jesus is the name which is above all names (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus is God made visible in human flesh (Matthew 11:27). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:9). Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus is fully God and fully human (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is the only name given under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, to be forgiven for sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin; the only way to have eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right).

The Jewish leaders professed to love God but they hated Jesus and attempted to destroy Jesus by crucifying him. They didn't know and love God or they would have recognized and loved God's Son (John 8:42).

If the Jewish leaders had had the appropriate understanding of God they would not have rejected and crucified Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:8). Instead of seeing themselves in comparison to the vastness and magnitude of Creation and the greatness of the Creator, they saw themselves as the center of the Universe. They were obsessed with their own self-interest. They appropriated the glory that belongs to God for themselves. Instead of being the shepherds of God's people, they were using their position in Judaism to run Judaism as their personal empire.

In many instances, the nominal Church today is in the same situation as Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming. Church leaders regard ministry as a career decision. Denominations and congregations are being run for the glory of their leaders, as their own personal empires. They are more concerned with their own benefit than with the spiritual stewardship of their members.

God has given mankind dominion over Creation. As God created this world, it was very good. The evil in this world is the result of mankind's sin.

There is a Day of Judgment coming for everyone who has ever lived on earth. We will be held accountable for what we have done with our dominion over Creation. Have we shared the resources God has given all people with those in need, or have we hoarded and consumed resources in excess for our own attempt at security and our self-indulgence in luxury, while others are in need? Have we glorified the name of the Lord, or have we brought reproach upon his name by our behavior toward others?

Jesus warns that on the Day of Judgment we will be accountable to him for our dominion of Creation (Matthew 25:31-46). Have we shared God-given resources with the needy (Matthew 25:34-35)? Have we treated the least members of society the way we want to be treated (Matthew 25:35b, 36b, c)?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Tuesday - C
First Posted May 25, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Tuesday C

Proverbs 8:22-31 – Divine Wisdom;

Paraphrase:

Divine wisdom was the first of God's acts of creation, the “first-born” (Jesus Christ: Colossians 1:15-16; John 1:1-3, 14). He was established before the beginning of this world. He was brought forth before the depths and springs of water; before the dry land, the fields and the dust of earth. Divine wisdom was present when the the heavens were established and God circumscribed the deeps, the limits of the seas, so that the waters might not exceed his command; when the foundation of the earth was established. Divine wisdom was beside him, a master craftsman; his daily delight, and a constant source of rejoicing in the inhabited world and in the sons of men.

Commentary:

Divine wisdom is unlike worldly human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-30). Divine wisdom is eternal and unchanging, whereas human wisdom is not. The controversy over the number of planets in our solar system is a recent example of the changing nature of human wisdom.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of divine wisdom: the Word of God (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus was designed into Creation from the very beginning.

We have all been born physically alive but spiritually unborn. We are all eternal beings in temporal bodies. God's purpose for Creation has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find fellowship with God, our Creator, and our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to spiritual eternal life.

We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is good, right, and true according to God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus is the only way: to be forgiven of sin (disobedience of God's Word); restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin; to be born-again to eternal life by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is impossible to be born-again and not know it with absolute certainty for oneself (Acts 19:2).

There is a Day of Judgment coming! Christ has promised to return at the end of the age of salvation. He is the Righteous Judge because he has lived in this world in human flesh and been tempted in every way just as we are, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He will return to judge the living (“quickened”) and dead in both physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46).

We will all face the throne of Judgment, either at the Day of Jesus' Second Coming, or at the moment of our physical death. No one knows whether we will live to see tomorrow; today is the only day we can be certain of. Today is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). At the Day of Judgment, our eternal destiny will be fixed and unalterable.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Wednesday - C
First Posted May 26, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Wednesday C

Romans 5:1-5 – Peace with God through Christ;

Paraphrase:

We have peace with God through Jesus Christ when we rely totally on him in faith (obedient trust) for our justification (judgment of guiltlessness; the opposite of condemnation). We have received access to this grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) through faith in Christ, and we rejoice in the hope of sharing in God's glory. We can even rejoice in suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. And that hope will not disappoint, because we have God's love which has been poured out upon us by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Commentary:

God has designed this Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, knowing that we would all choose to do our own will rather than God's. Disobedience of God's Word is the definition of sin.

We have all sinned and fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). God has designed a Savior into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right).

We are separated from fellowship with God our Creator by sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's Word (Genesis 3:3), they lost eternal life in paradise, and were driven from God's presence (Genesis 3:8-10, 22-24).

Noah's descendants repeated the fall of mankind from grace after Creation had been renewed by The Flood. They attempted to create their own way to heaven by the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), instead of trusting and obeying God's Word. They were scattered throughout the world and away from God's presence.

The meaning and purpose of life in this world is the opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). We cannot secure our own forgiveness and salvation by “good deeds.”

The Jews failed to obtain salvation because they relied on their keeping of the Law of Moses (Romans 9:30-33). I don't believe that Jews are irrevocably lost, but I believe that they cannot be saved until they accept Jesus as their Messiah (Matthew 23:39).

Suffering for the consequences of our sin is beneficial only as we learn not to continue to sin. Suffering for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be rewarded. The world hates Jesus and will hate Jesus' disciples. Disciples must be willing to accept suffering in order to carry on the mission of Jesus to bring healing and salvation to a spiritually sick and dying world. One develops endurance and character by persisting in the face of suffering.

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the “first fruit” of salvation. Born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians have not only hope, but a “down-payment,” a “security deposit” guaranteeing their forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we experience, daily, the love of God for us. It is by the Holy Spirit that we experience the joy and glory of God's presence.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Thursday - C
First Posted May 27, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Thursday C

John 16:12-15 – The Spirit of Truth;

Background:

This is part of Jesus' farewell discourse to his disciples, in the upper room, following the Last Supper, before Jesus' betrayal and arrest.

Text Paraphrase:

Jesus told his disciples that there was more he wanted them to know but they were not able to understand, yet. But when the Spirit of truth comes, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send (John 14:15-17), he will guide them into all truth. He will speak not his own ideas, but will faithfully declare what he has heard from God the Father, and he will reveal what is to come. He will glorify Jesus, because he will declare to them the glory that Jesus has from God the Father. Jesus shares in all the glory of God.

Commentary:

The place to begin to know and follow Jesus in discipleship is through his words recorded in the Gospels. As we begin to trust and obey his teachings, Jesus promises to send the indwelling Holy Spirit to his disciples who do what Jesus taught (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and recall to our memories all that Jesus taught (John 14:25-26).

We are all born physically into this world, but are spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and be spiritually reborn to eternal life. These are only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit within us is our spiritual birthday (John 3:3, 5-8). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible to know with certainty for oneself when one has been “born-again” (Acts 19:2).

As we begin to be guided and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we experience the power and faithfulness of the Lord and we grow spiritually. Discipleship is a spiritual growth process to spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's return.

The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and be baptized with water to prepare them to receive Jesus Christ. (John 1:29-34; Matthew 3:1-12). The role of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, to teach them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20), and to teach them to seek the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

Jesus specifically warned his disciples to stay within Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, before going into the world with the Gospel message. But in too many instances the nominal Church today is failing to make “born-again” disciples, and has settled for making “church members.” Some mainline denominations are even discouraging members from seeking spiritual rebirth, by the false teaching that the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by some church ritual such as water baptism (see False Teachings, “Spiritual Rebirth”, sidebar, right).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit faithfully declares divine eternal truth, and his word is the Word of God; he's not just a representative expressing his own opinions. Because he speaks God's Word, what he prophesies will come to pass, because the test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we experience the glory of God and Jesus Christ. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we can truly praise and glorify the Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Friday - C
First Posted May 28, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Friday C

Ezekiel 18:30-32 – Repent and Turn to the Lord;

Paraphrase:

The Lord declares that he will judge Israel according to their doings. So repent and turn from all your sins (disobedience of God's Word) so that they not cause your spiritual ruin. Put away from you all your sins which you have sinned against the Lord and get a new heart and a new spirit! Why would you choose spiritual, eternal death, O Israel? The Lord takes no pleasure in anyone's death, so turn to the Lord and live!

Commentary:

The definitive characteristic of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). The Word of God is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

The Church is the New Israel, and in a sense America is also the New Israel, the New Promised Land. Both are in urgent need of revival today! Both have fallen away from obedient trust in the Lord and need to hear the call to repent and turn to the Lord.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)? In too many instances, the nominal Church today has failed to make “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ, and has settled for making “members,” teaching them that it is not necessary to obey God's Word and that they need not seek spiritual rebirth because the church automatically confers it at water baptism. Both are False Teachings (which see, sidebar, right: “Cheap Grace” & “Spiritual Rebirth”).

The Lord commands his disciples to stay within the Church (the New Jerusalem) until they have been “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), before going into the world with the Gospel with the command to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:19-20). In too many instances that is not happening in the nominal Church today.

America has turned aside from her call to be the New People of God and the New Promised Land. The Bible shows over and over that in God's dealing with his people, when his people have turned away from obedience, God withholds his providence and protection and allows his people to experience trouble, in the hope that they will realize their need for God, will repent, and return to obedient trust in the Lord.

On 9/11, America turned to the Lord for about fifteen minutes, and then went back to life as usual. Economic turmoil, and the flooding of New Orleans and other natural disasters are signs that God is lifting his favor and providence from America. Now we seem on the verge of a flu pandemic. How bad must things get (sidebar, right) before America repents and turns to the Lord?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Pentecost - Saturday - C
First Posted May 29, 2010
Podcast: Pentecost Saturday C

John 3:1-15 – Nicodemus;

Paraphrase:

Nicodemus was a Pharisee (the strictest legalistic party of the Jews) and a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin: the Jewish supreme court). He came to Jesus by night (for fear of censure by the Pharisees and Sanhedrin), and addressing Jesus as Rabbi (teacher), said that he knew that Jesus had come from God because no one could do the miracles Jesus was doing except by God's authority. Jesus answered by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew (born again) he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Nicodemus asked how one could be born when he was old; would he be able to enter his mother's womb a second time and be born? Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (baptism) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (perishable), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (eternal). Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8).

Nicodemus asked how that could be, and Jesus asked how Nicodemus could be a teacher of Israel and not understand what Jesus was saying. Jesus said that he was telling Nicodemus what Jesus (and born-again Christians) knew and experienced, but Nicodemus didn't accept his testimony. If Nicodemus couldn't believe what Jesus was telling him about earthly things, how could he believe what Jesus was saying about heavenly things? No one has seen heaven except the Son of man (Jesus) who has descended from heaven. Jesus is going to be lifted up on the cross, as Moses had raised up a bronze serpent on a pole in the wilderness (Numbers 21:5-9), so that whoever believes in Jesus would have eternal life.

Commentary:

We are all born physically alive into this world but are spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be born again to spiritual eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Only Jesus “baptizes” with (gives the gift of) the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself if one has been born-again (Acts 19:2).

The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer. John called Israel to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word. John called Israel to be baptized with water for repentance, to be spiritually cleansed and prepared to receive the Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:3-6). The Church's mission is to “disciple” members unto spiritual rebirth by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then the members are to be discipled by the Holy Spirit unto spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's Return.

Jesus taught in parables, which are stories of common earthly experiences used to teach spiritual reality. The same Greek word Jesus used in the parable of the wind means both wind and spirit. One doesn't need to understand everything about wind – what causes it, where it comes from and where it is going, but one can see and feel its effect and know that it is real. The same is true of the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus was conceived physically by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35; Colossians 2:8-9), and was filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism (John 1:33-34). I think that Jesus' reply in the plural, “we,” means that Jesus and his born-again disciples testify to what they have seen and felt with regard to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

At the time of Jesus' physical ministry in Israel, the Jewish leaders knew a lot about God, but didn't know God personally (compare Job 42:5). Nicodemus and members of the Sanhedrin were the teachers in Israel, without spiritual experience and understanding.

This is the problem in the nominal Church today. In too many instances the nominal Church is led by those who are “unregenerate” (not born-again) leaders. It takes born-again disciples of Jesus Christ to make born-again disciples of Jesus Christ. In too many instances the nominal Church has failed to make born-again disciples and has settled for making “members,” fair-weather “Christians” who participate in the church program when convenient and in their secular interest. If the Church doesn't make born-again disciples, there will be no born-again disciples to select for leadership.

The history of God's dealings with Israel in the Old Testament are deliberately intended by God to be parables, metaphors for life in this world. Israel was forbidden to make bronze images of any animal, and yet God commanded Moses to make a bronze image of a snake. The image was mounted horizontally on a vertical pole by a socket cast in the middle of the bronze image. It foreshadows Christ crucified. The bronze serpent on the pole saved the serpent-bitten Israelites from death, and Jesus' lifted on the cross saves sin-bitten people from eternal death, for all who look upon him in faith (obedient trust).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?