You get what you ask

Passage: Acts 2, 2 Kings 2

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1, NIV⁸⁴)–emphasis added

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. ¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.”  (2 Kings 2, NIV⁸⁴⁾

Once Elijah met Elisha, Elisha was after Elijah. God knew what type of person Elisha was. Elisha would not leave Elijah without the power that was upon Elijah!

Elijah was putting Elisha through a test; Elisha passed the test

Elijah said: “you have asked a difficult thing”. That is true

If we are willing to pursue with perseverance, we will get it. Things of the world will come to us just like that. Things of God-we have to go for it

The disciples were willing to wait and pray until the spirit came upon them

They had witnessed Jesus being taken upto heaven. They felt lonely, when Jesus was gone. They waited, setting aside every thing else. It was worth the wait!

¹² I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 12, NIV⁸⁴⁾

Was Jesus lying, when He said that? I don’t think so.

Elishah asked for a double portion. He  did double of what Elijah did.

When we go to a place where we can bargain, we may say a certain price and the salesman may agree. Then we feel, “I should have asked a still lower price!”

Don’t make that mistake when you ask spiritual gifts to Jesus. Ask for the best!

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for^[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”. (Luke 11, NIV)

When was the last time you asked God for something spiritual?

Why not give it a try? God likes it!

Have a blessed day. God has so much in store for you!

BG

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for sending Holy Spirit for us. Thank you for empowering us with the same power that manifested in you. We are blessed by the work of God: the father, son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you. Amen

God gives only genuine things; so we don’t need to check the “rating”

Intimacy that takes away fear and shame

Passage: Acts 1-2

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1, NIV⁸⁴)–emphasis added

When the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 on the day of Pentecost, they did not just stay there “enjoying” the spirit or the gifts. Instead, they started going out with the power they relieved and started influencing/changing the world

They were neither afraid nor ashamed of their Lord Jesus Christ

The reason why they were not afraid or ashamed of Jesus was that they knew Jesus well. Apostle Paul says why he was not ashamed of the gospel either:

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,^[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1, NKJV)

Paul was not ashamed of Jesus because he knew Jesus well

When you become intimate  with a person, you are no longer ashamed of that person/relationship; instead, you will be proud of that relationship. You don’t care what others say….

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will become like Him; our walk/talk everything will change, even without our knowledge. Peter was so much influenced by Jesus and other disciples that he was identified as a man with Jesus, by the way he talked! (Mat. 26: 69-74)

To know whether we spend more time with Jesus or not, just  ask our friends what they feel. If we spend time with Jesus, they will know

The world around us may be doing things different; we don’t need to do it that way

On the day of Pentecost, when thousands were gathered in the city to celebrate the Jewish festival of Pentecost, a group of 120 were praying in a room. In the previous years, most of these celebrated the festival. But now, they had a transformation. Instead of them joining the crowd, the crowd joined them!

We cannot get the things of God without a cost. A school/college student who wants to enjoy everything out there, cannot score high grades/marks. Those who are focused on success  need to sacrifice accordingly

What is our spiritual goal? We sometimes ask children what they want to become. Have we ever asked ourselves the same question, on a spiritual level?

God is not against our advancement in job or finance, provided we are not using the wrong means to get there and we are not worshiping them. But we don’t have to ignore/sacrifice our spirituality for that

It is important we set our priorities right. God needs us, as we need God

Have a blessed day!

BG

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gift- the gift of giving yourself to us through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Help us to know you more, day after day, so that others will come to know you, through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen

“God gave us His best so that we can be the best”

When the Holy Spirit comes

Passage: Acts 1-2

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1, NIV⁸⁴)–emphasis added

The resurrection of Jesus Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost are two marked the two important events that marked the beginning of the Church. The Church was launched in the Power of the Holy Spirit. She continues the work of the bridegroom in the same power, even today

In the Old Testament times, God dealt primarily with a person who was appointed by God to be the leader/prophet. But the church started differently, in the N.T time. It started with a group of 120 people. That is work of the Holy Spirit in the past-resurrection era!

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1, NIV^{84 )}   

The power of Holy Spirit came on a day when there were so many people in the area, who came to attend the festival of Pentecost. 3000 people were added to the church on the inaugural day itself. Church has been growing/multiplying from that day, at a rate that alarmed its opponents

The world looks at Jesus Christ very differently

I couldn’t believe how they named a very poisonous lizard they found out there

Check “national geographic” site. They say, “people” named it J…C…. Lizard!

So, that is how people see Jesus Christ?!

Jesus came to deliver you and me from the venom/poison of the serpent, the devil

While Jesus is the savior for many,  He is savor to many others!

The value of the church will be known to the world only when she is gonefrom here

The power of God is no secret; it is public. But it becomes “personal” only to those who believe. One can go all the way to the moon and say “I didn’t see God anywhere”; that does not mean God is not there. God is a reality and He makes himself known to those who seek Him earnestly

⁹ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; (2 Chronicles 16, NKJV)

God shows His power to those who wait upon Him

If you have time for Him, He (always) has time for you

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, ³¹ But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40, NKJV)

Why not separate some time for the Lord this week? If you can, fast at least one meal a day and pray. Read the word

See how it helps. It helped me a lot

Have a blessed day

BG

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me with real love from the depth of your heart. Help me to live that love out so that many others can experience your love. I pray that you will heal and revive the church where it is sick and “dead”. Amen

“When you have Christ in you, you live, not just exist”

 

Genuine Love

. . . being knit together in love . . .
—Colossians 2:2

 

Thousands of young couples go through with a loveless marriage because no one ever told them what genuine love is. I believe we need to read the 13th chapter of First Corinthians, in which the Apostle Paul gives us a definition of love. He says, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” If people today knew that kind of love, the divorce rate would be sharply reduced.

Prayer for the day

Lord Jesus, we need Your love and forgiveness in our hearts, if we are to love unselfishly.

True Colors

God carefully watches the goings on of all mankind . . .
—Job 34:21 (TLB)

 

There is an old story that tells about a pig. . . . The farmer brought the pig into the house. He gave him a bath, polished his hooves, put some Chanel No. 5 on him, put a ribbon around his neck, and put him in the living room. The pig looked fine. He made a nice and companionable pet for a few minutes. But as soon as the door was opened, the pig left the living room and jumped into the first mud puddle that he could find. Why? Because he was still a pig at heart. His nature had not been changed. He had changed outwardly but not inwardly. . . .

You can take a man—dress him up, put him in the front row in church, and he almost looks like a saint. He may fool even his best friends for a while, but then put him in his office, or in the club on Saturday night, and you will see his true nature come out again. Why does he act that way? Because his nature has not been changed. He has not been born again.

Prayer for the day

Almighty God, there are times when I debase my Christian walk and slip again into the mire. Cleanse and strengthen me, for Jesus’ sake.