PENTECOST • 31

How do we live now that the Spirit has been poured out on us?

This week’s readings is an invitation to journey through the scriptures and discover what the Spirit-filled life looks like

reading for: 9 June

Mark 4:26-34

Aligning to the Ways and Results of the Spirit

  • READ

The 2 parables that we read this week by Jesus, challenges the way we think about how God is at work (His kingdom) and what it will produce.

In the first parable of the seed growing, the man’s action is mentioned twice, scattering the seed on the ground (v. 26) and harvesting the fully ripen seed (v. 29). Then all he does is sleep at night and wake up in the day, while the seed sprouts and grows (v. 27). The earth, not him, causes the seed to grow (v. 28) until its full grown and ready for harvest.

This picture of a clueless man painted by Jesus is deliberate. He wants to challenge the way we think about how God’s kingdom is advancing (by the Spirit). Its really all Him and little of us. Not only are we unable to advance the kingdom through our own efforts, we don’t even understand how it grows. And in that sense, His ways are truly higher than ours and his thoughts higher than ours. Yet, ironically, we have the privilege to scatter the seed and reap the harvest. And thats the challenge of the first parable.

The second parable speaks of a small mustard seed that grows into a tree larger than the plants in the garden. And here we see the second challenge of what God will produce in His kingdom. We usually think that a small seed, should produce a small plant. Just like a small amount invested will yield a small return.

But Jesus in speaking about the kingdom of God and work of the Spirit this way, challenges the usual way we expect things to be. And looking through scriptures, we see this to be true, from an old infertile couple (Abraham and Sarah) came the nation Israel, from the youngest son (David) came a king, from a widowed Moabite (Ruth) came the father of the future king David. In God’s kingdom and by the power of the Spirit, small things and insignificant people can grow to become large and significant figures.

  • REFLECT

In Singapore, we’re accustomed to making things happen by our strength and effort. But are you reaching a point in your work, family or individual life where you are feeling helpless? Where the giant you’re facing seems to too big for you? The gospel is that you are not alone! God is with you and He is at work in your situation. Take time to pray and ask for eyes to see His hand and ask for Him to move.

At the same time, in a big organisation and world we often feel small and insignificant. Our words and actions can feel like they fall to the ground with no one listening. Remember God works in His kingdom and produces. He takes the small and slowly grows them to become large. Where one day, its even able to house others (birds of the air). Do not give up and remember God’s calling in your life - He has placed you there and all he asks is for you to do what He has called you to do. He will produce the results He desires.

reading for: 10 June

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Trusting in our “Director” God

  • READ

    The entire of Ezekiel 17 is parable and its explanation, which finally culminates in our verses for this week. Bible project does a 7 minute video overview of the first 33 chapters that can help us situate what’s happening. But in summary, Ezekiel the prophet, has been chosen by God to proclaim the coming judgment of Israel where they will be exiled from their land by Babylon (17:17-18). Israel is captured by Babylon and then forced to make a treaty with them (17:12-14). But Israel, went behind Babylon’s back and sought help from Egypt to fight against Babylon (v. 15) and breaks the treaty they made.

    To put all of this in our contemporary terms today, its like watching a Korean drama with a few main characters. A woman (Israel) is married to a man (Babylon), but decides to go behind his back and find another man (Egypt). This woman’s father (God), finding out that his daughter has done such a thing, pays off this other man (Egypt) and asks him to stop seeing her daughter (Israel). And so, even though this woman wanted to run away, she’s left with no choice but stay in her marriage to her husband (Babylon). Its complicated but in essence the kind of drama in Ezekiel 17.

    What Israel tried to do was to find a way out from her own situation. She tried to force her way out. But the story of this entire parable/drama is that God is in control and only He is able to move countries and kingdoms (Babylon, Egypt, Israel), He alone will decide which kingdom will fall and which will rise. Or in the words of the parable, which tall trees will fall and which short trees will grow. Which tree will wither and which dead tree will live (v. 24). God’s word is reality, His word will be established.

  • REFLECT

    The world we live in is a messy world. Everyday we experience so much drama and often it feels like we are in one big Korean drama. But all dramas have a script and a director, and a finale that we will all reach. This is the same in God’s kingdom and story. In the mess, the director is still directing it according to the script.

    Do you feel like the mess around you is spiraling out of control? Do you feel like your life is out of script? The gospel is that God is in control and only He is able to raise up people, kingdoms and departments. And He is also able to remove people, kingdoms and departments. Take time to remember that God is in control, He is at work and we must not find our own way out, but look to Him and trust in His way and His timing. For whatever the Lord has spoken, He will do.

reading for: 11 June

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17

Renovating for the New Creation

  • READ

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! The old life is gone; and a new life has begun! (2 Cor 5:17). This is one of the most famous passages in Scripture. But to better appreciate this statement, we need to take into consideration the larger context.

    It all started with Paul speaking about letters of recommendation (2 Cor 3:1-2). Clearly there were some who were asking for one or needing one. But Paul’s point is that the Corinthians themselves are this letter. Their lives are evidence of God’s ministry, written by the Spirit (2 Cor 3:3). Then Paul speaks about this new ministry of the Spirit that will give life and glory (2 Cor 3:6-11) And this new ministry is coming forth in our body, to bring forth God’s glory even in challenging circumstances (2 Cor 4:8-18).

    And that’s why we need to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), for even when our body/tent is destroyed, there is a heavenly body/tent that God has for us (2 Cor 5:1). And this body/tent is the new creation that God has given to us! Our old life is gone and the new life has begun!

    All this is possible only because of Jesus, who died for us all that we might have this new life. A new life of not living for ourselves, but living for Jesus (v. 15). Thats why we are to look and treat others not of the old (v. 16). We are to walk by faith and do everything we can to please the Lord (v. 9). For one day we will stand before the Lord and be judged to receive what we did in our earthly body (v. 10). And this judgment will be how much we have been transformed into the image of our Lord (2 Cor 3:18).

  • REFLECT

    To walk by faith in the new creation is to allow the continuing work of the Spirit in our lives, to transform us more each day, into the likeness of Jesus. To do that, we must acknowledge that we are in the midst of renovation. There are old ways we have been living that are more about ourselves than for Jesus. In other words, we are more self-seeking and self-focused than we realise. The gospel is that Jesus has come to put to death our old ways of selfishness and His Spirit is at work in us to make us more focused on Jesus.

    We need to have this perspective of faith, for ourselves and others. We need to treat others like they are also under renovation and becoming more like Jesus. Is there someone in your life who’s been “ getting on your nerves”? Can you pray for the Spirit of God to renovate in his life and also your own life? After all, we are all being renovated to become a new creation.

reading for: 12 June

Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

Singing with Joy at the End

  • READ

    This week’s Psalm is a culmination of all of our week’s readings. Having aligned to the ways of the Spirit, trusting in our director God and undergoing renovation for the new creation, we can come to this place of thanksgiving and praise.

    We can truly sing and say,

    “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” (v. 4)

    We can sing because we are flourishing like palm trees and growing strong like the cedars of Lebanon (v.12).

    We are planted in the house of the LORD and flourishing in His courts (v. 13).

    We are producing fruit even in old age, remaining vital and green (v. 14).

    And we can declare to everyone that “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him.” (v. 15)

    Can you imagine singing this Psalm when we are in our 70s and 80s? Even when our energy is failing, our earthly tent (body) is weakening, we can still sing, because we have lived by faith and not by sight. We have trusted in our God in the entire drama of life and we who were insignificant and nobodies, have become God’s children.

  • REFLECT

    On each Sunday, we have an opportunity to sing in this manner after a week of living by the Spirit. Having lived a week trusting in God and undergoing renovation as the new creation, we can get a glimpse of what it feels like to sing this Psalm. We can get a glimpse because we have lived our week strong, waking up strong, pausing in our day and not going to bed wrong each day. We can sing as God’s new creation that He is just and He is our Rock!

    If you feel like you have “failed” this week, the gospel is that your Father in heaven has sent His Son Jesus, to die for your sins, that you might become a new creation. With new capacities to live for Him. And each new day and each new week is a “restart/reset” for all of us. Would you receive the grace and love of God and be found with joy in His courts?

Season of PentecostCNL