PENTECOST • 2

How is my relationship with the Holy Spirit?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

God of heaven and earth,

before the foundation of the universe and the beginning of time

you are the triune God:

the Author of creation,

the eternal Word of salvation,

and the life-giving Spirit of wisdom.

Guide us to all truth by your Spirit,

that we may proclaim all that Christ revealed

and rejoice in the glory he shared with us.

Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

now and for ever. Amen.

Closing Prayer for LG gathering


reading for: Tuesday Night, 7 June

John 16:12-15

  • READ

    12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

    The context to today’s reading is set on the backdrop of Jesus’ coming departure; He was going to be delivered into the hands of sinners to die alongside criminals on a cross and going to His Heavenly Father. Understandably, the disciples were badly shaken and could not comprehend why this had to happen. They had great hopes for Him to be a certain kind of Messiah that was going to deliver them from their Romans captors and bring an age of prosperity. They had many questions, largely in the wake of their inability to accept the hard news Jesus was sharing with them. Even on the upside that Jesus was returning to the Father, their hearts were full of dread for the coming loss and what everything would then mean for their lives.

    First, it is now the Holy Spirit’s time that we live in. Jesus has gone to the Father till the appointed time of His second coming, and the Spirit has been poured out on all flesh (Acts 2:1-21) in these last days as we await His return. Just as how Moses handed His mantle to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land, Jesus has handed over His mantle to the Holy Spirit to lead us to inherit eternal life in these last days.

    Second, the Holy Spirit is not someone else with a new management or His own style, but is another of the same kind like Jesus (see Greek word, ‘Allos’ for ‘another’ in John 14:16). Like Jesus’ relationship with His Father, the Holy Spirit will only speak what He hears and receives from Jesus (v13-15). He will glorify Jesus just as Jesus glorifies the Father. By saying and doing what Jesus sees His Father doing.

    Thirdly, and closely linked to the second point, Jesus is emphasizing that the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Spirit are one. The Spirit receives from Jesus who receives from the Father. To receive the Holy Spirit and to be led in all truth by Him, is to be led by Jesus and the Father. Jesus after all is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

  • REFLECT

    In this in-between-time as we await Jesus’ second coming, the final judgment, and the ushering in of His Eternal Kingdom, God has appointed the Holy Spirit to lead us to know Him, and in knowing Him, have eternal life (John 17:3). The Holy Spirit is, as was Jesus to the disciples and more. And He has chosen to make His dwelling in us who believe! We are the tabernacle or temple of the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of Jesus and our Heavenly Father. What a mind-blowing thought! Yet, He is too often the most ignored, neglected, and side-lined person in our lives.

    Beloved brothers and sisters, I urge us that we do not let this be but that we will turn away from our idols to Him this day. Ask for forgiveness and invite the Holy Spirit afresh this day to be our Lord and God. Let us turn and listen to His voice afresh this day and not harden our hearts.

    If you are not already with a group of people who in a serious transformational journey of following Jesus, then I urge you to prayerfully find or form such a group with people who hear His voice and/or who are learning to hear His voice and obey Him. Do continue to carve out time and heart space to work the daily rhythms our pastors have crafted for us into our everyday lives. Let us continue not go to bed wrong, to wake up strong, and to pause in our day to pray. But let’s do so with the heart of making space for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let us not treat as common the precious Third Person of the Holy Trinity who has chosen to make His dwelling in our hearts. 

    Listen to the song ‘Purify’ by RiverLife Worship and then ‘Tabernacle’ by Awaken Generation listed above in the ‘Songs for Worship’ segment and let us prayerful come to Him as we are.

    We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, He will forgive our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness in the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7-9). Jesus has done everything so we can come boldly to His throne of grace. He longs for us to be one with Him as He and the Father are one.

    Let us come to Him.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 8 June

Proverbs 8:1-4; 22-31

  • READ

    In today’s reading we see a description of wisdom personified as female. This person, Wisdom, is not passive but calls out along paths that people take (v2 i.e. along the way), along all spectrums of the social ladder (i.e. high places), places of human intersection (v2b i.e. where paths meet), and even places of economic and judicial exchanges (i.e. at the gates entering into the city, and at the crossroads). This also implies that there is an intentional search for people on their own journeys or in their interaction with one another. The phrases ‘call out’ (v1a; v4), ‘raise her voice’ (v1b), and ‘cries aloud’ all indicate Wisdom’s beseeching for people to take heed to her (v4).

    Who is this ‘Wisdom’, or to whom should we associate her with? This is perhaps one of the key questions verses 22-31 seeks to answer. One thing that may strike out immediately is how these verses point us to the creation narrative in Genesis 1. Wisdom was there as the first of Yahweh’s works before his deeds of old at the ‘very beginning’ (v22-26); even before there were ‘watery depths’. This seemingly even gives us a prelude to even Genesis 1:1-2 where the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Wisdom was there before even the waters or before the chaotic formless void, and before the Lord created the heavens and the earth!

    Then Wisdom then tells us that she was there at the Lord’s side (v30) when the Lord created the heavens and the earth and did all the things in the Genesis 1 narrative (v27-30a). Of note, verse 30, depending on the translation could mean that Wisdom was by the Lord’s side as either ‘like a master worker’ or ‘like a little child‘; the former referring to Wisdom as God’s helpful and delighted partner in creation (v30) while the latter points to Wisdom as a precious child that God delights in and also the delight wisdom has for God’s creation and humanity (v31). While one may be inclined to choose one over the other, the ambiguity of chosen word is perhaps intentional in allowing both to aspects to shine forth individually and operate together.

    Wisdom, both as God’s creative and ordering power in whom He delights and by whom He creates. Wisdom is God’s delight which He ‘created’ (v22) or brought forth out of Himself, and it is by this Wisdom that He delights in that God creates, orders, and governs the world. Finally, Proverbs 8:31 further echoes the creation narrative in that God especially delights in humankind (i.e ‘and it was VERY [emphasis mine] good’ – Genesis 1:31).

    In summary, ‘Wisdom’, God’s operating power by which He delighted and created the world is the very fabric of the world we live in. And her primary effort ever since then seems to be to call out to all of God’s prized creation (us; AKA all mankind Pro 8:4; AKA ‘all flesh’ Acts 2:17) to the fullness of life that He has always intended for us enjoy.

    In many ways, ‘Wisdom’ looks a lot like the Holy Spirit that hovered over the waters and executed God’s command to bring order to the formless void (Genesis 1:2). And in many ways, ‘Wisdom’ described here seems to also mirror the John 1:1-3 narrative regarding Jesus, who was the Word in the beginning by which all things were made, and the Word that became flesh (John 1:14). Perhaps this oneness of the Word (Jesus), the Holy Spirit, and God is the reason why Paul is right when he said, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

  • REFLECT

    What mind boggling thoughts! Whether it is ‘Wisdom’, the Holy Spirit, or Jesus or all of them in creation, we ought to take their call seriously and not harden our hearts for the One(s) who call us. He calls us with the same delight that a parent calls for their children to listen and receive that we may have life and life to the full. Were we not just reminded in last week’s lectionary that we are no longer slaves but children of God by the Holy Spirit who causes us to cry ‘Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15-16). Borrowing Chronicles of Narina, let us pay attention to the ‘deeper magic’ at work all around us and that is crying out for us.

    Indeed, in these last days the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh, and I am reminded of two especially important implications.

    First, we who know and recognize the Holy Spirit ought to submit ourselves to Him and be the children and church we are meant to be. We are meant to be the salt and light of the world! We are meant to be holy and set apart for Him! Therefore, let us respond by faithfully attending to the Holy Spirit in our lives daily and in all things. Let’s continue to encourage one another to create rhythms of life that practice the presence of God in our lives and our attentiveness to Him. For it is only those who are led by the Spirit of God that are children of God.

    Secondly, we ought to be alive and attentive to the Spirit’s work in our families, community, and our neighbours’ lives. The question is not whether He is at work. He is at work in the lives around us and He is looking for His children who will partner with Him for all these other precious ones who still do not know Him! Let us therefore open up our busy lives and hearts to Him and perhaps find ourselves privileged partners in the things close to His heart.

    In closing, lets continue to meet together with one another all the more as we see the day approaching that we may spur one another on in Him. Let us continue to invite the Holy Spirit into every crevice of our lives even when no one is looking. To God be the glory forever and ever brothers and sisters. He is worthy of it all. May we all echo that truth and reality in all of our lives and together as a church!

reading for: Thursday Night, 9 June

Romans 5:1-5

  • READ

    Today’s reading sits in the ‘what now?’ portion of the book of Romans. After highlighting the problem of sin and our justification by faith because of the work of Jesus Christ, Romans 5 begins Paul’s message on the reality of life we ought to expect. As such Romans 5 begins the way it does. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have the peace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace by which we now stand” (Romans 5:1).

    i)  We have been justified solely on the merit of faith in what Jesus has done for us. One can easily be tempted to feel we have to earn our salvation as if our deeds would be able to ‘pay off’ our debts and shortcomings. This was one of the real polemic that Paul was addressing in Romans and in some of His other letters like Galatians. And it is a thought and spirit that can creep into our minds and hearts if we allow it.

    ii)  While we may be inclined to think of ‘Peace with God’ with other references of peace in the New Testament like ‘the peace of God that transcends all understanding’ (Phil 4:7), the ‘Peace with God’ here refers to the fact that Jesus has paid the price for us and the requirements of justice has been eternally settled and satisfied. This is why Paul qualifies that it is ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’. He paid the price for us and has therefore given us access to this grace by which we now stand!

    iii)  Grace refers to God’s unmerited favour and all the great inheritance we have by virtue of our restored relationship with God. Many Christians begin with this grace but unknowingly fall into this place where they need to go on in their relationship with God and towards perfection on the principle and rules of the law (i.e. deserving and earning). The word ‘stand’ is translated in the perfect tense which implies both the present and on-going reality of our salvation and standing with God because of Jesus Christ.

    With these understandings in mind, it would then make perfect sense why Paul would tell his readers to ‘rejoice in the hope of the glory of God’ (v2)! There is a firm and unshakable foundation that we have stepped into because of our faith in Jesus Christ and the unmerited and abundant favour with God because of that.

    Paul goes on to say that this promise and attitude of rejoicing is not only for the future but also for the present time amid the suffering that his audience were experiencing. He speaks unapologetically that suffering, and tribulations are an expected reality as we live in this world awaiting Christ’s second coming. He is saying that we ought to rejoice not only in the hope of glory but also in (italics emphasis mine) suffering because suffering and trails cannot shake this firm foundation and this future reality that we hope for. Furthermore, Paul says that our intense stressors and trials will only go on to reinforce the hope that we have (v4).

    Finally, Paul rounds up this segment by telling his readers that this hope (that tribulations build up) does not disappoint because we have an assurance in the love of God that we will come to know more and more as we test and approve His good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12; c.f. 2 Peter 1:5-8). Paul adds that it is the Holy Spirit who has been given to us that pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), once again rounding off the segment that it is once again God who has given us all we need for a full life and a sure foundation in Him.

  • REFLECT

    We are reminded today of the precious inheritance and firm foundation that we have. Borrowing the words of Paul again in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2:

    “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

    “In the time of my favor I heard you,
        and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[    a]

    I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

    Jesus Christ has redeemed us and since then we have had access to the unmerited favor of God and the assurance in the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ Now’, Paul says is the time of God’s favor, and the precious day of salvation!

    Therefore, let us no longer live as orphans or in old paradigms of a law-based relationship with God trying to earn our salvation through personal striving. But let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit living each day in step with Him. Whether in glorious mountain tops or the valleys of suffering and trials, let us rejoice, persevere, and proclaim this blessed hope we have. 

    Listen to the song ‘Spirit Touch Your Church’ in the song section above, and prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit to touch us afresh this day. Let us come boldly to His throne of grace to acknowledge our need for Him. He stands at the doors of our lives desiring that He may come in and give us life to the full. Let us not settle for any less!

reading for: Friday Night, 10 June

Psalm 8

  • READ

    Psalm 8 is the first Psalm of praise in the book and carries a chiastic literacy structure which points us towards the central focus of the Psalm. The specific structure of this chiastic writing is as follows:

    1a. Psalm 8:1a – Opening: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

                1b. Psalm 8:1b-3a – The Majesty of Yahweh above the heavens; the Creator of all.

                            Central Axis: Psalm 8:4-5 “What is man? Yet you crowned him…”

    2b. Psalm 8:6-8 – The dominion of man on Earth; God’s honoured beings who stewards the glory of Yahweh on earth.

    2a. Psalm 8:9 – Closing: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

    While there is much that can be said about this Psalm, this Psalm sits as an appropriate sum up to the week’s reading. We as humans are greatly honored by God to bear His image and rulership over the earth and all its creatures and land. Psalm 8:4-5 recognizes that this is a flooring thought and reality, that we mere humans have been honored so highly of God and have been given such a holy identity and royal calling.

  • REFLECT

    Indeed, who are we that You, O Lord are mindful of us and have crowned us with glory and honor? (v4-5). Let us take this prayerful posture as we round up our week and to give thanks to God for the undeserved grace and favor that we now have and will always have.

Season of PentecostCNL