PENTECOST • 4

What does the life in the Spirit look like?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

Beckoning God,

as you moved in the lives of Elijah and Elisha,

move in our lives,

inviting us to journey to unknown territory,

to listen for your voice,

and to speak your prophetic word

in a world that does not want to hear.

empowered by your Spirit,

grant us the courage we need

to journey, trust, listen, speak,

and accept your commission

to be your faithful servant people. Amen.


reading for: Tuesday Night, 21 June

Luke 9:51-62

Spirit-led Jesus and Flesh Following Disciples

  • READ

    Luke 9:51 is a critical turning point in the gospel of Luke. Jesus, knowing his time to be taken up was near, set his sights towards Jerusalem. This is a critical turning point because from now until chapter 19, we  see Jesus' constant focus on making his way to Jerusalem.

    How does he maintain his focus on the Father's mission? How does He not be distracted and be discouraged by the failure of even his disciples and would-be followers?

    He did this by being led by the Spirit.

    Earlier, we see Jesus being filled by the Spirit at his baptism(Luke 3:21-22). And this infilling of the Spirit, overflows into a life that is led by the Spirit. Which first led him into the wilderness to be tempted (Luke 4:1-2) and is now leading him to walk towards Jerusalem. What awaits Jesus in Jerusalem however is rejection and persecution that would lead ultimately to his death. But his death wouldn't be the end for three days later, he would rise from the grave (Luke 9:21-22).

    What Jesus shows us however, is that all of us who desire to follow Jesus and be led by the Spirit, must take this same journey.

    We too need to pick up our cross daily and to turn from our selfish ways. For only in following Jesus and being led by the Spirit, we would find the life that we so seek (Luke 9:23-27)

    But the temptation to live otherwise, or in the flesh is real. The 3 would-be followers that Jesus met along the way shows us that.

    The first follower had a need for comfort, a place to rest his head (v. 58).

    The second was held back the urgency of burying by his/her father (v. 59).

    The third wanted to follow Jesus in His own timing, only after he had said goodbye to his family (v. 61).

  • REFLECT

    The battle between the Spirit and the flesh is very real. There are rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil that we are battling against (Eph 6:12). The devil is also at work to steal, kill and destroy the purposes of God in our lives (John 10:10).

    But Jesus, shows us that even though the battle against the flesh is difficult, by the power  and strength of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome. And to do that, we need to set our eyes on God the Father and what He is doing.

    Ephesians 1:1-14 is a great place to go where Paul writes about what God's will and purposes are. What was previously a mystery, has been made known to us (1:9)

    Spend some time reading, meditating on this passage, highlight key words, phrases that stand out to you. And chart out a plan to discover God the Father's plan and purposes for the rest of 2022.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 22 June

1 Kings 19:15-21

Responding in the Spirit like Elisha

  • READ

    What does it look like to be led by the Spirit? How do we live in the Spirit?

    Elisha's life and response is another great example of what it looks like to be led by the Spirit.

    Elisha was in the midst of work, plowing the fields with his oxen (v. 19) when suddenly out of nowhere, Elijah passes by and throws his cloak/mantle over him. (For the Marvel fans out there, its much like when Dr. Strange encountered the Cloak of Levitation and from then on, became a symbolic part of his new identity.)

    Elisha, knowing the significance of the moment, chases after Elijah and makes a request to say goodbye to his father and mother. Elijah then tells Elisha to really consider the significance of what he just did (v. 20)

    Elisha then responds - he takes the yoke (wooden crosspiece) of the oxen, slaughters them, cooks it and gives it to the people. The account is odd because he had only requested to say goodbye to his father and mother. But now he goes beyond that.

    He doesn't just say bye to his father and mother (privately), he says bye to his entire town (publicly). And he does this by destroying his means of livelihood. Killing the oxen that worked for him and the yoke that held them. Why? It was a symbolic move to leave everything behind, so that he could follow Elijah as his apprentice.

    This is an interesting contrast to Elijah who was earlier depressed and suicidal (1 Kings 19:3-4). Thinking he was the only Israelite left who had not broken the covenant (v. 10 and 14). He couldn't see God's ongoing redemption of Israel until God pierced through his darkness (v. 15-18). In short, the great prophet Elijah was living in the flesh.

  • REFLECT

    The great prophet Elijah shows us the frailty of our human condition. A chapter earlier in 1 Kings 18, Elijah had just defeated the Baal prophets in a showdown. But now, after hearing that his life was being threatened, he gives in to his flesh. Elijah's example shows us that this battle against the flesh is real.

    Elisha on the other hand, shows us the importance of responding quickly to God's call and invitation. The need to prayerfully consider His call and responding concretely in his life. Even if it means leaving behind what was our livelihood and security.

    Through it all, God is at work in Israel. Elijah's moment of frailty, becomes a key moment in Israel's history, where God's redemption story turns another chapter.

    What has the Lord been speaking to you recently? And how have you responded to His call? Are you being led by the Spirit and responding swiftly? Considering the implications of His call and taking quick action to leave behind what He's speaking to you about?

    Or have you been raveling depressed and focusing on the terrible circumstances around you? And have you been running away from both God and your circumstances?

reading for: Thursday Night, 23 June

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Free in the Spirit to Love

  • READ

    Christ has set us free. But do you think we can go back into slavery again? And if Christ has set us free, what is this freedom for?

    Implicit in Paul's statement is that those who have been set free, can actually go back into slavery (v. 1). In other words, if we are not consciously and actively choosing to live in the Spirit (with the freedom we have been given in Jesus), we can easily slip back into slavery. Or to put it in a different way, we need to let the Holy Spirit guide our lives, because if we aren't, then we will be choosing to live in the flesh, satisfying our sinful desires (v. 16).  For our sinful nature wants to do evil, which is opposite to what the Spirit wants. In fact, it's a constant battle between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is always fighting against the Spirit, hindering us from doing what the Spirit wants (v. 17).

    Why then have we been given this freedom? And what is the result of living in the Spirit?

    We have been given this freedom to serve one another in love (v. 13), or in the old testament terms, to love our neighbour as ourselves (v. 14)

    Notice carefully the effects of living in the flesh (v. 19-21), they are all against our neighbour. Sexual immorality is an offense against our neighbour. We strife against others, are jealous of one another and get angry with one another.

    In comparison, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience... (v. 22-23). We love one another, rejoice with and for one another, are patient with one another.

    The freedom given by Jesus, is a Spirit-led and empowered life to love our neighbour.

    While slavery is being trapped in the hatred, jealousy and envy of our neighbour.

  • REFLECT

    Have you every considered that part of God's design and desire for us, is to love one another? In other words, loving our neighbour isn't just a commandment for us. But God's design for thriving human life and existence.

    What God the Father has done in Jesus, is to give us back this freedom that He had originally designed for us to have. But not only does he give us the freedom, he actually enables us to do it by the power of the Spirit.

    What have you been doing with the freedom that Jesus has given to you? How have you been loving your neighbour? (Family member, friend, colleague, and yes even enemy)

    The good news is that even though it seems impossible to love our neighbour, God has given and wants to fill us with his love, joy, peace, patience.  So that we can love our neighbour.

    Will you take time to go to him in prayer today and ask for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in your life to love your neighbour?

reading for: Friday Night, 24 June

Psalm 96

Praying (In the Spirit) like David did

  • READ

    Psalm 16 is titled as a Michtam of David. Michtam means golden or to cover. Psalms 16, 56-60 all have this title and were written in a time of distress and crisis. In essence, it's a Psalm of finding cover and seeking refuge in God, learning to focus on Him even in times of distress. Or to put it in the terms we have been looking at this week, learning to pray in the Spirit.

    Praying in the Spirit is first of all, focusing on God.

    He alone is our Master and from him all good things come (v. 2) He alone is our inheritance and our source of blessing (v. 5).

    He alone guards what we have and the land and inheritance He gives is pleasant and wonderful (v. 6).

    Second, we also focus those who have lived godly lives. For they are the true heroes. Remembering and finding pleasure in them, also reminds us of the kind of life that is worth living (v. 3).

    For in the contrary, those who chose after other gods, will only find trouble (v. 4)

    Third, we learn to adore God, for he guides us and is always with us (v. 7-8).

    And the result of this life is a heart that is glad, a body that is in safety, not fearful of death, but trusting that the way of life, the path of joy and pleasures is always with God (v. 9-11)

  • REFLECT

    Are you going through a crisis? Are you feeling as if everything around you is going wrong?

    God's invitation to you is to find refuge in Him. To pray (in the Spirit) like David did. Focus on Him and those who have gone ahead of you, for in Him we will discover that there is a fullness of joy.  

Season of PentecostCNL