EASTER • 7

Introduction to Easter Season

(March 31 – May 18, 2024)

Easter Sunday marks the start of the Easter Season. And in the Gospels and Book of Acts a fresh fire is ignited within the Christian community. The followers of Jesus are growing and they’re not just going through the motions—they are diving deep into the stories of Jesus, soaking up every word from Apostles who taught them, and more. As their hearts unit around the Good News of Jesus, they become a part of the grand narrative of transformation and revelation.

Imagine being in that upper room with Jesus, feeling his presence fill you with new life and purpose. That's what Easter does—it breathes fresh vitality into our faith and connects us all in a powerful way.

As we enter Easter season in 2024, let's remember that we're part of something bigger than ourselves—a global community rooted in love, service, and devotion to Jesus. And as we continue to grow as sons and daughters learning to serve Christ together, let’s spread His message of hope and redemption to everyone around us as we live, work and play

reading for: Tuesday Night, 14 May

John 15:26-16:15

  • READ

    Scripture Reading: John 15:26-16:15

    26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. 1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

    Commentary

    Today we continue to examine the words of Jesus on the final night before he went to the cross. He speaks to his disciples about the Spirit and its importance for them. As Pentecostals, we believe in the manifest presence of Spirit and see the Spirit’s work as important for our lives. Hence, it is vital that we examine what Jesus says about the Spirit as we seek to follow Christ.

    Jesus calls the Spirit as the Helper who will be sent to the disciples by Jesus from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father to bear witness about Jesus. The role of the Spirit is not to do his own thing but to be the one who bears witness to Jesus and enables the disciples to bear witness to Jesus. Jesus knows that it will not be easy for the disciples to bear witness to Jesus for they will be put out of the synagogues and those who kills them will think they are offering service to God, but they are not. These false witnesses will think that by killing the disciples they are honouring God, but they do not know the Father nor Christ.

    Jesus elaborates on the role of the Spirit as the one who convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Sin because they do not believe in Jesus. Righteousness because Jesus goes to the Father, judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. The Spirit is the one that guides the disciples into all truth for he will not speak of his own authority, but he will speak what he hears from the Father and the Son and declare the things that are to come. He will take what is from the Father and the Son and declare it to the disciples.

    The person of the Spirit is important for the disciples as the Spirit is the Helper that bears witness and declare the words of Christ and his Father and enables the disciples to bear witness to Christ and the Father.

  • REFLECT

Just as the person of the Spirit is important to the disciples of Christ then, it is vital to us as disciples of Christ. We need to be guided by the Spirit as we seek to bear witness to Christ in our lives.

Reflect on the following questions:

1.  How do you view the Person of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you see the Holy Spirit as your Helper that who bears witness of Christ and guides you into all truth?

2. What is the Spirit saying to you today? May we be obedient to the voice of the Spirit who is from the Father and the Son.

3. How can we bear witness to Christ and his Father this week? Pray for the guidance and help of the Spirit.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 15 may

Ezekiel 37:1-14

  • READ

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

Commentary

In the midst of Israel’s exile, Ezekiel receives a vision from God of a valley filled with dry bones. This powerful imagery symbolizes the spiritual and physical desolation of God's people. Ezekiel's purpose in writing is to reassure Israel of God's faithfulness and His promise to restore them, despite their current state of despair and hopelessness.

The discourse between God and the prophet in verses 1-6 highlights God's loving character and His unwavering commitment to fulfill His promises. Despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation, God speaks life into the bones, demonstrating His power to bring forth new beginnings even from the most lifeless circumstances.

Verses 5-6 echo the creation account in Genesis, where the breath of God first brought life to humanity. This connection underscores the divine origin of life and emphasizes the role of the Spirit in the process of renewal and restoration.

As Ezekiel obediently prophesies to the bones, the Spirit of God brings them to life, forming a great army. This army symbolizes the restored and empowered people of God, equipped to fulfill His purposes and engage in spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness.

In verses 11-14, the restoration of Israel’s hope mirrors Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan through His death and resurrection. Just as Israel is brought back from exile, so too are believers brought into new life through their union with Christ. Abiding in Christ through the Holy Spirit signifies the end of spiritual exile, as believers enter into the promised land of God’s abundant life and presence.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-21 fulfills Ezekiel’s prophetic imagery, as promised by Joel earlier. The "four winds" symbolize the gathering of believers from all corners of the earth, united in Christ and empowered by the Spirit to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

  • REFLECT

    1.      How is the Holy Spirit bringing new life and restoration into your life?

    2.      How can you partner with the Spirit in building God’s kingdom and spreading His love to those around us?

    As we meditate on Ezekiel’s vision, may we be encouraged to trust in God’s power to breathe new life into every dry and desolate area of our lives.

     

reading for: THURSDAY Night, 16 may

Acts 2:1-21

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    Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

    “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

    7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

    14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

    17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

        and your young men shall see visions,

        and your old men shall dream dreams;

    18 even on my male servants and female servants

        in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

    19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above

        and signs on the earth below,

        blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

    20 the sun shall be turned to darkness

        and the moon to blood,

        before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

    21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

    Commentary

    Tonight’s reading is the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy and Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit that we have read in John 15:26-16:15 and Ezekiel 37:1-14. Ezekiel had prophesied of a day where the Spirit of God will inhabit the hearts of men while Jesus had promised his disciples to send the Spirit in his place.

    And in Acts 2:1-21, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and filled the hearts of men as foretold and promised. We know the rest of the story. When the disciples received the Spirit, they began speaking in tongues of fire and in different languages. And when others heard their own native tongue being spoken by those who have received the Spirit, they were blown away. No one could make sense of what was happening in the room and everyone were equally confused and amazed.

    In that moment, Peter stood up to address the crowd and shed some light on the situation. Peter boldly proclaimed that what was going on was in fact the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh as prophesied by the prophet Joel. What the people were experiencing and witnessing is a sign of the last days. And in the last days, all who calls upon the name of the Lord, not just Israel, shall be saved.    

  • REFLECT

    CNL is a Pentecostal church and this passage is a favourite among Pentecostals. Typically, when we read this passage, we tend to focus exclusively on the speaking of tongues. However, the speaking of tongues is simply a visible sign of the presence of the Spirit. What matters most is that God has poured out his Spirit on all who calls upon the name of Jesus. And what that means for all of us (who profess faith) is to realize the weight of God inhabiting our hearts and to consider the reality of the presence of God in our lives. The fact that God lives in us is itself a supernatural occurrence and something that is beyond reason. We must grapple with it. Is the Spirit real and present in our lives? Does the Spirit truly move in and among us? Have we grieved and quenched the Spirit because of our disobedience and indifference? No matter where we are and what we are going through. No matter whether we are living in unbelief or shame or sin. Nothing changes the truth that the Spirit of God is here with us in these last days. We can live by the Spirit and the Spirit is able to do the impossible. Will you look to God, remain in Christ and cry out to the Spirit for help?


reading for: FRIDAY Night, 17 may

 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

  • READ

    Scripture Reading:  Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

    104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

    104:25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.

    104:26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

    104:27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season;

    104:28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

    104:29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

    104:30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

    104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works--

    104:32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.

    104:33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

    104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

    104:35b Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

    Commentary

    Psalm 104 is a Psalm that describes, paints and marvels not just at the beauty of God in creation but also how creation is being sustained. Its a Psalm that sees the hand of God through His Spirit create, give and sustains life day by day.

    It starts with the invitation and ends with the conclusion of “Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!”

    And when the Psalmist reaches verse 24, after meditating and focusing on the beautiful hand of God, he finally comes to this place of praise.

    “How numerous, how uncountable are the works of God when I look at all creation! It is only someone who is so wise who could have made something so beautiful!” (v. 24)

    The sea and all the living things in it, even the ships that sail upon the seas (v. 25-26).

    The source of life is clear (v. 27), in the giving and extension of life, life is given (v. 28), and in the withdrawal of God’s face and hand, death results (v. 29).

    When the spirit of God is sent, new life sprouts (v. 30).

    This is the glory of God seen so clearly, where life, wisdom and sustenance comes from. That trembles before the God who is the source and giver of life (v. 31-32).

    And my only right response is to sing, to praise Him. For I can meditate on His goodness, His wisdom and stand in awe of His manifold numerous works all the days of my life (v. 33-35).

  • REFLECT

    The latest news report has revealed that traffic in our beloved Changi Aiport has surpassed pre-covid levels. This statistic is real when we hear our friends, colleagues, relatives, pastors travelling to places like Greece, Japan, Australia, Bali, Croatia, just to name a few. Even for some of us who might not have travelled far recently will be taking an airplane to Penang in 1 months time.

    This is an opportune time for us to meditate, remember, stare in awe of the beautiful creation that is all around us. Look at the sea and consider how deep it goes, consider every living fish, small and big that swims in it. Who sustains them? Who gives them food? Who causes them to give birth to babies and multiply?

    And of course who decides that their life should end? Whether by pollution, fishery or simply being eaten by a bigger fish.

    Life given, life taken and new life all comes from the LORD our God.
    Even if you do not have the opportunity to travel, you might be able to visit our very own Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise or Gardens by the Bay. These man-made features all hold and capture God’s creation and animals in some beautiful form.

    Would you take time to stop, look and adore the Creator God who is behind sustaining and giving new life to creation? Would you take a moment to give thanks to the LORD your God?

Season of LentCNL