Pentecost • 4

Introduction to Pentecost Season

The Season of Pentecost, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, marks a pivotal moment for Christians worldwide. Pentecost, originally a Jewish feast known as Shavuot, celebrated the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It occurs fifty days after Passover, symbolizing the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot, which highlights both agricultural and spiritual harvests in Jewish life.

Just as God gave the Law at Sinai to His ancient Israelite people at Pentecost back then, after Christ’s ascension, God poured out His Holy Spirit to empower a new people of God, to obey the Law of Christ, and to continue His work in the world. Hence, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2), not only fulfilled Jesus' promise to send a helper and comforter after His ascension, it also signified the birth of the Church and the beginning of its mission to spread the Gospel. The Presence and Power of Christ through the baptism and the filling of Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to preach the message of Jesus Christ with boldness, crossing language and cultural barriers, and uniting diverse peoples (both Jews and non-Jews) under the lordship of Christ.

Particularly for the members of the Centre of New Life, as we enter the Season of Pentecost, we enter a new season with a call to “Grow Stronger”, to live out the Gospel in our daily lives, exercising the gifts He has given us, as members of Christ's mystical Body, the Church, and particularly within our Kampongs and Life Groups. It is a time to embrace the Holy Spirit's power, continue the mission of the early Church, and embody the teachings of Christ in our interactions and service to Him, at home, work and play. This Pentecost season, let us step-up to be active participants in God's ongoing work in the world, so that as God’s serving sons and daughters, we might grow in friendship and together, we continue to spread His love, grace, and truth in all that we do.

reading for: Tuesday Night, 11 Jun

 Mark 4:26-34

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     Mark 4:26-34

    Scripture Reading: Mark 4:26–34

    Mark 4:26–34 (ESV)

    26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

    Commentary

    Jesus likes to tell parables or stories. In the gospels, we find many parables in which Jesus told. Parables often have one or two truths that the storyteller Jesus is trying to tell us.  Today we look at two parables that Jesus told the crowd and both are centred on the kingdom of God.

    The first parable likens the kingdom of God to as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. As he sleeps and rises night and day, the seed sprouts and grows. The earth produces by itself, first the blade then the ear then the full grain. Only when the grain is ripe, he puts in the sickle to harvest the grain. This is a common imagery in that day for many would be familiar with the practice of farming. Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God like the seed on the ground grows in a way that we do not fully know and in its time the harvest will come. The key point is that the kingdom of God is real and that there will be a time when its ripe when Jesus will come again.

    The second parable continues to use the imagery of seed on the ground. This time, Jesus specifies that it is a mustard seed. The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed, which is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth but when it is sown, it grows and becomes larger than all the garden plants. It puts out large branches so that the birds can make nests in it. Jesus is making the point that the kingdom of God though initially small and hard to notice but yet assuredly that it is real and is growing. In time, it will become a large tree that many will find rest in.

  • REFLECT

The kingdom of God is real and is growing. It may look small in the world today but be assured that in its time and season, it will be fully grown into a large tree that many will find rest in. At the time of the harvest, Jesus would come again and bring us to be with him where we will experience the fullness of the kingdom that God has prepared.

Reflect on the following questions:

1.     Do we believe in the kingdom of God? Or do we not believe in the reality of the kingdom?

2.     Reflect on what does the kingdom looks like? What are the ways of the kingdom? What are some habits that the people in the kingdom of God should adopt? How can we live our lives as people of the kingdom of God now as the kingdom of God is growing.

3.     Jesus speaks of the grain being fully ripen at the harvest where the man will harvest the crop. Jesus is the man that will come again at the harvest. Are we looking forward to this reality? How are we living knowing that Jesus will come again.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 12 Jun

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

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34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Commentary

As we reflect on 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, we are reminded of the profound truth that God sees the heart. This passage reveals God’s deep insight into our inner lives and His active presence in our world.

Saul’s story serves as both a comfort and a warning. Saul, who was chosen to be king, fell out of God’s favour due to his persistent disobedience. 1 Samuel 15:35 says, “And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.” This “regret” is an example of anthropomorphic* language—using human terms to describe God’s actions to help us understand complex divine truths. God’s omniscience and omnipotence are not diminished; rather, this language helps us grasp His deep sorrow over Saul’s rebellion. It is a warning to us that God sees our true selves. If we continue in unrepentant sin, we face the danger of God’s rejection, just as Saul did.

Yet, this passage also offers immense comfort and hope. When Israel demanded a human king, rejecting God’s direct rule, God allowed them to face the consequences of their decision. But in His loving sovereignty, He brought forth a better plan through David. God tells Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” David’s anointing symbolizes hope, showing that God’s purposes prevail even through human failures.

God’s love includes discipline. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” God allowed Israel to suffer under Saul’s leadership to teach them and draw them back to Him. Similarly, He allows us to experience consequences to grow us and bring us to repentance.

In His divine sovereignty, God worked through Israel’s flawed choice to bring forth Jesus Christ, our eternal King. From David’s lineage came Jesus, God incarnate. This narrative shows God’s redemptive plans are always at work, even in our sinfulness.

  • REFLECT

    Let us reflect on these questions:

    1.     Are there areas in my life where I am outwardly compliant but inwardly rebellious against God?

    2.     How have I experienced God’s loving discipline in my life, and what have I learned from it?

    3.     In what ways can I trust God’s sovereignty and redemptive power amid my poor choices and failures?

    *anthropomorphic: Anthropomorphic refers to attributing human characteristics, behaviours, or forms to non-human entities, such as animals, deities, or objects. When something is described as anthropomorphic, it means it is being portrayed or imagined with human-like qualities. For instance, in literature, an animal character that talks, thinks, or behaves like a human is an example of anthropomorphism. Similarly, describing God with human emotions or actions in religious texts uses anthropomorphic language to make the divine more relatable to human understanding.

     

reading for: THURSDAY Night, 13 Jun

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reading for: FRIDAY Night, 14 jun

PSALM 20

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    20:1 The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!

    20:2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion.

    20:3 May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah

    20:4 May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans.

    20:5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

    20:6 Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.

    20:7 Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.

    20:8 They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.

    20:9 Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us when we call.

    Commentary

    What does it mean live in a new dimension and pray for others? What does it look like to be the presence of Jesus to others? Psalms 20 gives us some pointers.

    Psalm 20's background is that it was a prayer of blessing made by the people of Israel for their king as he went out to battle (v.6-9). Specifically it would have been a prayer made by Israel over king David as he prepared to go out for war.

    Through Jesus however, we too have become children of God (John 1:12-13). And as children we have become co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). In addition the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon all of us as God’s deposit, anointing us as David and Jesus was (Ephesians 1:13-14).

    Therefore we have been given the capacity and authority as God’s children, co-heirs with Christ and anointed servants of God to pray and bless others.

    We can pray that the Lord will answer in the day of trouble. We can ask for God’s protection (v.1).

    We can ask for the Lord’s help from the very sanctuary and “headquarters” of God (v.2).

    We can boldly ask that our sacrifices of praise, our sacrifices of our circumcised hearts and lives will be accepted by God (v.3).

    We can claim for the fulfillment of our consecrated and purified desires and plans for the glory of God (v.4).

    We can anticipate and look forward to the victory that is assured (v. 5).

    For the one who is anointed, the one who has been set apart, the one who is the child and servant of God will be answered by the Lord (v.6).

    Our trust ultimately isn't in any man made symbols of strength like chariots and horses, but it is in the Lord (v.7).

    For His name is great and Jesus is the King of all kings. Whose name has been lifted high by God.

  • REFLECT

    As we prepare for family camp this week, there will be lots of opportunities to minister to one another. Through the ministry of presence, we can first listen and attend to the struggles, questions and excitement of one another. The questions, revelations that we have in our hearts are actually stirrings of the Holy Spirit, leading and pointing each of us to Jesus.

    As you take time to listen to one another, will you listen as Jesus would listen? And as you notice 1 or 2 things being shared, will you step up in boldness as God’s child and servant to pray a blessing over your brother or sister?

    You too have been anointed by the Holy Spirit and are invited to step into the work and prayer of Jesus for others.

Season of LentCNL