Father, Son and Who? Way too often we are missing the Holy Spirit in our lives. We do believe. But we’re uncomfortable when it comes to the Spirit of God. Why? Is it too wild? Too unpredictable? Too intangible? I hear you. But would you really prefer a tamed God in a cage? Of course not. The Holy Spirit is a gift, it’s God here and now. This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has…
Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out to the disciples gathered together in Jerusalem. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. (Acts 2:…
Today it’s been 40 days since Easter. Something very important happened on this day. Something worth of celebrating. Something that establishes Jesus as Lord of all. Something that affirms our identity and place in God’s plans. As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will…
Our enemy is pretty good in selling lies to us. Unfortunately, we buy them. We are especially weak when the lie informs us that ‘we rule’. We want to believe it. We buy the lie because it makes us feel good, confident and powerful. I was reading this morning the last words of David in 1 Kings 2. David is instructing his successor Solomon. He is first giving very sage advice. Just like you’re expecting him to do. But then…
I do admit it right away: The resurrection of Jesus Christ sounds crazy. It’s absolutely foolish for our rational minds. It is hard to fathom that God the Father raised God the Son from the dead. But God the Spirit awakens us to believe. Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3-4, CEB) The same way that salvation is God’s…
Do you believe that Jesus was risen on the third day? If yes, how do you practice resurrection? How is your life different because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Because resurrection life should not be business as usual. Just see what the apostles did: The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. (Acts 4:33, CEB) How are you bearing powerful witness to…
The sad truth is that we can’t get ourselves pre-qualified for God. We sure are a bunch of sinners and we can’t save ourselves. But the happy news is Christ has already gotten all of us pre-approved on the cross! God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of…
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Yes, alleluia! But what does it mean, right? What does it mean to you when you are struggling to make ends meet? What does it mean to you who is just beginning to understand God’s love for you? What does it mean when God seems to be silent? What does it mean here and now? What does it really mean? The first step into resurrection living is to let Jesus carry your burdens….
But I know that my redeemer is alive and afterward he’ll rise upon the dust. After my skin has been torn apart this way— then from my flesh I’ll see God, whom I’ll see myself— my eyes see, and not a stranger’s. I am utterly dejected. (Job 19: 25-27, CEB) Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence…
Don’t worry if you can’t understand the suffering of Jesus. You can still embrace Jesus. Don’t worry if you can’t figure out the mystery of faith. You can still enter the mystery of faith. Don’t worry if you can’t analyze the happenings of Good Friday. You can still trust that Jesus carried your sins on the cross. Carrying his cross by himself, he went out to a place called Skull Place (in Aramaic, Golgotha). That’s where they crucified him—and two…
