Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
Where is the Wonder?
Week of Sunday, May 15, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Acts 2:1-13
1On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5Godly Jews from many nations were living in Jerusalem at that time. 6When they heard this sound, they came running to see what it was all about, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7They were beside themselves with wonder. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8and yet we hear them speaking the languages of the lands where we were born! 9Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya toward Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. 13But others in the crowd were mocking. “They’re drunk, that’s all!” they said.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the wonder of Your Holy Spirit! Fill me anew right now that I may share that wonder with everyone I meet. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, as I go about this day, let me be filled with the wonder of Your creation. Let me see with new eyes all that you have made for our pleasure, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, give me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to be able to communicate the Good News with those who have not yet understood it or taken it in to their lives. Let me be used by You to advance Your Kingdom. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, renew in me the wonder of Your great grace and love. Let that wonder flow through me to others, that You may receive all the glory and honor due Your Holy name. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, many are skeptical in our day of Your salvation through Jesus. They deny the truth of Your word. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may be a powerful witness to that salvation and truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, pour out Your Spirit among us! Bring a great renewal to our area, that in homes, schools and businesses Your name may be honored and praised, and let it start with me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. |
Background on the Text
In this wonderful account of Jesus fulfilling His promise to send the Holy Spirit to the Church, we see that the presence of the Holy Spirit both empowers the believers and arouses wonder in those who do not yet believe. As the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost this was the FIRST general “dispensation” of the Holy Spirit to all people who would receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. In the Old Testament, only certain chosen leaders received the Holy Spirit. Now, as a result of Pentecost, God was pouring out His Spirit on “all flesh.” This was a fulfillment of a prophecy found in Joel 2,and the fulfillment of the prophecy is still taking place today. As you read the text—and I ask you to read it EACH day during the week, look for what God is saying to us NOW, not just what took place through this wondrous event of nearly 2,000 years ago. It is crucial for us to remember that this was NOT a one time event, but was the beginning of an ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which will continue until Jesus’ returns. As you study, ask God to continue to pour out His Holy Spirit on you and on the church—New Life, and the church of Jesus Christ around the world—and to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The wonder that those first listeners experienced on that original Pentecost day is available to the world today, and we desperately need to experience it—as does our world!
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
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Fallen short areas
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What will I do with these insights?
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Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
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Share insights and growth points
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Changed/transformed how?
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Saturday
Reflective Thoughts