IBS Week 14

Nick:

Acts 2:11-12 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs. and we all hear these people speaking their own languages about the wonderful things God has done! they stood there amazed and perplexed. “What does this mean?” They asked each other.

None of what we do or say holds any weight unless we are doing through the power of the Holy Spirit. I can just imagine the apostles telling the crowds all about Jesus and Gods wonderful mystery of the kingdom of God. Testifying to all of the miracles Jesus performed during his ministry on earth. Them sharing their testimonies of the saving power of Gods grace and how it can truly transform lives. God chose the ones who the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. God transformed the lives of these fisherman from Galilee. They were now here in Jerusalem, redeemed and transformed by the power of God into trophies of His grace for all the world see. What took place here Pentecost wasn’t just for these apostles once for all time. He wants to use our lives in the same way through the power of his spirit. We to are to consider and proclaim the wonderful things he has done for us. To testify to the things we have seen and heard from him.

Julie:

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 – “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

When I read this verse, I was being pressed from every side by God.  I was in distress and skating the fine line between discouragement and depression.  If I could put this verse in a “Julie Version”, it would go something like this – “The walls are closing in from every side, but we are not crushed; confused, but not overwhelmed to discouragement; captured and beaten, but not abandoned by God; humbled to lowliness, but able to keep walking; we suffer like Jesus because He is manifested in us.”.  The first point is that we are never defeated – especially by death.  And even if death does take us, we have eternal life, so death still has not won us.  The second point is that we suffer like Jesus because He is in us.  We do not get the reward of having Jesus in us without having all of Jesus in us.  That includes not just the salvation, eternal life, and joy, but it also includes the flogging by family and friends, the pain and suffering needed to grow, and the humility of dying to self.  But once you know a life with Jesus in you, what better way to live?  As it says in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in your courts (or presence) is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”.  I have walked the path without Jesus in me, and it is hell in comparison to the hardest day with Him in me.  I pray I keep this perspective and grow more into it.