Act 2:22 Men, Israelites, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by powerful works, and wonders and miracles, which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know
Interpretation:
Peter was declaring the facts about Jesus, to prove the point of who He is (God in the flesh) and what He has done (died for their sin and made a way for them to be with Him for eternity). That is the key question.. Who is Jesus? That is the ultimate question! That is the determining factor of our eternal destination.. Heaven or Hell? and it is not just a recognition of who He is, or just consent of the mind. We must learn about Him and get to know Him and obey Him. If He is God how can we not give our selves to Him? We were created for Him! So???? Who is Jesus to you???? He is either a Liar, a Lunatic, or LORD?
Application:
I want to get back to the basics.. That is.. it is all about Jesus, He is why I am here and what I am here for. I want my life to be consumed by Him. I pray God that you would give me the strength to be who you created me to be. To be bold and Holy and loving just like you are.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Acts 2:21
Act 2:21 And it shall be that everyone who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Interpretation:
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved? what does this mean exactly? Well whoever means whoever that is pretty simple. But call upon the name of the Lord is a little more tricky. We have lost the meaning of these words over time. Because what we see is that all I have to do is call on the name of the Lord? Do you mean just say His name? Shout His name? or just to Ask Him things?
To "call upon".... the Greek word is epikaleomai (have fun trying to say that :) the definition is "to entitle; by implication to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.)" so you see that it is in essence to worship Him. Calling out to Jesus not just with your mouth but with your life. And it is not a one time thing... it is a continual thing. A lot of people say the pray and that is it... no more God in their life until they get hurt or lose something, isn't that sad? It is not only sad it is scary! Because that is not a relationship, and that is what Jesus came and died for is a relationship. Do you have a relationship? or just a conscience appeasing prayer that you said at one time, or many times? Jesus is real and we need to act like it.
Application:
I pray that everyday I would get more real with Jesus. And more real for Jesus. I want to practically be intentional about having the qualities of Jesus in every way. Jesus please give me the wisdom to do this.
Interpretation:
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved? what does this mean exactly? Well whoever means whoever that is pretty simple. But call upon the name of the Lord is a little more tricky. We have lost the meaning of these words over time. Because what we see is that all I have to do is call on the name of the Lord? Do you mean just say His name? Shout His name? or just to Ask Him things?
To "call upon".... the Greek word is epikaleomai (have fun trying to say that :) the definition is "to entitle; by implication to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.)" so you see that it is in essence to worship Him. Calling out to Jesus not just with your mouth but with your life. And it is not a one time thing... it is a continual thing. A lot of people say the pray and that is it... no more God in their life until they get hurt or lose something, isn't that sad? It is not only sad it is scary! Because that is not a relationship, and that is what Jesus came and died for is a relationship. Do you have a relationship? or just a conscience appeasing prayer that you said at one time, or many times? Jesus is real and we need to act like it.
Application:
I pray that everyday I would get more real with Jesus. And more real for Jesus. I want to practically be intentional about having the qualities of Jesus in every way. Jesus please give me the wisdom to do this.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Act 2:18
Act 2:18 And in those days I will pour out My Spirit upon My slaves and My slave women, and they shall prophesy.
Interpretation:
In those days (the last days, from Jesus' resurrection til He comes back) He is pouring out His Spirit.. but on who?... SLAVES??? What is that? Well the amazing thing about the Bible is that it is definately more than meets the eye. The Bible is a 3D book... it is not just words on a page... the words have some depth to them. So you can read this and go "slaves? what, we don't have slaves now.... and on top of that, it is wrong to have slaves" Well take a look at the word for slave, it is "DOULOS" which means bond servant. In simple terms it means that the slave willfully chose to be a slave! The slave loved the Master so much that he willingly chose to be His slave!
It is not a harsh master-slave relationship. I know when I hear Slave I think beating them into doing what you want them to do or else. But that is not the case of this slave. The slave is you and me! If we chose to follow Jesus we give up our lives for His sake. We look on and say "I want to be totally yours! I was created for You! I want to know you and be more like you!" We see that He loves us and is a loving protective Father not a taskmaster. So be His slave... not a slave to sin (selfish desires and passions)
Application:
Practically I am going to try to be mindful of the fact that I am not my own, I want to be God's, and to practically choose Him and His ways over my own. God I choose to be yours, and please help me daily to choose that! I want to be so close to you, and hear your voice and your heart. To be your bond servant, and to become more like you everyday.
Interpretation:
In those days (the last days, from Jesus' resurrection til He comes back) He is pouring out His Spirit.. but on who?... SLAVES??? What is that? Well the amazing thing about the Bible is that it is definately more than meets the eye. The Bible is a 3D book... it is not just words on a page... the words have some depth to them. So you can read this and go "slaves? what, we don't have slaves now.... and on top of that, it is wrong to have slaves" Well take a look at the word for slave, it is "DOULOS" which means bond servant. In simple terms it means that the slave willfully chose to be a slave! The slave loved the Master so much that he willingly chose to be His slave!
It is not a harsh master-slave relationship. I know when I hear Slave I think beating them into doing what you want them to do or else. But that is not the case of this slave. The slave is you and me! If we chose to follow Jesus we give up our lives for His sake. We look on and say "I want to be totally yours! I was created for You! I want to know you and be more like you!" We see that He loves us and is a loving protective Father not a taskmaster. So be His slave... not a slave to sin (selfish desires and passions)
Application:
Practically I am going to try to be mindful of the fact that I am not my own, I want to be God's, and to practically choose Him and His ways over my own. God I choose to be yours, and please help me daily to choose that! I want to be so close to you, and hear your voice and your heart. To be your bond servant, and to become more like you everyday.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Act 2:17
Act 2:17 "And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Interpretation:
So Peter goes on to tell what Joel said.. In the last days... of what? from what I gather "the last days" means the period of time from Jesus' death and resurrection, to His return. And now Jesus' Spirit is available to anyone that believes in Jesus (who He is "God in the flesh" and what He has done "took our sins to make a way to be reunited us with Himself")
Sons and daughters shall prophesy (to speak the truth of God's Word into someones life)
Young men see visions? Old men dream dreams? I do not really understand this fully but I believe it because it is scripture and I maybe one day I will see a vision, or dream a dream, up til now it has not happened that I know of. But God is still God and I just stand upon Jesus' words "Blessed are those who believe and don't see" So even if i don't see something I will just keep on believing!
Application:
Practically what I gather from this is that Jesus is coming back soon so I want to live like that is true, and that believing is not seeing. Jesus is real and with us every second of the day TALK TO HIM! That is what He died on the cross for... so that we could have fellowship with Him without a mediator. He has died for our sins and washed us clean if we believe it and cling to Him!
Interpretation:
So Peter goes on to tell what Joel said.. In the last days... of what? from what I gather "the last days" means the period of time from Jesus' death and resurrection, to His return. And now Jesus' Spirit is available to anyone that believes in Jesus (who He is "God in the flesh" and what He has done "took our sins to make a way to be reunited us with Himself")
Sons and daughters shall prophesy (to speak the truth of God's Word into someones life)
Young men see visions? Old men dream dreams? I do not really understand this fully but I believe it because it is scripture and I maybe one day I will see a vision, or dream a dream, up til now it has not happened that I know of. But God is still God and I just stand upon Jesus' words "Blessed are those who believe and don't see" So even if i don't see something I will just keep on believing!
Application:
Practically what I gather from this is that Jesus is coming back soon so I want to live like that is true, and that believing is not seeing. Jesus is real and with us every second of the day TALK TO HIM! That is what He died on the cross for... so that we could have fellowship with Him without a mediator. He has died for our sins and washed us clean if we believe it and cling to Him!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Acts 2:16
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Interpretation:
Peter goes on to explain what is happening, to the people that thought the disciples were drunk. He used scripture to defend himself and the others, which reminds me of someone else... Jesus! When Jesus was in the wilderness and satan was tempting Him, everything that satan tempted Him with, Jesus came back with scripture! The thing about scripture is first of all you have to know it to use it! SO if you don't know it well enough to use it you need to make a point to study it personally. And secondly as you can see with Jesus and satan, when Jesus used the WORD of GOD satan couldn't say or do anything. It is kind of a trump card if you use it in the right context, and the right situation, for the right reason!!! Do all things in love and not a spirit of "I am going to prove you wrong"
Application:
I want to make a point first of all to study more, and to use the Word against temptations and also to use the Word more in my everyday life to encourage and teach others about Jesus and how Good He is! So I pray for a pure heart and the boldness to share the Word with people in what ever situation with a sincere motive and love.
Interpretation:
Peter goes on to explain what is happening, to the people that thought the disciples were drunk. He used scripture to defend himself and the others, which reminds me of someone else... Jesus! When Jesus was in the wilderness and satan was tempting Him, everything that satan tempted Him with, Jesus came back with scripture! The thing about scripture is first of all you have to know it to use it! SO if you don't know it well enough to use it you need to make a point to study it personally. And secondly as you can see with Jesus and satan, when Jesus used the WORD of GOD satan couldn't say or do anything. It is kind of a trump card if you use it in the right context, and the right situation, for the right reason!!! Do all things in love and not a spirit of "I am going to prove you wrong"
Application:
I want to make a point first of all to study more, and to use the Word against temptations and also to use the Word more in my everyday life to encourage and teach others about Jesus and how Good He is! So I pray for a pure heart and the boldness to share the Word with people in what ever situation with a sincere motive and love.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Acts 2:15
Act 2:15 For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.
Interpretation:
So Peter stands up and boldly get the mockers attention to make a point. The point is on a practical level... he just lets them know that they are not drunk.. it is to early for someone to be drunk. Which makes me wonder what did they hear the disciples saying? Did they not hear in their own language the works of God? Maybe they didn't? Maybe they just heard mumbling... maybe their hearts were too hard to hear what God was trying to say? So maybe that is why they accused them of being drunk? I don't know if that was the case but I do know that a hard heart can keep you from hearing God. There have been times where my heart has been hard and when I hear a pastor or someone speaking about God it sounded like mumbling... because I heard it but wasn't listening!
Application:
I pray that God would help me to guard my heart from coldness and hardening, that I would be able to hear and listen to what He has to say.
Interpretation:
So Peter stands up and boldly get the mockers attention to make a point. The point is on a practical level... he just lets them know that they are not drunk.. it is to early for someone to be drunk. Which makes me wonder what did they hear the disciples saying? Did they not hear in their own language the works of God? Maybe they didn't? Maybe they just heard mumbling... maybe their hearts were too hard to hear what God was trying to say? So maybe that is why they accused them of being drunk? I don't know if that was the case but I do know that a hard heart can keep you from hearing God. There have been times where my heart has been hard and when I hear a pastor or someone speaking about God it sounded like mumbling... because I heard it but wasn't listening!
Application:
I pray that God would help me to guard my heart from coldness and hardening, that I would be able to hear and listen to what He has to say.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Acts 2:14
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
Interpretation:
Because of all the mocking that was going on about them being accused of being drunk. Peter stands up for the truth of what is going on. He boldly captured everyone's attention so that every man could hear this for himself. Now I guess by this time Peter is just speaking the common language not in another tongue, but either way if he was or not everyone heard it. He emphasizes to the people to "let this be known to you, and to listen to his words!" So that they would know that he was serious about what he was going to say.
Application:
There are many times that I wish that I would stand up for the truth.. but sadly many times I shrink back... why? because of fear of men, and pride. It is crazy to me that those things can paralyze us from speaking up. I mean really what are they going to do?... give us a mean or hateful look?... or talk about us in ways that we don't want them to?... we do not live in a country where people actually act out and do us harm if we speak up! there are plenty of places that do that.. and they still speak up! It makes me sad to think how fearful I am. God please give me the boldness to speak up for you and others when I need to. To be able to speak the truth and grace like Jesus did, doing all things in love.
Interpretation:
Because of all the mocking that was going on about them being accused of being drunk. Peter stands up for the truth of what is going on. He boldly captured everyone's attention so that every man could hear this for himself. Now I guess by this time Peter is just speaking the common language not in another tongue, but either way if he was or not everyone heard it. He emphasizes to the people to "let this be known to you, and to listen to his words!" So that they would know that he was serious about what he was going to say.
Application:
There are many times that I wish that I would stand up for the truth.. but sadly many times I shrink back... why? because of fear of men, and pride. It is crazy to me that those things can paralyze us from speaking up. I mean really what are they going to do?... give us a mean or hateful look?... or talk about us in ways that we don't want them to?... we do not live in a country where people actually act out and do us harm if we speak up! there are plenty of places that do that.. and they still speak up! It makes me sad to think how fearful I am. God please give me the boldness to speak up for you and others when I need to. To be able to speak the truth and grace like Jesus did, doing all things in love.
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