2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
Interpretation:
So after the sound of rushing wind, suddenly each one of them started to speak in different languages. This has always been a little confusing to me with the "divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them" what does that mean? Well I don't think it was a floating flame above each ones head, but I may be wrong, but that just gives you a funny visual picture :) I understand that there were different languages "divided tongues" that each one spoke, but what about the phrase "as of fire"??? the only thing I can gather is the verse in Hebrews that says "our God is an all consuming fire" but that doesn't clear the issue up for me, so... It says "as of" so that means it was like a fire... so maybe the apostles were filled with the Spirit and then started speaking, and just kept speaking for a good while. Because when I think of a fire on something that is able to burn, the fire just keeps growing. So maybe that is what the phrase "as of fire" means but I don't really know. All I do know is that the Spirit came and they spoke in different languages declaring the works of God.
Application:
I pray that God would set me on fire for Him and that the flame would keep growing! I know that the fire in me is kindled and growing right now and I pray that it would continue. I know that one thing I will continue to do is the blog devotions, because it is great accountability and it is a tangible goal and way to dig into the Word. And the fuel to the fire is the Word. Thanks Pastor G!!!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Acts 2:2
2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Interpretation:
Suddenly, out of the blue a sound is heard by the apostles. I am not sure if at the very moment they knew it was from heaven or not but they soon found out that it was. The sound was described as a rushing wind... and it filled the whole house... which reminds me of
1 Kings 8:10-11 "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD."
I know that the apostles didn't necessarily have a cloud fill the room but... I see a similar picture. It was the Glory of God that entered and filled the room.. so much so that they were not able to minister...? well I think so. Because you will see that they were all of one accord as described in verse 1, and now in the next verse it describes what they do after this rushing wind filled the room. They spoke in different tongues? That was not them speaking it was the Spirit of God speaking through them. Because I don't think they knew those languages.. because that was the very thing that was a Testament to the people that God is real and that the apostles knew this God.
Application:
The application that stands out to me is the fact that I see in both Acts 2:2 and 1Kings 8:10-11 that once the place was emptied of self that God came in. The apostles were in one accord "not being selfish and thinking of themselves" and the priest "came out" and God "Came IN" so I pray that God would give the me strength to get outside of my self and to make room for Him. As John the Baptist said "More of Him and Less of Me"
Interpretation:
Suddenly, out of the blue a sound is heard by the apostles. I am not sure if at the very moment they knew it was from heaven or not but they soon found out that it was. The sound was described as a rushing wind... and it filled the whole house... which reminds me of
1 Kings 8:10-11 "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD."
I know that the apostles didn't necessarily have a cloud fill the room but... I see a similar picture. It was the Glory of God that entered and filled the room.. so much so that they were not able to minister...? well I think so. Because you will see that they were all of one accord as described in verse 1, and now in the next verse it describes what they do after this rushing wind filled the room. They spoke in different tongues? That was not them speaking it was the Spirit of God speaking through them. Because I don't think they knew those languages.. because that was the very thing that was a Testament to the people that God is real and that the apostles knew this God.
Application:
The application that stands out to me is the fact that I see in both Acts 2:2 and 1Kings 8:10-11 that once the place was emptied of self that God came in. The apostles were in one accord "not being selfish and thinking of themselves" and the priest "came out" and God "Came IN" so I pray that God would give the me strength to get outside of my self and to make room for Him. As John the Baptist said "More of Him and Less of Me"
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Acts 2:1
Acts 2:1 When the day of pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Interpretation:
Pentecost is a celebration or memorial of God giving the ten commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt. And when it says "they were all in one accord" it is referring to the apostles, according to the verse right before this one. Now what is one accord? From what I gather is just means together, but not just physically or literally in same place as each other. I believe it means in every aspect.. mentally, spiritually, and literally all together in the one (the same) place.
Application:
I think practically... these people had things set up in their lives as altars of remembrance.. and i want to have things like that in place to remind me of what God has done and the promises He has given. Maybe from this day on start marking my calender and having my own little celebration of things that God has done.. Because it is too easy to forget and it is very encouraging to remember.
Another point is that the apostles were all together (like minded) and spent time together... I want to find people who are like minded and spend more time with them, because the company you keep DOES have an effect on you! For the good or the bad, I can choose either one.
Interpretation:
Pentecost is a celebration or memorial of God giving the ten commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt. And when it says "they were all in one accord" it is referring to the apostles, according to the verse right before this one. Now what is one accord? From what I gather is just means together, but not just physically or literally in same place as each other. I believe it means in every aspect.. mentally, spiritually, and literally all together in the one (the same) place.
Application:
I think practically... these people had things set up in their lives as altars of remembrance.. and i want to have things like that in place to remind me of what God has done and the promises He has given. Maybe from this day on start marking my calender and having my own little celebration of things that God has done.. Because it is too easy to forget and it is very encouraging to remember.
Another point is that the apostles were all together (like minded) and spent time together... I want to find people who are like minded and spend more time with them, because the company you keep DOES have an effect on you! For the good or the bad, I can choose either one.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Ephesians 1:13
13. in him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the holy spirit of promise.
Interpretation...
when you heard that Jesus came down to earth to die for your sins to make a way for you to have a relationship
with him and spend eternity with him in heaven (the gospel) You trusted that this was true, so much so that you believed
it in your heart that he did it for you. When you believed this to be true and turned to him and gave him your life....
He came into your heart and the Holy Spirit sealed you. Allowing you to be connected to him on earth, and as a promise
that you will be with him forever.
Application....
i pray that i will be able to live with the knowledge that i do have his spirit. and it is him that is in me right
now. i am going to listen for his spirit more in my life.. because i have been so busy and in control that i don't really
ask and listen for his vioce through the spirit as much as i used to. so practically i am going to... daily set time apart
to really get quite and listen to him.
Interpretation...
when you heard that Jesus came down to earth to die for your sins to make a way for you to have a relationship
with him and spend eternity with him in heaven (the gospel) You trusted that this was true, so much so that you believed
it in your heart that he did it for you. When you believed this to be true and turned to him and gave him your life....
He came into your heart and the Holy Spirit sealed you. Allowing you to be connected to him on earth, and as a promise
that you will be with him forever.
Application....
i pray that i will be able to live with the knowledge that i do have his spirit. and it is him that is in me right
now. i am going to listen for his spirit more in my life.. because i have been so busy and in control that i don't really
ask and listen for his vioce through the spirit as much as i used to. so practically i am going to... daily set time apart
to really get quite and listen to him.
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