Intro to Acts 2:14-21)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/17/2017 8:59 AM

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Introduction to Acts 2:14-21

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                       Reference:  Acts 2:14-21

            Message of the verses:  “14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above  and signs on the earth below,  blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness  and the moon to blood,  before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (ESV).”

            In his introduction to these verses John MacArthur writes mostly about preaching and proclaiming the Word of God as the major thing that the New Testament Church is to do.  He also talks about different things that modern churches do, like putting on seminars, having small group activities, where one can share things.  I know in the church that I use to go to they stopped the Wednesday night prayer meeting where there was always preaching at the beginning of it, they also stopped the Sunday night service to begin small group Bible studies.  In all of this preaching which is the first thing that happened when the church began is being left out.  I don’t have a problem with small group Bible studies, but when they take the place of a church service where preaching takes place that is a different story.  When we look at the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ while He was on earth preaching was a major theme as we see in Luke 4:16-21 where we will see the Lord’s view of His ministry: 

“16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." 20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."”

 

            Paul speaks about the call to preach in 1 Corinthians 1:17-25: 

“17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

            We will look at this subject, the subject of the importance of preaching in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Listening to God’s Word being preached is something that I look forward to each Sunday morning, and in many Sunday evening services.  In preparation for my Spiritual Diaries I will at times listen to the preaching of John MacArthur in order to get more insights into what the verses that I am looking at mean.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord as I go through a trial that was brought about by me, that Christ will give me wisdom and also use this to be good for me and bring glory to His name.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/17/2017 9:30 AM