Tag: sign
What does this mean?
Scripture reading for May 7: Acts 2
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?”. . . —we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”“ Acts 2:4-8
Jews from every nation gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Pentecost and the celebration of the giving of God’s law. This Pentecost was following the Passover where Jesus gave His life as the “Lamb of God.” After forty days of ministry the resurrected Jesus had ascended to heaven ten days before and had told His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father. (Acts 1:4-5) This happened at the Feast of Pentecost as described here by Luke. The one hundred twenty disciples, men and women, were waiting in an upper room of the temple as instructed. Tongues of fire came on a rushing wind from heaven and filled the room. All began to speak in other tongues and praise God, spilling out of the room into the temple.
The Jews gathered there were amazed, bewildered, perplexed, and astonished. “What does this mean?”, they asked. They were hearing Galilean Jews speaking their native languages and telling the ‘mighty works of God.” Others thought that they were under the influence of wine! This event, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues, disrupted world views drastically! Tongues are a ‘sign’ to unbelievers to reach them. (1 Corinthians 14:21-22)
Why do you think God chose to grant new languages to Jesus’ followers, causing this disruption? Have you experienced this spiritual empowerment for yourself? Have you heard believers mocking those who speak in other tongues?
Prayer: Father God, Lord of all nations, thank You that for reaching every person, tongue and nation with the Good News! Your ways are higher than my ways, and I have at one time made fun of those You have baptized in the Holy Spirit. Forgive me Lord and use me to clear up misunderstanding. Amen.
The ultimate ‘sign’!
Scripture reading for April 8: John 2
“So the Jews said to Him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:18-22
Jesus had just come into the temple during Passover week, and found traders and money changers at work selling sacrificial animals to those coming to the temple for that holy week. Jesus made a whip and drove out those selling sacrifices and the money changers. He declared that His Father’s House was not to be a house of trade, but a house of prayer. This prompted the religious leaders to ask Jesus for a ‘sign’ to justify His actions. Jesus made a startling statement that challenged their world view. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” caused great controversy. The Jews knew that it had taken forty-six years to rebuild the temple. They were thinking naturally and mocked Jesus’ declaration.
However, Jesus was not speaking about the building, but rather about His own body. Jesus knew what the Jews and Romans would soon do to Him. He knew the plan of His Father and was in full agreement with the Father to give His life. His ‘temple’ would be the ultimate intercession given on the altar of the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus knew that He would be vindicated and raised from the dead on the third day. He gave this prophetic sign at least a year in advance, and would not be fully understood by His disciples until after it had been fulfilled on resurrection morning! Jesus’ world view and this sign helped and is helping disciples to believe to eternal life!
Have you ever been told something about Jesus or life that did not make sense? Does this ‘sign’ given by Jesus to His people and disciples cause you to grow in faith? Are you sharing this ‘Gospel’ sign with those in your life needing an expanded world view of life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ used His body as Your temple and our perfect sacrifice. Thank You for the amazing ‘sign’ of the resurrection that helps us believe Jesus is God’s Son. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to empower me to pray for the lost and share this ‘sign’ with them. Amen.
The sign of the Son of Man
Scripture reading for July 30th: Matthew 24
Key Scriptures: Matthew 24:27-31 “”For as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, an the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.””
Matthew 24 records one of Jesus’ last teaching concerning what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. The disciples had asked Him specifically about the sign and the end and Jesus described coming events leading up to the end. A great tribulation with many falling away and increased wickedness would occur first. Those days would be cut short for the sake of the elect and with great suddenness and publicly displayed glory, the Son of Man would come to earth and gather His elect. This is not the rapture, which occurs before the great time of tribulation and happens discretely, taking believers like a thief in the night. These are those saved during the tribulation and immediately following there will be great signs in the heavens and on earth. The final sign is the appearance of Jesus Christ seen by all earths inhabitants. Those unsaved will mourn as they bow to the King. The elect will be reaped by chosen angels. This is the ultimate sign of the end of the age!
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I trust You to bring this evil age to an end at the time You have chosen. I thank You for mercy and encouragement for those who are truly saved and part of Your eternal family. Help me today to share the sign of the Son of Man and His return to earth with those in need of Your grace and salvation. May no one I know or love have to mourn at Christ’s return.
Matthew 24:44-46 “”Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom His Master has set over His household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom His Master will find so doing when He comes.””