January 21, 2018
Scripture:
Hymn 130 – To God be the glory, great things He hath done
Prayer
Last time we learned about the Ascension, when Jesus went back to Heaven. Today let’s learn about Pentecost; the coming of the Holy Ghost. There were fifty days between Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost. The Lord was on Earth for forty of those days. Just before He ascended, He raised His hands and blessed the disciples. However, the Bible never says that He lowered His hands, or stopped blessing them. He is in Heaven now, still blessing us.
There are three promises that Jesus made in the book of John about the coming of the Holy Spirit. The first is in John 14:26. Here, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the “Comforter,” and says that He will help us remember what Jesus taught in the past. The second is in John 15:26. Here the Lord gives the Holy Spirit another name: The Spirit of Truth. He said that He will teach us about Himself, Jesus, in the present. Finally, in John 16:13, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will show us things to come: the future. The Holy Spirit will help us with the past, the present, and the future. That’s precious!
Acts 1:9-14. After Jesus ascended, the disciples went back to Jerusalem. They all crowded into an upper room, along with the women, Mary, and Jesus’ brethren, and continued in prayer. You’ll notice that Mary was praying, too. The rest weren’t praying to her, like Catholics do today. It seems like this is how they spent the ten remaining days leading up to Pentecost.
Acts 2:1. The Jews had celebrated the feast of Pentecost each year for hundreds of years, but now the day “was fully come”; they didn’t just anticipate it. There would be no more need for the feast after this. They couldn’t have anticipated what would happen, though! We’ll see that next time.
We never read of anyone praying to the Holy Spirit in the Bible, but we need to be filled with Him as we do pray. It’s good to know that He will guide and direct us!
James 3
Our subject has changed. Chapter three has a lot to do with the tongue. Masters means teachers. Back than being a teacher was something that was sought after. James is saying that there is a responsibility with being a teacher and the condemnation that comes with it. Darby translates “condemnation” as “judgment”. We need to make sure we teach the truth. There are many in the world preaching a “prosperity gospel” which is not according to the truth. What will God say when we’ve lead people the wrong way saying it was based on the truth? Search out the truth, understand it, and walk in it. There are rewards as well as the judgment, but that shouldn’t be the reason we do it. We need to help each other and value what we receive. I don’t think this was written to frighten us. Practice what you preach. Are you doing what you say you should be doing? I don’t believe James was saying not to be a teacher.
No one can escape offending someone. No one is perfect, so I guess that shows us how much we offend in word. It also shows the importance of what you say. It’s easy to say something, but you can never take it back. It’s too late. The Spirit of God can keep us on the right track. We need to be in the Word of God.”Out of the heart the mouth speaketh.” It’s what you’re occupied with. Mr. Ravi Zacharias said they had a saying in India that said, “Whatever you’re filled with will spill out when you’re bumped”.
Being a teacher also comes with correction. We need to look at ourselves before speaking to correct. If we can’t keep our words right, can we keep our conduct right? The tongue is the most difficult to tame. It’s unique to humans out of God’s creation and the most difficult to control.
James uses many examples. With a bit and reigns you can make a horse do what you want.The governor of a of a boat can turn it wherever he wants with just the small helm. The small controls the big. The tongue is compared to the bit and helm. It’s potential impact is shown in them. I wonder if James was writing this in todays age if he world include what our thumbs did in texting and on social media. Is your tongue under the Holy Spirit or the flesh? James doesn’t pass this off lightly.
Hymn - Around the throne of God in Heaven
Prayer