Chapter 2 - Come Holy Spirit

Chapter Two

Come Holy Spirit

"Thanks be to God" or "Praise the Lord"

  Our prayers often are directed at giving thanks or praise to Jesus as Lord and god.  We often end our prayers by invoking  "We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reins with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever, amen.”  Christians tend to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but do they really believe Jesus is God – their God?   Through Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the Catholic truth becomes a reality for us.  The Holy Spirit will help us to experience and realize that Jesus is alive and active in us when we actually receive the Lord Jesus.  Do you really believe Jesus is Lord and God?

Does the Lord’s Love Penetrate Your Soul

God created heaven and earth and saw that everything was good.  He so loved this world and all of his creation that He sent His Son into the world (Jn 3:16).  Jesus, Son of God, is Lord.  He cares for us and loves us.  For many people, God’s loving care seems too distant; God is in heaven, and we are here on the ground in another distant dimension.  Therefore, God the Father sent Jesus into this world.  And Jesus promised to be with us always:  “Go therefore and  make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Mt 28: 16-20)  Jesus keeps his promise every time the Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated and bread and wine is consecrated into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.  Do you feel God close to you in your daily life? 

Many different people Love is a “fuzzy” thing

Many people around the world have never heard of Jesus.  So, even though Jesus is God, this truth does not make any sense for all people because the Gospel has not been proclaimed and taught to them.  We have heard the Gospel, so Jesus is not a new truth for us.  However the teachings of Jesus must become a new reality in our own lives.   We must turn to God and focus on Jesus, and to feel and live every moment in a loving relationship with Jesus.  It is at best difficult to love someone (or something) that is not with us.  After all, “absence makes the heart grow weaker – not stronger.”  Behaviorally, what is love?  How does your love for God manifest itself?

  Not just an Event but an Experience of a Lifetime

 

During the course of our lives we have learned many different truths.  We’ve learned that George Washington was the first President of the United States.  We learned that Abraham Lincoln led the movement to free the slaves in the United States.  These are historical situations, backed up with hard evidence in documents and eye-witness accounts.  We also learned another truth:  that Jesus Christ, Son of God, came to earth to teach mankind and to redeem us of our sins through his passion and death.  We have some historical facts about the existence of Jesus.  We have some eye-witness accounts captured in writing from that time.  Yet, the truth of Jesus demands faith.   We can come to know about Washington and Lincoln from a host of historical sources, but never come to know these men personally.  Our relationship with Jesus can be totally different.  We can come to know Jesus personally.  When we have a firm desire to find God, He will come to us and reveal himself to us.  When we open the door to this relationship we find that we are not a slave to our God, but a son/daughter.  We experience an active and reciprocal love in which He is with us and cares for us.  Have you opened that door to really experience the Love of Jesus?

  

With the Lord

Therefore, “Praise the Lord!” is more than a greeting.  It is a goal and a major meaning of our live on earth.  We must know Jesus as our own God so we don’t meet Jesus as a stranger when we pass the threshold of death.   Understanding our faith will lead us to the experience of prayer.  Through faith we come to know Jesus.  Experiencing our Catholic religion enables us to come to know Jesus.  Our goal is to really meet Jesus in prayer.  He is alive and with us because he was resurrected.   We have His presence in the Eucharist, and in the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to develop and grow in our love and relationship with Jesus – in the flesh:  body, blood, soul and divinity with us always in our daily life.  Do you make every effort to experience Jesus at your side, 24/7?

 

The work of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, He will show himself to the apostles:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it.  But you know it, because it remains with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.  Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”  (Jn 14: 15-21) 

 

The Holy Spirit is sent to us to give us the wisdom to know the truth and to recognize the risen Jesus.  “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.  And you will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”  (Jn 15: 26-27) The Holy Spirit helps us to see the risen Jesus and to believe and be open to receive God’s love.  When we see Jesus we see him as God.  Do you prayerfully petition the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power of his love?  “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of Your love.  Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be crated.  And You shall renew the face of the earth.  O God, who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.”

 

Do you really believe Jesus is Lord

 To firmly believe that Jesus is really, truly, and fully God is a gift.  This is a gift for all mankind.  If we desire and open our hearts we will see and experience as Jesus as God in our lives.  With the gifts of the Holy Spirit we will be able to see through His grace and the eyes of faith.  First, we must listen to and believe in the teachings in the Gospel if we are to experience Jesus as the Lord of our lives.  We cannot preach or minister to others of a living Jesus when we do not have that experience for ourselves.  Second, we must have the desire to have Jesus as our Lord.  Do you have desire to have Jesus as your Lord? 

 What is required to embrace Jesus as Lord

A wise professor of interpersonal communication once said, “Feedback is a gift – given at some risk by the giver.”  The same is perhaps true of “Faith.”  (i.e., “Faith is a gift, given at some risk to the receiver.”  With the gift of faith comes a corresponding responsibility to nurture and grow the gift of faith; and then to share this gift with others.  “Go therefore and  make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  ”  (Mt 28: 16-20)

To believe and cherish Jesus as Lord means that we must willingly place our lives under the guidance of the Lord and his commandments.  We may not do what we desire when what we desire goes against that which Jesus wants us to do.  We must seek the will of God for all of our work.  We do this through prayer, actively listening to God, and reading the Bible for spiritual insights.  If we do this, Jesus will take care of us.  Because we belong to Him, He will not let us die but live in his heavenly kingdom for all eternity.  Do you believe that Jesus protects those who belong to him, and that as God, He has power over all things?    

Perfection is the Goal – Keep Your Eye on the Goal

We must be blessed with a strong determination to bring about behavior which demonstrates our love for Jesus and our determination to keep His commandments.  Since we exist in what has been termed the “human condition,” our results will often – if not always – have flaws and imperfections.  Many times we may not do what Jesus desires.  However, our goal must always be to meet His high expectations.  If we do, we will move in a positive direction toward that goal.  We must strive for perfection.  “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you , that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sunrise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet  your brothers only, what is unusual about that?  do not the pagans do the same? 

⁴⁸So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  (Mt 5: 43-48)  We all live with the “human condition.”  As such, we are imperfect.  We can and will make mistakes and fail to be perfect because of human weakness.  However, we may not choose the wrong goals.  Our goal must always be eternal life in the Father’s heavenly kingdom.  Do you keep your eye on the ultimate goal in all you think and do? 

 

Living with Jesus as Lord Requires God's Grace

It is impossible to approach God without grace, and grace requires prayer.  In other words, we can’t “come to Jesus.”  Jesus comes to us when we ask Him to do so.  This concept is captured well in the painting of Jesus knocking on a door which has no external doorknob or latch.  Jesus knocks, but we must open the door to welcome him into our heart.  Jesus comes to us in the gift of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  This is Jesus coming to our “door” and knocking.  It falls to us to put our hands in prayer and open the door.  Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a sacrament, but it is associated with the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.  It helps us to arouse the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit.  Are you prepared to open your “door” to Jesus?

This May Be A New Path for You

These concepts may seem new to you.   However, when people have chosen Jesus as Lord of their lives, they have come to realize that their lives have completely changed by their confession that Jesus is Lord.  The only way to find this inner peace in Jesus, with Jesus, is through prayer.   Seek and you will find.  Surrender to Jesus the part of your life that has been damaged.  Ask the Lord throughout the day to give you the healing grace to grow in faith, hope and love of God.  Offer Jesus a petition of your needs.  Be loyal to your prayer group.  Initial grace will be yours.  Are you ready for the first step in this journey?

 

THE PRACTICAL BIBLE LESSON

Receive Jesus

 Receive Jesus as Your Lord

Throughout the Book of Acts of the Apostles, we see constant reference to the receiving of the Holy Spirit which enables the apostles to see Jesus as Lord and Son of God.  The apostles teach, explain the life of Jesus and his commandments and His love.  The first six scripture readings are taken from the Book of Acts.  When choosing Jesus as Lord of your life, you will find that you will live in the Lord.  You become the princes and princesses of the Kingdom of Heaven.  You will be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the power of God.

 Day 1

Acts of the Apostles 2: 14-36

Peter’s Speech at Pentecost

 

         ^{Acts 2: 14} Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.  Let it be known to you, and listen to my words.  ¹⁵These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.  ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 

         ¹⁷It will come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh.  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  ¹⁸Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.  ¹⁹And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.  ²⁰The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, ²¹and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.

         ²²You who are Israelites, hear these words.  Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.  ²³This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.  ²⁴But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.  ²⁵For David says of him:

         I saw the Lord ever before me with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.  ²⁶Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, ²⁷because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.  ²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with the joy in your presence.

          ²⁹My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day.  ³⁰But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, ³¹he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.  ³²God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.  ³³Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear.  ³⁴For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said:  “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand ³⁵until I make your enemies your foot-stool.’”  ³⁶Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.

 

Acts 2: 14-36 explains the Spirit of Pentecost is a gift of Christ is God.   He cited David's prayer of trust in God, and explained that Jesus is God because of the grace of God the Father.

Prayer:  Almighty and loving Father, shower me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that I may understand and apply the Spirit of Pentecost.

 

 

Acts 2: 25-26  Look at the result of the reception of God - peace, joy and hope.

Prayer: Loving Father, thank peace, the joy, the hope of the Lord.

 

Acts 2: 27 Jesus never abandon you to the destructive forces of life. Prayer: My Lord Jesus, help me to believe in the love and power of God.

 

 

Acts 2: 28 In contrast, Jesus guide you on the right paths.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, provide me with confident steps on the path of God.

 

 

Acts 2: 29-31 and David made a prophecy about who is going to be. With you, all these things came true in Jesus' resurrection.

Prayer: Loving Father, I praise the risen Jesus in my life.
 

Acts 2: 32 risen Jesus can become your Lord through the documents that you have heard.

Prayer: Almighty Father, I pray that I may be a bold witness for the Lord

Acts 2: 33  What Jesus received from the Father, He poured out upon you when you receive His rights as God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, provide me with the wisdom and the fortitude to receive and use God's grace to serve my fellow men in your name.

Day 2

Acts of the Apostles 4: 23-30

Prayer of the Community

            ²³After their release they went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.  ²⁴And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, ²⁵you said by the holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant:

            Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples entertain folly?  ²⁶The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.

            ²⁷Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸todo what your hand and [your] will had long ago planned to take place.  ²⁹And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

Acts 4 :23-30 The apostles often experience the victory even on powerful leaders. Been released from prison, they openly proclaim the power of the right of Jesus.

 

Acts 4: 24 You can clearly see that your victory and success really is by the power of God's care for you?

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, please give me victory in this endeavor because any success I enjoy is due to God’s love for me.  

 

Acts 4: 25-26 Do you see the confusion and frustration resulting from the refusal to accept Jesus as Lord?

Prayer: Lord liberate me from confusion and fear.

 

 

Acts 4: 27 Do you see the nothingness of worldly power and the means to the success of the world?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please give me the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to understand that my spiritual successes will only be measured in your eternal kingdom.  

 

 

Acts 4: 28 Did you catch that even if you try to go against God, His plan is to bring success?

Prayer: My loving Father, I pray to fully understand that you will bring me success even if in my weakness go against your plan.

 

Acts 4: 29 Do you see Jesus as your real protection before those who intend to harm you? Prayer: My lord Jesus, I know you are my real protection from all who intend to bring me harm.

 

Acts 4: 30 Do you believe that Jesus would do wonders for you?

Prayer: Almighty God and Father, provide me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to fully recognize and thank you for all the blessings which you shower upon me every moment of every day.   

 Day 3

Acts of the Apostles 11: 19-26

The Church at Antioch

¹⁹Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews.  ²⁰There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.  ²¹The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.  ²²The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas [to go] to Antioch.  ²³When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, ²⁴for he was a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith.  And a large number of people were added to the Lord.  ²⁵Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.  For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Acts 11 :19-26 In the beginning, the apostolic witness to the Lord Jesus for the Jews alone. Gradually, they began to explain this mystery to the Gentiles. Even the lack of preparation the whole of the Old Testament, the Gentiles soon receive Jesus as Lord. (The proclamation, witness must extend to those who do not believe in God)

 

 

Acts 11: 19 Have you ever seen God take the good out of evil? The persecution has made news was spread far and wide.

Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, I believe in you, I know you do not do anything in vain, and I glorify you for all the blessings you provide me. 

 

 

Acts 11: 20 message for you and for the Greeks the same. Jesus is Lord. That is the Gospel.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I confess that you are my Lord.

 

 

Acts 11: 21 The hand of God is always with you when you believe and experience the conversion back.

Prayer: Almighty Father, thank you for your presence in my life and for providing me the grace to return fully and totally into your loving arms. 

 

 

Acts 11: 22  You will get much help these days. Some people will help you on the basics of teaching, others like Barnabas will bring encouragement.

Prayer: Sweet Jesus, thank you for providing me with an insightful and loving support group.

 

Acts 11: 23 solid determination and persistence of you to the right of Jesus is an important point. Prayer: Almighty Father, provide me with the grace and determination to persevere in the Lord.

 

 

Acts 11: 24 You will be one of the many people who belong to the Lord.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, thank you for connecting me with so many people who share my desire to strengthen my loving relationship with you.

 

 

Acts 11: 25  After the initial instructions, you need a long time to teach, lead continuously.

Prayer: Loving Father, give shower me with the grace to be persistent in seeking your guidance and enlightenment. 

Day 4

Acts of the Apostles 13: 44-49

Address to the Gentiles

⁴⁴On the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.  ⁴⁵When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.  ⁴⁶Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.  ⁴⁷For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’  ⁴⁸The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord.  All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, ⁴⁹and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region.

Acts 13: 44-49 Your complete return of the Lord is not willing to accept by his friends. Some do not accept your decision. Some others become jealous and angry. You need to continue to rejoice in your blessed treasure. Some friends are not ready for the big change you because you are no longer the same place at once. Someone is jealous even ridicule, for you is hypocrisy ... However, you pray for them, cheer the Lord and may they also be modified.

 
 

Acts 13: 44 "All City" can symbolize for all your talent and time. Are you determined to follow God completely?

Prayer: Lord Jesus be with me and give me the strength to remain dedicated to glorifying God. 

 

 

Acts 13: 45   Do not be surprised by the response you learned from others, because now you belong to Jesus completely.

Prayer:  My Lord, please keep strengthen my faith and keep me firmly on the road to your heavenly kingdom.   

 

 

 Acts 13: 46   Do not let negative criticism this hinder you in any way. Please continue to walk without fear.

Prayer: My God, please give me the strength to walk this new path to your kingdom without fear and with determination. 

 

 

 Acts 13: 47  You only knew the truth. Before you in the dark, but now Jesus is the light of your life.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the light in my life and for your constant presence. 

 

 

Acts 13: 48 Instead of fear, rejoice in the Lord and respond to the Word of God.

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus, for I rejoice in the Word of God.

 

 

 Acts 13: 49 You will become an instrument of God to bring the Gospel to others, even to those who criticize you.

Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, please shower me with the grace to boldly share the gospel with all in need and to be a resource to facilitate the your message with my fellow man. 

Day 5

Acts of the Apostles 19: 13-19

The Jewish Exorcists

¹³Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”  ¹⁴When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do this, ¹⁵the evil spirit said to them in reply, “Jesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?”  ¹⁶The person with the evil spirit then sprang at them and subdued them all.  He so overpowered them that theyfled naked and wounded from that house.  ¹⁷When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus, fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in great esteem.  ¹⁸Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.  ¹⁹Moreover, a large number of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in public.  They calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand silver pieces.

 

Acts 19: 13-19  Jesus' power expel the pagan and magical power (the power of the dark), which is often held as false gods. The hand witch Jews see the power of Paul, also called the name of Jesus (for other purposes). They failed because only Jesus out of their mouths. They never completely surrender their human right of Jesus on them. (The power of darkness can make the sacred sign, the sign, but always mysterious and does not bring peace, true spiritual healing. Stronger power of God and the chase is all right forces of darkness).

 

 

Acts 19: 13 shall call upon the name of Jesus is not enough. You can only share His power as He becomes your Lord and Savior.

Prayer: You are my Lord and Redeemer, Lord Jesus. 

 

 

Acts 19: 14-15   What you receive Jesus as your Lord combined so intimately that Jesus sees you as a person of God himself.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the wisdom and the courage to receive you as my Lord and Savior.

 

 

Acts 19: 16   You will not be the power of evil overcome, but you will win.

Prayer: to believe in the power of God).

 

 

Acts 19: 17   Your victory in the name of Jesus will spread a message and Jesus will be glorified.

Prayer: Almighty God and Father, may I continue to grow in my faith, hope and love so that I may be able to spread your message to the glory of Jesus’ name.

 

 

Acts 19: 18   If you have ever been involved with magic pagan power and then sincerely confess these sins and from give explicitly those acts.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, free me from all the evil influences of Satan, especially all temptations to seek knowledge of the dark forces.

 

 

Acts 19: 19   You have to clean your house cleaner, remove the books, things are not under the control of Jesus.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, give me the grace and courage to purge my environment of all things which are not under the control of Jesus.

 

Day 6

Acts of the Apostles 20: 17-27

Paul’s Farewell Speech at Miletus

 

¹⁷From Miletus he had the presbyters of the church at Ephesus summoned.  ¹⁸When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia.  ¹⁹I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, ²⁰and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes.  ²¹I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.  ²²But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.  What will happen to me there I do not know, ²³except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me.  ²⁴Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace.  ²⁵But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again.  ²⁶And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, ²⁷for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.

Acts 20: 17-27  When it comes to the high priest, Paul reiterated his basic teachings. He also reminded them of how to live.  Both of his life preaching and confession of Jesus as Lord. (The accepted Jesus as God demonstrated through words and deeds).

 

Acts 20: 18   You cannot talk about Jesus as Lord unless you first of all to live according to His rights as God on your life.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I desire to live under your word and so ask you to give me the grace and strength to know your desires for my life and the fortitude to pursue those goals.

 

Acts 20: 20  You cannot dilute the message that you have to completely live by the Word of God.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit and bring your light of wisdom so that I may read and internalize the Word of God.

 

 

Acts 20: 21  You must repent of past and future under the rule of Jesus.

Prayer: O my God, I have deep and sincere sorrow for all of the times in my life when I have given in to the temptations of Satan and sinned against you, in my thoughts, in my words, and in my deeds.  With your grace I resolve to avoid all occasions of sin and to sin no more.

 

 

Acts 20: 22-23  Even though you do not know what will happen before, but the Holy Spirit is always prepares you for the future.

Prayer: O Holy Spirit, I trust in your presence and your guidance.  I know you are with me constantly and I resolve to be open to your light.

 

 

 Acts 20: 24  Jesus must come first. You will see the power and the status of the world is passing. Try to complete the mission of God.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, help me to differentiate between the reality of eternal life in your heavenly kingdom and the immediate gratifications of this temporal life on earth.

 

 

Acts 20: 25  Happiness will belong to you if you can say: "I never narrowed the proclamation ... whole counsel of God ".

Prayer: Almighty Father, I glorify you and will be persistent in regularly proclaiming your good news. 

Day 7

Philippians 2: 1-11

Plea for Unity and Humility

                ¹If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, ²complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.  ³Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, ⁴each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. 

            ⁵Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  ⁷Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, ⁸he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  ⁹Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Phil 2: 5-11  The whole teaching of Jesus is published in its entirety and poetry through this song is used in the rite of Christian Baptism. The opening ceremony initiates the whole power of the sacrament of Baptism. When receiving Jesus as Lord in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, you need to remove all constraints within you so the power of God can spring free in your soul.

 

 

Phil 2: 5 Baptism in the Holy Spirit changes your whole attitude.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit and enlighten me with an attitude of change.

 

 

 Phil 2: 6 You must not cling to the advantages and power.

Prayer: O Holy Spirit, break me from the bonds that hold me to this temporal existence and empty from me all things solely of this world so I may be filled with the glory of your heavenly kingdom. 

 

 

Phil 2: 7 You are called a "lift off" and "surrender" your people.

Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, give me the strength to surrender myself to your divine will.

 

 

Phil 2: 8 In all options, you need to obey the will of God for you.

Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, give me the grace to courageously obey your will in all things.

 

 

Phil 2: 9 When loyalty to Jesus, you will see the power of high praise God lift you far more than you can do it yourself.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I praise you, I glorify you, I love you.  Have mercy on me and forgive my sins.  Protect me from the power of Satan and save me from the fires of hell.  In your mercy, Lord, lead me and all souls to the glory of your heavenly kingdom, particularly those most in need of your mercy.

 

 

Phil 2: 10 is your greatest dignity knees for Jesus.

Prayer: Father, send me the graces that will fill me with piety and humility.

 

 

Phil 2: 11 gift of your everyday is to confess Jesus as Lord.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I shall live every moment of every day in greatest appreciation of your love for me and as an acknowledgement of you as my Lord.