grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily guide in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Friday, 20 February 2015 - "What's your dream, your vision?"

grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily guide in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Friday, 20 February 2015 - "What's your dream, your vision?"
Daily Scripture: Joel 2:27 You will know that I am with Isra’el

and that I am Adonai your God,

and that there is no other.

Then my people will never again be shamed.

14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!

15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:

17 ‘Adonai says:

“In the Last Days,

I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,

will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;

and they will prophesy.

Reflection Questions:
At the feast of Pentecost, just weeks after Jesus' crucifixion, skeptics tried to explain Spirit-filled Christians as a result of strong drink. The apostle Peter, unafraid after meeting the risen Christ, boldly quoted Joel 2 and said the Holy Spirit's striking descent fulfilled the prophet's words. Joel's prophecy, Peter emphasized, promised God's Spirit to old and young, male and female, even slaves. In other words, God has a dream, a purpose, for every person's life—including yours.

• Have you ever been tempted to feel that you are too old or too young for God to do much of anything with your life? Are there other factors (e.g. gender, education, health, financial status) that make you feel the Holy Spirit ought to find someone other than you to work through? How do Joel and Peter's all-inclusive words call you to look for what God wants to do through you?
• In Acts 1:4, Luke wrote that Jesus told his followers "not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, '…in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2 recorded how that promise came true. When have you needed to wait for God? Were you able to wait, or not? What did you learn through the experience?

Today's Prayer:
God in heaven, you kept your prophetic promise on Pentecost, as in the end you keep all your promises. Today I call on the name of the Lord for my salvation, and open my heart to the unique working of your Spirit in and through my life. Amen.Insight from Phil Antilla

Phil Antilla serves as the program director for Young Adult and College Ministry: www.cor.org/youngadults.
In Acts 2 we begin to hear the first stories about the early Church. Christians are gathering in the name of Jesus, breaking bread, sharing possessions, and according to Scripture, they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
But what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit of God with us is more than some mystical presence, a ghostlike genie who grantswishes or finds us parking spaces–no, the Spirit of God is life itself!
One of the words the Bible uses to describe Spirit is ruach (pronounced “roo-akh”), which also means “breath.” We remember that when God first created humans, God breathed breath, orruach, into them.
The Spirit of God is life itself.
John Wesley liked to use the word “energy” when referring to the work of the Spirit, because God’s presence with us is much more than companionship. It is an energy that makes us truly alive. It’s no surprise that when the Spirit of God comes upon the early Church in Acts 2, and they are filled with the life and the energy of the Holy Spirit, they begin to feel truly alive. In fact, they were so energetic about life that the locals assumed they were drunk!
But the truly remarkable thing about the coming of the Spirit is that it is for all people. Peter quotes the prophet Joel to describe how the Spirit of God is not exclusive—it falls on man and woman, young and old, rich and poor, afflicted and free.
We are all filled with the same Spirit:

1. The Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead,
2. the Spirit that opened the eyes of Paul,
3. the Spirit that filled the church with life then and today,
4. is the same Spirit that is with you now.

You have much to live for.
Although you may feel weak or tired, know that the Spirit of God is with you. With every breath, remember that God has made you alive. The energy of love has been poured into your heart, and the hope of God will not disappoint.Church of the Resurrection
gpsonline@cor.org |

13720 Roe Avenue

Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
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