Day 1: Acts 19: 1-7
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
In the passage in Acts, Paul asked the twelve men in Ephesus who claimed to believe in Jesus if they received the Holy Spirit when baptized. They confess they did not even know that the Holy Spirit existed. They further explain they were baptized by John’s baptism of repentance. This is such an important interaction because the men are then awakened to the fact that the Holy Spirit is now within them when Paul places his hands on them. Their lives were immediately changed. We can even look at this inauguration into the way of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit disrupting and deconstructing lives linguistically, like speaking in tongues, and ethically, like prophesying, and giving life to those who accept it.
First and foremost we have to understand that the Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is an equal and very active part of the Holy Trinity. Often people do not realize that the Holy Spirit is still moving in the world today. It might be believed that the Spirit is awaiting the coming of Christ to move again, or that the Spirit is activated in certain parts of your life. This is just not the case. One of my favorite books that I highly recommend as a great read is “Knowing the Spirit,” by Costi W. Hinn. Hinn describes the Spirit as “making moves, influencing minds, and changing lives at speeds that make lightspeed look like a snail’s pace.” I think it is important to note, too, that even if we know the Spirit, we should strive to HEAR the Holy Spirit. Most people think of the Holy Spirit as your conscience, or someone telling you to do certain things at certain times. I definitely have felt this when feeling as though I need to pray for someone or do something to exemplify God at a particular time. Now matter how you hear God, the Spirit is moving over you, equipping you with gifts that will help you, as well as those in need.
Another thing to mention in this is how Paul found these men. He was making his voyage to spread God’s word, and he knew Ephesus was a large city where he could make a difference. He found the men and they were in need of a spiritual awakening. We go about our lives, trying to stay in tune with what God has in store for us, and no matter how much we actually realize it, we are thoroughly helping people all around. When Jesus uses His hospitality (thanks Tony for the sermon), to show others what it is like to take care of people as though we are taking care of the Lord, it proves that, like Paul, we are called to bring people to knowledge of God. We should continue to pursue enlarging God’s kingdom, using the discernment of the Lord to stay on this right track.
Reflection:
How have you seen the Holy Spirit move in your life?
How are you continuing to live in the Holy Spirit?
How often do you brush off a calling and choose not to pursue the call?
How will you discern allowing the Holy Spirit to lead?
A prayer: God, pour your Holy Spirit over me, those I encounter, and those who are beyond me. I strive to be obedient to your call, listening to the guidance provided within my mind, heart, body, and soul. Blessed are those who join the path of Christ, and allow me to walk with You in everything I do. Amen.
Winter Retreat Day 2 - John 20:19-29
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
My bro Thomas being called “doubting Thomas” is really a crazy title in my opinion. When you look back in scripture, it’s hinted that Thomas was one of the most steadfast, dedicated and unwavering disciples. For example, when Lazarus died, Jesus told the disciples they were going to see Lazarus in Bethany. That was concerning because the people in that region had just tried to stone Jesus. But, Thomas got everyone on board by saying “we should go so if He dies, we die too.” Now I don’t know about you, but that is a WILD reason to go to a funeral. Thomas had to have cared deeply about Jesus in order to go to such lengths.
So, what happens when you’re Thomas and witness the death of Jesus? Scripture says Thomas wasn’t with the twelve disciples when Jesus appeared to them. The disciples were all hiding in fear but Thomas clearly was numb to that idea. How broken-hearted do you have to be where you don’t care what happens to you anymore? So, Jesus appears to the disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit, marking them with salvation and a spiritual renewal they need to believe in Him. But it took a week for Thomas to come around. Right away, the disciples tried to tell him “Bro, we saw Jesus” and Thomas was like “Cap, unless I see for myself.”
Now, Jesus, the man and legend He is, shows up on the scene a week later and is like, “Shalom Thomas, I’m not dead.” But then Jesus says, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Thomas is like us in so many ways. Following Jesus, we feel like we’re ready to tackle the world for Him and we keep it real with Him at times. But when Jesus looks like He isn’t showing up or we feel like all we did for Him was for nothing, that’s where we become like Thomas. So often, when God does not meet our expectations, we’re quick to stop looking for Him. Even when He shows up on the scene again. Doubting doesn’t mean you don’t have faith because Thomas clearly did. Doubting just reveals an area in life where you can expect to have an encounter with Jesus Himself. Now, it’s extremely rare to meet Jesus in the flesh but we can take the words “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” to heart.
Doubt is defined as “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.” So if you’re struggling with doubt, maybe believing God is real, God is personal, or that God is in that situation you’re worried about, there's a response offered in Scripture. In Mark 9:24, a man is struggling with the same thing and says, “I believe, help my unbelief.” And that’s exactly the response God wants from us. If you ask Jesus to help your belief in Him, He will. He will empower you with faith and a mind to stay focused on Him. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit! But don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. For Thomas, it took Jesus a week to show up and it might be the same with us. So if you’re having doubts, just remember that the Holy Spirit would love to draw near and show you that God is there.
Reflection questions:
Where are you experiencing doubt?
How are your doubts affecting your relationship with God?
Where’s an area of your life where you want to see God?
Spend a few minutes lifting up your doubts to Jesus and ask Him to help you grow your faith.
Prayer: Father, in this time, I lift my struggles, worries, and doubts to You. I feel them affecting me to where I have nowhere to turn to but You. Come fill me and lift this burden. I ask that you would draw me closer to Your heart and hold me in the palm of Your hand. Your word says in Romans 12: 2 to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. I ask that Your word would minister to me and mold me Your image. Holy Spirit, I ask that You would encounter me and empower me to glorify You. No matter what my struggle, I know You will prove to me the tools I need to walk free in your Name. If this burden is fleeting, please take it away. But, Holy Spirit, if it’s meant to teach me and guide me, do so with Your love and grace. I want to know You. In the name of Jesus. Amen
