Don't Listen to The Force, Luke
Whose voice are you listening to? | Holy Spirit | Pentecost Sunday | Random Thoughts | Jesus Christ | Christianity
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Silly Title, Powerful Truth
Hey, dear readers. A blessed Pentecost Sunday to you!
Okay, yeah, this post’s title might sound a little clickbait-y*, and it’s not about “Star Wars” nor about Luke Skywalker (yes, we’re fans of the three prequel movies). No, the title isn’t click bait, just silly on my part.
As many of you know, Dr. Luke, our dear brother in Christ, wrote not only the gospel of Luke, he also wrote The Acts of the Apostles (aka The Book of Acts). The second chapter of Acts is where we find the account of Pentecost, when Father God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the first loyal Jesus believers gathered in Jerusalem for the Festival of Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks.
Think of the post’s title this way: Dr. St. Luke is sending you a reminder, and closing it with his name:
Don’t listen to “the force”.
~Luke
He’s a Person, Not a “Force”
The Holy Spirit, that is.
Enough of my silliness. There are many voices in our world vying for our attention. Only one voice has true, eternal power to change lives and unite us with the unique, Divine One: God’s voice, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His voice is with us always through His scriptures and the Holy Spirit in us.
The Holy Spirit in us!
That’s why Pentecost Sunday fills me with joy, because of God’s wonderful, amazing gift of the Holy Spirit that He gives us in Jesus’ name, just as Jesus had told His disciples, before His crucifixion and resurrection, would happen.
John 14:16-17 (BSB)
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the powerful truth that when Jesus ascended to His Father’s presence, His followers didn’t lose God’s “voice”.
John 14:25-26 (BSB)
25 All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God keeps His promises. God’s voice is with us today through the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who continues to teach us from God’s scriptures and reminds us of His voice.
Listen to God’s Voice
I mentioned at the beginning that there are many voices competing for our attention and our response to what they’re saying. Some voices may say they speak for God. They may even encourage you to listen to “the force” (which is pagan, new age).
Who are you listening to?
John 10:27 (BSB)
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me..
Human shepherds spend dedicated time with every newborn lamb in their herd. They cuddle them and talk to them so the little lambs hear the shepherd’s voice and associate it with food, water, and safety.
God knows us intimately. He lovingly encourages us to follow Him. We spend time with Him through His word, in worship, and in prayer. Our goal as believers is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, so we come to know His voice.
What can we do about the other voices? We can ask God for help, knowing that the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom to guide us. We need to focus on our spiritual walk on a daily basis. And, we need to be aware of who the other voices are, such as:
The voice of the world (the voice of man)
The voice of the enemy (the voice of Satan)
The voice of self (yourself; do your thoughts line up with God’s?)
One of our pastors recommended these three steps to help us listen for, and hear, God’s voice:
Ask: What does the Bible say about the voice I’m hearing, and how does it line up with the word of God? (“What does the Bible say?”)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (BSB)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.Seek: The Holy Spirit bears witness in our lives, so seek wisdom through Him to help you discern if the other voices speak for God. Jesus said:
John 14:26 (BSB)
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.Reach out: Your Christian friends who love you can pray, and provide godly perspective and wise counsel. If you’re not sure of “a voice”, reach out to believers you trust and ask them what they think.
Learn More About Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
BibleProject has a very good—free—Bible study on Pentecost called “Why Is Pentecost Important?”
Why Is Pentecost Important? ← Select the link to check it out.
There’s a brief devotional for each day of this week, and the short videos are awesome.
May you grow in the joy of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name!
Maranatha, (again) come Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Happy Pentecost Sunday!
A short update
Dear Jenise, my wife, Adela, and I have been struck by a powerful virus, which we believe is a spiritual attack. Adela felt ill on Sunday, June 1st, and then I started feeling sick on Wednesday, the 4th. She is recovering now. I was hit a little harder, and I'm still not able to write. We welcome and cherish your prayers at this time. I'll have a lot to talk about shortly once this passes. The good news is that we've both been singing songs, praising the LORD, and rejoicing the whole time.
Thank you. We Love you, and may GOD abundantly bless you!
"But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory." 1 Peter 4:13 BSB
Yes, rejoice and come quickly, LORD Jesus.
1"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1-11
MIQEDEM || HARPU ("Be Still" - Psalm 46)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw04_vZ-F9c