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Daily Devotions *
—with Pastor Paul Owens
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Invitatory: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech 4:6)
Greetings
“When Jesus’ Holy Spirit gets to delivering the goods, he serves up something way better than a 30 pack of Milwaukee’s Best for you…”
Morning Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the almighty God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts through your blessed word, that he may rule and guide us according to your will; strengthen us in every trial and need; and lead us, past all error, into your truth; that we may stand fast in faith, increase in love and all good works, and by the sure hope of your grace, which you have obtained for us by your death, be saved eternally; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.” 1
Text for the day — Acts 2.1-13
[note: you can read Peter’s entire Pentecost sermon and the results of it in Acts 2. This reading is just the beginning]
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Prayer
Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for pouring our for us not cheap wine but the best wine of all: the blood of Jesus filled with his Holy Spirit. Make me and your whole church repent of being quiet when you compel us to speak of your deeds of power. So that we know what to say, speak your burning word to us even now…speak it in through my ears and all the way to my heart that I may be sweetly cut by Jesus. And then grant that I may speak Jesus to others in such a way that they may understand and know as their own the sweet cut that is life in Jesus’ name. I ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Reading from the Small Catechism:
“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”
What does this mean for us?
I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
(from The Small Catechism by Martin Luther)
Benediction:
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. Amen.”
(II Thess 2:16-17 )
1Viet Dietrich in Otto Dietz, Die Evangelien-Kooekten des Viet Dietrich, p. 57; Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress Publishers.
* There are many patterns for devotions. This pattern has been followed by God’s people for centuries.
**The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray. It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:
- T: thanksgiving
- R: repentance
- I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
- P: plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.