Nougat 8

We’re in full celebration mode, folks… there are two major commemorative days to be recognized today. So join me first of all in offering –

Blessings to the men who are part of this ministry, and thanking God for the gift of you! May your mentoring continue to transform lives for God’s glory. Happy Father’s Day to you all. Also … in celebrating

Happy Birthday to the church! Happy Birthday to the Church! It is the Day of Pentecost! Happy birthday to the Church!

This second celebration is quite significant. Recognized as 50 days after Passover (or, in our instance, the Resurrection), it signifies the day the ‘church’ was birthed in fullness. This marked the move of God’s Spirit visibly manifesting on ‘ordinary people’, opening up salvation to us, adopted heirs. God’s Spirit and presence transformed people who weren’t confident to speak for Y’shua. God’s Spirit can do the same for us, too. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Acts 4:31 NIV

[31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Filled … With Boldness

Siblings, this excerpt occurred after the first visitation of God’s Spirit in Jerusalem, where Y’shua’s disciples awaited the fulfilment of that final gift promised by Y’shua. In fact, this pericope took place after Peter and John faced the Sanhedrin boldly, declaring quite intelligently the Word of the Lord.

This was significant. God’s Spirit had definitely visited those two. For, they, unlearned men, had not only spoken in new tongues at Pentecost. They also left the comfort of their meeting room, effected a healing miracle outside the temple, and defended the Gospel before senior theologians of the day! This was the news they shared after being released from custody of the top ranking officials, with those they had left behind.

Moreover, having recounted their escapade, Peter and John prayed for those with whom they shared. They asked God to embolden the others to speak, and and for the manifestation of God’s presence in their lives through healing, signs, and wonders (see verses 29 – 30). Siblings, the Lord did exactly that!

Self-Check

Have we ever prayed for God’s Spirit visibly manifesting in such a manner, whether in our own lives or in other people?

Application

The moment Peter and John prayed, there was a moving and shaking. The mighty move of God’s Spirit was no longer confined to a select few. Everyone present was filled with God’s Spirit, accompanied not by tongues – but boldness.

Siblings, this second wave of God’s Spirit was also corporate. But this was a sending forth. These needed confidence to speak that which they didn’t necessarily understand fully and courage to do so. This was also the fulfilment of Y’shua’s prophetic word in Luke 12:11-12, when the disciples were assured that God’s Spirit would give them the words to say when in the presence of leaders of synagogues. It also corroborates a pattern of God’s action with Moses at the time of his call (see Exodus 4:12).

Many amongst us adopted heirs have manifested God’s Spirit in recent times. Some of us have felt the stirring of God’s Spirit [probably like fire shut up in our bones (see Jeremiah 20:9)] but have tried to restrain God’s move. This may be due to a lack of understanding on our part, lack of confidence, or plain old fear.

Today, I urge us to be emboldened by God’s Spirit, speaking God’s Word in season, undiluted, and as directed. We live in a time when, despite the plethora of edifices, people are hungry, starving for the undiluted living Word of God. As God’s chosen and sent, the onus is on you and me to be bold in speaking for God in desert spaces.

This boldness is not the kind that’s natural to us. It comes by God’s grace, through God’s Spirit. I pray even now, like Peter and John did, that as of this moment when we read and reflect on this Nougat we will each receive God’s Spirit anew, preaching and teaching with boldness, healing, and performing miracles, signs, and wonders.

Happy Birthday to us all.

Point to Ponder

Is there something holding us back from receiving the gift of God’s Spirit and fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives?

If so, pray the prayer above. Otherwise, let’s get to work. Time’s a-wasting.

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May all we seek be found in Christ