Gifts of the Spirit are Available

Redeemed

Leviticus 25 and the book of Ruth lay the foundation of understanding our spiritual redemption that we have in Christ. We will be returned to our spiritual family and inherit the land. We are part of the new Israel therefor included in the promises made to Abraham.

Leviticus 25:1-7The 7thyear sabbath would provide rest for the land, the people, and the animals plus build their faith and confidence in Yahweh.

Leviticus 25:8-9 This was the only day the high priest entered the holy of holies for the forgiveness of sins.

Leviticus 25:10 In the 50thyear, year of jubilee (lobel– ram’s horn), they were to return to land and family.

21Deal honestly and obey God, and He will provide blessing for 3 years (6, 7, 8).

28Kinsmen – redeemer

Leviticus 26:34-35; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21Israel never kept the sabbaths.

1 Corinthians 15:5:2; Revelation 11:15When the last trumpet is sounded, Jesus will return, the dead will rise, the day of jubilee will begin, Israel will finally return to its land and family. The prophets foretold of Israel’s redemption.

Ruth 3:11-13; 4:3-6Redemption was for Ruth because she was a barren widow and for her husband’s land.

Romans 3:10-24; 6:1-6 We are no longer slaves to sin.

Ephesians 1:7; 2:1-10We are no longer slaves to the lust of the flesh and mind.

Ephesians 1:13-14 Our future redemption includes returning to God’s original family plan and inheriting the land.

Pentecost Reversing Babel

The outpouring of God’s spirit on Pentecost marked a massive step forward in God’s plans to redeem the world. At Babel, He had divided up humanity, confused the languages, and assigned the nations deputy rulers from His divine council. Through the work of His Messiah, Jesus, and the outpouring of the spirit, God has begun the process of taking the nations back that will ultimately culminate in His Kingdom coming on earth.

Acts 2:1-12 Fifty days after Christ’s crucifixion, his followers waited in Jerusalem for the promised spirit. Jews from many nations around the world were present.

Genesis 10:1-12 The table of nations includes seventy names of individuals who descended from Noah’s three sons.

Genesis 11:1-9 The world had united and cooperated to build a tower to make a name for themselves. God spoke to His divine council and then confused the languages.

Deuteronomy 32:7-9; 4:19-20 Centuries later, Moses referred to the Babel incident and said Yahweh divided up humankind according to the number of the gods.

Psalm 82:1-8 The gods that Yahweh put in charge of the nations acted corruptly and showed partiality to the wicked. They are under God’s judgement.

Acts 2:1-12 Pentecost marked the moment when God began to dwell within His people via the spirit. Furthermore, it initiates His effort to take the nations back.

Revelation 5:9-10 In the end, God will succeed. His kingdom will have saints from every tribe, language, people, and nation. They will reign as His priests upon the earth.

A Good Woman

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out howGod views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to thegoodness of God. There are numerous stories in the Bible about mothers who were goodwomen such as Hagar, Hannah, Esther, Ruth, and Elizabeth, alongside stories of non-mothers,those spiritual good women such as Miriam, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. In this sharing, the“mother of all the living” – Eve, the Proverbs 31 woman, and Abigail will exemplify God’sperspective of “a good woman”.

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views amother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God.

Psalm 139:13-14

These are beautiful words to think about (as David did) of how God wove us in our mother’s womb, and we can give thanks for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Ephesians 6:1-3

There is a spiritual and physical consequence to honoring our mothers and fathers. It does notsay honor your mother only on a designated day, but we are to give honor to our mothersevery day.

Proverbs 31:10; 25-26; 30

This proverb of wisdom and instruction: Who can find a good woman? She opens her mouthwith wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. This woman who fears the LORDshall be praised.

Genesis 1:1, 3, 10, 12;18, 21, 26, 31

Genesis 2:21-24

Genesis 3:20

Eve was very good in God’s creation and the mother of all the living.

The word “good” in the verses in Genesis are the Hebrew word tob. In the Greek, “good” iskalos agathos, chrestos and often appears in a nonmoral sense in Scripture, like in a goodappearance, good land, good gold, good soil, good wine.But most of the biblical uses of the word “good” have to do with moral qualities.

Psalm 86:5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness to allwho call upon You.

Psalm 34:8 O Taste and see that the LORD is good, how blessed is the man who takes refugein him;

In Scripture, His goodness appears most clearly in His dealings with people.

Psalm 26:3 Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life and I willdwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerable and patience, notknowing that the kindness (goodness) of God leads you to repentance?

In the Scripture, goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good,He is good to His people; when people are good, they behave decently toward each other, basedon God’s goodness to them.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you butto do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

In Galatians 5:22, goodness is a fruit of the Spirit.

1 Samuel 25:3, 10, 18-19, 22-33, 39

We have the biblical record of Abigail, a good woman of understanding. She trusted and hadfaith in the goodness of her God, Yahweh. Abigail ended up marrying King David and gave birthto their son, Chileab.

Fan into Flames the Gift of God

God invites us to join him in the work he is doing in the world. He equips us for good works by bestowing God-given talents, resources, and a heart to serve. Paul encouraged Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6 ESV). What gifts has God entrusted you with? How can you use them for his glory?

Ephesians 2:10 We aren’t saved by works, but we are saved for works. God invites us to join him in the work he is doing to repair the world.

Matthew 25:13-30 Like the master in the parable, one day Jesus will return to rule the world. When he comes, he will reward or reprimand his servants based on what they did with the resources entrusted to them.

Exodus 35:10, 30-35 and 1 Chronicles 15:22 God gave talent in art, music, or craftmanship to specific individuals so they could do work related to the Tabernacle. Throughout scripture, God entrusted people with God-given talents. God did this for a purpose − so they would be equipped for the work he called them to do.

Psalm 37:4; Philippians 2:13 God helps us to do the work he calls us to do. Not only that, but he helps us to have the desire to do it. He changes our hearts and gives us the desire to do his will.

1 Corinthians 12:4-20, 27-31 and 1 Peter 4:10-11 Christ has ascended into heaven. Metaphorically speaking, we are his hands and feet in the world today. We are the instruments he works through. We are each gifted with unique talents, entrusted with different resources, and blessed with different life experiences. Do not compare yourself to someone else. Each individual has his/her own role in the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 We comfort others with the comfort we received from God. God redeems our life experiences for his glory. What experiences have you gone through that God can use to bring deliverance, healing, and hope to another person going through the same thing?

2 Timothy 1:6-7 Fan into flames the gift of God. Prayerfully consider what God may be calling you to do in this season.

Confident Expectations

We want to join God in what He is doing in the world and not expect Him to join us in our plans. To participate in His work we must have an awareness of Him and expectations based upon His Words.

• God is at work in the world.
• Awareness of God’s presence
• Expectation based upon His Words

Acts 1:4-5; Luke 24:49 Expectations based upon God’s Word

Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 27:14; 62:5-6 Waiting is not passive.

Acts 2:1-4, 37 As they were doing God-centered things

Acts 3:1-12 They were looking to see where God was working, aware of His presence, and expecting results based upon His words. John 14:12-14; 15:26-27

Acts 4:1-13, 18-21

Matthew 10:19-20 Expectations based upon God’s Word

Acts 5:16-42; Luke 6:22-23

Dangerously placed expectations:

• What people promise
• Wrong doctrine, Romans 8:18
• Self nonbiblical desires

Expectations that do not become a reality then diminish confidence and faith.

Acts 10:1-20 God is at work in the world. Join Him in what He is doing, not the opposite.

Build the habit of acknowledging the presences of God.

God will enable you to do His work.

Philippians 2:13

Hebrews 13:5-6, 20-21

Romans 8:31

Psalm 118:6