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Going deeper...to go further

Daily Bible reading strengthens our relationship with God, nourishes our spirits and equips us to live a fruitful, effective life for Him.

This month we're reading scriptures about the Church living as a missional community. God's people are called, formed and sent to participate in His mission in the world. Each day includes an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading, a question for reflection and a daily prayer. As we read the Word it’s important that we apply what we read and pray it out over our lives. One of the way you can do this is by using the acronym SOAP. To find out more about SOAP watch this video.

Below you’ll see what we’re reading today. To go forward or back a day in our reading plan use the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons.

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Day 18 – A Missional Community is a Spirit-Filled Community

Reflect: “What happens when the Holy Spirit forms a community around Jesus? What characteristics of the early church stand out?”

Ezekiel 36:24-28

24"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.28You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Acts 2:1-47

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit1-2It was on the day of Pentecost, when they were all gathered together, that suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the blowing of a gale force wind, filling the place where they were meeting.3They saw, coming upon each of them, what appeared to be flames of fire.4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages that the Spirit gave them.5At this season, many God-fearing Jews from different nations were staying in Jerusalem.6The sound of the believers speaking in all these languages caused a crowd to gather. They were bewildered because each of them heard the believers speaking in their own native languages.7This so astounded them that they asked: "Surely all these men are Galileans, aren't they?8How is it possible, then, that we can hear them speaking in our own languages?9-11For among us are Parthians, Medes and Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the area of Libya near Cyrene. There are visitors from Rome (both Jews and those converted to Judaism) and also Cretans and Arabs. Yet we hear these men speaking of God's wonders in our own languages!"12They were so amazed and perplexed that they questioned among themselves: "What could this mean?"13However, there were some who ridiculed the believers suggesting: "They are merely drunk!"Peter explains to the crowd14Then Peter stepped forward, together with the other eleven apostles, and shouted to the crowd: "Fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem, listen carefully to me.15These men are not drunk as some of you suggest. After all, it is only nine o'clock in the morning!16No, what you see here is the fulfilment of the prophecy spoken by Joel. God says:17'In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Then your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will be given visions and your old men dreams.18In those days I will pour out My Spirit on My servants, both men and women, and they will prophesy.19I will demonstrate wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, fire and clouds of smoke.20The light of the sun will disappear and the moon will look like the colour of blood before the great and glorious day when the Lord comes.21All who call on the Lord's name will be saved!'22"Listen to this, people of Israel: God demonstrated who Jesus of Nazareth was by the miracles, wonders and signs He performed through Him. You are well aware of these things.23Yet God allowed this Man to be handed over to you because this was His pre-ordained purpose. And you, with the help of sinful men, had Him put to death by crucifixion.24But God freed Him from the barrier of death and raised Him back to life. It was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip!25Referring to Him, David said: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is by my side I shall never be shaken.26-27So my heart is full of joy and I praise God with my tongue. And my body can live in hope because You will not leave me among the dead, nor will You allow the body of Your Holy One to decay.28Instead, You have shown me the path of life and will fill me with joy in Your eternal presence.'29"My brothers, I tell you with authority that our forefather David died and was buried; his tomb is now here in Jerusalem.30But he spoke as a prophet, knowing that God had solemnly promised to place one of his descendants on his throne.31With foresight he spoke of Christ's resurrection, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor was His body left in the grave to decay.32Rather, God has raised this Jesus back to life; and we can all bear witness that this is absolutely true.33Now He has been exalted to heaven to be at God's right hand. As promised, the Father has given Him the authority to pour out the Holy Spirit in the way you can now both see and hear.34-35"It was not David who ascended into heaven and yet God said through him, 'Sit in the place of honour at My right hand until I cause Your enemies to be a footstool beneath Your feet.'36"So all the people of Israel need to be sure of this: God has made this Jesus, who you put to death on the cross, both Lord and Christ, your Messiah!"Three thousand repent and are baptised37These words were like an arrow to the heart of the people and they said to Peter and the apostles: "Brothers, what can we do?"38Peter answered: "All of you need to repent and be baptised. You need to turn to God and be immersed to show you have been purified from all your sins, made new and made one with Jesus Christ. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who will come to live in you.39For God's promise of His Spirit is for you, your children and even for other nations who have lived far from God, for all who the Lord our God chooses and calls to belong to Him."40Peter warned them at length of the consequences if they refused to repent and pleaded with them: "Save yourselves from the corruption of the world that is so evident now."41Those who responded to this message were baptised, about three thousand people on a single day!Devotion of the believers42They then devoted themselves to being taught God's Word by the apostles and to sharing their lives with one another in love. They were also committed to the breaking of bread, recalling all that Christ had done for them, and to praying together.43There was a sense of awe among them because of the miracles and wonderful works that God performed through the apostles.44All the believers lived as members of one body and shared whatever they had with one another.45They sold possessions and gave to everyone who was in need.46They continued to come together in the temple courts every day. They also met in one another's homes, sharing the Lord's Supper and eating their meals with glad and thankful hearts.47They praised God and were shown favour by everyone. And every day the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved.

Thank you Jesus, that You make us a people who know and live in Your love, proclaim Your good news, welcome the stranger, serve our neighbours and participate together in Your mission. Show us those You are reaching, and give us eyes to see, ears to hear, courage to respond and love for the people around us.

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