Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for June 15

THE BLESSING AND BEAUTY OF UNITY

From: June 15, 2023

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalms 133:1 NLT).

Psalm 133 was written by David and is one of the fifteen psalms with the inscription, “Songs of Ascent.” Psalms 120-134 were to be sung while ascending up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to worship. In this way, worshipers brought their praise with them to the Temple. In Psalm 133, it is the unity and “harmony” of believers gathered that is celebrated.

David wrote that believers dwelling together in unity is “wonderful.” In other words, it is beneficial and therefore a blessing from God. He also wrote that it is “pleasant,” describing the favorable feeling and beauty of experiencing such harmony. He compared the pleasant experience of such accord as being like the precious anointing oil poured on Aaron’s head when Moses anointed him to be the high priest. The composition of this precious oil was made up of liquid myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and cassia with olive oil (See Ex. 30:23-24). The unified combination of these different spices and oil blended together would surely fill the whole Tabernacle with a wonderful fragrance. This expensive anointing oil was poured out so profusely upon Aaron’s head that it ran down from the top of his head, upon his beard, and even dripping down to the hem of his robes. This, David wrote, is what a blessing, what a beautiful thing it is for believers to gather together to worship in unity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, when Your church gathers together in unity for worship, we experience a foretaste of heaven. The abiding presence of Your Spirit is like the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head. When You pour out the Spirit upon us in unity, O how good and pleasant it is! Such is the future that awaits us with You. But for now, we ask that You strengthen us to keep our focus on Jesus, who is the focus of our unity. For in Christ we are one. May those far from You in this world be attracted to the good and pleasant unity of our love in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

‘The Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them”‘ (Acts 10:19-20 NLT).

From: June 15, 2022

BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL

Around noon, the apostle Peter went up onto the roof of the house he was visiting to pray. Morning, midday, and evening prayers were his habit. On this day, the Lord gave Peter a thrice-repeated vision that prepared him to meet with the men that would take him to share the gospel with a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. The Spirit told Peter not to hesitate to go with them. And Peter obeyed.

At the same time, the Lord had already been at work in the life of Cornelius, preparing him to hear the gospel. The Lord had even sent an angel to have Cornelius summon Peter that he might hear the message God had for him. And Cornelius obeyed.

This story reveals important considerations for gospel sharing. First, it shows the importance of the Spirit’s work and leadership in spreading the gospel. For the Spirit was already at work preparing Cornelius to hear the good news. And the Spirit was active in leading Peter to carry the gospel to a Gentile and a Roman Centurion at that. Certainly there were still plenty of Jews who hadn’t heard, but yet the Spirit instructed Peter to go and he obeyed.

This leads to a second important consideration in this story, namely that Peter followed the Spirit’s leading in his gospel sharing. He may have thought, “I’ve got a good thing going here in Joppa, staying at Simon the Tanner’s house. The people of Joppa seem receptive. Simon even has his wife preparing my meals. I think the best strategy is to make Joppa my home base for gospel spreading.”

But that’s not what Peter thought, or if it was, it’s not what he did. No, he heard and obeyed the Spirit.

How are we being led by the Spirit to take the gospel where He is already at work preparing hearts?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are listening. Holy Spirit speak. Show us where the Father is already at work that we might join Him there. Help us to be ready to go where You send us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalms 133:1 HCSB).

From: June 15, 2021

THE BLESSING AND BEAUTY OF UNITY

Psalm 133 was written by David and is one of the fifteen psalms with the inscription, “Songs of Ascent.” These psalms (120-134) were to be sung while ascending up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to worship. In this way, worshipers brought their praise with them to the Temple. In Psalm 133, it is the unity and “harmony” of believers gathered that is celebrated. 

David wrote that believers dwelling together in unity is “good.” In other words, it is beneficial and therefore a blessing from God. He also wrote that it is “pleasant,” describing the favorable feeling and beauty of experiencing such harmony. He compared the pleasant experience of such accord as being like the precious anointing oil poured on Aaron’s head when Moses anointed him to be the high priest. The composition of this precious oil was made up of liquid myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and cassia with olive oil (See Ex. 30:23-24). The unified combination of these different spices and oil blended together would surely fill the whole Tabernacle with a wonderful fragrance. This expensive anointing oil was poured out so profusely upon Aaron’s head that it ran down from the top of his head, upon his beard, and even dripping down to the hem of his robes. This, David wrote, is what a blessing, what a beautiful thing it is for believers to gather together to worship in unity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, when Your church gathers together in unity for worship, we experience a foretaste of heaven. The abiding presence of Your Spirit is like the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head. When You pour out the Spirit upon us in unity, O how good and pleasant it is! Such is the future that awaits us with You. But for now, we ask that You strengthen us to keep our focus on Jesus, who is the focus of our unity. For in Christ we are one. May those far from You in this world be attracted to the good and pleasant unity of our love in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.” (Psalms 133:1-2 NKJV).

From: June 15, 2020

THE BLESSING AND BEAUTY OF UNITY

Psalm 133 was written by David and is one of the fifteen psalms with the inscription, “Songs of Ascent.” These psalms (120-134) were to be sung while ascending up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to worship. In this way, worshipers brought their praise with them to the Temple. In Psalm 133, it is the unity of believers gathered that is celebrated.

David wrote that believers dwelling together in unity is “good.” In other words, it is beneficial and therefore a blessing from God. He also wrote that it is “pleasant,” describing the favorable feeling and beauty of experiencing such harmony. He compared the pleasant experience of such accord as being like the precious anointing oil poured on Aaron’s head when Moses anointed him to be the high priest. The composition of this precious oil was made up of liquid myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and cassia with olive oil (See Ex. 30:23-24). The unified combination of these different spices and oil blended together would surely fill the whole house with a wonderful fragrance. This expensive anointing oil was poured out so profusely upon Aaron’s head that it ran down from the top of his head, upon his beard, and even dripping down to the hem of his robes. This, David wrote, is what a blessing, what a beautiful thing it is for believers to gather together to worship in unity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, when Your church gathers together in unity for worship, we experience a foretaste of heaven. The abiding presence of Your Spirit is like the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head. When You pour out the Spirit upon us in unity, O how good and pleasant it is! Such is the future that awaits us with You. But for now, we ask that You strengthen us to keep our focus on Jesus, who is the focus of our unity. For in Christ we are one. May those far from You in this world be attracted to the good and pleasant unity of our love in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

“Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (Acts 10:15 NLT).

From: June 15, 2018

DISTINCTION BETWEEN MEN AND MEATS REMOVED

While praying on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner, Peter saw a vision of ceremonially “unclean” foods lowered down from heaven on a sheet. The Lord told him to “kill and eat.” Peter refused, saying it was against Jewish law. But the Lord told Peter not to call it unclean now that God had called it clean. This vision was to prepare Peter to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, for the Roman captain, Cornelius, had already sent men to bring him.

The distinction between Jew and Gentile, along with the ceremonial laws that separated the Jews from other peoples, was now removed. The gospel would remove the distinction, making all men and women equal before the cross of Christ. As the apostle Paul would write, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28).

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 NKJV).

From: June 15, 2017

Not uniformity, as some would see it, but unity. The first demands outward conformity, but the second is oneness of heart that allows for diversity. For “there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:4). This “good and pleasant” unity cannot be accomplished by human means, but is the work of the Holy Spirit. As the apostle Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). This unity comes from having a new spiritual identity in Christ.

“The Holy Spirit said to him, ‘Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.'” (Acts 10:19)

From: June 15, 2012

Peter knew the adventure of being led by the Spirit. He obeyed the Spirit’s voice and took the gospel to the Roman soldier, Cornelius. God still speaks to those who have ears to hear.

“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray” (Acts 10:9)

From: June 15, 2011

Peter’s strategy for reaching Romans- pray and obey. He prayed on the roof of Simon the Tanner in the port city of Joppa while Cornelius the Centurion sent three men to invite him to carry the gospel to his house.