new wine or the coming of the kingdom?

Good morning everyone,
Our reading this morning begins Peter's sermon to the crowd as the Spirit moves the early Christians not only to speak other languages, but to proclaim the good news to others. Peter puts this amazing occurrence in the context of earlier prophesy. The prophet Joel said that when the end comes God would pour out the Spirit not just on a few prophets but on everyone. He argues that this is the very thing the people are seeing in front of them; God's Spirit at work in ordinary men and women. He also says that God's powerful action is an opportunity for everyone to turn to the Lord and seek God's healing. The invitation is always open and the Spirit calls us closer.

Our reading from Luke for this morning, especially for those who won't be able to join in worship this morning, shows Jesus fasting in the desert and facing temptation from Satan. Satan is crafty and he can quote scripture, but Jesus resists the devil through faithfulness, through trusting his connection to God and staying true to that. As James promises the early church, if we resist the devil he will flee from us. Sure enough, Satan is defeated by Jesus' firm stand. If we build a strong foundation in worship and faith we too can stand against the devil when he comes to tempt us, whatever form he wears when he comes.

Blessings on your morning; see you in church,
Sam

Sunday 2/21 Acts 2:14-21

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

*Sunday Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” 5Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” 9Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 11and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” 12Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.