Ezekiel 39:29 “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

God indeed did not hide His face from Israel after the return from Babylon; He actually sent His Son. And on the Day of Pentecost He indeed poured out His Spirit on the house of Israel. However, even today there are tragically many who do not accept what God has provided. That’s the thing about any gift: it must be received to be operative. The majority of the physical descendants of Abraham today do not acknowledge Jesus as the promised Messiah, and many even in the Gentile Church are not open to the operation of the Holy Spirit today. As a parent, I know how it pains me when one of my children declines something I want to give them, particularly if it is something that cost me a good bit of effort, at least. I’m sure God is the same way. He desires intimacy (His “face”) with each of His children, but few take the time to meet with Him daily and receive spiritual nourishment from the Bible. He desires that each of His children be empowered as witnesses of Christ, (Acts 1:8) but again, far too few accept that gift. Oddly enough, many even of those who do receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit look at them as “merit badges,” (which they aren’t) instead of tools (which they are).

It’s been almost 40 years since I opened up to the flow of the Holy Spirit through me, and my intimacy with the Lord has grown right along with that. It’s hard even to imagine life without starting each day in prayer and the Word, and it’s a joy to recognize God speaking and acting through me by His Spirit. As a pastor, I seek to help others understand that the same or greater grace is available to them, but it has been a continuing frustration how few people really reach out to take hold of it. I am not to accuse or browbeat, but rather speak the truth in love, modeling an active devotional life and active witnessing, and pray that the eyes of their hearts be opened.

Father, thank You for all You have done in Shinsei no Sato over the years, and for what You are doing even now. I look forward to finding out what You have done during our 19-day absence. I pray that each of the believers would continue to grow in active hunger and thirst for you, starting and ending each day with You so that You will be free to do in and through them all that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!