Week Five - Promise of the Spirit
Thursday — Hearts of Flesh
New Testament Scripture - Acts 2:37
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said… ‘Brothers, what should we do?’”
Old Testament Scripture - Ezekiel 36:26
“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you…”
Pierced Before Changed
Peter preaches Christ crucified and risen but the response is not applause.
It is an amazing conviction. The people are “cut to the heart.”
What did we learn? That the Spirit does not only empower speech. He penetrates conscience. Peter was just a Duh-ciple a few weeks prior and now he is an orator!
Think about it - where did all that evangelism power come from.... (only one right answer).
The Promise of New Hearts
When we look at Ezekiel we see he promised more than forgiveness. He promised replacement. A heart of stone removed. A heart of flesh given.
Pentecost fulfills that promise. That's why we celebrate - because the Spirit reshapes desire itself. True renewal is internal before it is behavioral.
I love this part - “Brothers, what should we do?” Remember the old Jackie Gleason show and when he was confounded by uncertainty he would say - "hubadah, hubadah." (C'mon - Some of you do! June Taylor dancers? I was only eight or nine and I remember)
That question reveals softened hearts. Conviction that was received through mercy. It awakens what was numb. They are now almost ready to build a church!
This is the secret of Pentecost - The throne of Christ must reach the interior life - the state of "hubadah, hubadah." The Spirit does not coerce. He transforms.
But here we are - thousands of years later - given the same gift and we think - hmm, I suddenly have a guilty conscience!
Prayer
Spirit of God,
Remove what has hardened in us.
Give us hearts that respond quickly and fully.
Let repentance lead us into joy.
Amen.
New Testament Scripture - Acts 2:37
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said… ‘Brothers, what should we do?’”
Old Testament Scripture - Ezekiel 36:26
“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you…”
Pierced Before Changed
Peter preaches Christ crucified and risen but the response is not applause.
It is an amazing conviction. The people are “cut to the heart.”
What did we learn? That the Spirit does not only empower speech. He penetrates conscience. Peter was just a Duh-ciple a few weeks prior and now he is an orator!
Think about it - where did all that evangelism power come from.... (only one right answer).
The Promise of New Hearts
When we look at Ezekiel we see he promised more than forgiveness. He promised replacement. A heart of stone removed. A heart of flesh given.
Pentecost fulfills that promise. That's why we celebrate - because the Spirit reshapes desire itself. True renewal is internal before it is behavioral.
I love this part - “Brothers, what should we do?” Remember the old Jackie Gleason show and when he was confounded by uncertainty he would say - "hubadah, hubadah." (C'mon - Some of you do! June Taylor dancers? I was only eight or nine and I remember)
That question reveals softened hearts. Conviction that was received through mercy. It awakens what was numb. They are now almost ready to build a church!
This is the secret of Pentecost - The throne of Christ must reach the interior life - the state of "hubadah, hubadah." The Spirit does not coerce. He transforms.
But here we are - thousands of years later - given the same gift and we think - hmm, I suddenly have a guilty conscience!
Prayer
Spirit of God,
Remove what has hardened in us.
Give us hearts that respond quickly and fully.
Let repentance lead us into joy.
Amen.
Posted in Easter Season 2026
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