GodSpeak for the Week after Pentecost Sunday – beginning May 20
“roo-akh!”
This week, we follow Pentecost Sunday by considering how God’s Holy Spirit (Hebrew = “roo-akh”) has animated our lives and the world around us.
Day 1…Read Ezekiel 37:1-5
- Consider this – when God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones and say: ‘…I will put breath in you, and you will come to life,’ – that word for “breath” in Hebrew is “roo-akh”.
- Consider this – “roo-akh” is the same word that gets used to refer to God’s Holy Spirit.
- Answer this – as such, what is God’s Holy Spirit doing…what does the Spirit have the power to do…to these dry bones?
- What is the effect of this life-giving breath? What would the “bones” be able to do, as a result of being resurrected?
Day 2…Read Ezekiel 37:7-10
- Consider this – Ezekiel prophesied as commanded by God.
- Answer this – and, what happened?
- What didn’t happen?
- Answer this – in v. 9, what do you think God means by: “Prophesy to the breath…”?
Day 3…Read Ezekiel 37:10-14
- Answer this – what do the “dry bones” represent?
- What is the problem the “dry bones” have?
- Answer this – so, what does having God’s “roo-akh” do for the bones?
Day 4…Read Acts 2:1-4
- Consider this – in v. 2 we hear: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven…”
- The Greek word for “wind” is “pno-ay” – and, it has the same meaning as the Hebrew word “roo-akh”.
- Answer this – what were the disciples doing…how were the disciples feeling before the wind came rushing in?
- What effect did the “pno-ay” have on them, then?
Day 5…Read John 15:26-27
- Consider this – the Greek word Jesus uses for “Advocate” carries the notion with it of one “summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
- Answer this – in these verses, what does the Advocate/Holy Spirit empower us to do?
- How is this similar to what God’s “roo-akh” empowered Ezekiel to do?
Day 6…Read John 16:5-15
- Answer this – how does Jesus describe the mood of His followers in v. 6?
- Consider this – Jesus then says, in v. 13, that when “the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into the truth.” The Greek word Jesus is using for “truth” carries the notion that the “truth” He speaks of has been, is and will always be true. While some may debate this Truth, there will never be any denial of it. It is what it is.
- Answer this – how does what Jesus is saying in vv. 13-14 compare to what God was doing with and through Ezekiel?
- Answer this – what gifts will the Advocate/Spirit of Truth convey?