Day 19 - Unending Power Source
Day 19 - Unending Power Source
Written By: Pat Hardin
SCRIPTURE
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
DEVOTIONAL
The key word in this sentence seems to be “power,” but what if it is actually “when?” Think about the implications of that thought, and ask yourself, “How many times have I acted outside of the Holy Spirit’s power?” That may explain why we were rejected by friends and family members as we attempted to explain our faith in Jesus to them. A heartfelt sermon that compelled you to take that next step and ask your co-worker if they knew where they were going when they died, led to you being embarrassed as they gave you an off-color response about partying in hell with some deceased rock and roll star. A couple of those types of response would relegate most of us to silence. We rationalize our silence by conjecturing that our actions are speaking louder than our words. This may very well be true, but Romans 10:17 clearly states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (ESV)
So, if we are exhorted to speak our faith, then why is it ignored or ridiculed so many times? Enough times to make us become a functional mute on the issue of faith? May I suggest that it is because we may have spoken out of turn? We have chosen our own timetable and shared from our own experience and power, rather than wait on the Holy Spirit to empower our speech at the exact right time. Remember the story of the family that came to the Grove through an invitation from a 4 year old? Well, I really wanted to share the Gospel and participate in a dramatic conversion story, so I asked the dad to join me for lunch. I prayed that morning for the Spirit’s power and guidance, yet when we met to eat I was prompted to ask rather than to tell. I didn’t share the Romans Road, but instead asked questions about his life and upbringing. An hour later, I sat amazed to find that this man had come to faith in Christ in a parking lot a couple of months earlier, and had been praying for God to send someone to show him how to proceed. He and his wife had decided to attend a local church the following Sunday, so when they were invited on Friday evening, it seemed to him like God was answering his prayer. Our lunch confirmed it, as we began to talk about how to grow in faith and follow the way of Jesus.
The power of the Holy Spirit was never more evident to me than that day, when I turned off my ability to converse and by the power of the Spirit was able to listen. Are you listening to the Holy Spirit and witnessing His power?
ACTION STEP
Prayerfully ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and to walk in His power as you interact with lost people. Identify one lost person in your sphere of influence and begin praying daily for the Holy Spirit to convict them and to show you the appropriate opportunity to share Christ’s love with them.
PRAYER TIME
As you pray this morning, who is the one person you feel needs Jesus the most? Pray for that person now and ask God to empower your witness to them.
Heavenly Father, please wipe away my iniquities and fill me with Your presence. Empower my life and my words to reflect You and bring You glory. Show me the best time and method to reach my friend, (insert name here) . Please give me favor and guide my speech, even if I am to be silent as they speak. Help me walk in your Spirit and power, Father. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
SCRIPTURE
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The key word in this sentence seems to be “power,” but what if it is actually “when?” Think about the implications of that thought, and ask yourself, “How many times have I acted outside of the Holy Spirit’s power?” That may explain why we were rejected by friends and family members as we attempted to explain our faith in Jesus to them. A heartfelt sermon that compelled you to take that next step and ask your co-worker if they knew where they were going when they died, led to you being embarrassed as they gave you an off-color response about partying in hell with some deceased rock and roll star. A couple of those types of response would relegate most of us to silence. We rationalize our silence by conjecturing that our actions are speaking louder than our words. This may very well be true, but Romans 10:17 clearly states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (ESV)
So, if we are exhorted to speak our faith, then why is it ignored or ridiculed so many times? Enough times to make us become a functional mute on the issue of faith? May I suggest that it is because we may have spoken out of turn? We have chosen our own timetable and shared from our own experience and power, rather than wait on the Holy Spirit to empower our speech at the exact right time. Remember the story of the family that came to the Grove through an invitation from a 4 year old? Well, I really wanted to share the Gospel and participate in a dramatic conversion story, so I asked the dad to join me for lunch. I prayed that morning for the Spirit’s power and guidance, yet when we met to eat I was prompted to ask rather than to tell. I didn’t share the Romans Road, but instead asked questions about his life and upbringing. An hour later, I sat amazed to find that this man had come to faith in Christ in a parking lot a couple of months earlier, and had been praying for God to send someone to show him how to proceed. He and his wife had decided to attend a local church the following Sunday, so when they were invited on Friday evening, it seemed to him like God was answering his prayer. Our lunch confirmed it, as we began to talk about how to grow in faith and follow the way of Jesus.
The power of the Holy Spirit was never more evident to me than that day, when I turned off my ability to converse and by the power of the Spirit was able to listen. Are you listening to the Holy Spirit and witnessing His power?
ACTION STEP
Prayerfully ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and to walk in His power as you interact with lost people. Identify one lost person in your sphere of influence and begin praying daily for the Holy Spirit to convict them and to show you the appropriate opportunity to share Christ’s love with them.
PRAYER TIME
As you pray this morning, who is the one person you feel needs Jesus the most? Pray for that person now and ask God to empower your witness to them.
Heavenly Father, please wipe away my iniquities and fill me with Your presence. Empower my life and my words to reflect You and bring You glory. Show me the best time and method to reach my friend, (insert name here) . Please give me favor and guide my speech, even if I am to be silent as they speak. Help me walk in your Spirit and power, Father. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Posted in 28 Days of Prayer and Fasting
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January
January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
February
February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus