Today’s Reading:
Acts 4: 13-37
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, sayings, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.”
(Acts 4: 13-20)
Song
Come Holy Spirit I need You
Come sweet Spirit I pray
Come in your splendour and power
Come in your own special way
The Bible records in Acts 4: 13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
They had been with the Anointed One who, according to Isaiah 11: 2 was filled with The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. They were speaking with authority and boldness because they had received the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1: 8). “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After Peter and John visited the temple and the lame man by the Beautiful Gate was healed, they preached to all the people about the Saviour. The threatening and command not to mention the name of Jesus did not stop them from speaking about Jesus because the power of the Holy Spirit was working in them.
The Holy Spirit is requisite for our work for Him. Luke 4:14 records that Jesus Christ began His ministry "in the power of the Spirit." Luke 1:35 identifies the Holy Spirit with "the power of the Highest." Speaking of the Holy Spirit, which would be given to His followers after His death, Jesus told them, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." (Acts 1:8). Peter relates how "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, [and Jesus] went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). The Holy Spirit is here associated with the power by which God was with Him— the power through which Jesus Christ performed mighty miracles during His earthly, physical ministry. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God's power actively working in His servants.
The Bible also shows that God inspires and guides His prophets and servants through the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter noted that "prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). Paul stated that God's plan had been "revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets" (Ephesians:3:5) and that his own teachings were inspired by the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13). Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, explains that God through His Spirit has revealed to us the things which He has prepared for those who love Him. God the Father is the Revealer, working through His Spirit in those who serve Him. Jesus Christ told His followers that the Holy Spirit, which the Father would send to them, "will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26). It is through God's Spirit within us that we can gain spiritual understanding and insight. (1 Corinthians 2:11-12). For what man knows the things of a man except for the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.).
Brethren, you must desire the Holy Spirit. John 15: 5 “I am the Vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Yes, it is by the Holy Spirit. The first thing you need to do to have the Holy Spirit is to surrender your life to Jesus. Thereafter, you will receive the Holy Spirit and you shall be empowered to do exploits by the Spirit in the name of Jesus. You need to be born again ... (1 John 4: 13) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit.). If you have not surrendered your life to Him, please do it now. He is inviting you…. Simply confess your sins, ask for mercy, and invite Jesus into your life. He will receive you and you will begin to enjoy the gift of the Holy Spirit. Shalom!
IRETI SOLOLA
Prayer:
Thank you Oh God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you because You have not left us as orphans, in Jesus name.
Father, forgive us our sins and give us the grace never to grieve the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Father Lord, send us Your cleansing rain, in Jesus name.
Holy Spirit, our Friend, and Comforter, please let the heaven be opened, and rain Your Spirit upon our lives and Your Church, in Jesus name.
Holy Spirit, our Living Hope, we long for Your glory and power. Our hearts long to be filled with Your presence, like a mighty rushing wind, fill our environment and baptize us with Your fire, in Jesus name.
Father Lord, revive Your Church by Your power, in Jesus name.
Holy Spirit divine move in Nigeria and let righteousness fill the nation, in Jesus name.
Comments