Holy Spirit the Promised Gift
With Jesus’ last instruction still
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite of
mocking, threats & physical abuse.
The advance of the gospel is soon
opposed by adversaries;but prompt
discipline & resolute commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.
Lord, we’ll Be Open to Holy Spirit:
Wait for the Promise of the Father…
for… you shall be baptized with
the Holy Spirit… You Shall Receive
Power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you Shall
Be Witnesses to Me…(Acts 1:4-5,8)
In the last days… I will pour
out of My Spirit on all flesh…
and whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved (v17-21).
Having received from the Father the
promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see & hear…
Peter said: Repent & be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit (v33, 38).
They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, to fellowship
and to prayer… And the Lord added
to the church daily those who
were being saved (v42,47) Amen.
Lord Jesus, thanks for giving us
Your Holy Spirit when we accepted
You, to Be Empowered and Be
Your Witness. Give me ears to hear
and teach me how to listen to You.
Enable me to better understand
virtues like grace, forgiveness,
eternity; and most of all You.
Keep me from the distraction
of busyness and draw me closer
to You Lord more each day. Amen.
Spirit, reveal any obstacle between
us or any change of heart I need
to make? Fill me and empower
me in concrete ways that I know
I will never be the same again; for
I’m open & have Your way in me.
Fill me with whatever gift You
may offer; for I want to experience
the reality of Your presence. And
may Your character & Your ways
rub off on me so that my heart can
become more like Yours. Amen.
Father, help me be diligent to the
study of Your Word and teach me
so that I understand it perfectly.
Draw me to be in fellowship and
communion with other believers.
Help me plan time for prayer for it
often gets set aside by other things.
Enable me to maintain that direct
line to You by praying constantly as
You bring things to my mind. Amen