Word Of God:
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.”- John 15:10
Daily Devotion:
Yours for the Asking!
"God has not given us a spirit of timidity,but of power and of love and of sound mind" (2 Tim 1:7)
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (Acts 19:1,2). This was the very first question Paul asked a group of disciples. Not without reason. This is still the most important question for every Christian. The initial reception of the Spirit is called in the New Testament by various names: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 1:5), Enduement with power from on High (Lk 24:49), Filling (Acts 2:4), Receiving (Acts 2:38; 8:15) and Anointing (Acts 10:38). Oh the glorious "Promise of the Father!" (Acts 1:4). A rightful inheritance for every child of God!
Folks encounter certain common problems while seeking the Gift of the Spirit. Because these are not tackled, we have simply too many chronic seekers who are never able to appropriate this blessing.
First, the problem of fear. Some seekers are very apprehensive lest they would receive a counterfeit experience. This is absolutely unfounded. Christ predicted that people would have this fear while praying for the Holy Spirit. So He said, "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? ... If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Lk 11:11-13). Any comment needed for this passage?
Then the problem concerning faith. It is inconceivable that people think they need a greater and extraordinary faith to receive the Spirit than the one they exercised to receive Christ. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are God's parallel Gifts. The disciples were not men of super-faith when they were tarrying in the upper room (Mt 28:16,17; Mk 16:14; Lk 24:41). Nothing more than a basic faith was necessary (Jn 7:39). It is after that the Holy Spirit comes on us we grow strong in faith. Faith is one of His gifts (1 Cor 12:9).
Then there is feeling. Each person is different in his emotional make-up. Accordingly the outward expressions will differ. Some people jump or shake or fall flat when the Holy Spirit comes on them. But it is wrong to expect everyone to do it. Facts first, faith next and feelings last. This order is important.
Some feel that they are not holy enough to receive the Holy Spirit. The fact is that we don't receive the Spirit because we are holy, but in order to become holy! Hallelujah!
Prayer:
Praise to the LORD
O LORD, you are my God;I will exalt you and praise your name,for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things,things planned long ago.You have made the city a heap of rubble,the fortified town a ruin,the foreigners' stronghold a city no more;it will never be rebuilt.Therefore strong peoples will honor you;cities of ruthless nations will revere you.
You have been a refuge for the poor,a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert.You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,so the song of the ruthless is stilled. On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples,the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.This is the LORD, we trusted in him;let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." - Isaiah 25:1-9
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