From September 17, 2018 – September 23, 2018 we are praying and fasting 12 hours per day (6am – 6pm) only drinking water.
Day 5: September 21, 2018
Read: Acts 1:4 – 8
Memory verse: Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In John 16:7 Jesus informed His disciples that it was to their advantage that He return to The Father. It was only after Jesus returned to The Father that he could send back Holy Spirit to permanently indwell within believers. The Holy Spirit was the promised Comforter (John 14:26) Who would, in addition to helping the disciples remember what Jesus had taught, also empower them to successfully live it out. In order to receive The promised Holy Spirit, the disciples had to all commit to remaining in the same place until He came.
While the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit confirms that believers do, indeed, belong to God (Ephesians 1:13 – 14), the power of Holy Spirit is to be used to help grow the Kingdom of God. Growing the Kingdom of God is the primary reason why Jesus said in our memory verse that once Holy Ghost indwells within His believers, they would receive power to effectively witness in Jerusalem (among their family), in Judea (among their friends), in Samaria (among their foes) and to the uttermost part of the earth (among foreigners). The indwelling of Holy Spirit takes place upon our conversion to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives. It is this conversion that admits us into the body of Christ. The body of Christ makes up the church (1 Corinthians 1:12 – 28).
The church is not where we go, the church is who those who have Holy Spirit dwelling within us are. Since The Spirit of God dwells within us, we should live like He is inside of us at all times and be the church that makes Him proud.
Pray today:
1. With appreciation that God literally lives within us through the Person of
His Holy Spirit,
2. To be a living witness for Jesus everywhere we go using the power of Holy Spirit,
and
3. Thanking God that His Holy Spirit will help us remember and live out the
Word of God so that we individually and collectively be THAT church
After you read and pray throughout the day, be sure to take time to listen for God to respond. Keep a journal to record what you hear Him say.
