2018 Weekly Devotional Week 4

Microsoft Word - 2018devo1.docx

Week 4

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” The Ascension 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was called the “Prince of preachers” for good reason. By the time he was 16 years old he was preaching to large crowds. The Metropolitan Tabernacle was built to hold the thousands that came each week to hear him preach. His sermons were so popular that they were sold in America. I simply cannot imagine Americans buying sermons today. His sermons are indeed eloquent and what is more fantastic is that they were often extemporaneous rather than scripted. Yet for all of his knowledge and eloquence Spurgeon was quick to credit what he called his powerhouse. Each service Spurgeon was to preach was covered in prayer. A dedicated group of individuals gathered in the basement of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come down in power and for sinners to be converted. Spurgeon knew that it was neither with “cleverness of speech” nor the “wisdom of the wise” that caused his ministry to grow. It was the Holy Spirit’s power!
Peter was able to serve the Lord in adverse conditions because of prayer. Peter was delivered from prison because the church was fervently praying for him. One of the most overlooked areas of ministry in the life of the church is its prayer ministry. One of the most necessary areas of prayer in the church is its prayer ministry. We are strengthened through prayer. We are enabled to serve through prayer. We can pray on behalf of others who are serving in a different capacity. If you are serving at Currey Creek, enlist people to pray for you. I would certainly encourage you to pray during each of our services for the Holy Spirit to come in power. As the old hymn declared, “All is vain unless the spirit of the Holy One comes down. Brethren pray and holy manna will be showered all around.”

In Christ,

John