Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 128 – Acts 1:4-8 – When The Holy Spirit Comes On You – Growing As Disciples
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NIV)
Power
That is what I lack, without a doubt. What do you lack? I lack power. What kind of power do you lack? What kind of power do you want? I lack the power to go and do your will. I lack the power to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I lack the power to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Well, you are in the right place and you are in the right frame of mind. You have wise thoughts within you. How so? Knowing that you are powerless is a very good place to start. Realizing that you cannot go and do my will, accomplish my purposes, and fulfill my plans, or bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, without my power working in and through is a very valuable lesson to have learned. I have been a very slow learner. You have learned a lesson that some never learn. So, be thankful that you have learned it well. The learning has not come easy. I have labored fruitlessly under my own power for many days and months and even years. Like I said, you have now learned of your own powerlessness in ways that you will never forget.
So, now that you have learned of your own powerlessness what will you do next? I will wait for and rely on your power. I will not run ahead of you, nor will I trail behind you. I will remain in your presence. I will receive your instruction. I will follow your guidance. I will ask you to fill me with your power so I will be able to do the work that you will give me to do for you. What kind of work will I ask you to do for me? You will ask me to be your witness both near and far. You will ask me to be your witness to people like and unlike me. You will use me to minister to others all around me no matter where I am. You will work in and through me to me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You will make it so I can bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will do in and through me what I could never do by myself. Yes, that is true. Yes, that is right. Yes, that is certain. Follow me now. Yes, Holy Spirit, I will. That will be very good.
Holy Spirit, often I have run ahead or trailed behind you. What a fruitless mistake that has been. Now, I will wait for and rely on you to powerfully work in and through me. Guide me. Use me. Help me to minster to others both near and far and like and unlike me. Amen
Key Question… How are you waiting for and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work of ministry?
Living It Out… Wait for and rely on the Holy Spirit to powerfully work in and through you to minister to others.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will empower you to minister to others as you wait for and rely on Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Holy Spirit to work in and through you.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait for and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to do the work of ministry.
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