Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Holy Spirit who Empowers for Mission

Acts 1: 1-11

V 8 “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.” 

In today’s passage for our devotion, we see that Jesus’ ministry did not stop with His ascension into heaven. Rather it was the beginnings of Christ building His Church through His apostles and by the works of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1 mentions that Jesus shared with the apostles the truths of the Kingdom of GOD over a forty-day period, this was so that the apostles would gain enough confidence about His resurrection and in the hope of GOD’s redemptive plan for mankind. But the apostles were still anxious and had many questions about how they would share the Good News with others if Jesus was not going to be around with them. Jesus reminds them of the promise that once He ascended into heaven from their midst, He would send them a Helper, an Advocate from the Father who would empower them on their mission of witnessing Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
This was a promise Jesus shared with the apostles even before His death. If you look at John 14: 26 Jesus says “… the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” So it didn’t matter if Jesus was not in their midst, the Holy Spirit would provide for them the counsel needed for their ministry. Jesus wanted the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit to come before they embarked on their mission because only the Spirit of GOD can help them speak the truths of the Gospel boldly, help them understand its true meaning, and teach them how to witness to others.
If you look at the events that occurred even before Jesus started His earthly ministry, each of the gospels Mathew, Mark, and Luke share the account of the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove during His baptism. A sign that Jesus’ ministry was also empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore for us as believers today, Acts 1:8 is also our assurance that we are not alone in our mission to share the Good News and that GOD has given us the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us to be effective witnesses for Christ. The same Holy Spirit that empowered the apostles over 2000 years ago is the same Spirit who will guide us on our journey of sharing the Good News with others and help us grow in our personal journey of Faith. 

Prayer

Lord our heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to grow in a deeper knowledge of You and helps us testify to the hope that is in Your Son with truth and boldness. In Jesus’ name, we pray, AMEN.
Thought for the Day
GOD gives His Holy Spirit freely to anyone who believes in His Son and is willing to receive it!

JULIE VARGHESE
HOREB MAR THOMA CHURCH, LOS ANGELES

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more