Rhapsody of Realities 11 July
Scripture: Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel…
While praying many years ago, precisely in 1981, I had some encounters with the Holy Spirit that changed my life. I began to experience a fellowship and knowledge of the Holy Spirit that made His power in my life more real and inherently applicable in life’s situations. I had read about the missionaries who came from Europe to Africa. Some of them spent years trying to get converts to Christ without much results. They tried; some even died in the process, but it didn’t work. The problem was that they came with religion; they came with a nice message that exhibited the kindness of Christ. That was great, but they needed more than just a nice message.
No matter how much you love Jesus and how much you’re touched by the need to preach the Gospel to sinners in the world, if you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit, it won’t work. That’s why Jesus said to His disciples, “…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Anyone can say, “I love Jesus, and I’ll serve Him all my life!” Peter also said the same thing. He said to the Master, “…Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you” (Matthew 26:33 NLT). He emphasized, “…Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you…” (Matthew 26:35 NLT). Of course, it only took some soldiers, a little girl, and some other fellow to make Peter deny Jesus few hours later. But after Peter received the Holy Spirit, His fears disappeared.
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
The once “unlearned fisherman” began to say and do supernatural things, so much so that in one day, through his preaching, three thousand souls were converted! If you’ve received the Holy Spirit already, that’s just the beginning. You have to know Him; you have to walk in and with Him. He has to become a constant part of your life. Remember, the power of our message isn’t in the shouting, nor is it in the ability to use many words. The power of our message is the Holy Spirit: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
CONFESSION: Dear Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in me and guides me in the path of your perfect will for me. I’m turned on from within by His divine power, which energizes me and fills me with courage to reach my world with the Gospel, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Thessalonians 1:5 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
Romans 15:15-19 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 21:1-16 & Job 25-28
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 31
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – The Holy Spirit – The Power of Our Message – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 11 July 2022
