Thursday, April 1, 2010

Devotional Day 32 for Thursday 4/1

Reading: Acts 2

The power of the Holy Spirit is poured out on a community devoted to prayer.  The Spirit is primarily given for two purposes both involving witness (to testify of what you have seen and heard).

1) To empower us to be witnesses of who Jesus is.  Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you AND you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)  Jesus has ascended into heaven, and he empowers us through the Spirit to be witnesses of who he is - the risen Son of God.

2) To bear witness in our hearts that we are children of God.  This is hugely profound  If we are not convinced we are sons and daughters of God, that we have been adopted into God's family because Jesus bought us out of the kingdom of darkness through his death on the cross, then we will never be a people that go and tell others.  It says that when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit they were telling of the mighty works of God.  (Acts 2:11)  What is more supernatural then knowing you have been adopted into God's family, and you are now a child of God.  Your brother is Jesus.  Your Father is God.  And, the Holy Spirit bears witness of this.

When the world sees a people who know and enjoy their place as children of God, they will too will ask about what they are seeing and hearing just as they did in Acts 2.  Creation is looking for the sons (and daughters) of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19) not another holy rock show.  The world is looking for people who are convinced of and enjoying a relationship with Father God not busy organizing new events.  The world is longing for something genuine.  Do you have what they long for?  Is the Spirit bearing witness?

"You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."  (Romans 8:15-16)

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