2 Samuel 20:14-21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 16:18
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CityLight Pastor Commentary:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus promised His disciples that His Holy Spirit would allow them to operate with power. Power is the Greek ‘dunamis,’ meaning ‘inherent power that resides in something [or someone] by virtue of its [his or her] nature’ (Strong’s #1411). The power that the Holy Spirit gives us is not the result of what we do or how hard we pray; it is the result of who Jesus Christ Is, as well as who we are in Him. Your ability to preach the Gospel and see your words followed by demonstrations of God’s power is not dependent on your ability as a speaker; rather it is a function of your understanding of who you are in Jesus Christ. The same Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead gives life to your mortal body (Rom 8:11)! Use the power that has been granted to you by God to preach the Gospel to the end of the earth, knowing that when you speak, God will show up!
Prayer:
Father, I thank you that You filled me with power when Your Son Jesus Christ ascended and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell not only with us, but inside of us. Make me like Stephen, who did such great signs and wonders among the people that they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:10)!