God’s Word Says….

Acts 19:1-4 (NCV)

¹ ….. Paul was visiting some places on the way to Ephesus. There he found some followers ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said, “We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit.” ³ So he asked, “What kind of baptism did you have?” They said, “It was the baptism that John taught.”

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of changed hearts and lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”

 My Thoughts…..

I believe that Paul could just as easily entered into your church or mine and ask the same question as he posed in verse 2, and I’m afraid that he might receive a multitude of answers. This poses a very real challenge for us, for we find it easy and very necessary to share the Gospel with our friends that don’t come to church, or that blatantly oppose Christianity, or frequently abuse the name of the Lord, but I am very afraid that there are many we know that fuss and fight with their spouses or parents about being in church, but yet come to please them. Too often though, I believe that because of their presence in church, we tend to automatically assume that they are a believer, especially if they attend on a fairly regular basis. It would be a good challenge for each of us to have a ‘Paul’ visit with us occasionally and ask the same pointed question as he did to the ‘followers’ in verse 2. It might stir our hearts to remember the day and place that we surrendered our hearts to the Lord. It may challenge us to reflect on the ways that our lives were changed when the Holy Spirit took control of our lives. It may serve to remind us of the kind of people we should be – holy and set apart for ministry by God’s Holy Spirit to others. I wonder if our hearts are anywhere clean enough, or holy enough, for the Holy Spirit to take up residence in, or to be able to minister through, or impact others that know us?

 Challenge……

If you were called away from this earth today, and at the Judgment gate you were asked why should you be allowed into Heaven, would you have an answer ready that is based on a personal decision you made that is biblically based? In 1 Peter 3:15 we are encouraged to always be ready to give an account of the hope that is ours. I would also refer you to Romans 12:1-2 where Paul encourages believers to sacrifice ourselves to be loyal and obedient servants so that we may prove to whom we belong. He went on to say in verse 2 that if we are truly God’s child, then conform our lives to His image, His character, His demeanor, so that we may easily see the will of God for our lives. Friends, when God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives, we will be different than we were before. Whether Paul visits us in a church service, on our jobs, in a restaurant where the waitress/waiter may not be on best behavior or performance, I pray that he, and more so that God will see the same Holy Spirit led life in us. Yes, we will be different than the general population, but be ready to give an account for why you are different. Invite the curiosity seeker to know the same Jesus that we know, so that they too might be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and lead a life patterned after our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! This is our way of doing our part in leading someone to a better life, a life in Jesus our Lord. A life destined for eternity with Jesus in Heaven!

 Prayer……

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your precious Word. I thank You for the wake-up calls each day in Your Word that help me to keep my life in line with Your plan for me. As a born again child of Yours, I pray for ongoing wisdom, understanding, humbleness, love and dedication to You, so that the unsaved might be touched by the evidence of the Holy Spirit that resides and guides me each day. I believe that it is only through that evidence that lives will be touched and encouraged to change. For in and of myself, I have nothing that would benefit a lost person destined for Hell. But may Your power, Your love, Your grace and Your overwhelming desire to see them change and filled with Your Holy Spirit, be evident in something that I may say or do today. Use me Lord, as Your precious instrument, for Your glory and Your delight. Please consider multiplying my requests many times over as You speak to the hearts of those that might meditate on this devotional today, is my humble request of You today, for it is in Your precious and Holy name that I ask all this, AMEN!

Action…..

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.