OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2021.
TOPIC: HOLY SPIRIT: THE ENGINE ROOM FOR MISSIONS
MEMORISE
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
READ: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
MESSAGE
Towards the end of His earthly ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ gave us an assignment, commonly called the Great Commission: to preach the gospel to every creature.
He however, mentioned a requirement we would need before going out to witness to the whole world about Him -the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Embarking on the work of missions without the power of the Holy Spirit is suicidal. This is the reason we have casualties among modern day missionaries because some of them are not spiritually-equipped. While they have the zeal, many lack the spiritual empowerment for the work at this present time just like Uzzah when the Ark of the Covenant was being moved.
And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there... for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:6-7.
Presumptuous sin killed Uzzah. This is the reason David prayed that God should deliver him from presumptuous sins: Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Psalm 19:13
We need to be endued in the Holy Spirit before we can be effective missionaries. While the missionary mandate must be kept by genuine children of God, we must be sure to receive the power of the Holy Ghost before we start. We must therefore be baptised in the Holy Spirit. I pray that as many as are thirsty for the baptism of the Holy Spirit shall be satisfied with it today, in Jesus' name.
Going by the gift which the Holy Spirit offers us in the text of today, we can see the reason every missionary and soul winner must be possessed by the Holy Spirit. For example, the word of wisdom is necessary for effective evangelism. A preacher without the Holy Spirit is a mere orator. A missionary needs the gifts of prophecy and discerning of spirits as a weapon against the deceit of the devil. Of course, without speaking and praying in tongues, a missionary's prayer life would be in shambles. I pray that every soulwinner using this devotiona today will be adequately equipped by the Holy Spirit to exploits, in Jesus' name.
ACTION POINT
God is willing to baptise you with the Holy Spirit. Ensure you rid yourself of all impurities that may hinder Him from coming into your life today
AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Luke 21 - 22
HYMNAL:
HYMN 09 - HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinfulness thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed trinity!
