July 19 | Disciples are Filled with Power
Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus promised the first disciples they would be filled with power by the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses in all the world. This endowment of power was given after an extended prayer meeting while the disciples were in an upper room. Luke records in Acts 2:1-3, “1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
The evidence that the disciples had received power was that they began to speak in languages they had not learned. Many of these languages were understood by the people in the city because Luke records in Acts 2:11, “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Afterwards, Peter stood up and preached and 3,000 people were saved.
Is it any coincidence that the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power was during a prayer meeting? Certainly not, because the second major filling of power happened again at another of the disciple’s prayer meeting and the house was shaken (Acts 4:31). If we have not Holy Ghost power, it’s because we pray not.
A.T. Pierson wrote, “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” Prayer is the source of the disciples’ power from on high, it’s the lifeline of every child of God; no disciple can function effectively in the Kingdom of God without it. Every good thing the disciple will ever receive will come through prayer. In prayer the nine gifts of the Spirit are received and manifested, strength is imparted, the mind is sanctified, sins are forgiven, bondages are broken, Satan’s work is thwarted and direction is given. To live without daily prayer would be to try to operate a car without gas or fly a plane without wings. The human soul needs daily fellowship with God, like a fish needs water.
Here are some practical ways as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:5-15, to have a great prayer life that will enable you to receive and be a conduit of God’s power; (1) “When you pray,” Jesus always expects us to have a consistent prayer life- not praying is not an option, (2) “Go into your room,” find a private place to pray where you wont be disturbed; (3) “Close the door and pray to your Father,” once you’re alone address God as your Father and make known to Him your needs in the name of Jesus, use the “Our Father Prayer” as an example and (4) “Will reward you,” believe that God will reward you both here on earth and in heaven.
Be a disciple that spends quality time alone with God everyday in prayer- your soul depends on it!
Reflection
Do you have a consistent private prayer time to receive the power of God?
Action
- Pray to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues (if you haven’t already done so) and pray in tongues everyday (Jude 1:20).
- Make time to pray everyday and ask God to fill you with His power.
- Operate in the power of God, with the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in your daily life (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).