DCLM Higher Everyday 7 January 2024 — Power For Fruitful Service
DCLM Higher Everyday 7 January 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Power For Fruitful Service
Topic: Power For Fruitful Service
Text: Acts 1:1-9
1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8But 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Key Verse: “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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Message
School life in pre-Independence Nigeria was tough, especially in the rainy season when “stubborn grass” took over the compound. The responsibility of weeding fell on the students. If you had the misfortune of offending an unkind senior student or teacher, you were sentenced to endless hours of battling with the tough grass until your hands were blistered. Later, a lawn mower surfaced, and it was a game-changer. Students took special delight in watching the no-nonsense machine effortlessly chew up the stubborn grass that caused them blisters before. The lawn mower machine saved time; it did a neater job too.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 6 January 2024 – Seek The Lost Souls
Before receiving the power of the Holy Ghost, the disciples were ineffective, intimidated, and fearful. They were like our crude cutlasses that often succumbed to the stubborn grass. On the Day of Pentecost when the disciples received the power of the Holy Ghost, they became very effective and courageous witnesses for Christ. Spiritual service is done with the Holy Spirit power. The power is promised by Christ to all saved and sanctified believers. Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?
Quote: Spiritual service is done with Holy Spirit power
Challenge: Pray to be baptized in the Holy Spirit today.
Prayer for today: Lord, pour your Spirit upon me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
