“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” - John 14:18 (NIV).
It is quite normal in many households when the head is about to depart on certain long journeys to live behind specific instructions. Among these could be bills to clear in his absence or whom to expect to complete certain tasks. Like wise, when the Lord Jesus was about to depart he left one specific instruction. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:29, NLT).
Fortunately, the disciples obeyed. Finally, the day of Pentecost came and “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2: 4). Subsequently, they began to spread out preaching the Gospel, fulfilling the command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
The Holy spirit has many roles in the lives of believers, which made it a prerequisite for the disciples departure. One important one that has been noted is that: “The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins and points them to Jesus’ atoning death.” If people come to faith and accept God’s offer of forgiveness, the Spirit testifies that they have received eternal life and are children of God (Romans 8:16). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit leads to conviction where believers fall astray and helps them become more holy as they grow in faith. Further, through the Holy Spirit believers bear fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Any vehicle needs to be powered to move out and likewise the lives of believers need to be powered by the Holy Spirit to proceed wherever. More than that, the Holy spirit is a comforter we cannot do without, bringing cheer to us in difficult moments, just as also he convicts and helps us back in line, if we fall astray. “But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you” (John 14:26, ASV).
Today, as you move out, there is one instruction you must hear from the Master, which is pray to receive the Holy Spirit to guide you in all your steps.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that as I start the day you may fill me with your Holy Spirit to lead me into truth and guide me in all my steps, this I pray in Jesus’s name
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
