July 28th-August 1st Devotional
Listen to the devotional podcast here
Day 1: Rediscovering the Church's Mission
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod's sermon, "Empowerment for the Mission," emphasizes that the church has a mission that is central to its life. Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, focuses specifically on empowerment for the mission. While Luke's Gospel reveals what Christ did on Earth, the Book of Acts reveals what He continues to do on Earth through His church, the ecclesia. Pastor Rod observes a concerning shift in culture, noting that it used to be that the church influenced moral standards, but now the culture dictates morality, and the church is adapting to it. However, the Book of Acts clearly shows that the church's mission is meant to be sourced by the Holy Spirit. This divine sourcing is what enables the church to stand as an example of Christ's moral standard in a world that promotes immoral lifestyles.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your eternal plan and the mission You have given to Your church. We confess the times we have allowed culture to dictate our standards, rather than boldly influencing the world with Your truth. Open our eyes to see the depth of Your ongoing work through us, Your ecclesia. We pray for a renewed understanding and commitment to the mission You have entrusted to Your church, recognizing that it is to be sourced by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that the church has a mission, and I am a part of it. I declare that this mission is not to adapt to culture, but to be sourced by the Holy Spirit to influence culture for Christ.
Day 2: Salvation – The Starting Line, Not the Finish Line
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod clarifies that his sermon is directed specifically to those who already know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; it is "not a salvation message". While acknowledging that salvation is a "great thing" and "good", he stresses that salvation is not the end result; it's the starting point. There's a crucial next step: pressing on for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and seeking sanctification. Sanctification is defined as the ongoing journey of being transformed by faith, guided by the Holy Spirit after accepting Christ, becoming more holy or set apart for God's purposes. This process is fundamentally about being sourced by the Spirit for the mission of the church. Pastor Rod shares an insight from a wise district superintendent, Mervyn Smith, who told him that Satan might be less concerned about people getting saved and more concerned about them getting sanctified.
Prayer: Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of salvation, for forgiving us and bringing us into Your family. We acknowledge that our salvation is a wonderful beginning, but not the end of Your purpose for us. We confess any complacency in our spiritual journey. Lord, we ask You to ignite in us a fervent desire to press on, to seek Your Holy Spirit's baptism and to pursue sanctification. Transform us daily to be set apart for Your purposes, so we are truly sourced by Your Spirit for Your church's mission. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that salvation is my starting point, not my destination. I declare my commitment to press on for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to pursue sanctification, allowing God to transform me for His purposes.
Day 3: The Four Parallels of Empowerment
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod highlights a profound and often unseen parallel between Jesus' baptism and the disciples' baptism in Acts chapter 2. These parallels reveal four key elements for receiving the Holy Spirit's empowerment:
Prayer: Gracious Father, we are amazed by the parallels You've laid out in Your Word, showing us how to receive the Holy Spirit's baptism. We humble ourselves before You and commit to the first step: we pray for Your Holy Spirit. We ask that we would be open to receive it as You desire to pour out Your Spirit upon us. Help us to see it, in whatever way You choose to manifest Your power in our lives, and to recognize Your divine presence. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that I will pray for the Holy Spirit, believing I will receive it. I declare that I will be open to seeing the Spirit's manifestation in my life.
Day 4: The Uncontainable Reaction – You Can't Shut Up!
Reflect & Understand: The fourth parallel between Jesus' and the disciples' baptisms, and a crucial aspect of being filled with the Holy Spirit, is the reaction to it: they began to preach. When you are baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, it becomes evident to others. As Peter came out and preached, people wondered if they were drunk, because they "saw it all over" them. Pastor Rod emphatically states, "You just can't shut up about Jesus" when indwelled by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is an ongoing journey where the Holy Spirit transforms you day after day. It is this outward manifestation and uncontrollable desire to share Jesus that genuinely leads to church growth, not merely programs. As Acts 2:47 states, "the Lord added to their number day by day, those who were being saved".
Prayer: Holy Spirit, we invite You to fill us so completely that our reaction to Your presence is undeniable. We ask for boldness, dear Lord, that we might not be silent about Jesus. Let Your power be so evident in our lives that others see it, just as they saw it in the disciples. Give us an uncontainable passion to speak of Your goodness, Your truth, and Your saving power in our workplaces, communities, and homes. Transform us daily into the image of Christ so that we naturally preach Your name through our lives and words. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that when filled with the Holy Spirit, my reaction will be visible to others. I declare that I will not be able to shut up about Jesus, compelled by the Spirit to share His love and truth.
Day 5: Living the Mission – A Walking Jesus
Reflect & Understand: The ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit's baptism and sanctification is to empower us for the church's mission. Pastor Rod pleads with believers to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that we are not meant to simply get saved and then "ride it out". Instead, we have a mission, and to accomplish it, we need the Holy Spirit's indwelling. The goal is to become a "walking Jesus," allowing the Spirit to transform us day after day into His image. This empowerment enables the church to influence a world promoting immoral lifestyles, standing as an example of Christ's moral standard. It is through this Spirit-sourced mission, driven by believers who "can't shut up about Jesus," that the Lord adds to the numbers day by day, as people are being saved.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we stand before You ready to embrace the mission You have given us. We desperately ask for the baptism of Your Holy Spirit, knowing that we cannot fulfill our purpose in our own strength. Baptize us, infill us, so that we may truly be a "walking Jesus" in this world, allowing Your Spirit to transform us day after day. Empower us to influence our culture for Your moral standard, to speak truth, and to live lives that draw others to You. We surrender all to You, that Your will may be done through us. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that I have a mission and I will not just "ride it out" after salvation. I declare that I desire to be a "walking Jesus," empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to transform day after day into His image and influence the world for Christ.
Day 1: Rediscovering the Church's Mission
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod's sermon, "Empowerment for the Mission," emphasizes that the church has a mission that is central to its life. Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, focuses specifically on empowerment for the mission. While Luke's Gospel reveals what Christ did on Earth, the Book of Acts reveals what He continues to do on Earth through His church, the ecclesia. Pastor Rod observes a concerning shift in culture, noting that it used to be that the church influenced moral standards, but now the culture dictates morality, and the church is adapting to it. However, the Book of Acts clearly shows that the church's mission is meant to be sourced by the Holy Spirit. This divine sourcing is what enables the church to stand as an example of Christ's moral standard in a world that promotes immoral lifestyles.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your eternal plan and the mission You have given to Your church. We confess the times we have allowed culture to dictate our standards, rather than boldly influencing the world with Your truth. Open our eyes to see the depth of Your ongoing work through us, Your ecclesia. We pray for a renewed understanding and commitment to the mission You have entrusted to Your church, recognizing that it is to be sourced by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that the church has a mission, and I am a part of it. I declare that this mission is not to adapt to culture, but to be sourced by the Holy Spirit to influence culture for Christ.
Day 2: Salvation – The Starting Line, Not the Finish Line
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod clarifies that his sermon is directed specifically to those who already know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; it is "not a salvation message". While acknowledging that salvation is a "great thing" and "good", he stresses that salvation is not the end result; it's the starting point. There's a crucial next step: pressing on for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and seeking sanctification. Sanctification is defined as the ongoing journey of being transformed by faith, guided by the Holy Spirit after accepting Christ, becoming more holy or set apart for God's purposes. This process is fundamentally about being sourced by the Spirit for the mission of the church. Pastor Rod shares an insight from a wise district superintendent, Mervyn Smith, who told him that Satan might be less concerned about people getting saved and more concerned about them getting sanctified.
Prayer: Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of salvation, for forgiving us and bringing us into Your family. We acknowledge that our salvation is a wonderful beginning, but not the end of Your purpose for us. We confess any complacency in our spiritual journey. Lord, we ask You to ignite in us a fervent desire to press on, to seek Your Holy Spirit's baptism and to pursue sanctification. Transform us daily to be set apart for Your purposes, so we are truly sourced by Your Spirit for Your church's mission. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that salvation is my starting point, not my destination. I declare my commitment to press on for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to pursue sanctification, allowing God to transform me for His purposes.
Day 3: The Four Parallels of Empowerment
Reflect & Understand: Pastor Rod highlights a profound and often unseen parallel between Jesus' baptism and the disciples' baptism in Acts chapter 2. These parallels reveal four key elements for receiving the Holy Spirit's empowerment:
- They prayed: Both Jesus and the disciples were praying before the Spirit descended. The disciples spent 10 days praying before the baptism of the Holy Spirit fell upon them.
- The Spirit descended (they received it): The Spirit came upon Jesus like a dove, and upon the disciples like "divided tongues as of fire". This signifies the actual reception of the Spirit.
- The Spirit took on a physical form (they saw it): The Spirit descended upon Jesus in "bodily form like a dove", and upon the disciples as "divided tongues as of fire" that "appeared to them and rested on each one of them". This indicates an observable manifestation.
- They began to preach (they reacted to it): Immediately after their baptisms, both Jesus and Peter (on behalf of the disciples) began their public ministries with powerful sermons, introducing themes for the rest of their respective journeys. This reaction is a crucial component of being filled with the Spirit.
Prayer: Gracious Father, we are amazed by the parallels You've laid out in Your Word, showing us how to receive the Holy Spirit's baptism. We humble ourselves before You and commit to the first step: we pray for Your Holy Spirit. We ask that we would be open to receive it as You desire to pour out Your Spirit upon us. Help us to see it, in whatever way You choose to manifest Your power in our lives, and to recognize Your divine presence. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that I will pray for the Holy Spirit, believing I will receive it. I declare that I will be open to seeing the Spirit's manifestation in my life.
Day 4: The Uncontainable Reaction – You Can't Shut Up!
Reflect & Understand: The fourth parallel between Jesus' and the disciples' baptisms, and a crucial aspect of being filled with the Holy Spirit, is the reaction to it: they began to preach. When you are baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, it becomes evident to others. As Peter came out and preached, people wondered if they were drunk, because they "saw it all over" them. Pastor Rod emphatically states, "You just can't shut up about Jesus" when indwelled by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is an ongoing journey where the Holy Spirit transforms you day after day. It is this outward manifestation and uncontrollable desire to share Jesus that genuinely leads to church growth, not merely programs. As Acts 2:47 states, "the Lord added to their number day by day, those who were being saved".
Prayer: Holy Spirit, we invite You to fill us so completely that our reaction to Your presence is undeniable. We ask for boldness, dear Lord, that we might not be silent about Jesus. Let Your power be so evident in our lives that others see it, just as they saw it in the disciples. Give us an uncontainable passion to speak of Your goodness, Your truth, and Your saving power in our workplaces, communities, and homes. Transform us daily into the image of Christ so that we naturally preach Your name through our lives and words. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that when filled with the Holy Spirit, my reaction will be visible to others. I declare that I will not be able to shut up about Jesus, compelled by the Spirit to share His love and truth.
Day 5: Living the Mission – A Walking Jesus
Reflect & Understand: The ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit's baptism and sanctification is to empower us for the church's mission. Pastor Rod pleads with believers to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that we are not meant to simply get saved and then "ride it out". Instead, we have a mission, and to accomplish it, we need the Holy Spirit's indwelling. The goal is to become a "walking Jesus," allowing the Spirit to transform us day after day into His image. This empowerment enables the church to influence a world promoting immoral lifestyles, standing as an example of Christ's moral standard. It is through this Spirit-sourced mission, driven by believers who "can't shut up about Jesus," that the Lord adds to the numbers day by day, as people are being saved.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we stand before You ready to embrace the mission You have given us. We desperately ask for the baptism of Your Holy Spirit, knowing that we cannot fulfill our purpose in our own strength. Baptize us, infill us, so that we may truly be a "walking Jesus" in this world, allowing Your Spirit to transform us day after day. Empower us to influence our culture for Your moral standard, to speak truth, and to live lives that draw others to You. We surrender all to You, that Your will may be done through us. Amen.
Declaration: I declare that I have a mission and I will not just "ride it out" after salvation. I declare that I desire to be a "walking Jesus," empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to transform day after day into His image and influence the world for Christ.
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