Devotionals for July 31, 2023
Get ready for our church-wide prayer & fasting on August 2-4!
READ
Acts 19:1-6
19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 2:38
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 2:38
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
REFLECT
When Paul found these Ephesus disciples, he quickly learned they knew about John’s baptism of repentance, but they did not know Jesus as their promised Messiah. They had a partial, outward faith, but not an inward empowering of the Holy Spirit. There are two important points to grasp in these passages. First, to be a witness for Jesus, you must be changed by Jesus through the empowering of His Spirit. How does this happen? It’s really simple…believe in Jesus. Jesus said in John 7:37-39, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this, he meant those who believe in Him will be baptized in His Holy Spirit. The second point to take away here is this…an empowered life leads others to a life-changing belief in Jesus. We can’t just believe in Jesus and go about our way. We must come alongside others, get to know them, be inquisitive and then introduce them to Jesus. Jesus made this very clear in Matthew 28:19-20 where He said to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He instructed us to teach them to obey everything He commanded. This command does not just apply to missionaries and pastors. It applies to all of us who are Holy Spirit-filled believers in Jesus Christ.
APPLY
Q: What was the result of Paul’s influence on these Corinthian disciples?
Q: As a result of these passages, how will you be more intentional when it comes to making disciples in your home, in your workplace, in your community, or at TNLC?
Q: Within your circle of influence, who will you come alongside of to help them know Jesus and experience Holy Spirit baptism?
Q: As a result of these passages, how will you be more intentional when it comes to making disciples in your home, in your workplace, in your community, or at TNLC?
Q: Within your circle of influence, who will you come alongside of to help them know Jesus and experience Holy Spirit baptism?
SING
PRAY
"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."
Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I am set apart for your service. Let my thoughts be your thoughts and my ways be your ways so You are glorified in and through me as I serve You.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I am set apart for your service. Let my thoughts be your thoughts and my ways be your ways so You are glorified in and through me as I serve You.