We Need The Holy Spirit
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas , Simeon, called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen...and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
The two of them sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. Acts 13:1-4
The two of them sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. Acts 13:1-4
Before His departure to Heaven, Jesus asked the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptised with the Holy Spirit. The essence of the Holy Spirit was to empower the disciples to effectively undertake the mission of preaching the Gospel and making disciples for Jesus Christ. In the words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is the Christian’s “Advocate.” Jesus also mentioned that the Holy Spirit is the One who guides us into “all truth.” An Advocate takes up our causes. The One who guides us into all truth ensures that we will always make the right choices and avoid the deceptive traps of the Enemy.
It is evident that Jesus Himself and the early Church depended heavily on the guidance, power and instructions of the Holy Spirit. In luke 4, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…” When the leaders of the Church were faced with a very difficult and divisive issue, they deliberated and boldly declared that, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”
The Holy Spirit speaking to the Church in Antioch as the prophets and teachers were worshiping and fasting, seemed to be the norm in the early Church. They allowed the Holy Spirit to be intimately involved in the daily routines of their lives. He directed their steps.
The ways, purposes and workings of God have not changed. We need the Holy Spirit as much as Jesus and the early Church needed Him. How comforting it is to hear Him say today, “set apart for me….for the work to which I have called them.”
May we be attentive to His voice because we simply cannot do without Him. We need Him.
It is evident that Jesus Himself and the early Church depended heavily on the guidance, power and instructions of the Holy Spirit. In luke 4, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…” When the leaders of the Church were faced with a very difficult and divisive issue, they deliberated and boldly declared that, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”
The Holy Spirit speaking to the Church in Antioch as the prophets and teachers were worshiping and fasting, seemed to be the norm in the early Church. They allowed the Holy Spirit to be intimately involved in the daily routines of their lives. He directed their steps.
The ways, purposes and workings of God have not changed. We need the Holy Spirit as much as Jesus and the early Church needed Him. How comforting it is to hear Him say today, “set apart for me….for the work to which I have called them.”
May we be attentive to His voice because we simply cannot do without Him. We need Him.
Prayer: Jesus, I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit as my Advocate and source of empowerment for ministry and life. Please help me to draw closer to Him everyday so that I can effectively fulfill the mission to which you have called me. Amen.