Wednesday 6 September
READ: Acts 1:5-8
MORE LESSON: Psa. 126:5-6
One of the principal assignments that Jesus gave His disciples (and the Church) when He was going to Heaven was for them to be His witnesses (to testify of Him) to all people throughout the world. Those who believe in Jesus are to preach the gospel of the saving power of His name to all people and teach them to believe and call upon the name of Jesus. The preaching of the gospel is to create room for men, who are cut off from the life of God because of sin, to turn back to God; it is to win lost souls. The assignment is to rescue men who are under the bondage of Satan. Any rescue assignment requires courage in the face of opposition, intimidation, frustration and contradiction.
There are obvious reasons why courage is required. 1) All men who are not saved are under the influence of the power of Satan (Eph.2:2-4; Col. 1:13; 2 Cor.4:3-4). There is a force beyond the physical that holds sinners down in sin, and covers their eyes of understanding. They are dead in sin and trespasses, and to resuscitate a dead man under the watch of the captors is a daunting task.
2) The devil who enslaves sinners is a strongman carrying arms, watching over his slaves. The Scripture rightly acknowledges that you cannot enter into the strongman's house and plunder his goods without first fighting and defeating the man (Mark 3:27).
3) Man has both spiritual and natural fundamental right of choice. He has the right to freely choose who he will serve (Josh.24:15) and face the consequences of his choice. No man is permitted to impose his will on another, thus you can only attempt to persuade one another. To do this, courage is required.
4) The social, economic, political and spiritual status of some men can be intimidating, and it prevents them from being easily reached with the gospel of salvation. In some places there are institutionalised barriers in form of laws that hinder the preaching of the gospel. You will have to break through their walls and barriers to reach them, which needs courage.
In order for the job of soul winning to be done in the face of opposition and to be effective in the assignment, God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. It is therefore true to say that one of the primary purposes the believers are filled with the Holy Spirit is to preach the gospel with all power and effect. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongue, you are already equipped to stand for the gospel. You must now arise and courageously take up the assignment bringing in the sheaves and you will enjoy the benefits (Psa. 126:5-6). You will not be consumed in the assignment. You shall doubtless return with results as the early disciples did in their days.
Prayer/Action
* Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I will arise and take up the assignment for which you gave me the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive courage to win souls for the kingdom of God, in Jesus’ name.
TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
This month, no second is allowed for any evil memorial, I send all the enemies packing, in the name of Jesus.
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