Passion, Prayer, Power, Proclamation

Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1 

“’But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’…They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).”

Acts 1:8, 14, 15

Peter had experienced the stirring up of his affections for Christ when Jesus asked three times if he loved him. Jesus instructed his disciples to wait for the gift of the Father before going out to witness to others what they had received from Christ. Peter led a ten-day prayer meeting in Jerusalem, waiting on the Father. It’s not easy to wait on the Lord before we go out to bear witness. But without the empowering of the Holy Spirit our witnessing will lack impact or lasting fruit. The passion Peter felt for Christ translated into prayer, then power and proclamation.

Are our affections for Christ stirred?

Are we waiting on the Father for fresh anointing of his Spirit into power and proclamation?

“Father God, fill and renew me with your Spirit for your mission, for your glory.”