As we continue our study on surrender and especially focus on the Holy Spirit; let's remember that He is a gift from our Lord and Savior Jesus, so He can live in us as we walk this life. This week I want to look at what the disciples were doing when they received guidance to witness.
"And when they fasted and prayed..." Acts13:2
These followers of Jesus were fasting and praying and the Holy Spirit came and spoke to them. God had already extended His Church to Antioch and had given rich blessings to the Early Church. Now we find them serving Jesus with prayer and fasting. They are convicted that they can not do it on their own. That they must have the Holy Spirits leading every step of the way! Andrew Murray in his book Absolute Surrender puts it this way,
"What a deep conviction they have - "It must all come direct from Heaven. We are in fellowship with the risen Lord; we must have a close union with Him, and somehow He will let us know what He wants." And they were, empty, ignorant, helpless, glad and joyful, but deeply humbled. "O Lord," they seem to say, "we are Thy servants, and in fasting and prayer we wait upon Thee. What is Thy will for us?" Absolute Surrender page 41
We see the same reaction from Peter! He is on the housetop fasting and praying and God sent the vision to go to Caesarea. He didn't know what to do; he was just waiting to see what direction God was leading, but he was fasting and praying as he waited.
You see friends, it is when our hearts are completely and entirely surrendered to Jesus; when we are separating ourselves from the the things of this world and in intense prayer seeking Jesus that God will reveal His will to us.
It is when we are willing to go into our closets and shut out the business and televisions and technology, anything that can distract and get alone with God. These disciples in Acts went even deeper and shut themselves away from the material things like food and fasted! They wanted so bad to let go of anything that would distract them from intensely seeking their Lord; anything that would separate them from Jesus that they wouldn't even eat. That's how much they desired God's will through the Holy Spirit!
I encourage you and me to truly seek the will of God in our lives and in our Church. To allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with Jesus and then send us out to reach a world that needs Jesus just as much as we do.
Have a wonderful week and remember to pray with someone else in our Church for revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
"And when they fasted and prayed..." Acts13:2
These followers of Jesus were fasting and praying and the Holy Spirit came and spoke to them. God had already extended His Church to Antioch and had given rich blessings to the Early Church. Now we find them serving Jesus with prayer and fasting. They are convicted that they can not do it on their own. That they must have the Holy Spirits leading every step of the way! Andrew Murray in his book Absolute Surrender puts it this way,
"What a deep conviction they have - "It must all come direct from Heaven. We are in fellowship with the risen Lord; we must have a close union with Him, and somehow He will let us know what He wants." And they were, empty, ignorant, helpless, glad and joyful, but deeply humbled. "O Lord," they seem to say, "we are Thy servants, and in fasting and prayer we wait upon Thee. What is Thy will for us?" Absolute Surrender page 41
We see the same reaction from Peter! He is on the housetop fasting and praying and God sent the vision to go to Caesarea. He didn't know what to do; he was just waiting to see what direction God was leading, but he was fasting and praying as he waited.
You see friends, it is when our hearts are completely and entirely surrendered to Jesus; when we are separating ourselves from the the things of this world and in intense prayer seeking Jesus that God will reveal His will to us.
It is when we are willing to go into our closets and shut out the business and televisions and technology, anything that can distract and get alone with God. These disciples in Acts went even deeper and shut themselves away from the material things like food and fasted! They wanted so bad to let go of anything that would distract them from intensely seeking their Lord; anything that would separate them from Jesus that they wouldn't even eat. That's how much they desired God's will through the Holy Spirit!
I encourage you and me to truly seek the will of God in our lives and in our Church. To allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with Jesus and then send us out to reach a world that needs Jesus just as much as we do.
Have a wonderful week and remember to pray with someone else in our Church for revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
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