READING:
One-year plan: Acts 1-4
Two-year plan: Ezekiel 40:28-41:15, 1 John 1:1-2:2
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Let me get right to the point today: we face a powerful enemy, but God Himself lives in us — and thus, we need not fear anything or anyone other than God.
It’s an incredible part of the gospel story, actually. Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem “for the gift my Father promised” (Acts 1:4). That gift was the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would so immerse the believers in His presence and power that Jesus used the phrase “baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5) to explain what happened. God had kept His Word through the prophet Joel, and He would indeed pour out His Spirit on all people (Acts 2:16-17).
This Spirit would empower Christians to be God’s witnesses (Acts 1:8), lead them to speak in new tongues (Acts 2:1-4), and turn the hearts of thousands of non-believers to God (Acts 2:41, 47). No longer would the Spirit fill leaders only for a particular purpose, as in the Old Testament; He would fill believers for the rest of their lives. That fact should give us confidence to do whatever God requires us to do. We are now never alone in the spiritual battles we face. We go nowhere, and we face no issue without God’s presence in us.
He is quite a God who not only dies for us, but who also lives within us. Praise Him!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you ever take the presence of God’s Spirit in you for granted?
PRAYER: “God, thank You for Your marvelous plan that includes Your living in us!”
TOMORROW’S READING:
One-year plan: Acts 5-7
Two-year plan: Ezekiel 41:16-43:12, 1 John 2:3-17
MEMORIZATION VERSE (November 1-15)
“And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:51-52)
