Unto You, O Lord, we offer Praise and Thanksgiving, Glory and Honor, for You are God. Thank You for the Presence of the Holy Spirit, Who makes the meager words a heavenly prayer before the Throne of Grace. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your intercession on our behalf before our Heavenly Father. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Delight our Presidential family this day, Creator God, with the absolute joy of witnessing the marriage of a beloved daughter ... may You be preeminent in the ceremony and festivities. Let nothing hinder the radiance of this day, and let nothing ever stand in the way of Your Lordship over husband and wife. Blessed be Your Name ... from Glory to Glory, thou art God.
May it be, Merciful Father, that America's sons and daughters will soon leave foreign soil, completely victorious in vanquishing the enemy, leaving countries fully able to govern democratically, having a fervent desire to do so. “From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead, ‘Til every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.”
O Father, that our beloved country would seek Your face, in humble repentance, turning from our wicked ways ... we would be forgiven ... You would heal our land, such is Your Promise (2 Chronicles 7:14). May we yet feel the winds of sweet revival sweeping across our country ... may we yet see the eyes of Your beloved Israel opened to the cleansing Blood of the Lamb ... may we continue in our prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem ... even so, Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Send one to us, Merciful God, who will occupy the Office of President with a heart turned toward You ... one who seeks after You. You see what our eyes cannot ... in faith believing, Lord, we pray. Amen ...
May 10, 2008
The Power Of Pentecost
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me. —Acts 1:8
A pastor I know and love is discouraged. Although he is diligent in prayer and works hard, his church remains small while a new congregation nearby is rapidly developing into a megachurch. Yet when I think of the alcoholics, drug addicts, and sexually immoral people he has led to the Savior and a new way of life, I see him as one who witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because of what happened on the Day of Pentecost (described in Acts 2), we tend to associate the Holy Spirit’s presence and power with amazing phenomena and large numbers. We forget that a little later the same people filled with the same Holy Spirit were rejected, flogged, imprisoned, even executed. But through it all they were powerful witnesses!
The Holy Spirit’s presence and power can be evidenced in a dynamic preacher who attracts great audiences. But it is seen as well in the volunteer who carries on a one-on-one prison ministry, in the person who witnesses to a co-worker or a neighbor, and in the Sunday school teacher who faithfully teaches week after week.
The power of Pentecost is not especially reserved for the highly gifted. Rather, it is available to all believers in Christ who want to serve Him.
God’s guidance and help that we need day to day
Are given to all who believe;
The Spirit has come and He is the source
Of power that we can receive. —Branon
