King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: The Power of The Holy Spirit
Date: Wednesday November 09, 2011
Chapters: Acts 1-3
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-9

Hello My Friend,

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit...So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God...For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live...Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” -Romans 8:1-4,8,13,26,27.

The law of Moses was given by God as a temporary fix to redeem a sinner from condemnation until Jesus would become the permanent fix. Those who receive Christ instantly receive the Holy Spirit in them, the problem is very few people know this and as they go about their daily lives in the flesh they cannot understand why things keep getting worse. Oh, they may find a temporary fix, but it does not last because they are avoiding the one person inside them that they truly need to be free and feel alive. It is only when we let the power of the Holy Spirit, which is Christ Himself, work inside of us that He can do His work as the intercessor that would give us freedom, life, and a permanent fix to any situation we get ourselves into.

The Book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament, forty-fourth book of the Bible, and contains twenty-eight chapters. The author of the book is Luke and it was written to all believers, addressed specifically to Theophilus, which means, a lover of God. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 34AD and 65AD. The purpose of the book was to explain what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church, in the form of the Holy Spirit. What we are to learn from the book is that the true evidence of the Holy Spirit is directed by the power of God, which gives us the power to become witnesses for the purpose of teaching the Gospel throughout the entire world. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Acts 2:21.

Before Jesus ascended up to heaven He had something to say to all His disciples, present and future, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” - Acts 1:1-9.

The former treatise, or agreement that God gave His people to be saved was replaced by a new treatise, one that would be more easier to be obtained and permanent, that treatise is none other than the gift of eternal life by grace. Per Jesus' conversation with the disciples prior to His death, burial, and resurrection, He explained that He would not always be there in the flesh, but would send someone in His place once He ascended up to heaven who will always be with them. Now, Jesus is reassuring them that shortly after He goes up, the Holy Spirit will come down upon them, giving them the power to be witnesses. Witnesses of what? The Gospel, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The disciples, now apostles, were witnesses, they had the proof that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and three days later arose and while seeing is believing their testimonies would pave the way for future generations to be saved all the way down to us today. It is not by believing in what we see that we are saved, but by believing in what we have not seen that we are saved and blessed. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” -I John 5:13.

Just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit came down and entered every believer, what an amazing sight, little flames of fire falling down from heaven onto the apostles. It was on the day of Pentecost, people came from all over the world, and as they were filled with the Holy Spirit they immediately began speaking the Gospel in their own language. Miraculously, through the power of the Holy Spirit every person understood what was being preached in their very own language. Of course, this came as a bit of a shock to all, I imaging to the apostles as well.

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Acts 2:12-21.

3000 people were saved and baptized that day and the apostles continued preaching the Gospel to everyone they saw, wherever they were. “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” - Acts 3:1-8.

Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable all who allow Him to work in their lives the power to do anything. The key reason, that someone would be saved. While the Holy Spirit gives us comfort, peace, and direction in our lives, He never passes up the opportunity for us to witness to someone, when we allow Him to work in our lives. “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope...Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost...That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” - Romans 15:2-4,13,16.

We who are saved and allow Christ to live in us through the Holy Spirit have the same power as the apostles did, we are witnesses, ministers of the Gospel to all who are in need of Christ. Don't let that power be wasted, use it for good and let me tell you, you will be blessed for it. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory...And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful...Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” - Colossians 3:4,15,24.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, no other power in the world can compare to Your Power, only You can give me the power to overcome my afflictions, trials, and difficulties. I try and try to handle things on my own, but it never works, You are my hope, my peace, my comfort, and my sanity. Lord, I need Your power, give me Your power and work in me so much that others see You through me and receive you too. Let me be a witness to Your power and rule my heart. Thank You for loving me and not giving up on me and for always being there when I need You, even when I try to do things on my own. I love You, Lord and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? You Can Be: http://www.godsprice.com
Missed A Devotional: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/daily-bible-study
Subscribe To This Devotional: King James Bible Study
Visit: I'm Following Jesus