WITNESSES
Today’s Reading: Acts 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
David’s City is part of Jerusalem and is on the south side of the Old City walls.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
We may consider Acts 1:8 the key verse, not only for this chapter, but for the entire book of Acts. Here we have Christ’s plan, His command to carry out the plan, and the power to carry out His goal to reach the whole world with the Good News of His salvation. We, as believers in Jesus, can easily be diverted from this first and foremost of Jesus’ instructions. We may be comfortable in our own salvation and cease to be concerned for the salvation of others. We may hide behind excuses such as, “I don’t know enough,” or “I need to understand the Bible better,” and by such means escape our Jesus-given assignment to be witnesses. Jesus told us clearly that all we need to enable us to share the Gospel is the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Jesus now for the Holy Spirit to come upon all of us who read this blog. Begin to praise Jesus out loud as long as the volume does not offend others, and start witnessing to someone you meet. Remember, just seven weeks earlier, Peter could not witness to a waitress who gave him every opportunity to share his faith in Jesus. The power of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to acknowledge Jesus is all we need.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, John the Baptist said of You, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” That’s me, Lord. I’m one of Your believers. I’ll open my mouth, make a sound, and You, Holy Spirit, as Acts 1:4 says, will give me utterance. I trust You to give me words that will communicate with You, Lord God (see 1 Cor. 14:1-6), and communicate Jesus to people. In Jesus’ Name I pray, and keep on praying until I experience Your Holy Spirit’s fullness, Amen! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My son, David Reynold, chose the picture for today of the City of David, a part of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit came upon 120 people who were in an upper room just at the top left of the picture. When they could no longer contain this powerful experience, they spilled out onto the streets, no doubt some of them into the City of David. I knew that the Holy Spirit came to live in me when I gave my life to Christ in December of 1951, but it was in June, 1952, that the Holy Spirit came upon me with power to witness. That July, I led a man in a prayer to receive Jesus. That August, I know without a doubt that God called me into “the ministry.” Not long ago, I visited a dying man and witnessed about Jesus. He had proclaimed himself an atheist. Soon after, my friend, Jerry, told me he visited him in the Kingston, Ontario, hospital just before he died. Jerry asked him about salvation. He said to Jerry, “Tell David not to worry, that’s all taken care of.”
Yours for being available to the Holy Spirit to win someone to Jesus today,
David
P.S. Whenever we’ve led a group to Israel, we’ve always celebrated Jesus’ death and resurrection in the Garden Tomb area (photos below)! Among other places in Jerusalem, we always visit St. Ann’s Church, built in the 11th century; it has the most amazing acoustics (click here for a video of our group singing, led by Norma-Jean).
Thank You, Lord God, for giving us Your Son. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Spirit. Wash all Your children in Your blood that makes us as white as snow, and fill us with Your Spirit, so we can be good, faithful, and bold witnesses for You. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on Earth as in Heaven! In Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen!!
Amen Rob!!!
Amen
Amen, Rob.
Amen Rob
Praising the Name of Jesus in thankfulness for His sacrifice and for the Father sending the Holy Spirit to comfort, teach, I guide us. Looking forward to the day of His return. Blessings on all today and especially for Beverlee in whatever she is facing just now. Lord minister to our blog friends also who seek You in various situations. Thank You Lord. In Jesus Name, amen.
Amen Doreen agreeing with your prayer!!!
Thank you Doreen, Eleanor and fellow saints for your prayers; another fall, but this was the worst of all; 4 in the past 6 weeks. The spinal stenosis is to blame/compressed nerves preventing signals to get through to legs/feet. Praying for a cancellation for surgery as soon as possible. Grateful for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit and today’s scripture and message. His blessings upon you all.
Our Father, we ask that you protect Beverlee from any more falls. Wrap her in Your loving arms and carry her wherever she needs to go so that she will be safe and protected by You.
Lord, we ask that she will soon be called to have her surgery. We pray for a cancellation or Your miraculous intervention in providing a date very soon.
Thank you for hearing and answering us when we call! Amen!
Thank you sister Luisa. Amen.
Agreeing with your prayer for dear Beverlee.
Lord have mercy on her.
Eleanor M.
Amen 🙏🏼Agreeing with you in prayer Luisa!
Thank you sisters Eleanor and Eraine.
Amen Doreen
Come Lord Jesus!!! Perhaps Today.
Yes Lord minister to our blog friends who need You Lord!!
In Jesus Name Amen
Thank you sister Teresa.
Correction- “and guide us”. Not “I guide us”!
Amen
Amen and amen to both prayers!
Was thinking how grateful I am for the Holy Spirit who came after Jesus ascended back to heaven!
Amen Anne!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends today.
Blessings to all who read this blog, whatever problem they have I pray that Jesus will undertake for them.
Eleanor M.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6k5DKcmKAwI
Love this song by Evie.
Amen Eleanor M.
Thank you for posting the beautiful song by
Evie Tornquist, it was so uplifting, just what I
needed to hear today.
“Give them all to Jesus” so true & encouraging
words.
Agreeing with Joyce, Eleanor!! Beautiful song–thank you so much for posting this. So uplifting. Amen. God bless you!! 🧡
Amen to both prayers as well. Am thankful for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit back in 1972. However we need stir up the gift within us and never lose an opportunity to witness. Amen?
Amen Ger!
Asking for prayer for Alice who will be having back surgery on November 30
Thank you.
We pray to You, our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit. We bring Alice before you who has spinal surgery booked on November 30th, four days away. God, please protect her with the Ruach breath of the Holy Spirit and work through the hands of the surgeons to complete the necessary work to correct her spinal deficiencies. Bring great healing upon her, comfort and rest, and lack of pain, Lord. May she be blessed in the Spirit of Your Holy light and love. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen.
Agreeing with you in prayer Beverlee for Alice’s back surgery Eleanor M
Amen to all the comments above I too am facing gallbladder surgery 🙏
Dear Marilyn II hope that your surgery will be very soon. I understand what you must be going through, as I have had that surgery years ago. It was hard to wait for the op because of the pain. I am praying that the Lord would Intervene and you would not have to wait too long. 🙏🙏
Eleanor M.
Agreeing with Eleanor for you, Marilyn, that the pain ceases and your surgery is very soon. Amen.
God heal Alice and Marilyn In Jesus Name Amen
I trust that you were given a diet sheet while you wait for your surgery Marilyn. No fats of any kind – no ice cream or fried foods. (I was 20 when I had mine out) all through the pregnancy of our 1st child, I was told the pain was “false labour”! After the baby was born I was still having pain – it was gal stones. My adopted son was also 20 when he had to have his out! Recovery now a days is usually quick as they usually use a key hole opening (if stones haven’t traveled). Praying for an early opening for your surgery. God bless you.
Something beautiful this way comes:
A reminder from Mark Steyn of the beautiful holiday called Thanksgiving:
https://www.steynonline.com/10786/over-the-river-through-the-years#.X8AyWeN67zQ.link
Praying for Marilyn, dear Lord, as she faces gallbladder surgery. May Your Hand be upon her and angels watch over her. Lord, guide the surgeon’s hands as they perform the necessary surgery on our dear sister-in-Christ. Keep her safe and well and comfortable. May she heal completely and without complications. We pray this in Your mighty Name. Amen, amen, and amen.
AMEN AMEN and AMEN
In Jesus Name