February 18th, Wednesday: Acts chap. 2&3

Acts 2

The Spirit came not because the believers prayed, but because the day of Pentecost had come - the day appointed for the birthday for the church.

Luke 2 describes the birth of the Lord's physical body, and Acts 2, the birth of His spiritual body.

Now the Spirit also filled the believers and empowered them for witness.

He gave Peter insight into the Word and the ability to show men Christ in the Word.

The Spirit used the witness of the church to convict the lost, just as Jesus said He would do.

The same Holy Spirit assisted the believers in their church fellowship.

The original group were outnumbered by the new believers.

But there was still harmony in the church family.

They worshiped daily and witnessed daily.

And the Scripture says, “The Lord added to the church daily.”

Is your experience with the Lord a daily one?

Acts 3

We'll read about priorities.

Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals.

Nor were they so busy with ministry that they could not pray.

They'd learned their lessons well from the Lord Jesus.

We'll read about power.

The emphasis in chapters 3 and 4 is on the name of Jesus - the Name above every name.

Faith in the name of Jesus releases power so that lives are changed.

To pray or minister in His name means to ask or act on His authority, so that He alone gets the glory.

And then we'll read about the proclamation

At Pentecost the sound of the rushing wind drew the crowd.

But here the witness of a changed life brought the people together.

Thus Peter had the opportunity to preach, and 2000 people were converted.

Reach out to the individual and God will give you opportunities for a bigger harvest.