Day 4: The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people (Acts 2:44-47).
God of the ages, You have determined the plan for the whole world, Your hand is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:26-27).
The Lord Jesus has declared, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Two thousand years from that promise You continue to build Your church—through every millennium, every century, every decade—every fraction of time You have determined in Your flawless plan, and Your infinite wisdom. You created time and space, and You are outside their scope and measure.
“I the Lord, do not change,” You have told us through the prophet (Malachi 3:6). And even though Your church today sometimes struggles with the challenges of distance, and a sense of removal from our early history, Your plans and purpose still prevail.
But it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can thrive, and flourish, and be the church that You call us to be—ministers of light and hope to a world in need. It was only by the power of the Holy Spirit that the early believers shared life in common—including property, possessions, food, and worship. And in that unity and commonality, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit they found great strength and comfort.
More than ever today, Lord, we need Your Spirit. Forgive us for how caught up we have become in our own needs, our own vision, our own striving, our own plans, our own ways. Forgive us for self-direction, self-reliance, self-seeking. Forgive us for quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19); for grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). We have offended You, and we have insulted Your grace (Hebrews 10:29).
So much is in shambles around us. We see widespread devastation, decay, and hopelessness in our families, our communities, our societies, our world. We seek in vain for solutions based on our imperfect wisdom, our flawed outlook, and our limited knowledge.
O God, help us to pour out our prayers before You, seeking Your face, Your wisdom, Your guidance, Your Spirit. We confess to You our weakness, and our helplessness. Help us. Apart from You we can do nothing. Have mercy on us, according to Your loving kindness.
Hear our desperation as we pray, Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old (Isaiah 51:9).
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