A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

25 June
Lk. 17:5
Increase our Faith
The disciples’ request to Jesus to increase their faith is most appropriate not only for them but for all believers (Lk. 17:5). All Christians need faith to live the Christian life. Faith is indispensable for all aspects of the Christian life. Without faith it is impossible to live the Christian life at all (see Heb. 11:6). Without it no one can obtain anything from God (Matt. 13:58; Jam. 1:6-8). The Scripture is true that the righteous can only live by faith (Hab. 2:4). There is little faith and there is great faith. Jesus condemns the former (see Matt. 17:14-20) and commends the latter (Matt. 8:5-13; Matt. 15:21-28). Little faith is good, but not good enough (see Matt. 17:14-20). Were it not for Jesus, Peter would have drowned because of his little faith (see Matt. 14:28-31). Little faith cannot suffice for great needs (see Matt. 17:14-20). We all need great faith. It is great faith that suffices for great needs (Matt. 8:5-13; Matt. 15:21-28). Only with increased faith can we successfully face the enormous challenges of the Christian life (see Matt. 21:21-22). We must turn the disciples’ request above (Lk. 17:5) to our daily prayer.
PRAYER: Father, please increase our faith.

26 June
Acts 2:46-47
Growing the Church
It is God who makes His Church grow (Acts 2:46-47; Acts 2:41). He is the one who draws His chosen children to Himself (see Jn. 6:37). As Paul clearly stated, the servants may plant and water the seed, but it is God who makes it grow (1Cor. 3:6-7). This fulfills the promise that Jesus made when He gave the great commission (see Matt. 28:18-20). Therefore, no man can make the Church grow. This is God’s exclusive responsibility (Acts 2:46-47: 1Cor. 3:6-7). After we have done our own part, we must trust God to do His own, to make it grow (1Cor. 3:6-7). Since it is God who makes the Church grow, we must not give the glory due to Him to His human instruments. And the human instruments must never take the glory due to God to themselves. Meanwhile, let us continue to plant and water the seed, for we can be quite sure that God will make it grow (1Cor. 3:6-7). And if we experience little or no growth, let us not be discouraged, for the Lord who owns the Church will most certainly add to it (Acts 2:46-47; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor. 3:6-7).
PRAYER: Father, please add to your Church.

27 June
Acts 19:11-12
Extraordinary signs and wonders
The Lord our God is the God of signs and wonders. Nothing whatever is impossible with Him (Lk. 1:37). He has performed numerous signs and wonders through His several servants such as Moses (Exod. 7-10, 14), Elijah (1 Kgs. 17-18), Elisha (2Kgs. 4 -7), Peter (Acts 3, 9: 32-43), and Paul (Acts 19:11-12). These men were wholly consecrated and devoted to Him. As He did through these men, God can also perform mighty signs and wonders through any of His children today who, like them, is wholly consecrated and devoted to Him. Jesus even promised that those who believe in Him will not only do the same miracles He did, but greater ones as well (Jn. 14:12-14). Therefore, anyone who truly believes and is wholly consecrated and devoted to God is a ready vessel or instrument in God’s hands for signs and wonders. But not every sign and wonder is of God (see Exod. 7:11-13, 22). There are indeed counterfeit signs and wonders of which Satan is the author (cf. 2Thes. 2:9). Genuine signs and wonders originate from God alone. Only lack of faith can prevent the out pouring of God’s extraordinary signs and wonders (see Matt. 13:58).
PRAYER: Father, please perform mighty signs and wonders for and through me.

28 June
Mk. 1:35
Learning to Pray
Jesus our Saviour was a man of prayer (Matt. 14:23; Matt. 26:36; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12; Jn. 17:1-26). He often took up His needs in prayer (Matt. 26:36; Lk. 22:41-46). Sometimes He spent the night praying (Lk. 6:12). If Jesus our Saviour prayed, how much more ought we to do so? Jesus taught His followers to pray (Lk. 11:1-13). The early disciples were also people of prayer (Acts 1:14; Acts 2: 42; Acts 6:3-4; Acts 16:25). Prayer is God’s means for His children to receive from Him (Lk. 11:9-10). God is nearer to His children through prayer. Not all prayers can be answered. To be answered, our prayers must be sincere, not driven by selfish motives (see Matt. 6:5-6). Prayer does not need babbling to succeed (see Matt. 6:7-8). The prayer that prevails is that of the righteous (see Prov. 15:8, 29; Jam. 5:16), offered in faith (Matt. 21:22; Mk. 11:24; Jam. 1:6-8; Jam. 5:15), and persistence (Lk. 18:1-8; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; 1Thess. 5:17). As Christians, we owe everybody our prayers, including those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44-48). Our sins do hinder our prayers (Is. 1:15-17; Mk. 11:25; 1Pet. 3:7; 1Pet. 4:7). They must be removed for our prayers to be answered (see 2Chron. 7:13-14). No Christian can make it in the Christian life without persistent prayer. He who does not pray does not receive (cf. Lk. 11:9-10). The Holy Spirit is available to help us in our prayers (Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 6:18).
PRAYER: Father, please teach me to pray and make me a man of prayer.

29 June
Acts 1:4-5
Be Baptized with the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised to baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17, 26; Jn. 16:13-15; Acts 1:4-5; cf. Lk. 3:16). The fact that He commanded them not to proceed with the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20) until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit underscores the importance of the Holy Spirit for the Christian life and ministry. Jesus fulfilled this promise on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41) and will continue to do so until He returns (Acts 1:9-11). As a matter of fact, Christians really need the Holy Spirit for the Christian life and ministry (see Jn. 14:26; Kn. 16:13-15; Acts 1:8). In fact, without the Holy Spirit no one is ready for Christian living and ministry (cf. Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16: 13-15; Acts 1:8). In addition to his numerous works, the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, guides them specifically (see Acts 8:29; Acts 16: 7-8), and helps them with their prayers (Rom. 8:26). Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not only the mark of believers (Rom. 8:9, 14, 16), it is for all believers (Acts 4:31; Acts 11:15-17; Acts 19:6). Baptism with the Holy Spirit is ours by asking (see Lk. 11:13). But we can hinder our baptism with the Holy Spirit by indulging in acts that grieve Him (see Eph. 4:30-31).
PRAYER: Father, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit as you promised.

30 June
Lk. 24:45
Opening our minds to understand the Scripture
Although it is literature, the Scripture is a unique kind of literature. It is unique on account of the fact that it is inspired by the Holy Spirit (2Tim. 3:16-17). An ordinary mind cannot understand or comprehend it (see Acts 8:30-35; cf. Rom. 8:6-8). It takes a mind opened by the Holy Spirit to understand the Scripture (Lk. 24:45). Anyone whose mind is not opened to understand the Scripture is blind, even though he sees (see Jn. 9:40-41). In the same way, anyone whose mind is not opened to understand the Scripture is dead, even though he lives. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to open our minds to understand the Scripture (see Acts 8:20-35). And the Holy Spirit is ready to have our minds opened to understand the Scripture if we are willing (see Acts 8:26-35). It is most perilous not to have our minds opened to understand the Scripture (cf. Jn. 9:40-41).
PRAYER: Father, please open my mind to understand your Word.

 

Our Daily Key: A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

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