Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: One of the things I so love about David in Scripture is just how real and honest he is about his feelings. David faces a myriad of emotions throughout his life; we know because he writes songs about where he finds himself in each season. David shares many emotions in the song we will look at, today (Ps 22). In the beginning, he laments—he passionately expresses his grief and sorrow. He feels hopeless and many of his days seem insurmountable. This giant killer struggles as his courage and spiritual vitality wanes. He feels forsaken and abandoned by God. David questions how God could allow this injustice to happen to him? David has always maintained a resilient trust in God, but for some reason God is silent and it is almost more than David can endure. Have you ever had a season when you grieved with a “no help” outlook?

David decides to take a good look at himself; he evaluates his emotions and he realizes he has allowed life’s challenges to diminish his trust in his Creator and Lord. God has always been faithful to his people; nothing has changed and God is not man that He should lie (Nu 23:19). So, David decides it’s time to stop trying to figure things out on his own and to humbly turn his burdens over to God. When he does, David experiences a breakthrough. In God’s timing, He moves in David’s behalf. David experiences a private deliverance that drives him to proclaim the goodness of God publicly.

At times in our lives, God is quietly working in our souls to bring deliverance. The challenge is to remain faithful during the times we may be hurting the most. During these times, let us hold fast to the truth that His grace is sufficient for all our needs and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9). “When the righteous cry out, the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Ps 34:17). So, like David, let’s pray when we are hurting, because prayer leads the way to praise!

Psalm 22:1-2, 19-28 NLT
1 
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
19 
O Lord, do not stay far away!    You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 
Save me from the sword;    spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 
Snatch me from the lion’s jaws    and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22 
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.    I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 
Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!    Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!    Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 
For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.    He has not turned his back on them,    but has listened to their cries for help.
25 
I will praise you in the great assembly.    I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 
The poor will eat and be satisfied.    All who seek the Lord will praise him.    Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.    All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 
For royal power belongs to the Lord.    He rules all the nations.
29 
Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.    Bow before him, all who are mortal,    all whose lives will end as dust.
30 
Our children will also serve him.    Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.    They will hear about everything he has done.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being with us in good times and in the hardest of times. I pray for the hearts of your human creation, today. May the world wake up and see that you are the Deliverer and the Righteous One who rules in justice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our passage today, the Apostle Paul has been talking to the Jews in Rome about their spiritual “sclerosis” or the hardening of their hearts. What causes a person to have a spiritually hard heart? According to Scripture, it is a refusal to repent of sin and accept the only way to forgiveness and salvation—Jesus Christ (Ro 2:4). Believers—the redeemed—are rescued by faith in the saving influence of the Spirit. Human deeds only reveal the evidence of salvation; righteous actions consistent with the Word of God are undeniably seen in the lives of the redeemed. What message do people get about God when they look at your life?

Circumcision refers to the sign of God’s special covenant with his people and it was something God required for all Jewish males. During this time, the Jews felt because they were descendants of Abraham and had been circumcised, they would enjoy a saving relationship with God. Therefore, they believed they could live any way they wanted and be sure of their salvation. However, Paul reminds them the outward act of circumcision was nothing without the inward circumcision to the heart [obedience to God’s Word]. The saving influence of the Spirit comes to cut [circumcise] unrighteous things out of the lives of God’s people that rebel against His Word or Testimony. So, Paul urges his Jewish brothers not to violate their consciences by sin and continually living in hypocrisy (Ro 2:21-23). To continually violate a conscience leads to spiritual “sclerosis,” a quenching of the Holy Spirit’s work, and a desensitizing of one’s moral compass. A hard heart leads a person into suffering and self-destruction; they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God (Eph 4:18).

A true child of God and a true descendant of Abraham is a person who has allowed the Spirit to cut away or separate him/her from sin in order to live for God. Salvation is the work of the Spirit who convicts us of sin and does the necessary heart surgery—something we could never do for our selves. May we live in the Spirit with changed hearts—a genuine desire to please God. Practicing our faith in the Word and inward work of the Spirit is the true Way to salvation. When we live this way, we send a beautiful message of who God actively is within us.

Romans 2:25-29 (NLT)
25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Prayer: Lord, clearly You desire our heartfelt devotion and obedience to Your Word. Holy Spirit, stir that desire in all of Your children, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Two things believers should always remember about our faithful God’s covenant promises: 1) God’s promise of divine protection, and 2) God’s promise of divine provision. Life can seem pretty overwhelming at times, but we are never alone and are always surrounded by God’s protecting arms of love working in our behalf. He is our Creator and He knows our capabilities. As well, He knows our weaknesses, so he provides grace when we need it most.

Physical and spiritual attacks can threaten us, but God is our Protector. This world is fallen, my friends, and as a result we experience many hardships. David faced many angry and sinful people, but he still knew God was his Protector. Do you know God is your Protector? God is our spiritual hiding place; our refuge and shield. As well, He uses angels to protect us from evil (Ps 91:11-12). Actually, because God is the Creator, He can use anything as a means to protect His children. Sometimes, God even shields us from our own self-destructive behaviors.

God never promised that we would be exempt from the experience of physical pain or loss; He does promise to use all things as provision for us to grow spiritually stronger as we trust in His goodness. You are marked by the Spirit and you belong to the Lord. God has promised to protect His children from every spiritual attack and bring us into his glorious Kingdom (2 Tim 4:18).

Jesus—the Word of God—tells believers to ask God for provision, because the Father knows what we need (Mat 6:24-25). He will never withhold good things from those who walk with Him in righteousness into a quality of Kingdom life (Mat 6:33). The mystery of provision is revealed when we trust God and look for Him to bring the help we require. Sometimes, we just ask for the wrong things or with the wrong motives (James 4:3). May we remember God values righteous character development.

God’s love for you began before you were conceived in your mother womb, so He will always be Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord-Who-Provides and Jehovah-Ezer, The Lord-Our-Helper. If you are feeling overwhelmed today, David’s song is for you.
Psalm 124 (NLT) A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 
What if the Lord had not been on our side?
    Let all Israel [people of God] repeat:
2 
What if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us?
3 
They would have swallowed us alive
    in their burning anger.
4 
The waters would have engulfed us;
    a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 
Yes, the raging waters of their fury
    would have overwhelmed our very lives.
6 
Praise the Lord,
    who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
    The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 
Our help is from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the spiritual protection and provision you bring to the lives of Your children. You raise us above this fallen mess Your creation has made of Your world. Please forgive us and help us overcome the things that try to overwhelm us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

June 14, 2022

Intro: Seems like every day I am praying for wisdom either for myself or my spiritual family. Life requires godly wisdom, because the ways of the world are spiraling into a very foolish place. Please keep in mind the Bible describes a foolish person as an “unbeliever.” To be unwise is not to be intellectually limited. An unwise or foolish person just does not comprehend or believe the sovereign knowledge, authority, and power of God. Therefore, this person lives apart from God—against His commands, unable to comprehend the truth, or accept his or her sinful condition due to the law of sin and death (Ro 8:1-2).

As believers, we are to make the most of our time on earth as we serve our King and His Kingdom. We are to live wisely which means to live according to God’s purposes for redemption and worship—oneness with God. When we invest our time and energy into learning the Word of God, we begin to discern its value and receive its power to bring salvation. Our recognition of God’s power to draw us to Himself and grow spiritual life in us, will lead us into genuine worship and blessing. For this reason, the enemy uses deception as a way to encourage people to self-destruct.

Drunkenness is a waste of spiritual resources. However, it is more than drunkenness that Paul warns about in our passage, today; it’s debauchery. According to history, drunken orgies were associated with the pagan worship of the ancient god Bacchus; many believed they communed with spiritual deities during these sinful times. Paul basically identifies the spirits associated with these orgies as demonic and warns the Ephesians to choose to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit instead. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes a similar warning about false prophets, deception, and lawlessness (24:11-12). That means when we know there is sin [lawlessness] in our lives, we must choose to embrace humility before God, confess and repent of sin [die to self], and surrender to the will and power of the Almighty. To live in harmony with the Holy Spirit is be filled with gratitude for our salvation in Christ; a rescue for our souls. So, continually be filled with the Holy Spirit, today.

Ephesians 5:15-20 Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, every day Your children make choices that either lead us forward in our worship of You or farther away. So, help me to welcome the influence of the Holy Spirit in making me spiritually vibrant. May my choices today bring me closer to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Our passage today, is a continuation from our reading from yesterday. If you missed that devotional, please take time to read Galatians 5:16-25 before proceeding. When believers walk in the Spirit [guided] and remain filled with the Spirit [abiding in fellowship or oneness] the evidence of that relationship with God is revealed in the fruit of the Spirit that is produced in our individual lives. Fruit is the revelation of the believer’s faithfulness to the gospel promise. Believers are called to live in spiritual and moral excellence based on the Word of God; in this way we take a relevant biblical truth and make it a personal truth. Please don’t use our culture as a marker to govern your life; use the Word of God because it is the Spirit’s work to exalt the Word in our lives.

Sowing and reaping are true spiritual principles; but, sowing and reaping are also revealed in the laws of nature. A sweet friend of mine sent me a picture of her flourishing garden, yesterday, and it is clear that what she sowed into the soil was growing and will in time bring a harvest of good things. The same principle is true in the spiritual realm. When we sow to the Spirit, in time we will reap or harvest spiritual fruit. When we sow to our flesh, in time we will reap a harvest from our fallen flesh. Quite frankly, this law reflects the judgment of God who commands us [for our well-being] to sow to the Spirit. We should be quick to resist sowing to our fallen flesh, because we know evil hides in it. When evil is left unchecked—when we do not allow the Spirit to liberate us from sin—our condition to rebel against God just worsens. Our flesh gets stronger, because we have rejected the loving work of the Spirit within us.

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost—a Greek term meaning The Feast of Weeks. Pentecost is significant in both the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament. In the Old Testament, seven weeks after Passover, the Feast of Weeks celebrated the end of the wheat reaping season when people brought the first fruits of that harvest to God. This feast foreshadows the coming of Messiah and His ministry. Every feast is symbolic of an important aspect of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus. In the New Testament, Christ’s last words of instruction to his disciples before he ascended to heaven was for them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). Jesus sowed into the Spirit, so we could all reap a harvest from the Fruit of the Spirit. As Christ foretold, the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire at Pentecost to fill the disciples with power from heaven (Acts 2:1-3). The Spirit is producing a harvest in us now according to the New Covenant. “In the last days God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. “In those days, ‘I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy” or release messages from God’s Word (Acts 12:17-18).

I hope we all realize the life Jesus died to bring us is the highest quality and most abundant life we can experience while we live in this fallen world (John 10:10). Don’t be dominated by your emotions or attachments to what God calls sinful desires. Live in the New Covenant promise and bear the Fruit of the Spirit. If God calls you out of sin, it is because he has something so much better for you. Trust him, because God is Good! Have a blessed weekend…

Galatians 6:7-10 NLT
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit to help us produce righteous fruit. You are the First fruits offering, Jesus, and we thank you for sowing yourself into the lives of every believer. We are the first fruits of the Spirit and our lives are an offering to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul responds to false teachers in order to defend the authority of the gospel. The church in Galatia—occupied by law abiding Jews and Gentiles—is experiencing confusion and controversy. These Galatian believers are struggling to identify the difference between adherence to the religious law [legalism], being lead by their flesh, or being guided by the Holy Spirit into the liberating new life—faith in the gospel—made available by Jesus the Christ.

When Jesus broke through time and space to come to earth, the good news [gospel] announced the arrival of the kingdom of God. By the time the epistles were written, the gospel was revealed as faith in Jesus and what he came to accomplish with his life in order to grow God’s people for the kingdom. Jesus did not come to gather a group of polished religious performers; he came to take upon himself the judgment of God for the death penalty of sin, make believers right with God, and through faith set disciples free from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Preceding our passage for today, the Apostle Paul has clarified the religious law cannot save anyone and that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. Moving in faith by obeying the Word of God, as well as bringing a desire to please God and hear from the Holy Spirit is the right start to appropriating God’s power for overcoming sin. We need to walk with the Spirit and that requires continuous action as we obey the Word; this is how we live in the Spirit’s power.

As human beings with a fallen nature, we have conflicting forces working within us. We have the Holy Spirit who desires to help produce righteousness in our lives and it is in conflict with our flesh [human nature w/emotions] most of the time. These two forces are not equal in power. God’s power is supreme, but because God has given humanity free will, we can diminish the Spirit’s work in our lives when we give our demanding flesh authority. We can grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not desire his wisdom or hunger for righteous things. Living by the Spirit’s power is how we continue to crucify our flesh in this spiritual battle. Paul lets us know the kind of sin our flesh wants to produce in our lives. Overcoming sin is not something done to the believer but by the believer in the Spirit’s power—we choose to put to death the will of our sinful nature. We, too, have to make up our minds as to who will rule our lives. Praise God his grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:19).

Galatians 5:16-25 NLT Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving believers the Helper for the spiritual battle we face each day with our flesh. Help me to pick up my cross and put to death any sinful desire that tries to take authority over your Word. I know each time I deny myself, I am closer to you and the life you have given me to live. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Rumors are everywhere; talk and opinions widely disseminated with no discernible source of truth. A rumor is basically gossip and the Bible warns against engaging in it (Pro 18:6-7). And, those who even listen knowing information is gossip then turn to pass it on are described as low in character (Pro 17:4).

Words can build up a person or tear him or her down; life and death is in the power of the tongue (Pro 18:21). Therefore, rumors are not harmless; a simple “oops,” “I’ll retract it later,” or “I’m sorry” doesn’t change the damage that has been done. Strangely our sinful nature likes sharing info that gets us a level of attention, but believers have the responsibility to speak wisdom and truth if we are going to open our mouths.

In our passage today, rumors have been circulating about the true identity of Jesus. Jesus listens to the disinformation and rumors, but spends no time responding to any of it. Instead, he turns to his disciples and asks a much more important question, “But, who do you say I am?”

This is the same question Jesus places before every human who hears about him; we will be judged by our answer. We actually answer Jesus’ question by how we live our lives every day. Do we honor and love God wholeheartedly? Do we look for the power to love our neighbors…even the difficult ones? If we really believe Jesus is the Anointed One, we will be confident in his ability and love to bring redemption, refreshment, resources, and restoration to everyone who wants to know the heart of God and live for his purpose. We will not doubt his sovereignty, authority, or power, because he has promised to be what we lack. Believers will declare Jesus is the Savior and the ruler of heaven and earth. Jesus is the Anointed One—he has the power to accomplish every task; therefore, we must stay connected to him. Peter declares the truth about Jesus. What do you say?

Luke 9:18-20 (NLT) Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”
20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah [the Anointed One] sent from God!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the anointing of your Spirit who empowers believers to know you, receive your revelation for life, so we can speak the Truth in love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: According to Scripture, the “heart” is defined as the core of one’s life; one’s entire emotional nature and understanding. The “heart” is the center of spiritual activity, but it is also at the core of operations in human life. Because of sin, broken and estranged is the human state of the “heart” apart from the restorative work of Jesus the Christ [Savior]. The “heart” is deceitful, desperately wicked, and [without God] is beyond cure [Jer 17:9]. That is why we must repent from evil and turn to obey, apply, and hide the Word of God in our “hearts” [Ps 119:11]. The Word helps us guard our “hearts,” because everything we do flows from it [Prov 4:23].

As a nation, we mourn the loss of 21 human beings killed on Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas. What caused this young man to rob, kill, and destroy these lives? According to Scripture, the underlying truth is deception and evil hiding in the “heart.” Sure, there may be more details about this mass killing that will be uncovered, but the fundamental issue that motivated this act is found in the godless state of the human “heart.”

In our passage today, the angel of the Lord speaks to the Apostle John who is reminding us the Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly for his Church. For the people of God, we are to have no other gods but the Most High (Ex 20:3-5). We are to be loving God with all our hearts, soul [personality], and minds (Mat 22:37). May believers worldwide stay focused on obeying the Word and worshiping Yahweh as we proclaim now is the time to find salvation in Christ. We are beginning to experience a harvest of the “hearts.” If you have never done so, please invite Jesus into your heart…

Revelation 22:6-9 NLT
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon [suddenly].”

Jesus Is Coming
7 “Look, I am coming soon [suddenly]! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book [scroll].”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

Prayer of Salvation: Lord, I confess my sin against the authority of your Word and ask for you to forgive me. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Holy Spirit take control of my life and walk with me each day. I want to taste your goodness and see the salvation of my mind, will, and emotions. Take the broken places and heal me with your perfect love. Help me to tell others about your gift of salvation in Christ. I worship you Almighty God; there is none like you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Before we dig into our passage for today, we need to remember after Jesus’ resurrection he spent 40 days [revealing the spiritual truth of his living presence] with his disciples as he traveled around Galilee and back to Jerusalem. During this time, Jesus continues to manifest his supernatural power by revealing himself to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus [Lu 24:13-32], suddenly appearing in rooms behind locked doors to more disciples [Jo 20:19], providing proof to Thomas a doubting disciple [Jo 20:27-28], initiating a miraculous catch of fish to seven disciples [Jo 21:6], restoring the disciple Peter from broken fellowship [Jo 21:15-17], and appearing to some 500 people to share about God’s forgiveness of sin by his sacrifice [1 Co 15:6]. Everything Jesus said and did, during this time, has been to assure all of his disciples that he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament [Tanakh] sacrificial system and the messianic prophecies—the manifested Truth.

In our passage today, before his ascension, Jesus opens the minds of his disciples so they can understand Scripture and the purpose of his life; to bring forgiveness of sins for all who repent” (Lu 24:47]. Before he leaves them, he wants them to have the wisdom to understand the steadfast love and faithfulness of God for salvation. Jesus wants them to be aware that evil and sin is what destroys life with God. Lastly, Jesus wants his disciples to anticipate the coming of the Holy Spirit who will bring the power to share this Good News. Jesus prepares and equips his disciples. He prepares and equips us to do likewise. God wants the world to hear and know the salvation he offers. Will you share in God’s faithfulness to tell those around you?

Luke 24:44-53 NLT
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, [all people] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

The Ascension
50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for preparing all believers and equipping us with the Holy Spirit and power. May we take your commission to share the Good News to heart and look each day for the opportunities that are provided. In Jesus’ name. Amen.