Mission Control

Let’s proclaim these passages out loud:

Luke 16:10a (NTFE)
10 “Someone who is faithful in a small matter,” Jesus continued, “will also be faithful in a large one.”

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

“Oh, if I could only stir you up to see that, as you are faithful in the humblest role, God can fill you with His Spirit, make you a chosen vessel for Himself…Nothing is impossible to a man filled with the Holy Spirit. The possibilities are beyond all human comprehension.” (Wigglesworth, Smith Wigglesworth on Healing)

Often our prayers are small as we see our own limits. But we serve the one who is able to do immeasurably more, and he fills us to be a part of that. So let’s pray big prayers today, that God will take our faithfulness in small matters and make us ready for large ones, and that he will work through it all for his glory.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you are able to do more than we ask or imagine. Enlarge our hearts and our prayers today for what you can do through our lives. May Jesus be glorified through our church in this generation and beyond. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do” by Passion (click here).

 -CWR

Acts 21:7-9 (NIV)
7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

“We hear nothing more of Philip until Paul visits him in Acts 21. Approximately twenty years had passed since he arrived in Caesarea…Luke calls him ‘the evangelist’; therefore, he was preaching. He had four daughters who were prophetesses so they must have been Christians. All of this suggests that Philip remained a sincere and godly man…This brief statement in Acts 21 is the last we hear of Philip but who could ask for a better tribute to a life well lived. Over the next twenty years what will our lives be characterized by?” (Latham, Philip, A True Servant)

We get to see how Philip was faithful in every aspect of his life, from serving the church, to continued evangelism, to the daily unseen work of raising his children to serve the Lord. May we also receive the Spirit’s filling and wisdom on every front to live in long obedience to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, fill me with your Spirit today and for the long haul in every area of my life. Help me to exercise your Spirit-given wisdom to love the next generation so they can be filled and proclaim the word of God.

Let’s worship to “No Other Plan ” by Elijah Oyelade (click here).

-CWR

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 8:26-27, 29, 35 (NIV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch…29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it…” 35 Then Philip…told him the good news about Jesus.

“The Spirit has orchestrated every detail of this significant event in the history of global outreach…The eunuch never saw Philip again but ‘went on his way rejoicing’…We know nothing more about him, although Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.12.10) and Eusebius (History of the Church 2.1.13) both said he was the first missionary to the Ethiopian people.” (Osborne, Acts: Verse by Verse)

Philip’s faithful obedience in the small things prepared him to obey God in this pivotal moment. As God empowered and directed Philip by the Spirit, may he also fill and guide us to bring the good news of Jesus to another.

Prayer: Lord, make us ready to hear your voice in those Spirit-given moments where you lead and fill us. Help us to be quick to obey and to be Spirit-filled to share the good news. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Salvation Belongs to You” by Passion (click here).

Acts 6:5-7 (NIV)
5 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

“Those who were chosen were just ordinary men, but they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and this infilling always lifts a man to a plane above the ordinary. It does not take a cultured or an educated man to fill a position in God’s church. What God requires is a yielded, consecrated, holy life, and He can make it a flame of fire…” (Wigglesworth, Smith Wigglesworth on Healing)

As these ordinary men faithfully took responsibility “to wait on tables,” the church grew – the gospel spread and there was greater obedience and discipleship among them. For us as well, may the Lord fill us to serve the church with yielded lives so the activity of the Spirit may increase among us.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for more of your filling as each person does their part in this body of Christ. Help us to yield our everyday, ordinary lives to you. Please use our church to spread the gospel and make disciples. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Yes Again” by Darlene Zschech (click here)

-CWR

Acts 6:2-3 (NIV)
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them…”

“Philip was selected for this task because…he had equipped himself to serve God…The first lesson we might learn from Philip is that if we are to be of any use in the kingdom we need to equip ourselves. Philip’s reputation, character and wisdom were indicative of his dedication to spiritual growth. As a result he was ready when the opportunity arose.” (Lathem, Philip, A True Servant)

Before he was entrusted by his church to serve in this humble way, Philip devoted himself humbly to his own spiritual growth. As many of us are serving faithfully or desiring to do so, may we also humbly and faithfully seek to grow in the filling and wisdom of the Spirit. Let’s devote ourselves in prayer, worship, and the word, to be ready to serve in whatever way God calls us.

Prayer: Lord, deepen my daily devotion to you and help me to faithfully seek you. Please fill me with your Spirit and help me to grow to be more equipped to serve your church.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” by Worship Initiative (click here).

-CWR