Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. All the believers were of one heart and one soul... With great power the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

— Acts 4:31-33, MEV 

THE TESTIMONY 

In every part of the world a message is to be proclaimed in the power of the Spirit. 

There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour’s love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts. 

To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the day of Pentecost heard the message of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and who will take Him at His word. 

Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: “The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” 

The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. 

So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the “former rain,” and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. 

My brethren and sisters, plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bibles in your hands say, “I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’” 

— Australasian Union Conference Record, June 1, 1904 

THE RESPONSE 

Take God at His word and ask Him to endow you with the power of His Spirit and His grace from above. 

Claim the blessing that Christ promised with a burden that souls may hear the gospel and be converted. 

Put away all dissension and give yourself to God for the saving of the lost.

Plead for the Holy Spirit. With your Bible in your hand claim the promise, “I have done as You have said. I present Your promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.’”