This week’s message is prepared by Pastor Joseph Tai.
“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 1:8
This coming Sunday is Pentecost, which is also called the day of first fruits. It is the day of the Lord’s favor, of His grace, and of open heaven. It is this open heaven that brings down God’s blessings, grace, authority, wisdom and power.
Scripture provides a few examples of when heaven opened:
- When Jesus was baptized to show His obedience – Matthew 3:16-17
- When the saints all joined together in prayer – Acts 1:14
- When Apostle John faithfully loved the Lord to the end – Revelation 4:1
Acts 1:3 says: “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive, He appeared to then over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Later, Jesus commanded them to not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, the Holy Spirit. They shall receive the power from the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses. Then he was taken up to the heaven. In people’s eyes, that was a situation of hopelessness for the disciples because their Lord was gone. However, when they joined together in prayer, heaven was opened. They were filled with the Holy Spirit that resulted in breakthroughs and witnesses. They:
- Spoke in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them– 2:2-4
- Preached boldly – 4:8-13
- Ministered to others – 6:1-7
- Took on martyrdom as a witness for the Lord – 7:54-60
- Healed from sickness – 9:17-18，32-40
- Were full of faith – 11:21-24
- Were sent out – 13:1-3
- Denounced heresy – 13: 8-12
Market Place Prayer
May the market place soldiers join together in prayer in obedience and faithfulness to God. May they sustain their love for the Lord to the end so that they will experience open heaven, being filled with the Holy Spirit and becoming His witnesses. May they act out the book of Acts for this generation.
