God's Holy Fire: 'Focus of Ministry'

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

 Read More
[Jesus, in the synagogue, reading from Isaiah:] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
— Luke 4:18-19 NLT

Key Thought

Luke makes clear that Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb through the Holy Spirit, anointed by the Holy Spirit at his baptism, and empowered by the Holy Spirit into and through his wilderness temptations, and that he emerged from the temptations full of the Spirit. Today's passage reminds us that the Spirit is powerfully upon him to focus his ministry. This quotation from Isaiah 61:1-2 is in the context of God's servant, Jesus, bringing restoration and healing. If Jesus' ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit, how dare we try to minister without the Holy Spirit's power? Release of the captives, freedom for the oppressed, and the time of God's favor don't come without the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the ministry of God's servants!

Today's Prayer

O Father, I know that you have given me gifts, talents, and abilities to use in ministry to bless others and to honor you. I recognize that even with these gifts, my ability to accomplish all that you have called me to do is impossible without the power and guidance of your Spirit. I ask for the Holy Spirit to help me recognize these gifts, to empower me so that I can use these gifts effectively, and to help me use these gifts in ways that honor you and reflect the character and compassion of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by W. R. Inge:
"Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Away from the Crowd' (Mk. 7:32-35)
"A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to [Jesus], and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. Jesus led him away...."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Unstoppable Spirit' (Acts 8:39-40)
"When [Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch] came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Hold These Promises in Your Heart'
"Dear Child of God, Beginning today and for the next several days, I will remind you of things I shared with My closest disciples on the night I was....."

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 4:18-19 NLT — "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations