March 26

Read: Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-4

These all continued in one accord in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14).

Am I Ready To Seek Him Now?

In his testimony of yesterday Dr. E. Stanley Jones told how the Holy Spirit convicted him of the need to seek for the baptism of the Holy Spirit now. For several weeks we have been exploring this element of decisive action and crisis experience in God’s dealings with the soul. Has it been only an exercise in correct theology or has the Holy Spirit used the truth to probe my own spirit about my own need for action now?

We have seen how clearly the Bible shows us that entire sanctification is God’s plan for every follower of Christ. We have seen that this further experience of grace comes to us as a gift of God rather than any achievement of our own. Since God gives it freely and promises the blessing to all who love Him, we may have it when we ask for it. Since I am a child of God, since this is God’s will for me and God’s gift to me, should it not be a matter of immediate concern to me?

Our scripture for yesterday told of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit and of His instructions to the disciples for receiving this gift from God. Today our Bible reading recounts the obedience of those disciples and of the blessing that God poured out upon them. Jesus asked them to tarry. Our scripture records, “They went up into an upper room… These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication… and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Here were obedience to Christ’s command, united prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit, faith that if they prayed He would come to them — and then the answer to their prayers! These disciples set out to settle this business with God as Jesus had asked them to do. Will the same action by me bring the same results for me? The answer is Yes.

Affirmation For Today

I resolve to begin seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit now.