SATURDAY MAY 14, 2022

PREPARING YOURSELF FOR AN ENCOUNTER

Scripture Reference: Acts 13:1-11.

Exposition:

The prophets and teachers at Antioch had gathered to wait on the Lord. Through their waiting, they had prepared their hearts for an encounter with the Holy Spirit.

There are a few things they did to prepare their hearts:

Fasting (v. 2-3): They took time to abstain from food and other physical pleasures, emptying themselves for more of the Holy Spirit.

Worship (v. 2): In the period of worship and adoration, their minds and all their attention was directed at God. This made them ready to encounter the Holy Spirit.

Prayer (v. 3): Fasting without prayer is starvation. The prophets and teachers did not just fast, they also prayed and so they brought the presence of the Holy Spirit into their meeting. This is evidenced by the Holy Spirit speaking to them (v. 2, 4).

Right Association (v. 1): The prophets and teachers were like- minded. They put themselves in the right association, the kind that would cause them to desire for more of the Holy Spirit. Such kinds of association cause the fire of God to be set ablaze in our hearts. The wrong kind of association quenches our desire for God and so prevents us from encountering Him.

After doing all these, they were filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 9) and so were able to overthrow the works of darkness (v. 9-11). Spend time with God and your life will not be the same.

Prayer Guide: Dear Holy Spirit, as I wait on You, let me encounter You. Amen!

MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:

1 Samuel 10:6 (NIV) – “The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.”