New Hope Diamond Head Staff Daily Devotions & Journal Blog: A MORE ACCURATE MESSAGE. By Pastor Fernando

Doing Devotions Together

We want you to take a look at what God is speaking to our church staff! This blog will help you to be encouraged by what others journal about. Also, it will assist you as you improve the way you journal. We use the SOAP system (Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer). To learn more about how the SOAP System works when doing daily devotions and journaling, click here!

Feel free to post some comments! We would love to interact with you and help you to learn how to be mentored directly by the Holy Spirit!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A MORE ACCURATE MESSAGE. By Pastor Fernando

Scripture:
He (Apollos) had been taught the way of the Lord and talked to others with great enthusiasm and accuracy about Jesus. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:25-26

Observation:
Apollos was a bold speaker and messenger of the Good News. He spoke with wisdom and eloquence about Jesus but he only knew about the baptism on water. Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained him a more accurate way, that includes the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture refers to this teaching as a “more accurate” way of God. In fact, in the book of Acts we keep reading about believers that were not aware to this part of the Gospel and that were taught about this topic for their complete revelation of the work of God and His grace over them. The early disciples knew that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was an essential part of their daily walk with God.

Application:
Interesting to find about many honest and sincere believers today that only know about the baptism on water, but have no understanding of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. We must be like Priscilla and Aquila in that regard when we encounter people like Apollos. We need to take them aside and explain the way of God more accurately. As a shepherd, I need to be eager to see our flock not only understanding but also living under the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I need to feed them well and include this important part of the gospel in their spiritual diet.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for the precious gift of your Holy Spirit in my life. Great to walk in a more accurate way. Please help me to take people aside and explain them about this wonderful experience, that is part of the blessings we have because of the cross. Fill our church with your Holy Spirit and let all our people experience the blessing of being baptized with fire from heaven. Amen!