I had lunch today with a Christian business man who is a godly church leader. My devotional reading this morning was in Acts 3 - 5. In those chapters the power of the Spirit is very evident: Peter and John heal the crippled man by the power of the Spirit; Peter and John preach and are arrested - but thousands believe; Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit as he speaks in front of the religious leaders and when they see the courage of Peter and John, they "took note that these men had been with Jesus."
What exciting days as the 1st century church in Palestine moved ahead in the power of the Spirit. Great miracles of healing; thousands coming to faith; great boldness in witness; sacrificial giving. Indeed even in the terrifying discipline of God upon Ananias and Sapphira, the power of God is very evident.
I shared with Steve how in my reading of Vietnam's history, I have been impressed by the miracles experienced and the bold evangelism within Vietnam during recent decades. God has moved through this country in powerful ways. How but for the power of God could we explain the estimated 900% growth in the number of Protestant believers in 35 years - from 160,00 to 1.4 million! And this all happened after the missionaries had left the country!
Steve and I agreed that we desire to see God's Spirit poured out where we live and work; to see lives powerfully changed and our lives and witness empowered. We agreed that we must pray for ourselves and for each other that God will display His power for His glory. May that be what all of us pray here in Vietnam and wherever you are today.
What exciting days as the 1st century church in Palestine moved ahead in the power of the Spirit. Great miracles of healing; thousands coming to faith; great boldness in witness; sacrificial giving. Indeed even in the terrifying discipline of God upon Ananias and Sapphira, the power of God is very evident.
I shared with Steve how in my reading of Vietnam's history, I have been impressed by the miracles experienced and the bold evangelism within Vietnam during recent decades. God has moved through this country in powerful ways. How but for the power of God could we explain the estimated 900% growth in the number of Protestant believers in 35 years - from 160,00 to 1.4 million! And this all happened after the missionaries had left the country!
Steve and I agreed that we desire to see God's Spirit poured out where we live and work; to see lives powerfully changed and our lives and witness empowered. We agreed that we must pray for ourselves and for each other that God will display His power for His glory. May that be what all of us pray here in Vietnam and wherever you are today.
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