March 27 – April 3, 2026

WE’RE APPOINTED IN POWER

Acts 6:8 “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”

Once the disciples were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they could not be contained or stopped from going out to save a lost world according to God’s plan.  In fact, these 11 men—his disciples, followers, his students so to speak—who had been with Jesus every day for three years are now called “apostles” in Acts, meaning “ones sent out.” What a dramatic transformation! In fact, the Book of Acts is often referred to as “the Acts of the Apostles.” 

But it wasn’t just the apostles! Stephen was not an apostle. He was an “ordinary” believer, one of seven appointed to make sure money was distributed fairly among the needy in the Jerusalem church. BUT he was also baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit and doing what Jesus did! We too, whatever our occupation, are to live like Jesus and do the things He did—and the Holy Spirit is the One who can make that a reality! Being baptized IN and BY the Holy Spirit is being spiritually dipped or immersed within the Spirit of God. That is literally what baptized means.

It was commonplace for the apostles to pray with believers for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17, “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

All we need to do is ask and receive! Our life takes on a whole new depth and meaning as we add to it the joy and freedom of the Holy Spirit. Anything can happen when you listen to His voice and follow His guidance! You’ll be among those giving exciting testimonies of what the Lord is doing through YOU!

 

This is an excerpt from a 90-day devotional written by Emil and Karen. To order the full devotional, click on the TO ORDER DEVOTIONAL page.