GOD IS WITH US (ACTS 13:1-3)

Sep 9, 2023

3–5 minutes

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is God is with us. God is with us means experiencing the presence or the glory of God in our lives. We shall meditate on the fact that we experience the presence of God through the Holy Spirit when we fast and pray.

Dear friend in the Lord, God is with us through the power of the Holy Spirit and anytime we fast and pray, we invite Him to manifest His presence or glory in our midst. Saul or Paul and Banabas were chosen by the Holy Spirit to embark on a missionary journey of preaching the Good News. Luke reported that “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3). Fellowship, prayer and fasting create an enabling environment for believers to experience or encounter the Holy Spirit. Fellowship, prayer and fasting change our gathering from a human-centred atmosphere to a God-centred atmosphere. It is for this reason Jesus assures us that “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ( Matthew 18:20). We shall also recollect that God was with the disciples and they experienced the outpour of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4). These people were obviously fellowshiping, praying or seeking the face of God and there was an enabling environment created for them to experience the power of the Holy Spirit or the presence of God in their lives. Jesus has promised us that “…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). It means that if we continue to pray and fast and remain obedient to His Word, we shall continue to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus promised us when He said ““I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:18-19,25-26). This promise is always being fulfilled when we develop the habit of fellowship, worship, Bible study, fasting and prayer.

Beloved in the Lord, God is always with us and we shall continue to experience His presence through the Holy Spirit when we fast and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We are being invited to take seriously our worship and prayer lives everywhere we find ourselves. We can not see God but we experience Him through a life of worship, fasting and prayer. Let us rejuvenate our worship, Bible study, fasting and prayer life today so that we shall continue to have a fulfilling relationship and encounter with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “God is with us” We have learnt that we experience the presence of God through the Holy Spirit when we fast and pray. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to eschew laziness and apathy and to live a life of worship through Bible study, fasting and prayer.
2. Let us pray for revival and awakening in our spiritual lives so that we shall have an enriching spiritual influence in the lives of other believers whenever we meet to fast and pray.
3. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to use us for God’s glory.

Thank You, God, for being with us always. We acknowledge the fact that without You we are nothing and powerless, therefore, we ask in total humility to be empowered to cultivate and maintain the habit of prayer, fasting and love for the study of Your Word so that we shall continue to experience Your glory in our lives. Amen.