Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart and guide my thoughts, as I begin my day grounded and centered in You, my God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, 'This man is the power of God that is called Great.' And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place" (Acts 8:9-13).
With confident boldness and passionate faith, Philip was speaking Your name and proclaiming Your kingdom in word and deed. He was changing the spiritual atmosphere around him from the power of magic to the power of the Messiah, from the kingdoms of this world to the kingdom of our God, from exalting the "great god" of humanism to exalting the Great God who created the heavens and the earth and every human in His eternal sovereignty and authority over all.
Even Simon the magician believed and was baptized. When the name of Jesus is proclaimed the kingdom of God is advanced. When you speak the name of Jesus out loud, read Scriptures out loud, pray out loud or sing and worship out loud you change the atmosphere around you. And as importantly, you change the atmosphere of those around you. " Jesus replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” (Mark 1:38) Jesus came to speak the Gospel out loud into communities and it created an atmosphere where people were healed, the blind received sight, and demons fled.
Like Philip, I want to boldly speak out Your name to change the spiritual atmosphere around me and by doing so it will change the spiritual atmosphere within me. I want to see Your kingdom come, Your will be done here in my world, here in my community, here in my family, here in my heart, on earth as it is in heaven. I want to see every counterfeit power and every false god, every deceptive controlling force bow before the One True God. "Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as in fact there are many gods and many lords -- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist" (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).
Father God, in the name of Jesus, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, advance the kingdom of God within me and give my a voice to speak it aloud to those around me today. Let my words share The Word and create an atmosphere in which knees bow and tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Let lives be changed, beginning with mine. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you boldly and passionately proclaim out loud the name of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God in word and deed today, in Jesus' name! May you see a shifting of the atmosphere you find yourself in today from kingdoms of this world into the kingdom of our God in your world around you, and in your heart. Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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