Acts 3 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Acts 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/act/3/1/s_1021001

Meditate on verses 19-20.

 

Therefore, repent and return, so

that your sins may be wiped

 away, in order that times of

refreshing may come from the

presence of the LORD; and that He may

send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.

 

Peter is again preaching in the temple.  His sermon follows an amazing miracle, resulting in a man over 40-years-old, who had never walked, being healed (Acts 3:2; 4:22).  Immediately, he was walking and leaping and praising God (v. 8)! 

 

God’s healing of this man is similar to His creation of Adam.  He wired this man’s brain, defective legs, and atrophied muscles to work as if they had never not worked.  This was a mature miracle.  The man is jumping!  Just like God created a mature world where Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk and jump and praise the moment He made them.  You, too, are a mature miracle, for when you became a Christian, you were recreated new, a completed child of God because of Christ in you (Colossians 1:27-28).

 

God’s miraculous power makes our souls jump.  The Holy Spirit provides us the presence of the LORD every moment of every day, giving us a life of refreshing as we walk with Jesus in step with His Spirit (v. 19; Gal 5:16, 25).

 

Pray Acts 3:19-20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I repent and return, so that

my sins may be wiped away, in order

 that times of refreshing may come from

You.  Father, thank You for sending

 Jesus, the Christ appointed for me. 

Please let __________ repent, return, and

receive You, Jesus, the Christ appointed for them.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – DR. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Acts 2 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Acts 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/act/2/1/s_1020001

Meditate on verses 4 and 8.

 

And they were all filled with

 the Holy Spirit and began to

 speak with other tongues, as the Spirit

was giving them utterance. "And how

 is it that we each hear them in our

 own language to which we were born?”

 

Ten days following His ascension, Jesus fulfilled His promise that His followers would be immersed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4).  Filled with the Spirit, they miraculously spoke in other languages, so the thousands of people in Jerusalem from all over the known world could hear about Christ, His death, and His resurrection in their own native tongues (vs. 6-36).  As they heard, 3,000 people believed in Jesus Christ (v. 41).  The miracle of salvation and the miracle of hearing in tongues—you can be confident the Holy Spirit knows how to speak to you and those you love in a way you can understand. 

 

So, Jesus started His Church by making the first Christians at Pentecost, gifting them with the Holy Spirit as promised by the Father (Acts 1:7-8; 2:38-39).  What an amazing gift of Himself—His Life-giving Spirit!

 

Thank God for giving you His Spirit and pray for those who need the Holy Spirit in their lives, praying Acts 2:38 as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7). 

 

“LORD, please let __________ repent and be

 baptized in Your name, Jesus

Christ, for the forgiveness of their

sins, so they can receive

the gift of Your Holy Spirit. 

Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit!

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Acts 1 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Acts 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/act/1/1/s_1019001

Meditate on verse 8a.

 

But you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit has come upon you…

.

Acts is often referred to as “The Acts of the Apostles”; however, a better name might be “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”  As you read and pray Acts, notice the Holy Spirit’s work.

 

Jesus presented Himself alive for 40 days following His resurrection, and He gave Spirit-driven orders to His apostles, commanding them to remain in Jerusalem to be baptized by what the Father promised (vs. 2-5).  The Holy Spirit is the Father’s promise:

 

"I will ask the Father, and He will

give you another Helper, that He

 may be with you forever;

that is the Spirit of truth…”

—John 14:16-17a

 

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples gathered in the upper room with 120 others, including Jesus’ mother, Mary, and His brothers (vs. 12-14).  The Holy Spirit had foretold Judas’ betrayal by the mouth of King David (v. 16); now, the same Holy Spirit inspired the eleven remaining disciples to select Matthias to take Judas’ place (vs. 15-26).

 

Commanding, baptizing, empowering, inspiring—the work of the Holy Spirit will be seen in remarkable ways over the next four weeks.  Ask God to enlighten your reading and fill you with admiration for what the Holy Spirit has done and for what He is doing in your life and the lives of those you love.

 

Pray Acts 1:8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“Father, thank You that ___________ and

 I receive power because Your Holy Spirit

 Has come upon us.  Make us Your witnesses

in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and

 even to the remotest part of the earth.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Chronicles 36 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 36.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/36/1/s_403001

Meditate on verses 15-16.

 

The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent

 word to them again and again by His

 messengers because He had compassion on

His people and on His dwelling place, but

they continually mocked the messengers of God,

despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until

 the wrath of the LORD arose against

 His people, until there was no remedy.

 

What a dismal chapter in God’s Word!  People living more than 2,500 years ago described in terms characterizing our world today: evil, defiled, unfaithful, stiff-necked, and hardhearted (vs. 12-14).  Thankfully, the chapter has a surprise ending:

 

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in

order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth

 of Jeremiah—the LORD stirred up the spirit of

 Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation

throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing,

saying, "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD,

the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms

of the earth, and He has appointed me to build

 Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 

Whoever there is among you of all His people,

may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!'"

—2 Chronicles 36:22-23

 

God ends Chronicles with hope.  He will rebuild the burned-down temple in Jerusalem, and He wants to rebuild and restore our lives to Him. 

 

Perhaps you feel hopeless.  Use the words from 2 Chronicles 36:13b and 23b to confess and pray as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please forgive me for my stiff neck

and hard heart against turning to You.

LORD, I bend my neck in prayer and

humble my heart toward You.

LORD my God, please be with ____________

and me!  Let us go up and build!

For the sake of Your Kingdom, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

2 Chronicles 35 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 35.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/35/1/s_402001

Meditate on verses 2-3.

 

He (King Josiah) set the priests in their offices and

encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD. 

He also said to the Levites who taught all Israel

and who were holy to the LORD, "Put the holy ark

 in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel

 built; it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. 

Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.”

 

These verses are like a sigh of relief.  Hear God say them as He encourages you in your service to Him and others:

 

“Give me the holy task you carry; it will

be a burden on your shoulders

 no longer.  I AM the LORD your God.

 Now serve Me and My people.”

 

What are you doing for the cause of Christ that weighs you down?  Caring for children, tending an ill loved one, teaching Bible study, finishing school, going to work every day….

 

Blessed be the LORD, who daily bears our burden,

the God who is our salvation.

 God is to us a God of deliverances.

—Psalm 68:19-20a

 

Give your burdens to the LORD as you pray 2 Chronicles 35:2-3 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, __________ and I need to be encouraged

in the service of Your house. 

We are Your Levites; we teach

those who are holy to You, LORD. 

We give this holy task to You; let it

be a burden on our shoulders no longer. 

Help us serve You, LORD God, and Your people.

In Your strength, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

2 Chronicles 34 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 34.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/34/1/s_401001

Meditate on verse 3.

 

For in the eighth year of his (King Josiah’s)

reign while he was still a youth, he began

to seek the God of his father David; and in

the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and

Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the

carved images and the molten images.

 

The more you seek God and read His Word the easier it is to discern good and evil, purging things which displease Him.  Notice King Josiah pulverized those things, completely destroying them (vs 4-5).  When his grandfather, King Manasseh, removed the idols from the temple, he did not demolish them; rather, he threw them outside the city walls where others could still find them, perhaps taking a piece home as a souvenir (2 Chronicles 33:15).  As God convicts you of sin, destroy it completely; do not leave bits and pieces lying around for others to pick up and toy with.

 

Pray 2 Chronicles 34:27, 31, and 33 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, my heart is tender as I humble

 myself before You.  I have heard Your Words

against this place and against its inhabitants.

 Please hear me, LORD, as I weep before

You.  I make a covenant before You, LORD, to walk

 after You and keep Your commandments and

 Your testimonies and Your statutes with all my heart

and all my soul, to perform the Words of the covenant

written in this Book.  LORD, please help ____________ and

me remove all the abominations from all the land.

 May Your people serve You, LORD God. 

Throughout our lifetime, do not let

us turn from following You, LORD God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Chronicles 33 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 33.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/33/1/s_400001

Meditate on verses 12-13.

 

When he was in distress, he entreated the

 LORD his God and humbled himself

greatly before the God of his fathers. 

When he prayed to Him, He was moved

 by his entreaty and heard his supplication

 and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. 

Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

 

What does it take for God to get your attention?  For evil King Manasseh, who practiced witchcraft, sacrificed his children, and worshiped Baal, God used the Assyrians (vs. 2-11).  They captured Manasseh, bound him with chains, and led him by a hook in his nose to Babylon (v. 11).  Ouch!  Afterwards, he humbled himself and worshiped God (vs. 16, 19).

 

Allow God to use this chapter to convict you of sin.  What high prideful places need to be removed (v. 3)?  Do you sacrifice your family for the sake of career, hobbies, or friends (v. 6)?  Are you interested in things of the occult: witchcraft, sorcery, mediums, and spiritists (v. 6)? 

 

As a Christian, God put His name on you forever (v. 7).  Determine to live to honor His name.  Pray 2 Chronicles 33:7, 9-10, 12-13, and 23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, let ________ and me never put an idol in our lives,

 in the place where You have put Your name forever. 

Do not let us mislead others to do evil. 

LORD, when You speak, let us pay attention.

 LORD, I am in distress.  I humble myself greatly

 before You, God, and entreat You.  Please be moved

 by my entreaty and hear my supplication and

bring me back to You.  LORD, I know You are God! 

LORD, I want to stay humble before You.

 Do not let me multiply guilt.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell