WEEK 4 - EVANGELISM, LOCAL AND REGIONAL
All around us in this nation and right where each of us lives, there are people who need Jesus. They need the peace and hope that Jesus alone can bring. During our prayer times this week, let’s allow the Spirit to bring people to our minds who need Jesus and need us to share His love and gospel with them. Jesus, bring new courage and fresh power upon us to fulfill Your mission.
DAY TWENTY-THREE // CHURCHES TO BE RENEWED IN THEIR EVANGELISTIC PASSION BY ROSILIO ROMAN
“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.”
- Acts 8:5-8
When the Jews began persecuting the Jerusalem believers, many left the city, seeking refuge in Judea and Samaria (see Acts 8:3). As they scattered throughout the region, the believers shared the gospel with people everywhere. They became passionate about evangelism, and God affirmed their efforts with miraculous signs and wonders. Revival broke out throughout Samaria—the same region Jesus and His apostles had visited during His earthly ministry. God moved so powerfully that the disciples remaining in Jerusalem wound up sending Peter and John to confirm the news of the many conversions, praying for the new Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:14–17).
Pondering on the current state of affairs in the United States, with so much hopelessness from the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing racial tension, I wonder if it will take persecution or great opposition from those hurting masses to scatter and propel us throughout the land to proclaim the gospel to everyone we encounter. Perhaps God may allow a season of persecution and suffering (see Acts 8:1–3) among our churches to have Spirit-filled men and women rise like Philip did in Samaria to spread the good news (see Acts 8:5–8).
PRAYER POINTS:
1. May every Alliance church gather for a season of prayer, asking God to send a fresh anointing of His Holy Spirit over our entire denomination.
2. May this prayer effort result in a great number of Alliance people sharing their testimonies of God’s transforming power with everyone they meet.
3. I wonder if you, the reader, would join me in praying for God to renew our evangelistic passion to reach the lost in our families, communities, and workplaces. Would you pray with me to that end?