Tues.’s Devo - Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Read: 2 Sam. 20:14-22:20, Acts 1:1-26, Ps. 121:1-8, Pr. 16:18 Joab pursued Bicri to a walled city. Joab had his men working on taking down the city wall when a woman intervened. When she found out Joab would spare the city if they gave up Bicri, she talked the city into throwing Bicri over the wall to Joab. They did and the city was spared and Joab returned to Jerusalem and was restored to his position as commander of the army. This is the power of intercession. When we are being attacked we need to seek to know why. Sometimes it’s something we need to get rid of or repent of. Once we surrender that, we get relief. David followed this when there was a famine in his land. He knew there was a reason his people were living in lack. Once he took care of the source, the blessings could flow again. For him it was the Gibeonites that Saul had killed in his zeal. He didn’t honor the fact that the Gibeonites had helped them generations before and they had promised to not kill them. David had to make things right. There are things in our family tree that have not been done correctly, and we can be the ones to right the wrong or repent for our ancestors. Since Saul had done the offense, his family had to pay the price. Many people are paying the price of the sins of their fathers. We can break that cycle with repentance and by making new covenants for our families. Mercy triumphs over judgment. In Acts, Jesus gave his disciples instruction to wait in Jerusalem to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. They had received John’s baptism in water which was a picture of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. First the natural, then the spirit (1 Cor. 15:46). In Matt. 3:11 John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” This baptism in the Holy Spirit would give them power to be witnesses. After saying this, Jesus rose to heaven. We need this baptism. Lord, baptize us afresh in Your Holy Spirit.