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John H. Giesler                          PRAY EVERY DAY                                  August 2006

1. This month the emphasis is on the work of the Holy Spirit in our church. Pray it is the sign of renewal of the church in our day. Pray we may be open to the leading in our hearts of God’s Holy Spirit. Great things will happen!

2. Exciting things were happening in Herrnhut in 1727, with much emphasis on prayer and personal soul searching. Is your church searching for the leading of God now?

3. One of the early books written about the Holy Spirit was by John Cennick in the mid 18^th century. He was a church starter and powerful preacher. He died at 37. He is beloved in both England and Ireland. His zeal was great and we can all benefit by reading his sermons and books.   

4. In the 18^th century the Moravians were recognized by the fact that we prayed to Jesus as well as God the Father. One of the marks of the charismatic movement is to pray to the Holy Spirit. It is great freedom to pray to all three.

5. We note that the Holy Spirit is identified with the gift of healing and speaking in tongues in the early church. But we also note that these gifts were often abused. Paul urges us not to covet these gifts but use the best of gifts.

6. The most useful gift is to prophesy, or to preach the good news to the people of God. Pray that your pastor may spiritually use his or hers gifts to encourage Christian action.

7. All of us can pray that the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ might truly fill our hearts and lives with all these blessing in all that we do.

8. Christ sends the Holy Spirit to believers but not to the unbelievers in the world. They cannot receive the Spirit because they cannot see His work in the world. Pray that they may be able to open their eyes to see Christ.

9. The Spirit can come into their hearts if they hear the Gospel from the lips of a believer. We need to witness to those who do not believe in a way that will help them open their hearts to experience the Spirit.

10. The Holy Spirit can still influence the lives of those who do not believe. This is proven daily in the lives of persons who are converted all around the world. Your church has examples.

11. The Spirit still convinces people of the true example of Jesus, even when there are many who try to discredit the life, words and works of Jesus. Many positive books are written to counteract the falsehoods.

12. The Spirit still speaks to the Jewish people and Jews for Jesus are definitely inspired by the Scriptures.

13. 1727 Manifestation of the unity of the Spirit at the Holy Communion service held in the Berthelsdorf, Germany church; regarded as the spiritual birthday of the renewed church. 1837 Newfoundland, PA. 1900  Clemmons, NC. Our Church still calls to remembrance.

14. 1932 Stockholm, WI from the Swedish Lutheran Mission Assoc. When we receive the forgiveness of our sins we begin to live life on a higher level.

15. When Steven was stoned to death, his example was so inspiring, Luke tells us, that Jesus, who was seated at the right hand of God, stood up in awe!

16. Because of the victory won by Jesus, even we lowly Christians can defeat the worst the Devil has through the power of the Holy Spirit.

17. The Spirit continued to uplift the work of the Apostles  on Pentecost as the words of Peter melted the hard hearts of more than 3000 souls and they were converted.

18. Paul even goes on to affirm that, “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” What a power!

19. The Spirit down through the ages has worked with Christians to change the lives of multitudes often one at a time, to improve their lives and make the world a better place.

20. The Christians in the Caribbean have a hymn (#690 MBW) that affirms that “The Right Hand of God” is still at work in the actions of the Holy Spirit to do His work.

21. 1732 departure of 1^st Moravian missionaries from Herrnhut for St. Thomas, W.I., beginning of Moravian missions, and the modern missionary movement of the Protestant church. This needs to continue in our church if we are to find life in Christ!

22. Paul tells us that, “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” How we live shows in the quality of life we show others. Our very bodies testify as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

23. Because we are children of God we have communion daily with God and we can overcome all the wiles of the Devil to make us live unlike the consistent life God gives us.

24. Great changes in lives touched by the Spirit that are recorded in Scripture and continue in Christians changing them from a thirsty to a fertile soil.

25. Our Savior tells us He is “the well of salvation, from Me flow the stream of living water, of that water in which there is life, and which imparts life.” (Isaiah 12:3 & following)

26. 1780 Hope, W-S, NC. 2001 The Promise, Lewis Center, OH.  The main work of the Spirit is “to teach you all things, and call to your remembrance whatever I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

27. 1727 Beginning of the Hourly Intercession. 1872 Formation of the Moravian Prayer Union. Further, Jesus tells us, “The Spirit will guide you into all truth and He will show you things to come.” (John 16:13) The past, present and future all depend on the work of the Holy Spirit.

28. All Christians have the right to call on the Spirit, are called by His name and are ordained in the Spirit.

29. Paul says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those that love Him, but God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:9,10)

30. If we abide in faith, read the Scriptures in the correct way, through the Spirit, then we shall indeed be able to be taught all things by the Holy Spirit. What a joy!

31. 1873 Castleton Hill, S.I. NY. The Spirit will inform us and produce in us conceptions, impressions and sensations that will develop powerful ministry using our church!