But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. —Acts 1:8
Have you ever watched a space shuttle lifting off? While the shuttle is still on the launch pad, all kinds of supports hold it in place. When blast-off comes, if the rockets don't fire, the shuttle falls back to the ground.
When God launched the church, there were no Christian broadcasting networks—Christian television or radio. The wind of Pentecost blew away the disciples' props of religious tradition. There was nothing to hold them, and nothing for them to depend on but God and His promise. They preached the Gospel throughout the known world with a passport straight from heaven.
It is time to set aside your church committees and programs, your prayer cards and your "steps to successful prayer." Allow the Holy Ghost to ignite a fire and a passion within you that cannot be quenched and to endue you with power to tread on serpents and to overcome the enemy.
Jesus, take from me all the gimmicks, rituals,
and quick spiritual fixes. Instead, give me
Your cross and baptize me in the
fire of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
