30 Days - Day 16

Day 16

Acts 8:14-17

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Just a couple of days ago we were reminded of the importance of praying for one another. The work that God has given us to do must be begun, done and continued in God’s power. Just as the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit in chapter 1 & 2, just as they prayed for the men chosen by the Church in chapter 6, now again in Chapter 8 they come to Samaria to pray for the new believers there.

These people who have become believers heard the truth because of the witness of those from the Church in Jerusalem. Even in the face of the outbreak of persecution these people have been baptized into Christ. The apostles realize that these new disciples need prayer. To ask them to continue in their new faith without the support of prayer and the power of God would have been extremely unfaithful.

When Jesus had come through Samaria on at least one occasion there had also been a great response to the message of Jesus. As the people had come out of the town because of the witness of the woman at the well, Jesus spoke to His disciples and told them to “lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” There are at least two other places in the gospels that Jesus spoke of looking at a harvest, and when He did he told His disciples to pray. He told them to pray that workers be sent into the fields. That the harvest was plentiful but the laborers few. Many were coming, but all the more pray. Here in Samaria many have been added to the faith and the disciples know that it is only right that they come and pray for these people. Laborers have been added to the harvest and they required prayer, support, encouragement and confirmation in their faith.

There is also another element to be considered here as well. These people were Samaritans. The Jews and Samaritans were brothers and yet they had little love for one another. There was a lot of bad blood between them, literally. The Jews considered them less than pure, and therefore disdained them - wanted minimum contact with them. For the Church leaders to come down and confirm these brothers in the faith, to fellowship with and pray for them might have been a rather unpopular move. Yet, the disciples had seen our Lord’s acceptance of these people and knew that they must come to them and pray for them.

As we pray for people to come to Christ we must be equally concerned about them as they enter into and continue to walk with Christ. This prayer and care for them will require time, effort and involvement on our part. We must also realize then that they join us in the work that Christ has given to us as the Church. We need them and they need us. We are the Body of Christ and we look to Him as the head to guide and empower that His work and will may be done.

Prayer Request Day 16

1) Zoran, Nada & Indi - That Indi would sleep well, for wisdom as they seek to purchase land, for salvation
2) Miro, Mateja, Leah & Enya - Mateja back to teaching, Miro seeking new position at work, Leah & Enya health and growth, salvation
3) Sandra & Ales - expecting first baby in Oct, preparing their home for the new arrival, plan to be married soon, salvation
4) Marko, Jadranka, Usula & Henrik - all back to teaching or school, Ursula begins high school, salvation
5) Kirsten & Friedrick - teaching at the University, raising two little ones, salvation
6) Open doors to reach out to people and share the gospel, prepared and ready hearts, beginning of Bible studies in Maribor