Grounded & Growing Vertically -- 18 Days of Prayer
January 2, 2025
DAY 2—The Witness of the Holy Spirit
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8, NKJV).
Testimony
“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God” (Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 616).
The Holy Spirit works in our lives in three phases (John 16:8-11). First, He convicts us of our sin to bring us to Jesus. Second, He convicts us of Christ’s righteousness, which is sufficient to save us. Third, He expels Satan and sin from our lives (John 16:11).
My parents did raise their six children (I’m number five) to believe in God and the Bible. We learned that there was a heaven to win and a hell to shun. However, we did not pursue a relationship with God or trust in Him.
My mother’s brother, my uncle, married a Seventh-day Adventist. One day my Uncle Harold announced to his new wife that he would prove to her from the Bible that she did not have to keep the Sabbath (Saturday). After much study, however, he realized that the true Sabbath of the Bible was indeed Saturday. Soon Harold was baptized and became a Seventh-day Adventist.
In due time Harold shared his faith with our family, and, try as I might, I could not find a way to disprove the Sabbath teaching of the Bible. I did not want to keep the Sabbath. It was an interruption in my plans. Over time the conviction of the Holy Spirit that I was a sinner bound for destruction deepened in my mind and heart. I knew I was not following God, and I knew I would not be saved.
About that time a letter arrived from Uncle Harold, and he described what heaven would be like using the Bible as his authority. As I listened to his description of heaven, I felt a strong desire to give my life to God. Then I heard the voice of God in my heart as clearly as if someone was sitting next to me. “Either you give your life to Me now, or you never will.” Immediately I felt great fear. I was trading heaven for the things of this earth. I got up from my chair, went to my room, and shut the door behind me. I knelt by my bed and prayed for the first time from my heart. I struggled to know exactly what to say, but eventually I prayed, “Dear Jesus, I want to be what You want me to be. I want to do what You want me to do, and I want to go where You want me to go.”
The instant I said that prayer, I felt a change sweep through my body. My old anger and bitterness were released, and the love, peace, and joy of God filled my heart. I knew God had heard my prayer, and I knew what I must do. I got up from my knees and went to tell my mother the good news—that I was now going to live for Jesus and begin keeping the Sabbath. Tears of joy fell on her cheeks.
Within days I began to sever every sinful tie that bound me to the world. Some people did not understand my decision, and the way ahead was not yet completely clear, but my conscience was clear, and joy filled my heart! Later I studied with the local Adventist pastor and began to understand much more about God’s will for my life. Eventually I was baptized and became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is the best decision I ever made!
Theme Song for Grounded & Growing – I Am The Vine
Suggested Format for the Prayer Time
Praise
Praising God for who he is, his love, wisdom, holiness, how he will teach you, His spiritual gifts, etc.
Confession and Claiming Victory Over Sin
Asking for God to reveal sins needing to be confessed, claiming victory, giving you a hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit and thanking Him for forgiving.
Supplication and Intercession
Ask God to reveal His character, to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and for personal needs.
Interceding for family, friends, church members conference leaders, pastors, teachers
Praying for unity for each member to be grounded and growing vertically in Jesus
Interceding for members to serve others, share burdens, read the word, and find a solid relationship with Jesus.
Thanksgiving
Thanking God for his gifts to you, the ways he works in your heart, and thanking him in advance for how he will save souls for His kingdom during these 18 days.
Prayer Meeting Each Evening on Zoom: Join at 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81737506481?pwd=bmxlSm5oK0xxSURnSU16UkhmcTFsUT09
MeetingID: 817 3750 6481
Passcode: 433052 |
