TEXT: Acts 2:42 (KJV)
⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Apostle Peter last week gave us the model of relationship with the Holy Spirit and His Gifts. There is no better answer than devotion to Prayer and the ministry of the word of God. You see this through the Bible, from men and women who had relationships with the living God.  Remember also that prayer is a living connection with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. He said apart from me you cannot do anything.

Today I want to highlight three points, which we can learn from the disciples. 1. The Holy Spirit gave them the utterance 2. They gave God all the glory 3. They operated with faith, hope, and love of God.

1. The Holy Spirit gave the utterances or power to function. Before and after the day of Pentecost, they continued in prayer and the ministry of the word. This kind of devotion allows the Holy Spirit to constantly flow like rivers of living waters. So, we can be a living witness of heaven on earth. Your manifestation of gifts will be like new every day because, you are constantly connected to the Holy Spirit and His gifts. But if you rely on your own initiatives, then you will deny the church of the utterances from the Holy Spirit. God confirm the disciple’s faith, prayers, and ministry of the word, with signs and wonders. Because they made themselves available to God continuously and steadfastly.
2. They were very quick to give glory to God. They let the people know that they were ordinary men. Acts 3:12 Peter, after a lame man walked said to the people “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” It is never by the power of a man, but by the spirit of the Lord. People must know that the gifts of Holy Spirit is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Acts 4:10 And that they also can have it if only they can believe. Jesus said, by this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;” Jn 15:8
3. They operate with faith hope and love of God. We must have Continuous and steadfast relationship with God, with one another and praying without ceasing. So that the gifts can build and edify the body of Christ. Jesus said, this is my commandment that ye love one another. Jn 15:12 Therefore, the body of Christ, the church family or congregation, must be steadfast in love, in doctrine of Jesus Christ, and in prayer. Every gift of the Holy Spirit must be employed and applied with faith, hope, love of God, in spirit and in truth.

Finally, Jesus said, you will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Remember that the Holy Spirit Himself is the source of power. Not tongues, prophecy, gift of healing or miracles. Power is the witness, the comforter, and teacher abiding in you. A[JC2]  witness represents the whole body, but gifts are parts or member of the whole body.  Therefore, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV) God bless you.