The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 May 2024 – The Great Commission
TOPIC: The Great Commission
READ: John 20: 19-31 (NKJV)
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
THE MESSAGE:
We have an account ofJesus Christ’s first appearance to the disciples on the day He rose. He had sent them the good tidings of His resurrection and to confirm their faith in Him, He came Himself and gave them the needed assurance they could ever desire so that they themselves would be eye-witnesses of His being alive because they must attest to the world and build the Church upon this testimony. Jesus gave them a commission, thus: “As the father has sent me, I am sending you” which implies that they were to go on with His work upon the earth and commit themselves for the spreading of the Gospel and setting up of God’s kingdom among men. He also sent them with divine warrant and armed them with divine power, as ambassadors, to make peace and to proclaim it.
Today is whit Sunday. It is a day that explains to us the fulfilment of the promise of God regarding the Holy Spirit. As disciples of God, we need to understand that the greatest assignment was given to us all the moment we received our salvation. We must at this point rise to take up this assignment. As children of God, we have been given the necessary power been equipped; it is left for us to speed up and obey the clarion call. We need to bring people to salvation by sharing with them the Gospel of God through witnessing, in order to make them candidates of the Kingdom of God.
PRAYER: Father, help me to be faithful to the assignment of Your Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: THE GREAT COMMISSION
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this new day in good health and sound mind.
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord, for Your plans for me this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, use me to spread the Gospel of Christ, in Jesus’ name
- I receive grace to commit myself to the spread of the Gospel and setting up of God’s kingdom among men, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, arm me with divine power as Your ambassador, to make peace and to proclaim peace, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, as today marks a day of fulfilment, please, fulfil all Your plans for me, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, make me a candidate of Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
