Daily Worship (Feb 16)

Ephesians 3:16-17 (NIV)
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”

Devotional Thought
The Holy Spirit’s power is often misunderstood. At Pentecost, the Spirit’s arrival brought visible signs like tongues of fire and miraculous speech, but those signs weren’t the point. The Spirit came to empower God’s people to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3 that this power isn’t primarily external—it’s the Spirit’s work within us. The Spirit strengthens our hearts with gospel power, not for displays of spiritual gifts but for the daily, faithful work of making Christ known. As the church matured, miraculous signs like tongues ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10), but the Spirit’s power remained. Today, that power is seen in the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace—and in the courage to speak the gospel with clarity and conviction. The same Spirit who emboldened Peter to preach on Pentecost is at work in us, giving us the power to love others and to share the good news of Jesus.

COMMA Questions

1. Context: How does this prayer fit into Paul’s larger discussion of God’s plan for the church in Ephesians?
2. Observation: What does Paul say is the source of our inner strength?
3. Meaning: What does it mean for Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith?
4. Main Idea: What is the purpose of the Spirit’s power in our lives?
5. Application: How can you depend on the Spirit’s power to speak the gospel with boldness this week?

Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for the power You give us—not for our glory but for the work of the gospel. Strengthen us from within so that our lives reflect Christ and our words point others to Him. Help us trust in Your presence, live in Your strength, and proclaim the good news with boldness. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Devotional Thought
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost didn’t rely on his personal charisma or persuasive skills. Instead, he opened the Old Testament to show how it pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture—God’s inspired Word—to convict, instruct, and equip believers. As the New Covenant age progressed, the focus shifted from miraculous signs to the enduring testimony of Scripture and the fruit it produces in believers’ lives. We see this pattern in Paul’s words to Timothy: Scripture equips us for godly living and gospel witness. God’s Word, illuminated by the Spirit, is the primary way He speaks to us today. If we want to know God’s heart, understand His purposes, and proclaim His message, we must immerse ourselves in Scripture. The gospel word still speaks with clarity, calling people from every nation to repentance and faith in Christ.

COMMA Questions

1. Context: How does this passage fit into Paul’s instructions to Timothy about ministry?
2. Observation: What are the four purposes of Scripture listed here?
3. Meaning: Why is it significant that Scripture is God-breathed?
4. Main Idea: Why is the Word of God central to Christian growth and ministry?
5. Application: How can you prioritize time in the Word this week?

Prayer
Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Help us to treasure it, study it, and share it with others. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see Jesus more clearly and equip us to proclaim the gospel boldly. Amen.

Acts 2:38-39
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”

Devotional Thought
Peter’s Spirit-empowered sermon didn’t end with information; it called for transformation. The gospel always demands a response. At Pentecost, thousands of people were “cut to the heart” and asked what they should do. Peter’s answer was clear: repent and be baptized. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin but turning from it to trust in Jesus. Baptism is an outward sign of that inward change—a declaration of loyalty to Christ. This response wasn’t limited to that crowd in Jerusalem. Peter emphasized that this promise extends to future generations and to people far beyond Israel’s borders. The gospel still calls us today. The Spirit still works in hearts to bring repentance, faith, and a new life of walking with Jesus. Our task is to respond to this call daily, living as people marked by the Spirit’s presence and the fruit of love.

COMMA Questions

1. Context: How does Peter’s call to repent and believe fit into his Pentecost sermon?
2. Observation: What does Peter say will happen when people repent and are baptized?
3. Meaning: Why is the promise extended to future generations and distant nations?
4. Main Idea: What does genuine repentance and faith look like?
5. Application: How can you respond today to the gospel’s call to repent and believe?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gospel message that calls us to repent and believe. Help us to respond daily with humility and faith, trusting in Your finished work. May we live as people transformed by Your grace and eager to share that hope with others. Amen.