Scripture Union Daily Guide July 16, 2025 (Wednesday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 16th July 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: Empowered for Effective Evangelism
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, grant me understanding and illumination as I ponder on your word in Jesus name.
Bible Reading
Acts 19:1-10
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[b] and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
Meditation Question
► Q 1: What does the passage teach about God the Father, or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
► Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
► Q8: Is there any other Biblical passage that can help me understand this passage better?
Scripture Union Daily Guide July 16, 2025 OUTLINE
The promised gift of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; Acts 1:4-5), fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:4) was to benefit believers worldwide. It was the turn of the Church at Ephesus. Notice the question Paul asked them and their response (Acts 19:2)? They owned up to their ignorance of the existence of the Holy Spirit, showing their willingness to know.
Some believers are satisfied with receiving Christ as Saviour, and so have settled down to a religious practice of Church attendance, devoid of life transformation. These disciples of John should challenge such people to seek more of God.
Identify the two types of baptism in Acts 19:3-6. The baptism of John (water baptism after repentance) is not enough to live a victorious Christian life. Baptism in the Holy Spirit impacts greatly on the quality of life and service of a believer (Matthew 3:11). Thus, bold preaching, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is needed for effective evangelism (Acts 19:8; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31).
When the Good News is rejected within the Church (though not expected), we should not be discouraged but turn it into an opportunity to reach out to the wider community (Acts 19:9-10).
Insight
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Hosea 1-3.
One Year Bible Reading Plan – Hard Copy version
Isaiah 13-17
National Prayer Bulletin Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
YET UNREACHED LANDS: AKURE REGION
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Rom 1:16
THANK GOD FOR:
• The power of God that manifests in people’s lives through the preaching of the gospel.
PRAY FOR:
* God will empower the staff and pilgrims as they reach out with the gospel in other towns in the Region to enlarge our coasts in the different Areas. • More souls will be won for the Lord and will be added to our SU Pilgrim and Youth Groups. • Spiritual growth in the Pilgrims fellowship and establishment of new SU Groups at our mission fields. • God will raise up brethren to coordinate and establish the new pilgrims and schools groups.
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God. (Scripture Union Daily Guide July 16 2025)