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Intention

To ask God to empower us to be bolder and more effective witnesses through the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

– Acts 1:8

Reflection

In recent weeks, I’ve been asking the Lord to make my witness more effective. My heart longs for greater boldness in sharing Jesus with those who don’t yet know Him.

And God is answering that prayer.

I recently travelled to Sydney to conduct the wedding of Eric and Kayla. Eric came to our church at age 35, an alcoholic who had never set foot in a church before.

God met him there and has done an amazing work in him. Eric’s life has been completely transformed!

At the wedding reception, I was seated next to people who had known Eric since he was three years old. They were astonished at the change they saw in him. One of them said, “Without the Salvation Army, Eric would be dead – or in prison.”

I quietly thought to myself, “It’s not the Salvation Army. It’s Jesus.” I prayed that the Holy Spirit would give me an opportunity to share further with Eric’s lifelong friends.

And He did! I pointed them to the One who changed Eric – Jesus. No building, church organisational structure or program could do that. I felt that I said what the Holy Spirit wanted me to say.

A few days later, on a Tuesday night, we hosted a beautiful community meal for the lonely, homeless and struggling. I sat with a man I’d never met before. It was only his second time attending. He shared that he was homeless and had once belonged to a particular denomination, but hadn’t attended church for many years.

He asked me a bit about my life, and as I shared, he quietly said, “I have never found my calling.” What an opening the Holy Spirit gave me!

I looked him in the eye and said, “My dear brother, it’s not about a denomination.”

“Yes, I may have fulfilled my calling in the ministry. But the first and greatest calling is simply to follow Jesus.”

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, when the Church gathers together to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. We give thanks that Jesus fulfilled His promise, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere” (Acts 1:8).

This same power is available to us today.

I encourage you to ask God to help you be bolder in sharing Jesus and become a more effective witness. Let us rely on His power.

It is GO Month, a global initiative for the worldwide body of Christ. May many respond to the life-changing gospel of Jesus as we pray and go.

And speaking of prayer, tomorrow is the Australian National Day of Prayer.

Join us on Zoom from 10 AM to 4 PM (AEST), or find a local group gathering in a church, a home, or even under a gum tree. Let’s unite in prayer across our nation.

Video

Prayer

Father, thank You for the promised Holy Spirit. Fill us afresh with Your power – a power that sends us out as witnesses and transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

Give us a deep burden for the lost. You are “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). And Your Word declares, “How shall they hear unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14).

Lord, the responsibility and privilege of telling others is ours. But it begins on our knees – in surrender to Your purposes. Let Your Kingdom come, and let Your will be done in our nation.

Amen.

Author Bio

James Condon is the Chairman of Australia Prays, the Chairman of 2023’s WPA in Perth and the Chairman of Caloundra Queensland City Pastor’s network. He is working with other intercessors to establish a prayer mountain on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. James is the former Commissioner of the Salvation Army.

Prayer Points for GO Month to Pentecost 2025

1. Five friends to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20

2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47

3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:

DATES: Every night from Sunday, 4 April to Sunday, 8 June

TIME: 8 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (SA & NT), 6 PM (WA)

ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184

ZOOM TUTORIAL: youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxH_H_Cs

View GO Month 2025 devotionals

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