Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Luke chapter 1, verse 67, and his father, Zachariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied

saying, wow, this is a perfect follow-up to what we were praying about at the beginning of Luke chapter 1 with

Luke talking about how he wants to be a faithful witness and how the Holy Spirit will fill every

follower of Jesus that we will be a witness. Well, in Luke 167, we see this phrase,

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And eight distinct times

Luke uses this phrase and Luke and Acts. And every time he uses this phrase, it's linked directly

with proclamation of God's word. Here in verse 67, it's Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit

and he prophesied. And then some other examples where we see this same phrase. Right before this,

in verse 41, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she began to speak. When you get to Acts chapter two,

the people of God on the day of Pentecost are filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak

in other languages as the Spirit gives them utterance. Acts chapter four, Peter's filled with the Holy Spirit.

He begins to preach. Acts chapter 4 verse 31, they're filled with the Holy Spirit. They begin to speak the Word of God with boldness.

The pattern all throughout Luke and Acts is when people are filled with the Holy Spirit. They speak.

And it's a clear picture of the purpose of the Holy Spirit in us, which is multifaceted. The Spirit of God is our counselor,

our comforter, our helper, our guide. He convicts us of sin. The Spirit of God does so many things

in us. But remember, Acts chapter 1, verse 8, Jesus's words, you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be a witness. Now, we say things like,

well, I witness of my life or a witness by being a good person, but the reality is that's not

really what that word means. To witness is to speak, not just to live a good life.

Like, yes, of course, live a life that reflects the character of Jesus. But along the way,

to be a witness is to speak about what you've seen and heard in Jesus. And that's the picture

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