“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
As we approach the close of 2025, let us not be lulled into the world’s festive distractions. While many prepare for year-end celebrations and consumerism, we are reminded that we live in the last days, and the Day of the Lord’s Return draws near. Now more than ever, we must stay alert, awakened, and aligned, not with the Great Consumerism, but with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). Our church is entering a pivotal season, anchored in our renewed mission pillars: Love the Lord. Connect to Community. Discover our Destiny. Be a Blessing. A fresh wind of the Spirit is blowing, let us catch it together!
Remember, the mission of God is not merely a task to be done, but a Spirit-empowered calling to be embraced. In John 20:19-22, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, commissioning them just as the Father sent Him. In this week’s devotional, we will learn practical ways to live this out in our daily lives.
Starting with John 20:21, Jesus says something remarkable: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Just as Jesus was sent into the world with purpose, love, and power, so are we. We are not saved to sit still; we are saved to be sent. Our mission is to carry the message of hope, healing, and resurrection to a world still locked in fear. Where is Jesus sending you? It might not be across the world right now, but it might be someone you meet this week who needs your encouragement.
Then in John 20:22, it is written that “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Jesus does not send us empty-handed. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, commissioning them just as the Father sent Him. This moment is a launching point for the Church’s mission. It is not just a sending; it is an empowered sending.
This breath echoes Genesis 2:7, when God breathed life into Adam. Now, Jesus breathes new life into His disciples. The Holy Spirit is not just a helper; He is the very presence and power of God within us. We are not alone in our mission. We are not sent alone; we are filled with the breath of God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live boldly, love deeply, and serve faithfully.
Acts 1:8 records for us that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit empowers the Body of Christ to go beyond the walls of our church to change lives and transform communities.
Ezekiel 37:9–10 records that when the Breath of God entered the valley of dry bones, “they came to life and stood up on their feet…a vast army.” The Breath of God is prophetic and life-giving! Just as God revived dry bones with His breath, He revives His Church with His Spirit to become a living, moving army for His mission. Where there is the Breath of God, there is purpose, there is direction!
Where do you need the Spirit’s power in your life today? Are you relying on your own strength or the Holy Spirit’s? Jesus equips us through His finished work and ongoing presence. We are not just a church that meets on Sundays;` we are sent into the world with the love of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to trust and reveal the redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus. Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
We are to proclaim the gospel with courage, compassion, and clarity every day. Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God…” We are to carry His message of reconciliation and live with Kingdom values in a world that needs hope. Jesus showed His wounds, spoke peace, and breathed His Spirit upon His disciples so that they could act with divine authority and responsibility. He did not just comfort the disciples, He commissioned them. And He does the same for us. Let us be “torchbearers” for the Gospel of God’s truth, love, and light, to pass it on from generation to generation!
Begin the week remembering that your life is a divine gift. God’s breath gives you purpose, identity, and strength to live for Him. Even in dry and lifeless places, God’s Spirit can revive and restore. Trust Him to breathe new life into you and raise you up for His purposes. He not only sends us into the world but also empowers us with His Spirit.
Practical Applications for the Week
1. Daily Surrender: Start each morning with “Holy Spirit, lead me today. Here am I, send me.”
2. Neighbour Outreach: Bless one neighbour with a meal, note, or prayer.
3. Testimony Practice: Share a story of God’s goodness in your life with one person this week.
Today, receive His peace and walk boldly in your calling, knowing you are sent by the One who was sent. Let your heart be bold today. Share the hope you have in Christ without fear or shame, knowing that His message transforms lives for eternity.
A prayer for us:
Lord, make us bold witnesses for You. Fill us with Your Spirit. Send us with Your love into this new week You have given us. Empower us with Your grace. Make us a Body of Christ that reflects Your heart to the world. Let Your breath fill our lungs, and Your mission fill our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAILY MEDITATIONS
Monday: Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Tuesday: Ezekiel 37:9-10
“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.”
Wednesday: John 20:21-22
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
Thursday: Matthew 28:18-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Friday: Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Saturday: Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Sunday: Psalm 28:7
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
All scriptures are quoted from the New International Version.
By Pastor David Jeremiah Mok
