WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WE CAN EFFECTIVELY TOUCH THE LIVES OF OTHERS
It is interesting the effect that the Holy Spirit had on the lives of the men and women in the Bible and in particular the New Testament. They went from cowering, fearful and timid people, hidden in the upper room and overnight they became bold, fearless and filled with holy courage, speaking in loud voices on the streets and in public.
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
This boldness put these disciples in danger. Their lives, their futures and their interests were endangered by this boldness, but that did not influence them. How often when we are threated or our interests are threatened we can lose our boldness. But when the Holy Spirit comes on us we can lose those selfish fears and become supernaturally bold. It was this boldness that caused many people’s lives to be touched and changed and as a result many came to know God and the church grew exponentially. Perhaps your faith is a quiet controlled faith and you don’t want to offend anyone? I pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and that you will be filled with boldness and that those whose reactions you fear will be astonished and that in the process they will find Jesus Christ for themselves. May you be armed with holy courage!
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WE’RE EMPOWERED FOR SERVICE
Luke 24:49 Now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.
Acts 1:8 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.
God wants to use you. There are myriads of ways in which God can use you. Sometimes we limit the ways in which God can use us to a few examples. God wants you to be a witness for Him wherever you are. He can use you in ways you could never have imagined. This all becomes possible when the Holy Spirit comes on us. Our comforter wants to empower us for service.
John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
God has got greater things for you. Never write yourself off, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His power and to use you for His glory.
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WE CAN FACE THE STORMS WE GO THROUGH
Our Christian walk is not always easy. We go through trials, tribulations and persecution. We face opposition, challenges and hurdles. The life of Stephen, the first martyr, is an example to us. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Everything about him was different as a result. He saw things differently and he was filled with boldness. But his end was rough. But at the end, while he was being stoned, the Holy Spirit gave him the strength in this most difficult of battles and God came through for him.
Acts 7:59-60 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Even his suffering has become a testimony through all generations. How could Stephan die such a horrendous death with such a positive attitude and produce such a powerful result for the church then and now? Simply because he went through the most difficult time full of the Holy Spirit. If we are full of the Holy Spirit, we too can face any storm and in the process our lives can be a positive influence on the world around us. So let the Holy Spirit come right now and fill you so that you can face the storms and still be a testimony and a witness to God’s faithfulness and love.
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