Tuesday, June 14, 2022

           The word “power” can bring a lot of images to mind.  We can think of political figures, imposing generals and massive armies ready to spring into action.  We can think of the engines on a large commercial airliner that carry passengers and baggage high above the earth.  We can think of car engines that allow NASCAR drivers to reach speeds at which most of us will never drive.  Paul wrote about power in 2 Corinthians 2:4-5, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”  Twice, Paul used the word “power.”  He associated power with the Holy Spirit. Paul said his message, words and gospel presentation were nothing special.  They were human recitations.  And he was not a special man either.  The power came from the Holy Spirit who anointed and blessed him as he preached and applied that gospel message to the minds and hearts of those who listened to Paul.  It was the Spirit who inspired and empowered Paul’s testimony.
            This same power remains with the Holy Spirit today.  He is not less or more powerful than He was in Paul’s day.  The Spirit’s power remains constant and unchanging.  He is able to convict us of sin.  He is able to show us how God’s Word speaks and connects to us at any moment in time.  He is able to comfort us in our confusion and sorrow.  Real power is not acting in human might or in human ways.  Real power is trusting in the Holy Spirit to do for us and in us all that needs to be done.  Peter wrote that Jesus Himself trusted in the power of the Spirit.  Consider this, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’  When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (I Peter 2:21-23).  If Jesus could trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, so too can we.  We lean into and lean upon His power each day.
            With our strength alone, we might find it impossible to forgive someone.  But with the Spirit at work in us, we can offer words of forgiveness and reconciliation.  We might find it preferable to retaliate against someone but the Spirit gives us the power we need to act and speak with restraint.  We might find it unnerving and even frightening to speak about Jesus and our faith with someone else.  But the Spirit can give us power to speak and testify to those who need to know the Lord.  The Spirit’s power is unbreakable, unbeatable and undefeatable.  Real power comes from knowing we can trust that the Spirit is with us now and always and we never have to seek power, approval or defense from the world around us.
            Perhaps you need the power of the Spirit today to say no to temptation or to say yes to reconciliation in a broken relationship.  Maybe you find yourself in an unusual place today that is outside your comfort zone.  The Spirit can bring peace and power to sustain you in that place.  Real power rests not in a world capital, a corner office, a missile silo or an army on a battlefield.  Real power rests with the Spirit of God.  This power enabled Christ to lay down His life willingly as the sacrifice for our sins.  Today, if you are anxious, fearful, worried or empty, call upon the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let Him rest upon you much like He rested upon believers on the Day of Pentecost.  Have a great Tuesday!  And remember you can share our worship each day at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.