The normal Christian life—Life by the Spirit—is full of contrasts, even seeming contradictions. For instance, the way God works is thought to be foolishness to the person who doesn’t know the Lord, yet His ways have proven again and again to be fantastically wise. God says that the poor will be the rich, the weak will be the strong, and the powerless will be used in mightyways.
Many have rejected faith in Christ simply because it is rather offensive that God would work through the overlooked, the lowly, the disdained, and even despised. It is the natural desire of humanity to want a role, a sense of significance, and a reason to boast about achievement. Yet God makes it clear that all the glory of what He has done, is doing and will do in the world belongs to He and He alone.
How, then, does the Lord involve people in what he is doing in the world? He does it through the power of the Holy Spirit in His people.
It is both the Lord’s promise and plan to empower believers through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told thedisciples: And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 ESV emphasis added) Before Jesus departed earth for heaven, He told the first church: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.... (Acts 1:8 ESV)
It might be best to say that there is an exchange required for those who desire to live life by the Spirit. When a believer releases his or her dependence on mere human strength to accomplish and achieve, then the Holy Spirit uses His power in and through the person. The churches in Galatia resisted this truth, and so Paul asked them this question: Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith…? (Galatians 3:5 ESV)
The answer is obvious. When a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit, he or she will experience the empowering of the Holy Spirit in amazing ways. A few of the works of the Holy Spirit’s power in believers (The stuff that mere human power can’t do) include:
· An inner peace in the midst of crisis.
· The ability to love unconditionally and receive love.
· The boldness and clarity to proclaim the Gospel.
· A capacity to forgive repeatedly.
· A positive attitude with selflessness, humility, and sacrifice.
· The ability to discern truth and falsehood, good and evil.
· The competence to grasp the deep things of God revealed in the Bible.
The normal Christian life is empowered by the Holy Spirit! What other works of power will the Holy Spirit do in believers?
More to come!
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