Empowerment - 1 June 2009

This week, in the week following Pentecost, we will look at the question; what can the Holy Spirit do for me? Well, at least 5 small aspects of it!

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4

Those disciples must have wondered what had hit them. There they were, wondering what was going to happen; Jesus had gone again; had told them to wait in Jerusalem, but for what?  Suddenly – power from on high.  They were filled with the Spirit of God, and able to do things that they would not have thought possible, would not in fact have been possible, under their own steam.

As followers of Jesus we too are filled with the same Holy Spirit; we have access to that same power; we too are able to do things when powered by the Spirit that we would not be able to do under our own steam.  But, do we believe it?

If you are anything like me, then too often you try and do things on your own, rather than tapping in to the power that God provides.  We tend to be too self-sufficient; too independent; we too often have an ‘I can manage’ mentality, where the ‘I’ is far too prominent; and then only turn to God when the ‘I’ proves not to be enough. How often do we turn to God and ask for his strength as the first thing that we do rather than the last thing that we do?

Today, take time to reflect on how much you make use of the power of God, and how much you make do with what you can do alone.  Remember, with God, so much more is possible.

Lord, help us turn to you and make use of what you have given us.  Help us grow into the Spirit-powered people that you want us to be.

Amen