Day 19 - Unending Power Source

Written By: Pat Hardin

SCRIPTURE
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
DEVOTIONAL
The key word in this sentence seems to be “power,” but what if it is actually “when?”  Think about the implications of that thought, and ask yourself, “How many times have I acted outside of the Holy Spirit’s power?” That may explain why we were rejected by friends and family members as we attempted to explain our faith in Jesus to them.  A heartfelt sermon that compelled you to take that next step and ask your co-worker if they knew where they were going when they died, led to you being embarrassed as they gave you an off-color response about partying in hell with some deceased rock and roll star. A couple of those types of response would relegate most of us to silence. We rationalize our silence by conjecturing that our actions are speaking louder than our words. This may very well be true, but Romans 10:17 clearly states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (ESV)
 
So, if we are exhorted to speak our faith, then why is it ignored or ridiculed so many times? Enough times to make us become a functional mute on the issue of faith? May I suggest that it is because we may have spoken out of turn? We have chosen our own timetable and shared from our own experience and power, rather than wait on the Holy Spirit to empower our speech at the exact right time. Remember the story of the family that came to the Grove through an invitation from a 4 year old? Well, I really wanted to share the Gospel and participate in a dramatic conversion story, so I asked the dad to join me for lunch. I prayed that morning for the Spirit’s power and guidance, yet when we met to eat I was prompted to ask rather than to tell. I didn’t share the Romans Road, but instead asked questions about his life and upbringing. An hour later, I sat amazed to find that this man had come to faith in Christ in a parking lot a couple of months earlier, and had been praying for God to send someone to show him how to proceed. He and his wife had decided to attend a local church the following Sunday, so when they were invited on Friday evening, it seemed to him like God was answering his prayer. Our lunch confirmed it, as we began to talk about how to grow in faith and follow the way of Jesus.

The power of the Holy Spirit was never more evident to me than that day, when I turned off my ability to converse and by the power of the Spirit was able to listen. Are you listening to the Holy Spirit and witnessing His power?
 
ACTION STEP
Prayerfully ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and to walk in His power as you interact with lost people. Identify one lost person in your sphere of influence and begin praying daily for the Holy Spirit to convict them and to show you the appropriate opportunity to share Christ’s love with them.
 
PRAYER TIME
As you pray this morning, who is the one person you feel needs Jesus the most? Pray for that person now and ask God to empower your witness to them.

Heavenly Father, please wipe away my iniquities and fill me with Your presence. Empower my life and my words to reflect You and bring You glory. Show me the best time and method to reach my friend, (insert name here) . Please give me favor and guide my speech, even if I am to be silent as they speak. Help me walk in your Spirit and power, Father. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.