Acts:1-11 NIV
The Acts of the Apostles begins with a summary of the Gospel of Luke. Before Jesus ascends into heaven, he promises the disciples that they will receive power by the Holy Spirit. They are to await in Jerusalem until this power comes upon them and then they are to go to the very ends of the earth as Jesus' witnesses.
We, too, have received power by the Holy Spirit. We who have been called to be witnesses have received the power of God. When a person is bestowed authority or power in the secular world they normally use it, don't they? Sometimes it is used for the good of all; sometimes for their own personal good; sometimes for the detriment of everyone concerns. Power can certainly corrupt. But, it is not so with the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is to be used to be Jesus' witnesses. It is to be used to proclaim the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus. It is to share the love of God. It is to glorify God. Yes, I know that sometimes it may seem like this power has been used to hurt others. But, it is not the power of the Holy Spirit that does that. When God's children; his servants, are given worldly authority and power (for example in the visible church); sometimes they might put their will over the will of God and people get hurt. It is not God's will that does this. It is not the power of the Holy Spirit that enables this. It is our sinful natures that take over.
We have received the power of the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom might continue to grow and be edified; not for our own personal power or glory. We have received the Holy Spirit so that we might have the faith and the courage to be witnesses in all the earth.
God's Peace - Pr. J
The Acts of the Apostles begins with a summary of the Gospel of Luke. Before Jesus ascends into heaven, he promises the disciples that they will receive power by the Holy Spirit. They are to await in Jerusalem until this power comes upon them and then they are to go to the very ends of the earth as Jesus' witnesses.
We, too, have received power by the Holy Spirit. We who have been called to be witnesses have received the power of God. When a person is bestowed authority or power in the secular world they normally use it, don't they? Sometimes it is used for the good of all; sometimes for their own personal good; sometimes for the detriment of everyone concerns. Power can certainly corrupt. But, it is not so with the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is to be used to be Jesus' witnesses. It is to be used to proclaim the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus. It is to share the love of God. It is to glorify God. Yes, I know that sometimes it may seem like this power has been used to hurt others. But, it is not the power of the Holy Spirit that does that. When God's children; his servants, are given worldly authority and power (for example in the visible church); sometimes they might put their will over the will of God and people get hurt. It is not God's will that does this. It is not the power of the Holy Spirit that enables this. It is our sinful natures that take over.
We have received the power of the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom might continue to grow and be edified; not for our own personal power or glory. We have received the Holy Spirit so that we might have the faith and the courage to be witnesses in all the earth.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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