More . . . Where our hunger meets His Promises
– Week 6 –
“Empowered to Share This Life – Part 3”
Acts 1:4-5 ESV
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ ”
This is a promise from God. Our response should be, “I want that gift, if that’s for me. I don’t want any more than you have for me, but I don’t want any less.” That gives us a boundary – a path – a runway that will keep us where we need to be. As we read Scripture, that becomes our template.
Acts 1:6-8 ESV
“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.’ ”
Not, “you might…” but, “you will receive power” [Greek: dunamis, dynamite – explosive force and/or power for working miracles]. We need to simply step into what the promise is – “upon” – something more than Jesus on the inside of us. There is always something more in any relationship – more to know about the other person. When we get to know Jesus, we want to know him more – to know more about him.
Some hold the belief that there is nothing more – you got the whole full-meal-deal when you got saved – but, you don’t know all that – and you need to grow in your understanding – you need to know him more. “And you will be my witnesses…” – that is what the “more” is for – that we will be better witnesses – that we’ll be able to testify – not in our own power or smarts. We have power on us to be the witnesses we need to be – and so we say, “Lord, I want this – and by Grace, and through faith, I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
When we got saved, we prayed by Grace, through faith, to be saved – and now, we pray by Grace, through faith, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit – and we believe and act just as though we are now empowered to be witnesses – because we are standing on God’s Word by faith. We aren’t looking for a feeling – a pump – an adrenaline rush. It is now up to God to respond to our asking and receiving by faith – to manifest what his Word says is true.
We need to understand that the empowerment of the Holy Spirit simply empowers and amplifies what we’re already doing, as we run in our lane with Christ. We can be faithful, yet have no power to do what we’re called to do – but we need something on us – we need authority – and when we step up, we will have confidence – something will change – something we can’t explain – where we want what God has for us – nothing more, nothing less – if we will lean into this and simply say, “Lord, I want what You have for me…”
It doesn’t matter where we come from – what denomination or church background – we don’t have to discard that – we just bring who we are and say, “Father, I am here before You. I’m going to do what You called me to do – nothing more and nothing less. Now, I’m asking – welcoming – receiving the empowerment of the Holy Spirit…” Then we go back to our own workplace – back into where we live, work, and play – and something will be different. We may not even notice, but others will, because we’re now wearing the “jacket” – the uniform.
In Acts, chapter two, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Jews who were gathered for the Feast of Pentecost, but ten years later in Acts 10:44-48, the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles – this is our Pentecost, after Paul had planted churches among the Gentiles. The Church is growing – then Cornelius, a God-fearing and generous gentile, has a vision – he gets a visitation from an angel. He is instructed to send for Peter, who himself also has a vision, depicting animals which had previously been deemed unclean, that God now declares to be “clean”.
After returning to the household of Cornelius, Peter preaches the same message as he did on the day of Pentecost to the Jews, but this time it’s for us, the Gentiles, and again the Holy Spirit falls on all those who were there – all of the household of Cornelius who heard the Word experienced it. (Acts 10:44 ESV). This is our Pentecost. Jesus came to God’s original “chosen people” i.e. the Jewish people, Israel – however, God’s heart is towards every person who receives his free Gift of Salvation in Christ – by Grace through faith. “This is that” which was spoken of in Acts 10 (AD 39) which was about ten years after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (AD 30).
Acts 10:34-38 NLT
“Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. [35] In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. [36] This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. [37] You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. [38] And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.’ ”
This anointing – this Grace – this empowerment is now for everybody – we’re everybody – we get to enjoy now and partake of this empowerment, and the enablement to be his witnesses where we live, work, and play – and the beauty of it is, you don’t have to do anything different – you don’t walk or talk different – but you know you are empowered – you are covered with him. We are overflowing with his Presence, and as we’re walking, we are spilling out his Presence everywhere we go – we’re a full bucket overflowing.
When we’re natural, he adds his “super” to it – and that equals supernatural. Just be you – be yourself – be natural – but allow the Holy Spirit, who’s not only in you, but upon you – to fill your bucket, so that wherever you go, you’re leaking out Rivers of Living Water – and you’re not even trying – the Holy Spirit does the work. He knows what is needed, and will position us right where we need to be for God to provide in that moment – without trying – without effort.
It only gets hard when we make it complicated – when it should be simply “show up and leak out” – live holy and show up. Don’t go out and try to act differently – don’t suddenly get weird. Just be you – be who God has empowered you to be – be who God has called you to be – and go out with the confidence that you have what you need, to do what he calls you to do.
Prayer
Father, thank You for this amazing Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord that You have empowered us to fulfill everything You’ve ask us to do. You don’t send us out without the equipment. You don’t send us out without the right tools – without what we need to get the job done. No – You empower us – You whelm us over with Your Presence – with Your Spirit – and You do it by Grace, through faith.
So, Father, as we leave this place today, may we go out empowered. Holy Spirit, would You, even now, in this moment, whelm me over – give me the Grace to live this week out of the overflow – filling me up from the inside – whelming me over from the outside, and leaving residue from Your Presence everywhere I go. Whatever scenario I step into, You’re with me. “Where can I go that You’re not there?” Holy Spirit, be the Helper for me – come alongside and help – partner with me – co-labor – collaborate with me. Father, I receive by faith the fullness of Your Presence inside – the fullness of Your Presence outside – all the way. I want everything that You have for me – . . . nothing more – nothing less.
In Jesus’ name. Amen
Jimmy Pruitt is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. As an idealist, his words are filtered through his spirituality with the expectation that he will encourage and inspire people to “Live Up in a Down World.” He is committed to being an authentic person in all he does. Because everyone has been through something, or is currently struggling, Jimmy believes the proper response to life is humility; it is the signature of Jesus bringing forth both pain and glory. He, and his way better half, Annette, have been married for30 years. Agreeing their family is amazing, placing “Fun” in dys-Fun-ctional. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren that bless their lives beyond what they could ever dream. He is currently Lead Pastor at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, TX, and has started a new podcast titled: “Living Up in a Down Word – Making Faith real for the rest of us.”
0 Comments