Embrace The Holy Spirit
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. -- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Okay here’s your first question: How many mistakes have you made today? If you’re completely honest -- and I know you are -- you’ll admit you’ve made quite a few. We all do. Sometimes it’s snarling at someone before we have that first cup of coffee. Other times it’s more serious. But a mistake is a mistake.
Second question: How many times have you done something -- again -- that you sworn you’d never do again? It could be something as simple as eating too much at that wonderful buffet. It could be something far more serious, like loosing your temper with your kids.
Third question: What can you do about it? Can you change under your own power? Or do you need help? And are you ready to admit that you need help?
I know. That’s way more than question three but it’s all about the same thing: We are powerless to change anything, including ourselves, without the help of the Holy Spirit.
God knew we would need help. It’s just that simple. As much as He loves us, He also understood our human frailties and tendencies to sin. So He sent the Holy Spirit to work within us, refining us, guiding us, growing us so that we’ll each day become closer to our role model for life -- Jesus.
It’s almost comical how we cling to that notion that we can do it all by ourselves. It’s reminiscent of a two-year-old who is determined to “do it by myself” even when his parents know he can’t. It takes several tries, much frustration and usually a few tears for him to admit that he needs help after all. That sounds a lot like the rest of us.
We are, as Pastor Meghan noted last Sunday, all works in progress. We all have a unique and special role to play in God’s redemptive plan. But we can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit. It is that Spirit who changes people from within. Our work -- no matter how worthy -- will fail miserably without the power of the Holy Spirit. What is born of the Spirit, will be sustained by the Spirit, Pastor Meghan said.
The disciples waited for the promised gift in that upper room. They didn’t know what to expect. It’s likely they were both scared and confused. Then the Holy Spirit came in a fiery, windy, chaotic moment that changed their lives even as it birthed the church that we are today.
We are not alone. We have help, living within us, empowering us to change and grow more like Jesus each day. All we need do is acknowledge His Presence and accept His help to become part of God’s revival on this earth.
