This is how the Lord’s work strengthens and thrives. Disciples must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Electricity is a helpful current. It drives a lot of our technology and even helps in many cases our machines to work, but if the people of God are not living, acting, and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot produce and maintain the kind of disciples that God’s work needs to be strong and to thrive.
Paul wanted to know, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” The twelve Ephesian disciples had not and were honest to admit, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit produces good fruit in a Christian’s life: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [2] Such fruits bring us together in harmony and help us to appreciate one another and to celebrate one another’s victories in Christ.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit include divinely imputed wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophetic utterances, discernment, and divine speech. [3]
It is scary and stressful to do anything for God in one’s own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers believers who want to serve God with the necessary fruits and gifts to serve Him well.
Long ago there was a man named Zerubbabel. He became governor of Judaea under the Persians. Influenced by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, he rebuilt the Temple. The Prophet Zechariah encouraged the Governor saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” [4]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please continue to send Your precious Holy Spirit upon us Your people so that Your kingdom is seen and experienced here on earth. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done. For we pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
[1] Acts 19:1-7
[2] Galatians 5:22-23
[3] 1 Corinthians 11:8-10
[4] Zechariah 4:6
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