Empowered For What?
In every modern super hero movie, some person discovers that somehow they were bestowed with super powers. Maybe they fell into a vat of toxic waste (like the bus driver on Sky High) or were from another planet, or it was a family heritage, but one thing is always consistent, when they discover this great power of theirs, they have to decide what to do with it. With great power comes great responsibility, at least according to Uncle Ben (by way of Voltaire and Jesus (Luke 12:48).
For the last three weeks we have been talking about what it means to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. We have had to confront the amazing statement by Jesus that we will do even greater things. We have talked about what it means to be filled, to know how to be filled, and even how we are to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. But if God is so pleased to pour out the Holy Spirit on all humanity, and the Holy Spirit is indeed coming inside of us and living in us, then what should we be accomplishing? What mountains should we be moving? What does it mean if we are not?
When we read the book of Acts like a highlight film, and look at the apostles as more than ordinary, we are succumbing to a very scary and dangerous lie. We are succumbing to the idea that somehow, the Holy Spirit is diminished in this the last age or that somehow we are incapable of experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in our life as was promised in scripture. To believe this is deny not only the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our life but to make useless the testimony of the early church and the direct words of Jesus Christ Himself! MAY THAT NEVER BE TRUE IN US!! (X1000)
Instead we need to lift up our eyes and discover the amazing life God is calling us to and empowering us to demonstrate to the world. It is not a life of ease, wealth, pride and possessions, but it is a life of strength and power made obvious by our very weakness.
Come and be encouraged to discover the life we have been empowered to live!
See you at church.
Pastor Chris
