Do We Underestimate Our Need For The Holy Spirit?
I recently completed two weeks of teaching at the Allison Park Leadership Academy on the BOOK OF ACTS. Honestly, this is one of my favorite books of the Bible because it helps us identify and deconstruct cultural Christianity, and reconstruct the paradigm that is based on the function of the early church.
At the very beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus is speaking to His disciples just after His resurrection and before His ascension. It is during this moment that He challenges them to take the gospel to every nation on earth. He asks His followers to lead people into the revolution of the Kingdom of God.
But He also warns them with a promise.
“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
Paraphrase: Do not try to do life and ministry on your own. You do not have enough!
You need to wait and pursue the outpouring of the Holy Spirit before you attempt to do anything that I have challenged you to do. Then in verse 8 He says, “You will receive dynamic explosive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you which will enable you to give witness to my resurrection Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The fact of the matter is that we are living in incredibly challenging times! Ministry has gotten more complicated in the last two years. The issues we are leading through are growing in intensity and impact. Maybe we are underestimating the need we have for a Holy Spirit outpouring right now? Maybe we are trying to solve problems with wisdom and strategy, and not enough by the dynamic and explosive power of the Holy Spirit?
#1- THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO THINGS IN ME THAT ONLY HE CAN DO.
Sometimes, I think we can fool ourselves into thinking that our levels of gifting, excellence, and strategy are somehow truly enough to make ministry happen. I admit that I am amazed at how the quality of everything has improved in the church world since I was young. The music during worship is infinitely better, even in smaller churches. Communicators have become more proficient and many are phenomenal! Strategy and systems cannot even be compared to what we used to function with decades ago.
And technology...don't get me started! We could not have even begun to imagine back then what could be possible technologically in ministry today.
But advances in church strategy won’t help a person with cancer get healed. All the technological proficiency in the world cannot set an addict free. Great communication and powerful music can inspire and motivate me, but it cannot heal my broken and grieving heart. Since the Holy Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit can do in me everything that God can do.
Jesus said, “Without Me...you can do nothing.” (John 15)
#2 - THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO THINGS THROUGH ME THAT ONLY HE CAN DO
There is an old phrase we use to describe the moment when the Spirit lifted us beyond our natural talents and abilities: “under the anointing.” This phrase is a word picture that points back to the days in the Old Testament when they would pour oil on a king or priest to signify that God's Spirit was coming to rest on them and elevate them to a place of spiritual authority and power.
We need to preach under the anointing. We need to sing and write songs that are anointed. When the anointing comes, the capacity to function beyond the natural (in the supernatural) comes. Now, I am talking like a Pentecostal/Charismatic person. I get it! But these moments of anointing bring up the gifts (or manifestations) of the Holy Spirit that birth the supernatural meeting of needs.
Gifts of healing
Miracles
Insights into a person's life or situation (word of knowledge) that unlock the heart
Gifts of faith to change impossible situations
Moments of prophetic encouragement
#3 - THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO THINGS AROUND ME AND AHEAD OF ME THAT ONLY HE CAN DO.
When the presence of the Holy Spirit is in the room He starts to work in ways that are way beyond our control. There have been times when someone has come up to me and said, “When you were preaching and said such and such, it was just so impacting, and it changed my life.” I have responded, “I never said any of those things. The Holy Spirit said that to you through me!”
The Holy Spirit can soften a hardened heart. He can ignite the room with supernatural faith. He can convict a person living in secret sin to repent and get right with God. Truly, if the Holy Spirit is at work, then anything is possible.
If He is not at work, we might be effective in what we produce; we might be impressive in how we communicate; we might be cutting edge in the technological tools at our disposal; but it might just be a show. I know that's a bit harsh. But didn't Jesus say it, "Apart from Me you can NOTHING."
Have we stopped believing that? Or do we think we can do things on our own and accomplish a lasting work for God without a complete dependence on His power for every step we take..
#4 - HE IS JUST SO MUCH SMARTER AND STRONGER THAN I AM.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love great music! Don't you? I love excellent, inspiring communication. It's better than long and boring by any stretch. We need effective systems and strategy. We should be using every tool of technology to reach people with the gospel.
But we cannot forget that the Holy Spirit can do more in five seconds than I can do in 50 years. He can do it with or without all the tools, and tricks of the trade. He wants to be invited in to the journey. Actually, even more than that - He wants to lead the entire process from beginning to end!
We need to get back to the basics of Holy Spirit ministry!