The Power of the Holy Spirit

Today’s reading is Section 14 of the Lausanne Covenant - The Power of the Holy Spirit. Read Section 14 here.

We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father sent his Spirit to bear witness to his Son; without his witness ours is futile. Conviction of sin, faith in Christ, new birth and Christian growth are all his work. Further, the Holy Spirit is a missionary spirit; thus evangelism should arise spontaneously from a Spirit-filled church. A church that is not a missionary church is contradicting itself and quenching the Spirit. Worldwide evangelization will become a realistic possibility only when the Spirit renews the Church in truth and wisdom, faith, holiness, love and power. We therefore call upon all Christians to pray for such a visitation of the sovereign Spirit of God that all his fruit may appear in all his people and that all his gifts may enrich the body of Christ. Only then will the whole Church become a fit instrument in his hands, that the whole earth may hear his voice.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

After considering the devil’s destructive power, it is a relief to focus on the gracious power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture regularly links the Spirit with power—‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ (Zechariah 4:6). Jesus promised a Spirit-empowered witness (Acts 1:8), and Paul relied on the Spirit’s power, not human strength (1 Corinthians 2:3-5). We must do the same.

The Witness of the Church

Jesus testifies that the Spirit bears witness about him, then he adds, ‘and you also are witnesses’ (John 15:26-27). The Spirit is the chief witness. Without the Spirit, our efforts are futile.

The power of the Holy Spirit is central in evangelism. Every stage of salvation is his work:

• conviction of sin (John 16:8-11)
• faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3)
• new birth (John 3:6-8)
• spiritual growth or sanctification (2 Corinthians 3:18)

A Spirit-filled church is therefore naturally mission-focused, like the early church in Acts, flowing into the world as ‘rivers of living water’ (John 7:37-39).

The Renewal of the Church
We need the Spirit to renew the Church if we are to bring the gospel to the world. So we pray for his renewal. We can have confidence that when he visits the Church in power he will both bear his fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and give his gifts according to his will and for ‘the common good’ (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-14)

Only when the Holy Spirit moves freely in power, will the whole Church become a ready instrument in his hands—so that the whole earth may hear his voice (Psalm 67:1-3).

Reflection:

Do you pray for the Spirit’s renewal as urgently as you speak about evangelism?

Prayer:

Spirit, breathe new life into your people for the sake of the gospel.