One Trip Changes EverythingSample

The Power

How would you feel if you had been with the disciples the first night after the resurrection and you heard Jesus say, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you?” What could He mean? What is He asking us to do? We know from Scripture that Jesus challenged the disciples on at least five different occasions with the same message. However, after the crucifixion, we see this same group cowering together in a locked room. Not exactly taking the world by storm!

Jesus did not expect the disciples to accept the challenge and take off on their own to accomplish it. He told them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the task.

To fulfill the mission of providing gospel access, we must be filled by the Holy Spirit. As believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, but Scripture also indicates that we have three responsibilities in our relationship with Him. To fulfill God’s plan, we must be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). This is an ongoing relationship. The Scripture also commands us not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. We grieve Him when we ignore Him and choose to live for ourselves rather than to live for His plan. God has called every believer to take personal responsibility for reaching unreached peoples with the Gospel. We quench the Holy Spirit when we knowingly ignore His calling of us and choose not to take personal responsibility. For every one of us, the role we play in God’s plan looks different. Your part will be different from mine…but we ALL have a part in the plan. The choice is ours: will we obey?

Prayer:

Lord. Thank You that You do not leave us alone to accomplish Your plan. Thank You that You fill us with Your Spirit and empower us by Him. I surrender anew today to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can be totally used by you.

Reflective Questions:

• Name one area in your life where you believe you are living for yourself. What would it take for you to surrender that area to the Lord?
• Can you remember a time when the Holy Spirit was calling you to do something, and you ignored Him? If so, what was that time, and how did it make you feel?