Jesus Every Dayනියැදිය

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18, NLT

In the early Christian church, God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. People who had been cowards in the midst of trouble were now bold to preach and even work miracles. Although they had no seminary training or advanced degrees, a small group of fishermen and other common people turned the world upside down.

How?

They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

That was the key. Prior to this transformation, Jesus had discipled these men for three and a half years. But what had it produced? On the night Jesus was arrested, they all ran for the hills, and Peter denied him three times. Was their doctrine wrong? No. What they needed was spiritual power within them.

And that’s what they got when they were filled with the Spirit. Jesus had promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8, NLT), and so it came to pass. Suddenly, they were doing extraordinary things, affecting the people around them.

Notice that God purposely used people who had very little natural talent so that all the glory would go to him. God desires to do the same thing with his people today.

So often we hear things like, “Oh, bless your poor little heart” or “I’m not much.” But when our “poor little hearts” are filled with the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen. The question is not how much we’ve studied, or even how sincere we are. The question is, are we filled with God’s power—the same power that raised Jesus from the dead?

We need to ask God for the Holy Spirit—and ask repeatedly. Ephesians 5:18 says, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” (NLT). This verse was written to Christians in the church in Ephesus. It could be translated “Keep on being filled” or “Be being filled.” This is not about one stop at the gas station. We’re to keep on drinking in God’s Holy Spirit, who will enable us to powerfully fulfill God’s will.

For the early believers, that meant spreading the gospel, even though they had a poor track record. Imagine it—Jesus put those men in charge of world missions. That’s incredible! The Christian church was built by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Why? Because their little old hearts and limited credentials were overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When I went into the ministry, I battled with insecurity. “Lord, why didn’t you let me go to seminary? I believe you called me into the ministry, but why choose a basketball player with a degree in sociology?” I had to get over that and remember what Paul said: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NLT).

The great need for each one of us is to pray, and to keep on praying, “Oh, Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can make a difference for Christ today.” Let’s ask the Lord. Maybe he has something in store for us that we have never imagined, but can experience today. What other day could we have it? It doesn’t matter how we’ve failed or succeeded. Today’s a new day. Let’s be filled with the Spirit and help others in the name of Christ.

Lord, my lack of credentials or talent doesn’t matter to you. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit today and every day, and use my life for your glory.