POWER FROM WITHIN
Acts 1:6-9
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Ten year old Cassie saw her fifth grade classmate get off the bus and walk away from school. “Hey Brad!” she yelled, “Aren’t you going the wrong direction?”
Brad ignored Cassie. She ran up to him, and asked, “Didn’t you hear me?”
“Leave me alone, Cassie.” Brad said. “I gotta do something.”
“W, w, what do you have to do?” Cassie stammered, confused.
Life problems challenge God’s kids to always do the right thing. It’s not unusual when even believers seem to fall off the godly path.
1 John 4:4 says that the one who lives within each believer-in-Christ (Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan). We saw the power Jesus had when defeating the devil when He was tempted in Matthew 4:3-10. Jesus consistently chose the Father’s will over what He wanted while living on earth. The most important was when He agreed to the Father’s will in Matthew 26:39.
Jesus knew that meant His arrest, torture and crucifixion.
Believers’ power from within is this same Spirit.
But Brad skipped school one day.
We cannot turn the Spirit on and off. He knows exactly when and how to use God’s power in our lives.
One example of this power is cultivating Spiritual fruit in believers. Galatians 5:22 says that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are seen in God’s kids. These attributes come to whomever belongs to Christ. We have crucified our own desires and passions—and allow God’s fruit to proclaim to the world whose we are.
We become walking bulletin boards announcing, “Jesus lives!” Our inner peace and perseverance contrasts typical human reaction to life’s challenges. Divine power gives believers the authority and energy needed to fulfill God’s plan for our lives.
When we fulfill God’s plan, He is glorified. People see how God rescues and transforms His kids through Jesus and His Spirit.
Take Home Nugget
During lunch, Brad returned to school with a bouquet of flowers. He put them in a vase on Ms. De Turk’s desk. When class resumed, she called Brad into her office. “Why were you absent this morning?” she wondered.
“My mom told me that your dog died. I remembered how lost I felt when my dog died. I just wanted to do something to cheer you up.” Brad admitted.
With tears in her eyes, Ms. De Turk hugged Brad. “Thank you!” she choked out.
We can’t see the Spirit, but others can see the Spirit in us.
J.D. Griffith
Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.
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