On Pentecost, the
Spirit came as “tongues of fire” and filled the disciples. They were forever
changed. The Apostle Peter, once a bumbling fisherman, now preached to
thousands of people from different nations. His hearers, cut to the core,
repented and were baptized, not because of Peter, but because of the Spirit of
God within him, speaking through him
(Acts 2). With a few words or a touch, the disciples healed the crippled, sick,
and demon possessed – works of the Spirit of God within them. New believers sold everything they had to share with
those in need – evidence of the Spirit of God within them. The evangelist Philip was instantaneously transported
30 miles after sharing the gospel and baptizing an Ethiopian eunuch; the Spirit
within was using him for His purposes
(Acts 8).
We can easily
think such miraculous works of the Spirit were only for New Testament times and
believers, but this is far from true. The Church of God movement has
experienced many powerful works of the Spirit throughout its history. Being filled
with the Holy Spirit, or “sanctification,” has been a central teaching and
experience throughout our history. People who were surrendered to the Holy
Spirit saw God perform the very same works mentioned in the New Testament because
the very same Spirit dwelt within them,
within us.
In the early 1930’s,
my grandfather prayed all night for a man lying on his deathbed. During those
hours of prayer, my grandfather received the spiritual gift of healing and the
man was healed instantly. With only an 8th grade education, my
grandfather went on to plant over ten churches and heal hundreds of people.
Like the New Testament believers, the Spirit of God who lived within my grandfather gifted him and
enabled him to fulfill God’s will.
Is Crossroads a
people that is fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit? Are we experiencing fruit only
God can produce or are we content with mere human effort as if God were not
even with us? Do we merely ask God to bless what we have already done on our
own strength or are we using the gifts His Spirit has given to follow His lead,
building His Kingdom? Imagine what the Spirit within us desires to do
in our lives, in our families, at Crossroads, in our community, and beyond. Wouldn't
it be amazing to surrender anew and find out.
Pastor Jason
For further dialogue on this blog
entry and the role of the Holy Spirit in your life, contact Pastor Jason at
419-229-4074 or jason@limacrossroads.org.