What the Holy Spirit Does

Saturday, July 06, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 4:29–31

Only a few weeks passed—fifty days—between the crucifixion and Pentecost. On that day, the disciples walked out onto the streets of the city where the Lord had been crucified, preaching that Jesus was the only way of salvation. These were the same men who had fled in terror when Jesus was arrested. These were the same men who Jesus found huddled in a locked room on Easter Sunday. This was the same Peter who three times denied knowing Jesus or being His follower.

Yet on Pentecost, everything was different. These men who had been terrified became bold witnesses of the gospel. Thousands were saved in those first few days of the early church. What made the difference? The disciples were transformed when the power of the Holy Spirit took control of their lives. They had not suddenly become more courageous in their own strength, but they were were empowered by the Holy Spirit. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

All of our efforts, abilities, methods, and programs will come to nothing if we work in our own strength. It is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that we become effective witnesses to the lost. As the old hymn puts it: “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.” The Holy Spirit plays many roles in the life of the believer, but one of the most vital is His empowering us to witness.

Today's Growth Principle: 

When we are fearful to witness, we need to turn to God for the power to do so boldly.