The Holy Spirit is the one who sends and empowers us. During His own time of ministry, Jesus demonstrated His God-given authority to fulfill His purpose here on earth – to preach the gospel of salvation, comfort the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom to those who are bound. This is exactly what God has intended for us to do. The good news is that it is not dependent on our strength or ability. It is the Holy Spirit who will give us the right words to say, show us the right things to do, and help us pray prayers that are in line with God’s will and purpose. The Spirit also empowers us with spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts, not for our own benefit, but so that we can help one another.
God has anointed us for the purpose of reaching those around us. We are His representatives to those around us, but we need to partner with the Holy Spirit in order to represent Him well. We can identify needs in the lives of those we see around us and begin to ask Him to show us how to meet these needs!
Reflect:
- Why do we sometimes experience fear when we share the gospel?
- Take a moment to identify a need in someone you know and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can meet that need in their life.
Prayer:
Dear God, I know that I have been anointed by You to preach the gospel and meet the needs of those around me. Help me to not rely on my own strength, but on the Holy Spirit who enables me. I choose to be used by You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Read:
Isaiah 61:1 NIV
”The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,“
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NIV
”Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.“