Faith Like A Mustard Seed

The truth is, if we are not filled with the Holy Spirt, we’re not going anywhere.  The Church operates on the power of the Holy Spirt.  If the Church does not have the Spirit, then it’s just a bunch of people trying to get some stuff done.  Sometimes it may seem like the Church isn’t having quite the impact it did when the apostles were spreading the Word, but that’s not the case at all. 

Be filled with the Holy Spirit; that’s what God’s Word says.  It’s something that must be done, and not just a good suggestion.  Before Jesus ascended to heaven in front of the apostles, He told them to wait until they received the Spirt.  They weren’t to try and do anything on their own.  They had to stay where they were, until they were filled with the Holy Spirt.  Only then were they able to get the things done that God wanted them to do. 

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:49

Jesus knew that without the Holy Spirit, even His closest followers were not going to get the job done.  So, He told them to wait.  Finally the Spirit did come, on the day which is Pentecost, and the followers of Christ were indeed filled with the Spirt, as He had said. 

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Acts 2:4

Before they had the Holy Spirt, the followers of Christ were trying to follow Him under their own power. Eventually they all scattered, and Peter even denied that he knew Jesus three times.  Now that they have received the Holy Spirt, they are speaking in different languages, they are meeting with the same goal, they are sharing their possessions, and speaking boldly for Jesus Christ.  In fact, right after receiving the Holy Spirt, Peter is preaching Christ crucified to the assembly, and about three thousand were converted that day! 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47

It is clear, that before they were filled with the Spirit, they were getting nowhere fast, yet right after being filled, they were doing wonderous signs, speaking boldly, meeting joyfully everyday, and giving of themselves, all because of the Holy Spirit. 

Why aren’t such things being done today?

Oh, they are!  We may no longer have apostles, but the Holy Spirit is still working through faithful, obedient children of God.  We can’t see from where the Spirit comes, or which way he is going, but we can see the work that is being done.  The Holy Spirit places believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), comes from the Father (John 15:26), gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), convicts sinners (John 16:8), comforts believers (16:7), reveals truth (John 16:13), ensures salvation (Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30), and intercedes for us (Romans 8:26).

Clearly the Holy Spirit is doing some amazing things for the praise and glory of God.  If we aren’t filled with the Spirit, we aren’t doing much of anything.  Even so, the question shouldn’t be do we have the Spirit, but instead, does the Spirit have all of us?  All of us, meaning every area of our lives; Are we open, are we faithful, are we teachable, and are we obedient?  Let us be these things, let us be filled with the Spirit, and God will do some amazing things in our lives. 

Dave Earley  http://www.init-2-winit.org/forum    http://www.init-2-winit.org/faithlikeamustardseed