"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
- Jesus, Acts 1:8
In the Old Testament, God worked through his prophets to reveal himself to the world. Moses freed the slaves, showing God's power to all who were witnesses. Noah lived by the grace of God through the flood. Abraham was found righteous in God's eyes and became the father of many nations. Elijah called down fire from heaven, turning thousands to follow God. Like so many others, God's power was working through their lives.
In the Gospels, God revealed himself to us in a new way: Jesus. God in human form, God as a baby. Jesus taught new things with authority, shaking the system up so bad that it cost him his life. But that death and eventual resurrection was worth all the cost, as it freed his people, all people, from the snare of sin. Not only was freedom granted, but the privilege and kingly task of being ambassadors for our Saviour, King Jesus, God in flesh.
In John 14, Jesus says, "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father...And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth..."
Later, he is crucified, buried, and raised to life. Then, Jesus is taken up to heaven, leaving the future of the Gospel of his victory in the hands of his disciples, who find themselves equipped beyond their understanding. The book of Acts presents the beginnings of this thing called the church.
Today, the church is still here, in all of its many locations, forms, and faults. Yet it still remains the church, the body of Christ called to show the world the power, love, and goodness of our God.
He has called us and prepared us for the call of making his name known in all the world. The Holy Spirit is real and active. How then will we let him shine through us?
In this final portion of our preteen dynamite series on the power of God, we will talk about what God's power can really do through us if we let him take control. The New Testament and beyond has so much to tell us about what God has done through his people to his glory, by the victory of Jesus over death. The Spirit of God gives us great power. The limits are unknown and we will never reach them. So reach out and let God's power be made evident in you, in us, the church.
Pray for God's Spirit to guide you.
Read the book of Acts.
Dream big about how God can use you.
In His Majesty's Service,
Speed
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