Holy Spirit

As a young camp counsellor, I had strong opinions about what constituted a good camp speaker. When Mr. B stood up to speak at the start of camp, I just knew we were in trouble. Yet, God used this imperfect instrument in an incredible way to reach into the hearts of many that week, including myself.

In Acts 4, the Jewish leaders were alarmed that the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They detained Peter and John for questioning. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, responded powerfully to their questions. He spoke with God’s power and even the Jewish leaders took notice. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (v. 13).

After deliberating amongst themselves, these same religious leaders exercised their human authority by commanding Peter and John to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. I love Peter and John’s response: “...Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (vv. 19-20).

It is intriguing to me that when Peter spoke with God’s power, people paid attention. Yet, when the Jewish leaders exercised their authority, which in this case was contrary to God’s desires, it had little effect. It’s a good reminder that the most powerful authority that we wield as Christian leaders is the authority that God entrusts to us by His Spirit. God’s power can make a huge difference in and through imperfect instruments.

In reading Acts 1-2, the spotlight is on the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the disciples would have power to witness when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). Then, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and enabled the disciples to speak in other tongues, which foreign visitors to Jerusalem recognized as their own languages (Acts 2). Yet, what were the disciples doing between the giving of Jesus’ promise and its fulfillment? “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” (Acts 1:14). I don’t think it was any coincidence that these praying disciples were the first to receive the gift that Jesus had promised. In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."

I appreciate Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving after God provides a son. One of the themes in her prayer is that it is not by human strength that one prevails (1 Samuel 2:9-10). She saw it firsthand when God answered her heartfelt prayer for a child. Yet, Hannah extends her application of the lesson to more universal matters. We need to do our part, but ultimately, it’s God’s strength, often working through His people, that will make a lasting difference.

This theme reminds me of one of my favorite passages in Zechariah 4:6-9. Zerubbabel had already laid the foundation of the temple. However, the daunting task of actually building the structure itself lay before him. As leaders, we regularly face significant challenges as we seek to follow God’s truth and His leading in our lives. God’s word to us is: “You can’t do it in the way I desire in your own strength, but with the help of My Spirit, you can.”