I just got done watching the Phillies lose to the Atlanta Braves for the second night in a row. They lost 3 of 4 of their last four games they played. Besides that, the Braves clinched the top spot in their division. It even happened on the Phillies home field! How depressing! What could I do to cheer myself up after a very sad and depressing night? The answer hit me; I could start my Recharge which was coming up soon. That always gets my blood flowing. I love to write to encourage people in the Word of God and to help them see how faithfulness to Jesus can bring them happiness and contentment.
THEN IT HIT ME, OF COURSE IT CAN’T BE DONE
And so, after shuffling through my stack of papers, I found my Recharge schedule. There it was, under September 21, my assignment………. The Holy Spirit! What? The Holy Spirit? Are you kidding me, that is like asking someone to write a summary of the Old Testament in 100 words or less. It couldn’t be done! Then it hit me, of course it couldn’t be done, only through the power of the Holy Spirit could I pull off such an important assignment.
THE IDEA OF DOING THINGS ON OUR OWN
My first thoughts were to jump immediately to the flesh and to say, “What can I do, this assignment is too big!” And then the answer came back, “Absolutely nothing, but if you trust Me, we can do this together.” This idea of doing things on our own, without help from others, without the wisdom of more mature Christians, and of course, without the prompting of the Holy Spirit, can be the beginning of a failed church, a disastrous relationship, or even a discouraged believer.
THEY ASSUME THEY DON’T NEED ANYONE ELSE
I understand there are people who have multiple degrees behind their names and others who will tell you, “I’ve done this forever” and they assume they really don’t need anyone else. But that kind of kind of thinking will only get a person in trouble. Jesus wanted to avoid that situation with his disciples in Acts 1. They had just gone through the loss of their King and then 3 days later He had a triumphant return. Resurrection! Hallelujah! Now they were feeling strong, confident, and unstoppable.
you can’t do this without the holy spirit
And at that point Jesus said: “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my father promised which you have heard me speak about.” (Acts 1:4) Jesus was telling his disciples that you can’t do this without the Holy Spirit. You can’t stop the lies which will be said about Me, and you can’t stop the disruption which Satan will bring upon the church.
UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD
But why? What not jump right into it while they were all pumped up? It’s simple, we are unable to do anything without God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Now that may sound strange to say, but it is true. It’s called the “trinity”, and what makes up the trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Throughout the New Testament we are reminded it is the Holy Spirit that intercedes when we are weak. Paul says in Romans 8:26-27: “In the same way the spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
THE MANY JOBS THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES
Helping us when we are weak is only one of the many jobs the Holy Spirit does. He also convicts us (John 16:8), He regenerates us (John 5:21; Titus 3:5), and He even teaches us (John 14:26). All of these are accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit as He guides us into all truth. (John 14:26). What about your life? Do you have some job that you have to do? Do you get to visit an unsaved friend, prepare a Sunday School lesson, preach a sermon or just do errands? Whatever it is, don’t try to do it on your own. Remember, the Phillies may let you down for a moment, but going through life without relying on the Holy Spirit, will be far worse!