In His first sermon, Jesus told the world that the Holy Spirit would guide and empower everything He did.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
When Jesus sent the apostles on their mission, He told them that they were to wait until they were empowered by the Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Nothing has changed in 2,000 years. If anything good comes from Christian ministry, it is because the Holy Spirit works through people.
What Paul said about the flesh in Romans 7 is likewise true for us today.
“For I know that the good does not dwell within me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do the good lies close at hand, but not the ability.” (Romans 7:18)
“Flesh” simply means living apart from God. If we live apart from God, we can join Paul in saying that nothing good lives in us.
The bottom line is that any good that happens through our lives as Christians happens because the Holy Spirit is working in us.
The Spirit and Healing
With this in mind, let’s return to the time Paul met a man in Lystra who could not walk since birth. As he listened to Paul, Paul prayed a prayer of command.
[He] said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. (Acts 14:10)
Anyone who has had orthopedic surgery or a stroke knows that getting up and walking after being unable to move for a while can feel nearly impossible. But when the Holy Spirit takes hold of someone, what seems impossible to people becomes possible.
Our son worked at an Amazon warehouse for a time. While he was there, he prayed for the people he worked with.
One day, he met a Muslim man with a badly injured shoulder. The man had gone to HR and planned to file for workers’ compensation. John placed his hand on him and prayed. His shoulder was immediately healed, and he could lift his arm high again.
The man asked, “How did you do that?”
John said, “I didn’t do it. God did it. Jesus loves you.”
This is a picture of the Holy Spirit at work. It also shows someone giving the credit to the One who deserves it: the Holy Spirit.
Praise in the Right Direction
The crowd tried to give Paul and Barnabas the praise they believed their gods deserved. This deeply upset Paul and Barnabas. They pointed the people to the One who worked through them and could bless their lives, not only now but forever.
“People, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:15)
The apostles knew something that we should remember too. As Paul said, nothing in our flesh (in our life apart from God) can produce anything good. But when the Holy Spirit works through us, we can fulfill God’s plans and purposes with the people He has called us to serve.
Praise to Persecution
Many people adored by the crowds learn that the saying, “What have you done for me lately?” applies to them too. Sadly, Paul and Barnabas healed a man and preached the gospel, yet deceivers still turned the crowd against them, even to the point of stoning Paul.
“But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.” (Acts 14:19)
By God’s power, Paul survived being stoned and was able to continue his first missionary journey. He later completed two more journeys as well.
Paul’s experience reminds us that we depend on the Holy Spirit. If we want God to use us and live as His partners, we must surrender to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Acts 14:8-20 today on YouTube.
