You Can't Survive Here on Your Own

It's freezing cold outside. Maybe I'm just soft, but I really don't like winter much. When I do go outside, I make sure to try to stay warm. Throw on the coat... gloves... toque... maybe even boots and long underwear. In a Saskatchewan winter, without these things you have no chance of survival out in the elements.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples that they needed to stay in until they had the tool necessary for them to survive in the elements. He would be ascending, and they would need divine help for their spiritual work. The Lord would send the Holy Spirit to do His work (Acts 1:2, 8).

The fact that the Lord didn't want the disciples to go out preaching without the Holy Spirit should make us understand the importance of Him. Without the Holy Spirit, we have no power at all. Our efforts would be wasted.

When Paul went to Corinth, we find that he was relying on the Spirit of God rather than himself (1 Corinthians 2:4). The Holy Spirit reveals things that are spiritual and of God to people (1 Corinthians 2:10). He also makes intercession for us in heaven, since we don't always know what we should pray (Romans 8:26). We should allow the Spirit to guide us where we would go with the word of God (Acts 8:29, 10:19-20, 11:12, 16:6-7, 21:4). He also dwells within and is our down payment by God that He was purchased us and will take us to be with Himself (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5). John 16:8-11 tells us of the great work He does through the word of God, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." What a marvelous work He does that we are powerless to do.

Without a jacket outside in the -40 winter, people last maybe 5 minutes before they start having trouble with normal bodily functions and are in danger of soon death. Without help from the Holy Spirit, no matter what we told people or how convincing we are, people would be still in danger of eternal spiritual death because our message would have no power. Let us pray that as we proclaim the word of God, sharing with believers or with non-believers, that the Holy Spirit would go forth in power so that the word might be effective; warming the hearts of sinners that they might humble themselves and take God's salvation in Jesus Christ's work.