Here’s the scene: Jesus is raised from the dead. He has gathered his scattered disciples and is preparing to unleash them on a dead world. It’s the kind of atmosphere that naturally gives birth to strategies.
If I had been one of the disciples, I would have immediately called a strategic gospel outreach planning session. We would have had piles of doughnuts and gallons of strong coffee. We would have gathered together in a secret location and required a password to get through the door. We would have graphs and bar charts and statistics.
By the time we were done we would have a plan. A plan called something dramatic like “Taking No Prisoners For Jesus”, or “Global Outreach Attack Team” (GOAT for short). We would have it all figured out.
But Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to call a strategic huddle. Instead he said:
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4–5)
What’s up with that? No strategy. No killer evangelism plan. No five year growth projections. Just wait for the Holy Spirit. Seems kind of passive, doesn’t it?
It turns out that the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers God’s people to complete God’s mission. If I want my church to grow, I need to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and every other member of my church. I need to ask the Spirit for boldness and power. I need to ask for courage to speak to my relatives and neighbors who don’t know Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong, strategy matters. But strategy is dead apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit causes people to be born again. The Holy Spirit gives evangelistic boldness. Jesus grows his church through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t need me. I need Him.
Questions for Discussion:
- When are you tempted to rely on your power rather than the Holy Spirit?
- What is the role of planning and what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Stephen,
Loved what you said Sunday in your sermon about the Holy Spirit being like the engine in a car. We can have all the strategies, structures, and comittees in place, but without Him we will go nowhere and do nothing. Effective message, He must have been helping you! Hope you don't mind if I share the link so your readers can listen.
http://www.sgcindianapa.org/resources/audio.php
Thanks for your encouragement Bob. Sometimes after sermons I have no idea how they affected people. I'm glad that God used the message to encourage you!