February 2007-March 2007

Realize the Spirit-Empowered Functioning of Church Life as God Intended It To Be—Alive, DYNAMIC and Fruitful

On New Year’s Day at least a decade ago, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit.  It was out of gasoline.  The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas.  The amusing thing was, this float represented  the Standard Oil Company.  With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.  Can you imagine?

Can you imagine a Believer or a church being powerless?  My guess is if you’re anything like me, you likely can!  It’s a month since all of those well intentioned New Year’s resolutions.  The follow through has been just a little less than anticipated.  The desire is there, but the power to perform is less than adequate.

Yet, in reflection on the early chapters of Acts, it is obvious that there was a bold dynamic permeating all aspects of life in the first century church. 
    Acts 1:8-“But, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses…”
   Acts 2-The Dynamic of Pentecost with 3,000 new believers baptized.
   Acts 3-The healing Power to restore the crippled man.
   Acts 4-The believers were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus so they prayed and “after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4: 31)

There is something compellingly attractive about the dynamic of His presence, His peace, His purity, and His power in all the fullness of His Spirit!  Priorities are transformed and believers begin to reflect His nature, His ethics, and His power.  Not dynamite power that goes off with a big explosion, but dynamo power that continues to produce and produce, day in and day out.  Henry Drummond capsulized the truth concerning the Holy Spirit in one concise statement: “In the New Testament alone, the Holy Spirit is referred to nearly 300 times and the one word with which He is constantly associated is power.”  Power to do, to achieve, to overcome beyond our will, yes, yet coupled with our will!  I recall one day in the Chicago O’Hare airport rushing to connect with a plane on the other end of the airport.  I was perspiring and out of breath when I looked to my side there was a man walking less than half as fast as me yet going much faster.  He was walking on a moving sidewalk! So when we walk, serve, worship, evangelize and live in the fullness of the Spirit He comes underneath us and bears us along. He comes along side us and supports us as a moving handrail. We’re still walking but we’re walking in the Spirit in dynamic dependence on His power.  What a difference!

The good news is you and I can be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Here’s how: 

1. Be sure you have opened the door  of your life to Jesus Christ. (Revelation 3:20)
2. Recognize your need. (Romans 7:15)
3. Decide to fully obey God. (Acts 5:32)
4. Open every door into every area and compartment of your life. (Romans 12: 1 & 2)
5. Believe the promise of His fullness is for you. (Acts 2:39)
6. Pray specifically and definitely. (Luke 11:13)7.
7. By faith, live, serve, and share in His fullness. (Galatians 5: 22-25)

In our lives, throughout our congregations across our conference and beyond for all of 2007 may we “realize the spirit-empowered functioning of church life as God intended it to be—alive, DYNAMIC, and fruitful!”

In the dynamic of the Spirit of Christ,

John Zuck, Bishop

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