I decided to try and start reading through some of the commentaries I have accumulated. The first one I chose to start was over the book of Acts. I chose it because it is not a book that I have ever “really” studied. I am only through the commentary on the first chapter, but I came across an insight that caught my attention.
Before Jesus ascended he told the disciples, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). We have all heard this verse before, and we have seen in the scriptures that the disciples ended up waiting 40 days before the Holy Spirit came upon them. So, despite what they had learned from their 3 years with Jesus, despite the fact that they had seen the risen Jesus, despite the fact that they had the Gospel message they could have witnessed with, they didn’t move an inch until the presence of the Holy Spirit came upon them.
They waited in a room and waited for the Spirit. Wow, how often do we just assume the Holy Spirit is apart of the ministry we are doing? Is it more likely that we are ministering from our flesh, our talents and skills, than from the power of the Holy Spirit and his movement? How much of what your church or ministry does, could be done by any business that was organized and passionate about people?
These are all the kinds of questions that started popping up in my brain, and really start convicting me at how little I seek out the presence of the Spirit in ministry and in my life. That I don’t wait on the power of the Spirit, I arrogantly assume he is tagging along with my ambitious decisions. The commentator went on to say that only ministry done by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit honors God. And that ministry done merely through our flesh, or our intelligence, skills, talents and such is ignoble, and dishonoring to God.
Maybe I am just the only one that hadn’t figured this out, but when I look at how a lot of ministries function, I don’t see a resolute patience to demand the presence of the Holy Spirit and his power before they move. I don’t see nearly as much prayer as I probably should.
What do you think? Are ministries just pushing forward on new management principles and the talent of their people? Or are they taking the right time to let the power of the Holy Spirit move them?
