Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

This passage is one of my (many) favorites, so I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve read it. However, what I’m feeling from it right now is that when we operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, word gets around. Jesus didn’t have to advertise, people came looking for Him. Publicity campaigns for churches aren’t bad as such, but they should be completely unnecessary. Each believer should be sharing Christ with their neighbors, their friends and acquaintances, and ministering the grace of God in His love and power. There would be no stopping the growth of such a church! We don’t necessarily need spectacular miracles, we just need to be consistent in living as children of God, witnesses of Christ. (Acts 1:8) If we will do that, we will indeed be making disciples for Christ, teaching them what we have learned from Him and His Word, and the world will be transformed. (Matthew 28:18-20) It is no accident that Charismatic/Pentecostal churches are the ones that are growing worldwide, but even there, there tends to be an attitude of looking at gifts of the Holy Spirit as “merit badges” and bragging points, and that is completely counterproductive. What is called for is personal humility coupled with an absolute assurance that God can do anything, and even use me in the process. When we are focused on ourselves, either we fall into pride that “we can do stuff,” or we become convinced that God could never use such a flawed vessel as we are. Both are traps of the devil! As Jesus said so clearly, apart from Him we can do nothing, (John 15:5) but when He is working through us, we can do anything. (Philippians 4:13, and yes, I know this is talking about an attitude of gratitude, but it applies otherwise as well.)

This is something I have become increasingly convinced of over the years, but I have been amazed at how much push-back I have gotten when I have tried to share it with believers. It seems people don’t want to be told God can and will use them if they will allow it, because it seems like too much work and responsibility. That shows they haven’t really tasted the joy of knowing God has spoken or acted through them. They expect such things of me because I’m a pastor, but they fail to realize that God indeed does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11) He wants to use them just as much as He uses me, if not more. That’s all the more of an issue because I’m not Japanese, so they automatically put me in a different category. They don’t realize that they are far better equipped to reach their circle of family and friends than I am, precisely because it’s their circle, and not mine. I’ve demonstrated that I can’t get this truth across properly in my own wisdom and strength, so that puts me back to depending on God, which is a good place to be! I need to seek to operate in the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit at all times in every area, so that His truth may indeed set people free from the lies that have bound them. (John 8:32)

Father, thank You for all the many things You are doing in and around me and this church. Help us recognize them, not just so that we may give You the thanks and praise that You alone deserve, but also so that we may expect You to work even more, and offer ourselves as Your agents, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!