"We often tell the story of when John Wimber first visited our church. We saw a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit and several healings. One incident, which occurred on the second night, is indelibly printed in my memory. One of our closest friends was eight months pregnant at the time. The Holy Spirit came upon her with great power. She started to whirl around at great speed. As she did so, she exclaimed over and over again, ‘I feel so strong!’
A few weeks later she gave birth to a son who, from his earliest days, showed not only spiritual and emotional strength but also extraordinary physical strength. He became an outstanding rugby player, a superb athlete and is now a successful model.
To some (like Samson, who we read about in today’s Old Testament passage), the Holy Spirit gives extraordinary physical strength. To all of us, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual strength.
We read of the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible – from Genesis 1:3, in which the Spirit ‘was hovering over the waters’, through to Revelation 22:17, in which the Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’
On the day of Pentecost, there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. After that we see more clearly the work of the Holy Spirit. We see the Holy Spirit in action in the book of Acts, and the explanation of what the Holy Spirit does in the rest of the New Testament. However, even before the day of Pentecost there are hints and references to the work of the Holy Spirit, as we see today.
Psalm 59:9-17
Boundless strength
Are you struggling with some issue in your life? Do you feel deeply troubled?
Like David, who was in deep trouble, call out to God today: ‘O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God’ (vv.9–10a).
The psalm ends in triumph. ‘But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God’ (vv.16–17).
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul tells us about this ‘Strength’. He speaks of ‘his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead’ (Ephesians 1:19–20).
It was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11a). The Holy Spirit is ‘his mighty strength’. That same strength now lives in you and ‘will give life to your mortal body through his Spirit, who lives in you’ (11b).
I love Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Ephesians passage where he speaks of God giving you ‘endless energy, boundless strength’!
Lord, thank you that you are my ‘Strength’, my loving God. Thank you that your strength raised Jesus from the dead. Thank you that your Spirit lives in me. Please give me your endless energy and boundless strength for today and for all the battles that lie ahead."
1. Hallelujah for endless energy!
2. Endless energy indeed, we did KTV twice in a day. I had fun and thank You for the incredible moments.
3. Thank You for the blessing of being a teacher to some locals. I love doing it for Your sake. Thank You.
