Spirit's Power - Your Power

Mark 13:9-11 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
 
JESUS spoke a very grim picture for a Jesus follower. Who wants that type of life? In truth, each Christian should respond, “I do!” and here’s why.
    Jesus promises a  true disciple’s life is one of power. The Spirit grants you the opportunity to know the power that created the world is at work in your life. Jesus had called the disciples from their ordinary, safe lives to an extraordinary, dangerous commitment to Christ’s cause. Their only hope to prevail was to trust the Spirit’s words: “Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
    What an extraordinary promise! The Spirit’s presence adds the LORD God’s creation power to your faith. Your Helper directs you to experience the reality, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) God’s Word spoken through you will help you speak new life into people dead in their sin. From the formless void at creation came the living world. Now, into your mind comes Jesus’ gospel power. As Living Water, faithful words flow before you can think. In those moments of need, you will know God’s forming, shaping, living word is with you!
    But is the work too hard? Since the first disciples, a life following Jesus for many people has been marked with persecution, heartache, joyless days and disappointments. Faithful Christians have lost employment and are impoverished. Many suffer prison because they spoke what the Spirit gave them to say. Victories seem far apart if they ever come.
    How do you trust Jesus’ teaching here? You trust it when you know that is precisely the way Jesus’ ministered. John 14:10b “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” Jesus followed the Father’s will to preach the truth and pointed him to persecution and to the cross. Out of that persecution has come the glorious gospel. He has suffered, so we may have life. Many Christians are called to that same destiny. God anoints them to faith. They stand before persecutors and testify as the Spirit speaks through them. From their persecution many lives, even nations have been transformed.
    God calls us all to particular people or places where we must testify to his saving grace. This can be in your home talking with an unsaved friend or relative. You might be at the market or walking along the road. You could be standing before authorities who want to silence your testimonies. Be open to these opportunities. Seek the Spirit’s words in your prayers and in your daily work. He will help you see the needs of those around you. You will learn to go where you go, do what you do and say what you say because the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Yes, the Spirit is life power, and he is available to power your life.