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The Power of the Holy Spirit

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Today once again I want to talk about all of us who get nervous when we have to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Whether its preaching it to a group, doing a Bible Study, or one on one. I always remind myself that I have divine authority to share the Good News.

Remember Acts chapter 1 verse 8? Jesus said just before He ascended back to Heaven, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Authority- thats what power is all about. And you know- the power that Jesus gives us, is the power that we know His will, we know His Word, we have the fire of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, and therefore when we open our mouth, and quote a Bible verse, and encourage the person youre witnessing to, to surrender their heart to Christ, to be honest and admit that theyve sinned against God, but that Jesus Christ on the cross gave His blood to purify us from our sins.

Remember you have authority that youre not even aware of. Its the authority of the Holy Spirit that is at work in you even though you sometimes dont notice it.

So, go forward, and remember, you can share with authority because you have the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reaching the Broken

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When my wife and I met Donna, she was an 18-year-old single mom with two children. As we talked with her, we found out she had grown up going to church. But Donna ended up on a destructive path when she hit her teenage years. When we asked why, Donna said she was molested multiple times as a child, and her mother abandoned her when she was 13.

Donna eventually got into the wrong crowd in school, getting involved with boyfriends, alcohol, and drugs. Yet, deep down she knew that it wasnt right.

It was heartbreaking to hear Donnas story. No one should have to endure what she had gone through!

We shared with Donna that Jesus Christ not only will forgive her sins, Hell also help her to forget the incest, the rape, and the hurt. We shared this beautiful verse with her from Hebrews 9: “The blood of Christ will cleanse your conscience from evil works so that you can serve the living and true God.” Donna said thats what she was looking for. We rejoiced as she surrendered her life to Jesus!

Do you know a struggling teenage mom? Instead of judging her, try reaching out to her. Offer to watch her baby so she can have a break. Ask if you can bring her a meal, or treat her to coffee. Your simple act of kindness can be a powerful example to her of Christs amazing love.

Never Beyond Hope

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When it comes to reaching tough kids, one of my favorite stories is that of Nicky Cruz. Nicky was a Puerto Rican teenager who moved to New York City and joined one of the most violent gangs in the city.

To anyone who knew him, Nicky seemed beyond any hope of change. He was angry at his parents, angry at himself, angry at the world, and angry at God.

But then God led a young preacher named David Wilkerson to New York City. David had a passion to reach gang members for Jesus Christ. He saw beyond their tough exterior, and knew that deep down, their hearts were desperate for love and healing.

When David met Nicky, he knew the only thing that could reach Nickys heart was the love of Jesus. Eventually, because of Davids persistence, and the power of the Holy Spirit, Nicky received Jesus into his life.

Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he became a new creation. And today, Nicky Cruz leads a ministry that shares the Good News with inner-city gang members!

Is there a teenager you know who seems beyond hope? Try finding ways to show Christs love to that young boy or girl. Pray, as Paul did for the Ephesians, that “the eyes of their heart would be enlightened.” And remember, no one is beyond Gods reach.

Love Sinners, Hate Sin

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John was a 17-year-old who told me he was struggling because his sister was a lesbian. He didnt know how to deal with it. I told John that he needed to be patient with his sister, love her, and not start any arguments — they rarely get you anywhere.

He needed to love and respect her because, no matter what her lifestyle, shes still created in the image of God.

Jesus Christ is a perfect example of how to love the lost. He spent time with the tax collectors, and the prostitutes. Many of them chose to leave their sinful ways and follow Him.

Now, loving the sinner doesnt mean we condone the sin. Homosexuality is condemned in the Bible, just as is any other sexual activity that is outside of marriage.

The most powerful thing we can do is love and pray for people choosing those lifestyles. Trust me, God can change their hearts! Ive had the privilege of leading many homosexuals to Jesus Christ. Its possible, if we lovingly reach out to them without judgment.

Love the person – hate the sin. In Mark Chapter 10, Jesus says, “All things are possible with God.”

Do you have stories of how youve reached out to a lost friend or family member? Id love to hear from you! Send me a note at radio@palau.org.

A New Story

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Recently our team got a letter from a young girl – Ill call her Anne. Anne wrote that her parents had divorced because her mom had been cheating on her dad. Not only did her mom want nothing to do with Anne, but her sister was in the hospital, and her boyfriend had just dumped her.

“My only friends are alcohol and marijuana,” Anne said. “So theres my story.” It was so sad to read that letter! Can you imagine what shes been through?

It breaks my heart when I hear about children who come from broken homes. When these kids are neglected and unloved, they can sometimes act out in pretty crazy ways. But deep down what theyre really wondering is, “Does anyone care about me?”

When you see a young person who seems hardened, and perhaps into drugs and drinking, remember that you dont know their story. Pray for those teenagers who seem the hardest to love. Find ways to connect with them. God says in Isaiah 49, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Thats a powerful message of Gods love to share with young people.

Through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can offer children like Anne a different ending to their stories. Is there a youth in your life who needs you to reach out to them? Do it today, and point them to Jesus.