Tag: Acts 1:8

Sealed with the Spirit

If you’ve ever bought or sold a house, entered into a legal agreement, or had to prove your identity, then you know you need a notary public to provide an official seal that authenticates documents. Whether it’s embossed, stamped, impressed, or affixed, a seal is the evidence that an agreement, contract, or document is legitimate and that all parties involved agree. Documents only need to be sealed once to be proven authentic. 

While you may find this mini-lesson on seals less than riveting, it has incredible implications when we read Paul’s words in Ephesians: “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13b-14, NIV) Being sealed with the Spirit proves we belong to God and are entitled to receive the riches of a vast spiritual inheritance available to all of His children. The only condition for being sealed with the Spirit is believing in Jesus. God has fulfilled all the other requirements to make this possible.

Once you are sealed with the Spirit, it is a mark of ownership that shows your place in the eternal family of God. It cannot be removed or taken away. The Spirit’s indwelling presence provides an unending, intimate connection between God and each of us individually. This is the miracle and the mystery Jesus described to His disciples before He ascended into heaven: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8a, ESV) 

That promise Jesus made to the disciples long ago is one that we still benefit from today. While being sealed is a one-time event showing we belong to God, that is only the beginning. We have the privilege of engaging with the Holy Spirit and cultivating a relationship with Him and asking Him for a fresh filling of Himself every day. And our capacity to experience the “fullness of God” described in Ephesians 3:19 expands continually as we interact with the Spirit and invite Him to work in and through us. Let’s examine several unique qualities about Him revealed in Scripture:

Helper/ Counselor/ Advocate/ Comforter: These names used in different translations of John 14 and 16 come from the Greek word “parakletos” which means “one called to the side of another.” The Holy Spirit is a personal being who indwells followers of Jesus. When we’re weak, weary, or troubled, we can ask Him for help. When we’re struggling or unsure what to do, we can seek Him for wisdom. When we don’t know how to pray, we can rely on Him to advocate for us with the Father. When we’re grieving and sorrowful, we can cry out to Him for comfort.

Reminder: Jesus says the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26, ESV) The Spirit often gives us gentle nudges, reminding us of truth we’ve studied in Scripture. He brings clarity to what we’re reading in the Bible and helps us to understand it. He enables us to discern how to apply His Word in specific situations. When we’re believing the enemy’s lies or misled by his deceit, the Spirit exposes him and reminds us of God’s truth.

Convicter: Jesus says the Holy Spirit will “convict the world concerning sin.” (John 16:8b, ESV) It’s humbling, but also comforting to recognize where our sinful thoughts, words, and actions have stunted our spiritual growth or damaged our relationships with God and others. Although it’s not fun to have the Spirit illuminate sin, we can be grateful for the opportunity to confess and repent to receive forgiveness, cleansing, and healing. Being open to conviction and having a willingness to repent from sin allows us to maintain close connection to God.

Guide: Jesus says “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13, ESV) When we’re at a crossroads and unsure how to proceed, the Holy Spirit serves as a good and reliable guide. The world is a confusing place full of contradictions and mixed messages but with the Spirit showing us the way, we can move forward with confidence and peace. 

Power Source: Just before His ascension, Jesus tells the disciples “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV) The same power and authority “that [God] worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” exists within all who follow Christ today! (Ephesians 1:20 ESV)

Believing in Jesus and being sealed with the Spirit marks the beginning of a lifetime of growing deeper and discovering the vastness of God’s love, power, and authority. However, the Holy Spirit is gentle and quiet, He won’t force Himself on us. Just like a relationship with a person, we need to nurture our relationship with Him and continue to grow in our awareness of His presence. 

As you ponder these incredible truths I pray the Father “may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Ephesians 1:17b-19, ESV)

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Inspired by Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice by Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger, Lifeway Press, 2024.

All Roads Lead to Rome

“All roads lead to Rome” is a saying that refers back to when the Eternal City was the hub of the world’s largest empire. Straight roads with solid foundations fanned out from it in all directions. People traveling through traded not only goods and news but also ideas and beliefs.1 Paul’s longing to reach this vibrant city culminates in the final chapter of Acts after a harrowing sea voyage that includes a violent storm, a shipwreck, and a snake bite. By the time he arrives in Rome under the watchful eye of his centurion guard, Julius, Paul has traveled 2000 miles as a prisoner bent on making his defense before Caesar. Let’s examine a few key moments on this final journey recorded in Acts 27 & 28.

The Storm at Sea: A risky decision by the ship’s pilot to keep sailing deep into the fall months leads to a tumultuous journey from Caesarea to Rome for Paul and his companions. Over a series of days, their “violently storm-tossed” vessel rolls and pitches over angry seas while the ship’s crew fights to keep it afloat. When they’ve taken every safety measure possible and have no sun or stars by which to navigate, our narrator, Luke, explains, “all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.” (Acts 27:20, ESV)

At this point Paul, a mere prisoner and passenger on the battered vessel, speaks up: “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” (Acts 27:21-22, ESV) While this may sound like a spiteful “I told you so,” Paul is actually reminding them that through God’s guidance, he predicted the disastrous voyage (27:10).2 With his credibility established, everyone on board listens this time as he describes a vision he’s had from an angel promising he will make it to Rome and everyone on the ship will survive. Paul finishes by encouraging them: “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (Acts 27:25, ESV)

While it’s unlikely you’ve been in Paul’s exact circumstances, there’s a good chance you’ve weathered a storm in the past or will in the future: a cancer diagnosis or chronic illness, a job loss or financial ruin, a tragic accident or unwelcome surprise, mental illness, anxiety, depression, divorce, loneliness, rejection (you get the idea). When storms blow through your life or the lives of those you love, do you take heart and have faith in God? Do you encourage others with His promises? As followers of Jesus, there is never a reason to sink into utter despair because our hope isn’t in our circumstances, but in Him.

The Shipwreck: After two weeks of taking a thrashing from the violent storm, Paul and his companions break bread together at his urging and give thanks to God. Just as Paul foretold, the ship runs aground on a reef, but all 276 passengers safely make it to land (with the help of the Centurion, Julius, who refuses to allow the Roman soldiers to kill the captives in their care.) Once ashore, Paul miraculously survives a venomous snake bite while building a fire on the beach with his companions. The waterlogged survivors soon learn they’re on the island of Malta, just south of Sicily and less than 700 miles from Rome.

So, in the midst of the two-week storm with no ability to navigate or control the ship’s direction, Paul and the rest of the travelers discover they were being drawn to Rome the whole time. God’s sovereign hand spared their lives and guided them through hurricane force winds and treacherous seas.3 Surely Luke must have been remembering the story he penned in his gospel about Jesus calming a storm. On a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee Jesus’ distressed disciples awaken Him from a nap during a fierce storm. Jesus rebukes the wind and the raging waves; the storm ceases and there is immediate calm. The disciples marvel at this, saying to one another: “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25, ESV)

When you’re in the midst of a storm, do you trust in the sovereignty of God? Do you rely on the Lord’s strength to guide you? Even when you feel out of control and can’t see how the storm is going to end, do you have faith that the Lord is at work?

The Arrival in Rome: Three months after landing in Malta, Paul and his companions begin the final leg of their journey. Luke describes the culmination of their travels with minimal fanfare saying simply, “And so we came to Rome.” (Acts 28:14b, ESV) However, he follows this with a touching interaction between Paul and a group of Roman believers: “And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.” (Acts 28:15, ESV) Followers of Jesus travel between 35 & 43 miles south of Rome to greet Paul despite the fact they’ve never met him. 

Imagine Paul’s utter exhaustion after such an arduous journey. How encouraging it must’ve been to be greeted warmly by a group of believers who valued his teaching and shared his deep love of God. Maybe seeing their joy and devotion to the Lord reminded him all the effort was worth the tremendous challenges he’d faced. Even giants of the faith get depleted and need to be cheered on every so often. Do you know people who serve tirelessly for the sake of the gospel? Consider praying and asking God to show you how you can encourage someone who has spurred on your spiritual growth.

The Wait for a Trial: After arriving in Rome Paul spends two years under house arrest awaiting his trial before Caesar. During that time, he writes letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians as well as a personal letter to Philemon. Whether traveling or staying in one place, free or in chains, Paul preaches and teaches the gospel with passion and conviction to those near and far. The Holy Spirit produces an abundance of fruit through his faithful obedience that we are still benefiting from today. 

Although Acts 28 marks the end of Luke’s chronicles of the Holy Spirit being poured out on followers of Jesus, it closes without a sense of finality. Perhaps that’s because it’s meant to be only the birth story of the Church. Paul, Peter and the other believers were just the beginning. The narrative has continued to be written in all the years since then through the lives of all who have received the power of the Holy Spirit and have sought to be witnesses of Jesus “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV)

  • 1. Jen Wilkin, Week 10 video, Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2, The Village Church.
  • 2. NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan, p. 2018
  • 3. Jen Wilkin, Week 10 video, Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2, The Village Church.

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The Gift of the Holy Spirit

It was a sweet secret my husband and I kept for a short season. I’d smile thinking about it during my workday, reveling in the miracle taking place within my body that no one else could see. We were expecting our first child but had decided to keep the news to ourselves for a few months. My son’s presence in utero gave me a sense of quiet companionship as his body formed and grew. When I finally saw him face to face, it was like meeting an old friend.

Although it’s an imperfect analogy, that feeling of constant connectedness I experienced during pregnancy makes me think of the Holy Spirit. My baby physically resided within me for nine months, but the Spirit’s indwelling presence provides an unending, intimate connection between God and me. This is the miracle and the mystery Jesus described to His disciples before He ascended into heaven: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8a, ESV) 

Let’s rewind the story a bit to get a wider perspective. About two months earlier, Jesus was preparing His disciples for a time not far in the future when He would no longer be physically present with them. They didn’t understand what He was saying and, seeing their dismay, He reassured them: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7, ESV) The disciples grieved the news that Jesus would be leaving them because they didn’t realize the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit they would receive. It was to their advantage for Him to leave so that the Spirit would come.

That promise Jesus made to the disciples long ago is one that we still benefit from today. Having the Spirit living inside us is both comforting and empowering. Let’s examine several unique qualities about Him revealed in Scripture that still bless us now:

Helper/ Counselor/ Comforter/ Advocate: These names used in different translations of John 14 and 16 come from the Greek word “parakletos” which means “one called to the side of another.” The Holy Spirit is a personal being who indwells followers of Jesus. When we’re weak or weary, we can ask Him for an infusion of His strength. When we’re struggling or unsure what to do, we can seek Him for wisdom. When we don’t know how to pray, we can rely on Him to advocate for us with the Father. When we’re grieving and sorrowful, we can cry out to Him for comfort.

Reminder: Jesus says the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26, ESV) The Spirit often gives us gentle nudges, reminding us of truth we’ve studied in Scripture. He brings clarity to what we’re reading in the Bible and helps us to understand it. He enables us to discern how to apply His Word in specific situations. When we’re believing the enemy’s lies or misled by his deceit, the Spirit exposes him and reminds us of God’s truth.

Convicter: Jesus says the Holy Spirit will “convict the world concerning sin.” (John 16:8b, ESV) It’s humbling, but also comforting to recognize where our sinful thoughts, words, and actions have stunted our spiritual growth or damaged our relationships with God and others. Although it’s not fun to have the Spirit illuminate sin, we can be grateful for the opportunity to confess and repent to receive forgiveness, cleansing, and healing.

Guide: Jesus says “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13, ESV) When we’re at a crossroads and unsure how to proceed, the Holy Spirit serves as a good and reliable guide. The world is a confusing place full of contradictions and mixed messages but with the Spirit showing us the way, we can move forward with confidence and peace. 

Power Source: Just before His ascension, Jesus tells the disciples “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV) As we continue studying Acts, we’re going to see the Spirit’s power move in the lives of many people. Let’s not forget that they’re only the beginning of the story. We also have that incredible gift; the same power and authority that raised Jesus from the grave and performed signs and wonders in Acts exists within all who follow Christ today!

Take a moment and let Francesca Battistelli’s song “Holy Spirit” become your prayer of celebration and invitation for the Holy Spirit.

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www.marybethmccullum.com: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Our Roots from Acts

Crowded inside the front room of a small houseboat, I sat on the faded linoleum floor alongside my fellow camp counselors. A worship leader strummed a guitar as we sang with hands raised and eyes closed. Inspired by the passion of those around me, I poured out my heart in song with no concern for how I sounded. Despite the plainness of our surroundings and the simplicity of the music, the air felt thick with the glory of the Lord. Although I’d grown up in church, it was the first time I had experienced the movement of the Holy Spirit in such a personal way. His presence in our midst was palpable, filling us with joy and inspiring us to continue sharing God’s love with others. 

The summers I spent as a camp counselor for Sonshine Ministries set me on a path that I still walk today. The pure and genuine faith I experienced in my time there comes to mind as I read through the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit came to indwell all who followed Jesus as their Savior. Far more than being a history of the beginnings of the Christian church, Acts is the narrative of our roots as followers of Jesus. While it reveals examples of simple yet passionate faith, it’s also filled with stories of heroes and villains (and villains turned into heroes), miracles, healings, and conversions. Acts includes tales of travel, adventure, hardship, persecution, shipwrecks, snakebites, and surprising prison breaks. It describes politics and power plays; angels and demons; authentic community and broken relationships; greed and generosity; dividing and multiplying of believers. The book reveals contrasts between genuine belief and hollow religion; seeking approval from people versus pleasing God alone. Filled with action and adventure, it’s the origin story for all the books of the New Testament that follow it.

Join me over the next several months as we learn Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples and watch in awe as He ascends to heaven. Witness the Holy Spirit empower Peter and transform him from the impulsive, hot-headed disciple who betrayed Jesus into a pillar of the church teaching and leading with power and authority. Marvel at the dramatic transformation of the hateful pharisee, Saul, when he encounters the risen Jesus. Then journey with Saul, turned Paul, and his companions as they travel far and wide to share the good news of the risen Christ with both Jews and Gentiles.

Acts is so much more than a history of the Christian church, it’s the story of how God poured out His Holy Spirit on earth to change hearts of stone into flesh. It serves as the linchpin of the New Testament, showing how the Holy Spirit empowered ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The implications of this book are enormous— let’s not overlook that I’m writing as a follower of Christ in North America about the Jewish Messiah who lived in Israel over 2000 years ago. I’m doing this only because faithful people from one generation to the next obeyed Jesus’ words from the opening chapter of Acts:  “But 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, NIV) 

Through studying Acts, we’ll see how the Lord used unschooled, ordinary people to share the message of truth and hope that is still transforming lives like mine today. Best of all, we’ll discover that the Spirit continues to move in power right in our midst. Studying Acts will not only teach us our roots but will show us how we can be part of God’s continually unfolding story.

Whether this is your first time opening the book of Acts or your fiftieth time, I hope you’ll join me for the adventure ahead. Start by listening to “Have Your Way” and making it your prayer of preparation for what God has in store.

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Facing Our Fear of Commitment

The sign hangs on the wall in our house as a reminder.  It reads, “Here I am, send me!” It’s a simple statement from Isaiah 6:8 that reminds us that whenever we leave home, we are being sent out by God to be His ambassadors. It expresses a willingness to be used by Him, wherever and whenever He chooses. Whether we are headed to an obviously “Christian” activity or not, our desire is to be a blessing and encouragement to those we encounter. Sometimes this happens informally, other times it means getting involved and making an ongoing commitment to serve in a ministry.

The word “commitment” is a scary one for many people. We’re intrigued by the idea that  God uses us to accomplish His purposes, but signing on to do it regularly sometimes feels daunting. I think these fears can be addressed and alleviated with some clarification from Scripture. With a change in focus, committing to serve becomes thrilling instead of frightening.

Fear #1: I’m Not Ready Yet

Look back at that verse from Isaiah quoted above. Only three verses earlier in Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah is lamenting that he is unclean and unworthy of being in God’s presence. Yet a few verses later, he enthusiastically agrees to be God’s message-bearer to the people after the Lord cleanses and equips him.  Isaiah’s willingness qualified him for the job.

Many of us sit on the sidelines missing out on what God wants to do in and through us because we don’t think we have what it takes.  We forget that the Lord will give us exactly what we need to serve Him, He won’t leave us hanging. God equips the called, He doesn’t call the equipped. But we have to make first step by being willing to commit.

Fear #2: I Don’t Have the Time

We live in a culture that celebrates busyness. For many of us, we find value and meaning from keeping a packed schedule.  We rarely take time to stop, pause, and make intentional decisions about where we do and don’t say “yes.” Because of this, we feel frantic and often miss opportunities to invest our time in the places that would most benefit ourselves, others, and our relationship with God.  However, when we make commitments based on God’s agenda instead of ours, we can feel confident about where we say “yes” and “no.” And just to be clear, this doesn’t mean only commitments with overtly “churchy” connections. God also uses secular commitments to help us grow, to connect with others, or to prepare us for future opportunities.

God never ceases to amaze me with the ways He multiplies my time when I ask Him (which is pretty often). He also helps me to recognize where my priorities are out of order.  Sometimes I make things important that really aren’t. When my agenda aligns with God’s, He gives me the time to serve Him and to accomplish the other things I need to get done.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8, NIV)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34, NIV)

Fear #3: I Don’t Know Enough

With the encouragement of a trusted mentor, I started leading my first Bible study at the ripe-old age of nineteen. I’d had exposure to the Bible throughout my childhood, but was hardly confident planning lessons and leading others in discussions. But I was willing and I had some godly people who were further along in their faith to guide me.

One of the best parts about agreeing to serve in a pre-existing ministry is that there is a built-in support system for you. No one expects you to be a Bible scholar. Most ministries are looking for willing people and gladly provide the training and support you need to thrive.

For a biblical example, look at the story of Apollos in Acts 18. He was teaching and preaching the Scriptures accurately, but with an incomplete knowledge. Then a godly couple named Priscilla and Aquila pulled him aside and “explained the way of God more adequately.” Afterwards, he was a great help to the disciples in spreading the gospel. Like him, we can take what we know and let God use it. In addition, we can submit ourselves to the wisdom and teaching of those ahead of us on the journey.

Reject Fear, Reap a Harvest

Every follower of Jesus is called to share the gospel and to love and serve others. It’s up to us to determine where and how we’ll do that. Once you get beyond your fears, you’ll discover the thrill of being used by God. You’ll experience a sense of joy and fulfillment that will rejuvenate your spirit and cause your faith to grow exponentially.

All around me, I see ministries desperate for more help. I see Women’s Ministries groups longing to serve more women but being limited because they don’t have enough help in key leadership roles.  I see Children’s Ministries staff that would love to welcome more kids into their midst but are hindered by not having enough volunteers.  I see Student Ministries teams eager for more adults to pour into the spiritually hungry teens streaming through their doors. Each of these things reminds me of a familiar passage about Jesus in the gospels:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”  (Matthew 9:36-38, NIV)

Will you become one of the few workers in the field that experiences the joy of reaping a great harvest? If the idea of committing to serve feels way beyond you, then you’re in the right place. The sooner we learn it’s not about us and start depending on God, the more we can be used by Him. Click on the link and be inspired by TobyMac’s song “Beyond Me.” Then, pray and ask where God might be calling you to commit.

 

 

 

 

 

Good Goodbyes-No Other Gods Session 5

swallows-cropped

The mama swallow clung to the wall just below her peeping chicks. Perched on the edge of the mud nest in the eaves, her babies flapped their tiny wings. Every few minutes, she would take flight, circling back to the nest and squawking at her chicks, encouraging them to spread their wings and fly. One by one, the babies wobbled out of the nest, plummeted a few feet and then discovered what they were made to do. There was one tiny bird, however, that clung to the nest long after the others had flown off. The mama squawked insistently, darting back and forth near her little one to encourage him to fly. When he finally did, we couldn’t help cheering, feeling privileged to have witnessed his momentous first flight.

I thought about that moment as I read Kelly Minter’s fifth lesson in No Other Gods entitled “Good Goodbyes.” Like the mother swallow urging her chicks to take flight, Minter encourages us to examine the things in our lives that we might need to bid farewell if we’re serious about eliminating idols. For many of us, staying in the cozy, warm nest feels a lot more comfortable and secure than launching out. Although the freedom of flying beckons us, we’re more worried about plummeting to the ground.

Ironically, some of the things God calls us to bid farewell didn’t start out as idols, they were actually good things that helped us to grow. But once we start relying on them to fill us or to provide comfort or security, they can become idols.  And then it’s time to say goodbye. For me, this has often been related to the desire to belong. I’ve spent a good portion of my life viewing myself as an outlier, someone often on the outside looking in. So when I’ve found a person or group where I feel accepted and included, I can latch on pretty tightly—to a degree that often becomes unhealthy. Regardless of whether it’s people in a women’s Bible study, an accountability group or a few close friends, I always need to monitor how much I’m looking to them for identity and reassurance. There are times when God has had to remove me from a group before I’m able to see that I was clinging to it more tightly than I should have been. Here are a few other situations where good goodbyes may be in order:

A role you’re used to playing:

Maybe you’re so accustomed to being in charge, leading or hosting that you’re preventing others from having the opportunity to grow and be stretched in new ways. This could be true in a family, a church, a small group, a volunteer organization or at work.

On the other hand, maybe you’re used to being served and being a participant. You like having little or no responsibility so that you can come and go as you please. Or maybe you’re accustomed to playing the cynic, always seeing what’s wrong with a group so that you have an excuse for never engaging it on a deeper level.

Regardless of which description you identify with above, if you’re in a position that is causing you to be stagnant or that is preventing others the opportunity for growth, it may be time for a “good goodbye” to that role.

A person you’re depending on:

 God brings people into our lives at different seasons to pour into us, to nurture us and to help us develop our potential. Sometimes he blesses us with a partner in ministry that brings the perfect amount of balance and support. But just like the mama bird has to urge her chicks out of the nest, there comes a time when we need to spread our wings and fly. When we begin to depend upon a specific person to continue feeding and supporting us, we may be unintentionally making a new idol.

Even Jesus, the ultimate mentor, left the earth so that his disciples could learn to rely on the Holy Spirit (see John 14 for more on this). Jesus’ physical departure from earth catapulted Peter and the apostles into key leadership roles in the burgeoning Christian church. Think about the power and authority Peter showed in the book of Acts compared to his impulsivity and immaturity in the gospels. Through relying on the Holy Spirit, he led many disciples in spreading the good news of the gospel in Jerusalem, “Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b, NIV)

Similarly, there may come a time when you’re called to move on from people you depend on or partner with. It can be a “good goodbye” if you take the things you’ve learned from them, rely on the Holy Spirit, spread your wings and fly.

 A group you value:

 As Christians, we are called into community. When we find like-minded people we can journey beside in life, this is a true blessing. In Acts chapter 2 the fellowship of believers enjoyed meeting together daily to break bread and grow in faith. We know they weren’t a closed group because Scripture tells us “they added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47b). Eventually, however, the believers scattered in the face of persecution and in the process they spread the gospel far and wide.  It was probably painful for the fellowship to break apart, but ultimately it enabled them to impact many more people.

Sometimes a “good goodbye” may be in order when we want to remain part of a particular group so much that we’re holding ourselves back from a new calling God has for us. If we lock arms with others and look inward instead of trusting God’s leading, we are dangerously close to making that cherished group into an idol.

Jeremy Camp’s song “Christ in Me” challenges me to remember that when I relinquish my idols and fix my gaze on Jesus, I find true freedom. Click on the link to hear a musical inspiration for saying “good goodbyes.”

Continue reading “Good Goodbyes-No Other Gods Session 5”