IS OUR FAITH IN VAIN?
The Energized Life
“and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;” 1 Corinthians 15:5-6 (NASB)
Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor was a character that the comedian Tim Allen played on the show “Tool Time” back in the 90’s. He worked for a tool company as a salesman. He eventually got a TV show on which he would demonstrate the tools his company made. An underlying theme of the show was Tim’s obsession with “more power”. He would “beef-up” tools with more power thinking he could get the job done faster. However, as it works out in the different episodes, it would always get him into trouble. This seems to be a great analogy for the Christian life, except in reverse. There are too many professing Christians living with the power of the Holy Spirit!
Dr. Larry Petton makes the following observation:
“One of the curious questions I have always had concerns the people who actually saw Christ after His resurrection. I would love to have been part of that group to see Jesus in His glorified, resurrected body!
But, for some reason, that incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience didn’t seem to make a difference in many of those people. Paul says in I Corinthians 15 that over 500 hundred saw Christ after His resurrection. Jesus told them to go and wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 1:8-11). They were to worship and wait for 40 days.
The problem here is……..only 120 were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came in power. The question I have is: where were the other 380 plus believers who saw the resurrected Christ personally? Those believers had been with Christ to the Cross…….they had experienced His resurrection power……..but they were not partakers of Pentecost!
How many believers today have been to the Cross…….they know Christ as their Risen Savior………..but they have not been endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. They are like the Israelites in the Wilderness —- they were brought OUT of Egypt, but they have not been brought INTO the Promised Land of victory.”
It is so obvious to see the power of the Holy Spirit in the Apostles. Many of them were used to write the New Testament. All of them died as martyrs for the proclamation of the Gospel except for John and he lived his remaining years in exile. However, all lived in the power of the Spirit. The question for today is “Are you living in the power of the Holy Spirit? Are you content just knowing about Jesus or do you have a relationship with Him?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the forgiveness that comes only through Jesus by way of the cross. Help me to live each day by Your grace trust You for all that I need. Please help me to share with others the glorious message of the Gospel. In Jesus Name, Amen.