God's Holy Fire: 'In the Power of the Spirit'

Luke tells us that Jesus was conceived by the Spirit, announced by the Spirit through several witnesses, affirmed by the Spirit at his baptism, and led by the Spirit through his temptation. Then, after his victory over Satan in the wilderness, Jesus went to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit and began his ministry. Today's verse about the Spirit is crucial and has a connection to the early believers in the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit is Jesus' gift of his presence and power to his followers. The Spirit empowered the early disciples and filled them and led them as they shared the story of Jesus fearlessly with all people. That same Holy Spirit longs to do the same thing through us today. Because of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us, we can be Jesus' witnesses, beginning where we are, moving into the surrounding region, and ultimately touching all the world. And when we have those doubts that inevitably creep into our hearts, we can remember what the Spirit did through Jesus and the early disciples and realize the Spirit longs to do the same things through us today.