The Power of the Holy Spirit
A John Ortberg Sermon Summary
In the first century, the city of Corinth was like Silicon Valley. It was a wealthy city with a heavy focus on glory, status, and power.
Paul, a well-educated, well-traveled Roman citizen, visited Corinth. Typically, amid people who may be “better,” many would puff themselves up to hide their insecurities. Instead, Paul went to Corinth humbly. He did not depend on his ability, but Paul depended on the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).
The power of the Spirit is the immense power of God, who brought the universe into reality (Hebrews 11:3). It is the power that enabled the disciples to accomplish phenomenal things (Acts 2:2-4).
How wonderful it would be if we could follow God and live our lives with this power! We could be filled by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ and through His messages richly dwelling in us (John 7:37-39, Colossians 3:16-17, Ephesians 5:18-19). With the Holy Spirit in us, Christ is also in us, and we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 3:16-17, Acts 1:8, and Zechariah 4:6).
By ourselves, we are weak and incompetent. If we gain status or position, we can be easily tempted away from God. Status or position can erode what gets us there in the first place. For example, power can make us less sensitive to others’ needs, more impulsive, less empathetic, and less compassionate.
Instead, we should remain humble and surrender our will to the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Spirit may guide and lead us (Galatians 5:18). On all occasions, depend on the Holy Spirit in prayer (Ephesians 6:18) so that rivers of living water would flow from us (John 7:38). We will be empowered by the Spirit, develop the fruit of the Spirit, and experience the wonder of the presence of the Spirit. May we live and serve God and others by the Holy Spirit.
Summarized from a John Ortberg’s sermon:
https://menlo.church/series/killingit#/modal/message/4715/mlo
Paul, a well-educated, well-traveled Roman citizen, visited Corinth. Typically, amid people who may be “better,” many would puff themselves up to hide their insecurities. Instead, Paul went to Corinth humbly. He did not depend on his ability, but Paul depended on the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).
The power of the Spirit is the immense power of God, who brought the universe into reality (Hebrews 11:3). It is the power that enabled the disciples to accomplish phenomenal things (Acts 2:2-4).
How wonderful it would be if we could follow God and live our lives with this power! We could be filled by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ and through His messages richly dwelling in us (John 7:37-39, Colossians 3:16-17, Ephesians 5:18-19). With the Holy Spirit in us, Christ is also in us, and we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 3:16-17, Acts 1:8, and Zechariah 4:6).
By ourselves, we are weak and incompetent. If we gain status or position, we can be easily tempted away from God. Status or position can erode what gets us there in the first place. For example, power can make us less sensitive to others’ needs, more impulsive, less empathetic, and less compassionate.
Instead, we should remain humble and surrender our will to the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Spirit may guide and lead us (Galatians 5:18). On all occasions, depend on the Holy Spirit in prayer (Ephesians 6:18) so that rivers of living water would flow from us (John 7:38). We will be empowered by the Spirit, develop the fruit of the Spirit, and experience the wonder of the presence of the Spirit. May we live and serve God and others by the Holy Spirit.
Summarized from a John Ortberg’s sermon:
https://menlo.church/series/killingit#/modal/message/4715/mlo