“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation… And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15, 17-18)
For the past three years, the disciples have lived with Jesus. They walked with, worked with and watched how Jesus did the miracles He became known for.
He even equipped them and released them to cast out demons and heal the sick way.
And it worked! The outcast, the uneducated, the disdained, the misfits, Jesus’ closest friends were able to do the miraculous too!
But, for a little while, the disciples stood frozen on that hill, after Jesus disappeared behind the clouds, and probably wondered, How, Jesus? How are we going to do this when You’re not here?
We’re probably wondering the same thing, if we’re willing to be honest with one another. We’re most likely standing at the foot of a mountain, of a bill, of a sickness with another promise that says if we have a mustard seed of faith, we can tell this problem to move. But we’re stuck, petrified, thinking that we possibly can’t do this alone.
Fortunately, we’re not. Once we, like the disciples, have accepted and declared Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, Jesus sends His Spirit to us.
The Holy Spirit is our assurance that we are now sons and daughters of God. Not only that, the Spirit is also our companion and guide. If we listen to Him, the Spirit will conform us into Jesus’ image.
We won’t only have the belief that we are Jesus’ followers, or His disciples, but we’ll look and act like it if we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Remember the Holy Spirit is the same that rose our Savior from the dead.
And that same Spirit that robbed the grave and defied death is now inside us as a deposit, as a treasure, as a seal that can never be broken or stolen.
No matter the background, the education, the past, the Holy Spirit can work us into the image of Christ, into His followers. He will teach us to do what Jesus did and say what Jesus said. In Him, we will have the authority and power to go out and share the good news, to go out and heal the broken, to go out and bring the light into the darkness.
In Him, we can become disciples of Jesus.
But we have to spend time with the Holy Spirit. He has many gifts for us. He holds so much insight and truth for any situation we are in because the Spirit only gives what He first receives from Jesus. And there is no lack in Jesus.
When He conquered sin, God set everything under His feet. Because Jesus has total dominion, so do we.
The only way to receive is to make room for the Holy Spirit. There are many ways to do so such as studying the bible, worship and praise, and solitude and fasting; but whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to invite the Holy Spirit.
Jesus once said, as His disciples, we will do more than what He did while on earth.
So we will, with Him.
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