The Holy Spirit Chose You For A Reason (This Is Powerful)
We are living in undeniably prophetic times, and this is considered the church’s greatest hour, positioning believers to be here for “such a time as this”. To meet this moment, Christians must learn to walk in the boldness of the Holy Spirit, refusing to be ashamed or afraid to speak up, tell the truth, and confront the evil in the world.
Believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, are called to shine the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into dark places, utilizing whatever gifting God has provided to accomplish this mission. The harvest is great, and people are more hungry than ever before for the supernatural, for truth, and for what believers carry.
The Holy Spirit: Source of Courage and Power
The Holy Spirit empowers believers with boldness even when they face rejection, insults, or violence directed against the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “For I am not ashamed of this good news about Christ, it is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
This divine empowerment enables Christians to stand bold. This boldness is not a personality type (whether one is an introvert, extrovert, shy, or confrontational); it is a character trait provided by the Holy Spirit.
Divine Healing in a Great Season
The sources indicate that this is a great season where the Holy Spirit will bring about immense healing. Beyond physical miracles (such as blind eyes opening, deaf ears opening, and cancer being healed), there will be a great demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power in mental illness. God will bring emotional and mental healing, including the healing of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
Learning from the Early Church: Tapping into Power
The early church provides a model for how believers can access and renew their spiritual power, especially during persecution.
Boldness Through Renewed Infilling
In Acts chapter 4, after Peter and John were persecuted, the believers gathered and prayed, asking the Lord to hear the threats against them and grant His servants great boldness in preaching the word. They also prayed for God to stretch out His hand with healing power, that miraculous signs and wonders would be done through Jesus’ name.
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. This event, occurring after the initial infilling on the Day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), demonstrates a renewal, a refreshing, and a sudden access to a new level of power.
The power was already within them, but through faith and prayer, they were tapping into what was already within them. Believers today must similarly cry out, “Holy Spirit, give us boldness for this hour, give us a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit’s power, give us that ability to speak truth with precision, with love, with conviction, and with great boldness”.
Stephen: The Model of Unapologetic Truth
Stephen, the martyr, exemplified this Spirit-filled boldness. He spoke eloquently, truthfully, and boldly, even when it led to violence against him. When being stoned, Stephen, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. He prayed, asking the Lord not to hold the sin of his persecutors against them.
Stephen’s martyrdom demonstrates the spirit in which the Church must operate again: declaring the gospel truth with Holy Spirit conviction and without apology.
Navigating Offense and Controversy
The primary goal of the believer is obedience to God, not seeking controversy for controversy’s sake. However, when believers are obedient to God, it will often end up offending some people. Believers cannot let the fear of controversy deter their obedience to God.
The Holy Spirit provides the boldness to speak the truth and the courage to be different and stand out. When following the leading of the Holy Spirit, believers will not look, talk, or participate in the same things as everyone else. The Holy Spirit causes the believer to shine and gives the ability to go the opposite direction when pressured otherwise.
Refusing to Bow to the Gods of This World
Today, society exerts tremendous pressure to bow to the gods of this world and bend the knee to ungodly demands. This is exemplified by the decree of King Nebuchadnezzar demanding worship of a gold statue, threatening those who refused with a blazing furnace.
The contemporary consequences of non-compliance often include:
- Cancel culture and ridicule.
- Loss of a job.
- Attacks on social media.
- Families separating from the believer.
- Violence in some parts of the world.
Believers must determine in their hearts to stand boldly, refuse to bow, and refuse to “go with the flow,” empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Stand of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who held positions of power and influence, refused to worship the gold statue. Their powerful statement to the king was: “Our God is able to save us from this fire… but even if he doesn’t we will not bow“. This unwavering commitment demonstrates a decision to follow Jesus, even if the desired miracle or outcome does not immediately materialize.
Time in God’s Presence Produces Boldness
The council members were amazed by the boldness of Peter and John, recognizing them as ordinary men with no special training in the scriptures, but also as men who had been with Jesus. Spending time in the presence of Jesus produces a supernatural boldness.
Furthermore, God gives reassurance regarding speaking boldly: when arrested or required to respond, believers should not worry about what to say, as God will provide the right words at the right time. It is the Spirit of the Father speaking through the believer. Proverbs 28:1 states that “The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions“.