Success From Serving in the Spirit’s Power

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 27, 2017

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. Luke 4:14

If the approval of people is my test for success, I will live in a perpetual state of anxious uncertainty, but if I serve in the power of the Holy Spirit, I can rest assured that He is at work ahead of me, with me and after me—with or without words of affirmation from others. The work of the Spirit quietly invades hearts, homes, churches and the marketplace in a manner that brings glory to God, not to the servant of God. Success comes from an infusion of the Spirit’s power.

Jesus, fresh from His wilderness temptation experience that prepared Him physically, emotionally and spiritually, also confident from His heavenly Father’s validation and commissioning of ministry at His baptism—begins to teach, heal and serve in the power of the Spirit. The word was out around the countryside that the Word had become flesh and was speaking and living out the Word of God in a way they had never seen—with authority from the Lord for God’s glory!

“Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me” (John 7:28-29).

What is your motivation for ministry and service to others? To be approved of and accepted by people who are finicky in their feelings or do you rest in the reality of your heavenly Father’s faithful love and acceptance? Be wise not to allow others to elevate you to a place of expected perfection, or to let the harsh judgers jettison you down to a place of shame. When you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are assured of the Almighty’s approval—He defines success.

Just as Jesus waited on the empowerment and preparation of the Holy Spirit before He served others, so we are called to do the same. Daily we die to our way of doing things, so nothing we do disappoints our heavenly Father. In prayer, we confess our sins of unbelief, fear and self reliance and by faith we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which produces the fruit of total trust, calm assurance and desperate dependance on God. Success is surrender to Spirit led living.

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:13-14).

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