The Holy Spirit makes it possible

440 The Holy Spirit makes it possibleAre you ready to step out of the "comfort zone" and put your faith and trust in Christ? In the midst of a violent storm, Peter stepped out of the relative safety of the boat. He was the one in the boat who was willing to believe in Christ and to do the same: "walk on the water" (Matthew 14,25-31).

You know that situation where you deny having anything to do with something because it gets you in trouble? This kind of thing happened to me a lot when I was young. "I would have broken the window in my brother's room? Why me? No!" "Was it me who shot a hole in the door of the shed next door with a tennis ball? No!” And what about being accused of being friends with a revolutionary, a dissident, an enemy of the Roman Emperor? “But not me!” Peter denied Christ after Christ was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. This fact of denial shows how human we too are, weak and unable to do anything on our own.

A few weeks later, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, gave a courageous speech to the assembled people in Jerusalem. The first day of Pentecost in the New Covenant Church shows us what is possible with God. Peter stepped out of his comfort zone a second time, filled with the all-conquering power of the Holy Spirit. "Then Peter stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them..." (Acts 2,14). This was Peter's first sermon - courageously, delivered with all clarity and strength.

The entire work of the apostles in the New Covenant was made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Stephen could not have endured his deadly experience if the Holy Spirit had not been present. Paul was able to overcome all obstacles to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. His strength came from God.

Left to our own devices, we are weak and incapable. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can achieve whatever God has in store for us. He helps us get out of our "comfort zone"—out of the "boat"—and trust that the power of God will enlighten, strengthen, and guide us.

With the grace of God and the gift of the Holy Ghost given to you, you can make the decision to step forward and leave your comfort zone.

by Philipper Gale


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