The Word for Today

by Bob and Debby Gass

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‘…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…’ Acts 1:8 NLT
When Ray and Dorothy Buker went to Burma in 1926, there were other missionaries there. These missionaries had established their own banking system and afternoon tea routine, complete with trained butlers, none of which fitted Buker’s concept of preaching the Gospel. A former Olympian, accustomed to hardship, he wanted to go where others wouldn’t, and that brought him north into China. When his wife suffered a nervous breakdown and help wasn’t available, Buker prayed, read to her, and nursed her back to health. During World War II he fled for his life from the Japanese army, and when he died at 92 he left a legacy of souls won to Christ. Where did Buker get his grit and tenacity? Jesus said, ‘When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to preach with great effect.’ (Acts 1:8 TLB) During the early days of computers, when the power went out, if you hadn’t saved your work you lost it. Now an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) stops that from happening. God never intended us to operate using the world’s system, because His Spirit gives us the power to do five things. First, we are given the power to choose, by keeping us ‘established…[strong in…purpose]…having control over [our]…will and desire…’ (1 Corinthians 7:37 AMP) Second, we have the power to endure. Handling trials with grace proves that ‘our…power is from God, not from ourselves.’ (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT) Third, we are given the power to overcome: ‘We are weak…but…we…live…by the power of God.’ (2 Corinthians 13:4 RSV) Fourth, we are given the power to minister: ‘According to the…working of His power.’ (Ephesians 3:7 RSV) Finally, we have the power to witness: ‘For the Kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.’ (1 Corinthians 4:20 NRS) You have the power, so use it!

Sun SoulFood: Gen 6:9-8:4, Matt 24:37-51

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