A Heavenly Boldness

Hey River,

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday! This is a significant celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church.  We read in Acts chapter two that the disciples were all together, worshiping God, when a violent wind rushed through their dwelling and filled them.  They were able to speak in tongues and different languages through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, we learn that Peter stands up and addresses the crowd and shares the gospel.  This is the same man who, prior to Pentecost, denied God out of fear.  Now we see him filled with boldness - leading people to Jesus and declaring His authority.  I believe that Peter had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit.  This encounter stripped Peter of his own ambitions, all his fears, every lie that told him he wasn’t good enough.  This moment was the turning point in Peter’s life; with one touch of this holy fire, fear turned into boldness, confusion turned into clarity, and weakness turned into power.

The same Spirit that moved in that small room thousands of years ago is still on the move today.  He is able to turn our fear into boldness, not for our sake but for His glory.  But we must first surrender ourselves to Him and present our lives as a living sacrifice.  Every time we yield to the Holy Spirit, we step out of His way and follow His lead.  When the Spirit leads us, He burns away pride, fear, bitterness, and complacency, He fills us to overflowing. He awakens hunger for God and compassion for people. He gives courage to speak truth and strength to keep going when life feels heavy and challenging. 

God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to conquer every area of our lives, to remind us that we are never alone.  This week let us pray for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on us and His church, to remove pride and distraction, to give us boldness to speak truth and light into our world. 

-Nate

Song List:

Thank God I’m Free – Elevation THANK GOD I’M FREE | ELEVATION RHYTHM & Lizzie MorganI

Need A Ghost – Brandon Lake  I Need A Ghost - Brandon Lake | House of Miracles [Official Music Video]

Living Sacrifice – Brandon Lake  Living Sacrifice - Brandon Lake | House of Miracles (Live)

Walk In the Promise – Jeremy Riddle  Walk in The Promise + Spontaneous (Live at David’s Tent, England) – Holy Ground | Jeremy Riddle

Come Holy Spirit – Martin Smith (Start from Bridge, Chords are in “Walk In The Promise” sheet. ) Come Holy Spirit (Official Audio) - Martin Smith (feat. Steffany Gretzinger)