The healing power of God the Holy Spirit!

On the Day of Pentecost the power of God turned despairing pessimists into dynamic disciples. They received the Holy Spirit to be equipped with healing power – the power of the risen Christ.

Did they receive power for their own sake and benefit only? No! They received the power of God the Spirit to strengthen them to be powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ in a society that is spiritually broken and to minister to people caught up in tragedy, sharing the transforming power of the risen Christ with them.

The power of the Holy Spirit is given to heal the world after we have been healed. It’s about caring for people in order to transform their lives and heal their hurt.

Things are not always what they seem. The down-and-out and the up-and-coming have two things in common:  They are both human and they both have experienced needs throughout their lives that still hurt deeply in some or other way.  In both our homes and our faith communities are people who hurt, because they have unmet needs. Many of us could share our own story of human tragedy, and every one of us needs a touch from God.

In Acts 3: 2 – 10 we clearly see the powerful Word of the healing power of the Holy Spirit:

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.... Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him... they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

This passage is an inspiring example of the power of God given to heal through Christian ministry. This man was healed physically, and it turned his life’s tragedy into experiencing great joy. The message of this passage is clearly not limited to physical healing only. It deals with human healing on every level. This man was now walking and jumping and praising God!

I pray that this story will inspire us to touch hurting people with God’s power to heal!

And that it will touch you that you too may receive God’s perfect joy today!