God Acts Through Us
By Sharon Musgrove
“Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them.” Acts 6:8 MSG
The Bible is God’s story. It is a compilation of several authors writing about varying experiences mankind has had with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, including instruction on how God would like to work through us.
One of the many books within the Bible is entitled “Acts,” or sometimes “The Acts of the Apostles.” The unique thing about this particular book is that it possibly gives us more insight into the mysterious Holy Spirit, than most of the rest of the Bible because it reveals how people respond when being filled by God’s spirit.
Yet, I’m not sure it’s often viewed in this light. The title leads us to believe that we are to watch closely the actions of the Apostles or of the miracles that occurred. And we should pay attention to the acts of the apostles, but given the opportunity to see God in action, I’d rather my eyes be focused on how His spirit works.
We miss the point when we seek signs and wonders. Acts chapter 8 describes this very thing when Simon the wizard accepted Christ. He sought the power of miracles over the increase in God’s love for humanity.
“When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!” Acts 8:18-19 (MSG)
I’ve witnessed that desire in today’s Christian culture too, and if I’m honest, within myself at times when I’ve wanted specific giftings.
However, reading this book through the lens of wondering who God is and how He interacts from within us, specifically via His Holy Spirit in these passages, has helped me understand that God has always intended on doing life together with His creation. He’s chosen way is that Love works through man. We need God’s spirit dwelling in us to be capable of living in love and unity, as the “Acts 2 church” so impressively did.
An example of this was Stephen’s inspiring biography in Acts 6. He’s described as, “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” It was God’s indwelling that made this man remarkable. Stephen was not great on his own, but when filled with the Holy Spirit, no one could mistake that it was God working through him.
The book of Acts reminds Christians that it is God’s story we are enacting with our lives, and not our own. It’s God’s glory we are to pursue. We need not manufacture our own strengths for life because the Holy Spirit’s indwelling will enable us with energy and grace that makes evident that God is indeed among us. Praise God for such a gift!
Author Bio:
Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.
She has had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served women in the homeless community.
Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young women.
Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown children.
Currently, Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
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Connect with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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