The Power We Refuse to Use
Sometimes words like “Holy Spirit,” “power,” and “boldness” can make folks a little uncomfortable. Especially in many mainline denominations, including ours. We don’t want to be seen as “those kinds” of Christians—too emotional, too unhinged, too… charismatic.
So instead, we often settle for calm, contained, respectable religion. We like things decent and in order—which is good. But sometimes, the Holy Spirit works in ways that aren’t all that decent or orderly. Sometimes wind and fire show up.
We’re afraid of the Holy Spirit because we’re afraid of what it might require of us.
If we really opened ourselves up to the Spirit—what would we have to let go of? What might God ask us to do? What part of our comfortable, quiet faith might catch fire?
Living on Our Own Power
Too many Christians today are running on empty—not because God has failed us, but because we’ve forgotten to plug into the power we’ve been given.
Romans 8:11 says:
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you… he will also give life to your mortal bodies.”
That’s a powerful connection.
And yet most of us are riding through life like the story I shared of Pastor Craig Groeschel on a vacation bike—pedaling hard, struggling to keep up with his wife, not realizing hers was electric.
We live like it all depends on us. And when we burn out, we assume that’s just part of being human. But that’s not resurrection living. That’s religious exhaustion.
Going Through the Motions
Let’s be honest—our faith, for many of us, feels a little stale sometimes. We pray before meals. We go to church. We try to be nice. But something’s missing.
Where’s the passion? Where’s the urgency? Where’s the power?
In Revelation 3:1, Jesus speaks to a church with a great reputation—but a dead heart:
“You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!”
Sometimes I wonder if that’s what Jesus would say to the modern American church.
In a culture that values safety, independence, and self-reliance, it feels radical—even reckless—to depend on the Holy Spirit. We’ve built our lives around avoiding discomfort. But the Spirit doesn’t always play by our rules.
The Spirit might lead us to forgive someone we don’t want to forgive. Speak when we’d rather stay silent. Serve when we’d rather stay seated.
The Spirit might wake us up when all we really want is to quietly coast to the end.
Why We Resist the Spirit
We say we want revival, but what we really want is results without risk. We want the fruit of the Spirit without the fire of the Spirit. But you can’t have Pentecost without disruption.
Jesus promised:
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” – John 14:26
Teaching requires listening. Guidance requires movement. Power requires trust. And trust means surrender.
Paul told Timothy:
“Fan into flame the gift of God… For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:6–7
If you want fire, you have to feed it. If you want power, you have to release control.
The Spirit Still Comes
Here’s the good news:
Pentecost wasn’t a one-time event. It was the beginning of a movement. The wind still blows. The fire still falls. The Spirit still speaks.
The question is: Are we still open?
Are we willing to live a faith that’s more than polite belief?
Are we willing to let the Spirit shake us out of religious routine?
Are we willing to be used—even if it’s uncomfortable?
We’ve spent so much time trying not to be “those kinds of Christians” that we’ve forgotten to be any kind of Christian at all.
If your faith feels tired, dry, or lifeless—maybe it’s not a lack of effort. Maybe it’s a lack of power.
And maybe that power has been there all along, just waiting for you to plug in.
Closing Prayer
Holy Spirit,
You are wind. You are fire. You are life.
Forgive us for living like You’re optional.
Forgive us for settling for safety when You offer power.
Stir what’s grown stale in us.
Wake what’s gone quiet.
Fan into flame what has nearly gone out.
We are open. We are listening.
We are Yours.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
The Rest of the Sermon 