Another Deliverance - Guided by the Holy Spirit

There are things I possess that I don’t use.

That can likely be said of all of us.

The tragedy, however, is when those things are from God.

In the beginning, God gave His created image-bearers agency and authority to rule His created order (Genesis 1:26, 28). They relinquished it. Instead of subduing the serpent, they surrendered to his deceitful influence.

The redeeming work of the Christ is restoring that honor. And the Spirit is the power to exercise that authority and agency. He helps us wisely use what God has given. Case in point: The Council at Jerusalem.

Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch

and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised,

according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

(Acts 15:1 NIV)

Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to present this grave obstacle to the apostles and elders. In good faith, they deliberated and debated. Peter reminded them of the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 15:7). He convincingly stated, “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (Acts 15:8-11). James recalled words of the prophets and declared his judgment (Acts 15:14-19). The council reached a decision and issued a gracious letter for Gentile believers (Acts 15:22-29). In it they aptly wrote, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements” (Acts 15:28). They acknowledged the Spirit’s work in the ruling. “And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement” (Acts 15:31).

The decision, as groundbreaking and instrumental as it was, I believe models a deeper truth. The Spirit was at work in these men—granting wisdom, understanding, discernment, and recall of the Scriptures to exercise the agency and authority they were given by God through Jesus.

And He will gloriously do so for all believers.