Every time I go to the Farm & Fleet store, I have to browse the tool section. The variety of power tools available is amazing: drills, saws, sanders, vacuums, nail guns, and more. Most of these tools are battery powered, and each brand of tool has its own universal battery that works in every tool they make. It’s become common that many of the tools are sold “bare”, that is, they are sold without a battery. The assumption is that you already have one or two batteries and a charger, so you don’t have to spend the money to buy a separate battery for every tool you own, because batteries are often the most expensive part of the package. I own many of these tools.

In a way, we Christians are like bare tools. Each one has certain built-in capabilities, we were made to perform different tasks, and carefully designed to accomplish certain purposes. But try to do any work without the Holy Spirit’s power, and you’re of no more use than these tools are without a battery to power them.

Any work we might attempt for the Kingdom of God has to be powered by the Spirit of God, or that work will be in vain. The Apostles were told to wait to receive power before they ventured out to carry the Good News to all men everywhere. The whole church, now present in nearly every corner of the globe, was built on the foundation and effort of these ordinary, bare tool guys, who possessed the supernatural power of Almighty God.

Every Christian has received the Holy Spirit by virtue of their faith in Jesus. You don’t need to go find that power, it’s yours. However, should you decide to charge ahead into some work, without first searching God’s Word, and praying for His help, you will fail, as useless as a tool without a battery.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)