# Empowered by the Spirit
*2016-02-28*

> On Easter Monday, Bill Young reflects on the power of witnessing to the Resurrection and the essential role of the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel.

## The Power of Witness

Welcome to the three o'clock hour, the hour of mercy. We are continuing with the book '40 Days to Mercy,' a jubilant year Lenten devotion. Today is Easter Monday, and our topic is being empowered by the Spirit. Our reading comes from Acts 2:32: 'God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.'

Witnessing a marvelous event can certainly change your perspective. Consider those who were there on October 13, 1917, when 70,000 people at Cova da Iria in Fátima, Portugal, saw a sudden whirl like a giant pinwheel that raced towards the earth like a fireball before reversing course and returning peacefully to its normal place.

## Peter's Transformation

In today's reading from Acts, Peter is giving witness to the extraordinary event of the Lord's resurrection. This is the very same man who had previously denied Jesus, yet he now publicly proclaims in Jerusalem that the one who was crucified has been raised.

## The Source of Apostolic Strength

There are two instructive points regarding the Apostle's witness. First, Peter does not act alone. Second, and most importantly, this apostolic witness comes not through any human power, but by the very Spirit of God. As the Apostles received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and were poured forth, they were empowered to proclaim the good news of the death and resurrection of the Messiah, Christ.

*To effectively share the good news of the Resurrection, we must rely not on our own strength, but on the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit.*