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I praise God for all who come for counseling. Some have timid spirits, some a fearful spirit and some a self-absorbed spirit. Those with good standards, confidence and boldness come for guidance or coaching, not usually for counseling.

It is sad when the growing up process or a trauma instills a spirit of fear in a person. At Samaritan, we carefully and pastorally work with these precious souls to help them regain the beautiful and bold spirit that God placed in their hearts and minds at birth.

It takes me much longer, but God performed therapy in one day on the disciples when they received the power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Apparently, Jesus had to leave before the disciples could receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Prior to Pentecost, the disciples were fearful, still concerned that they, too, might be crucified like Jesus. Forty days following the resurrection of Jesus, he left them with a strange message:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4b-5

Jesus knew the disciples were timid and confused. He had taught them for three years but they still had not figured out the full meaning of their training and their purpose. He told them plainly before ascending into heaven:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

If I had been one of his disciples, I would have been grabbing at his robe as he rose up into heaven, trying to keep him with me. I would have been petrified that Jesus was leaving the ministry to me. What would I do now without the master? Who is going to give me comfort and direction?

The disciples of Jesus did stay in Jerusalem and were gathered for the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Shavu’ot). Great crowds had come, bringing the first fruits of their harvest to be presented in the Temple. This was the second of the three major festivals that God commanded to be celebrated annually in Leviticus 21:15-16, 21.

Then Luke tells us that a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire came upon the disciples and they began to speak in the languages of all those gathered for the festival. Peter was apparently the main speaker, and his message was so powerful that about 3,000 believers were baptized on that day. The gift of God, the Holy Spirit, changed these 11 men from timid, confused cowards into bold proclaimers of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In the world today, we see people who have convictions of faith do bold and sometimes dangerous things. Religion and faith can be good and a blessing or it can be perverted for selfish ends.

There is sick religion, and there is healthy religion. Many in our society have chosen to become knowledgeable of the difference and they have defaulted non-faith. They assume that since they have not aligned their thoughts and life to a particular religion that their lives will go better.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true. A non-spiritual faith point of view leaves the person rudderless or organizing their life around a lesser cause, such as the religion of wealth, power or one of the other forms of personal satisfaction.

Lives organized around selfish goals ultimately lead to emptiness and fear. Fear that someone is going to take my stuff, fear of loss of power and fame, even fear that I will never be anybody.

Jesus invites us into a life of service, one which has the solid standards and boundaries of faith, the soothing comfort that we are the children of God, and there is an important purpose to our being together here on earth. Many believers have trouble finding the balance of healthy self care and the care of others. I work with others and on myself to allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through me to others.

I pray that you will allow the Holy Spirit to fully dwell in you so that you will be able to have the same boldness and conviction that came upon the disciples on Pentecost. People function better if they have the solid foundation of faith, standards, and the courage to act on them.