Paul Reid - On Display - The Game Changer

Devotional

Day 1: You Are the Light of the World

Jesus calls His followers to shine as lights in the world, living in such a way that others see their good deeds and are drawn to glorify God. This is not about self-promotion or religious performance, but about living on display so that the reality of God’s love, truth, and hope is visible to a world in need. The invitation is to let your life be a testimony, not just in words but in actions, so that those around you might encounter the living God through you. [01:25]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the light of Christ through your actions this week, and what is one specific way you can intentionally live “on display” for them today?

Day 2: Power to Be Witnesses

The Holy Spirit is given not just for personal comfort or spiritual experiences, but to empower believers to be witnesses of Jesus—locally, regionally, and to the ends of the earth. This power is not a small boost but “dynamite” strength, enabling you to do what you could never do on your own: forgive, show kindness, have joy, and share your faith with courage. The call is to wait on God’s Spirit, receive His power, and then step out as a credible witness to those around you. [02:05]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: Where do you feel weak or inadequate to share your faith, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit’s power to help you be a witness in that area today?

Day 3: God’s Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness

Human flourishing and spiritual strength do not come from our own effort, but from God’s grace and power working in our weakness. When you acknowledge your limitations and surrender your best efforts to God, He multiplies and maximizes them, making His strength visible in your life. This means you can wake up feeling weak but still walk in supernatural power, boasting not in your own abilities but in Christ’s sufficiency. [11:25]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Reflection: What is one area of weakness or limitation you need to surrender to God today, trusting Him to show His power through it?

Day 4: The Fruit of the Spirit Is the Evidence

The credibility of your witness is not in your words or religious activity, but in the visible fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just as a tree is recognized by its fruit, your life on display should show evidence of God’s transforming presence. This fruit is not produced by self-effort but by daily encounters with the Holy Spirit, who enables you to live differently from the world around you. [22:10]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you most need to grow in right now, and what is one practical step you can take to invite the Holy Spirit to cultivate it in you today?

Day 5: Power for a Purpose—Living on Display

The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is not just for personal blessing but so you can live on display as a witness, showing others what God is like. This means letting your life be a catalyst for others to encounter Jesus, praying for friends and family, and having the courage to invite them to experience God’s love. The mission is not about perfection but about availability—allowing God to use your story, your transformation, and your daily choices to point others to Him. [15:51]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: Who are three people you can pray for and intentionally invite to encounter Jesus this season, and how will you take a step toward that today?

Sermon Summary

In the lead-up to Christmas, there is a unique opportunity to pray for friends, family, colleagues, and classmates—that they might come to know God personally. The call is to not only pray for them but to be open to God using us as instruments to introduce others to Him. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5, “You are the light of the world,” remind us that our lives are meant to shine before others, not for our own glory, but so that people might see God at work and glorify Him. Yet, before we rush out to share our faith, there is a crucial step: waiting for the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave two seemingly contradictory instructions: “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28) and “Wait for the gift my Father promised” (Acts 1). The tension between “go” and “wait” is resolved in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The early church was birthed not by human enthusiasm or effort, but by the dynamite power (“dunamis”) of the Spirit. This power is not a minor boost or a self-improvement tool; it is the supernatural enablement to live, love, and witness in ways that are impossible in our own strength.

The Holy Spirit’s power is not given for our comfort or enjoyment alone, but for a purpose: to be witnesses. Our mission is to live lives on display, so that others might see the evidence of God’s transforming work. The credibility of our witness is not found in eloquent words or impressive buildings, but in the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are the unmistakable evidence that God is at work beneath the surface of our lives.

Living on display means daily dependence on the Spirit, acknowledging our weakness and inviting God’s strength. It means praying for those around us, believing that God can use our ordinary lives to point people to Jesus. As we step into this season, the invitation is to receive afresh the power, purpose, and produce of the Holy Spirit, so that our lives might be credible witnesses to the reality of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of the Holy Spirit Is Essential, Not Optional Human effort alone cannot sustain a life that reflects Christ. The Holy Spirit provides “dynamite” power, enabling us to forgive, show kindness, and have joy regardless of circumstances. This power is not a small boost but a complete game changer, making possible what is impossible in our own strength. True spiritual vitality flows from daily dependence on the Spirit, not from self-reliance. [09:11]
2. God’s Power Is Perfected in Our Weakness Rather than hiding our flaws or pretending to have it all together, we are invited to embrace our weakness. God’s power is made perfect not in our strength, but in our vulnerability and honesty about our need for Him. When we acknowledge our limitations, we create space for Christ’s power to rest on us and work through us. This paradox is at the heart of authentic Christian living. [12:09]
3. The Purpose of the Spirit’s Power Is to Be a Witness The Holy Spirit empowers us not just for personal blessing, but so that we can be credible witnesses to Jesus in our everyday lives. Our mission is to live on display, allowing others to see God’s character through us. The world is not changed by our efforts to impress, but by the Spirit’s work in and through us, making us living testimonies of God’s grace. [15:51]
4. The Fruit of the Spirit Is the Evidence of a Transformed Life Our credibility as witnesses is not measured by our words or religious activity, but by the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives. Qualities like patience, self-control, and kindness are not self-generated, but are produced by the Spirit as we yield to Him daily. This fruit is what convinces others that God is real and at work, making our witness both authentic and attractive. [22:44]
5. Daily Encounters with the Spirit Are Necessary for Lasting Change Resisting temptation, forgiving others, and living with integrity are not achieved by willpower alone. We need a daily infilling of the Holy Spirit to build resilience, self-control, and Christlike character. The decision to live differently is made before the moment of temptation, through ongoing surrender and reliance on God’s Spirit. Only then can we truly live on display for the world to see. [24:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:25] - Series Introduction: Ready, Steady, Go
[02:05] - Key Scripture: Acts 1:8 and the Power to Witness
[02:37] - The Feeling of Being Unprepared
[05:02] - The Disciples’ Emotional Journey
[06:06] - Why Jesus Said “Wait”
[07:08] - The Birth of the Church and Pentecost
[08:35] - Living on Display: Our Mission
[09:11] - The Power of the Holy Spirit Explained
[10:52] - Human Effort vs. God’s Power
[12:09] - God’s Power in Our Weakness
[13:49] - Power for a Purpose: Being a Witness
[15:51] - Living on Display for the World
[18:22] - The Produce: Fruit of the Spirit
[22:44] - Evidence of the Spirit: Patience and Self-Control
[24:29] - Daily Dependence and Lasting Change
[26:14] - Responding: Receiving the Holy Spirit
[27:04] - Living on Display: It’s Not Me, It’s Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 1:8 (ESV) — > "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."

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) — > "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) — > "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Observation Questions

In Acts 1:8, what does Jesus say will happen before the disciples become His witnesses?
According to Matthew 5:14-16, what is the purpose of letting our light shine before others?
The sermon described the Holy Spirit’s power as “dynamite” (dunamis). What are some specific things this power enables us to do, according to the message? [[09:11]]
What are some of the qualities listed as the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23, and how does the sermon say these are produced in our lives? [[22:44]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon highlights a tension between Jesus’ commands to “go” (Matthew 28) and to “wait” (Acts 1). How does the Holy Spirit resolve this tension, and why is this important for us today? [[06:06]]
The message says that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, not our strength. Why might God choose to work this way, and how does this change the way we view our own limitations? [[12:09]]
According to the sermon, what is the real evidence that someone is living by the Spirit? How does this differ from just being busy with church activities or saying the right things? [[22:44]]
The purpose of the Spirit’s power is described as being a “witness.” What does it mean to be a credible witness for Jesus in everyday life? [[15:51]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to pray for friends, family, and colleagues who don’t know God. Who are three people you can commit to praying for in this season? What’s one practical way you can show God’s love to them this week? [[01:25]]
The message says the Holy Spirit’s power is not just a “small boost” but a “game changer.” Where in your life do you feel like you’re running on your own strength instead of God’s power? What would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into that area? [[09:11]]
The sermon talks about embracing our weakness instead of hiding it. Is there an area of your life where you feel weak or inadequate? How could you invite God to work through that weakness this week? [[12:09]]
Living “on display” means letting others see God’s work in us. Is there a specific relationship or situation where you sense God wants you to be more open about your faith? What’s one step you could take to do that? [[15:51]]
The fruit of the Spirit is described as the evidence of a transformed life. Choose one aspect of the fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that you want to grow in. What is one specific action you can take this week to cultivate it? [[22:44]]
The sermon says that resisting temptation and living with integrity requires daily encounters with the Holy Spirit. What is one daily habit you could start (or restart) to help you depend on the Spirit more consistently? [[24:29]]
When people notice something different about you and ask why, how comfortable are you in pointing to Jesus as the reason? What could help you grow in confidence to share your story? [[27:04]]

Sermon Clips

The Holy Spirit and that feeling of like just his presence and that overwhelming awe that we have sometimes in church or perhaps at a conference was never intended to stay at the altar. It was supposed to be on you and in you so that you can go and he can work through you. The power of his presence. [00:08:58] (23 seconds) #PresenceInYou

This is talking about dynamite power. The word power in the original Greek because I don't know if you know, but the Bible wasn't written in English and the New Testament was written in Greek. And when we read our translation, it is an English translation of the original Greek text. And the Greek word for power is dunamis from which we get our word dynamite. So this is no nonsense. This is not messing about. This is not saying, oh, it might make it, you know, 5% easier or it might. No, this makes the biggest. Difference is the power of God for every day, the power to forgive the person that's upset you, the power to show kindness when you feel like you've got nothing left, the power to have joy in your heart, regardless of your circumstances, doesn't come from you. It comes from him. Thank God. I know me. Power of the Holy Spirit is a game changer. [00:09:48] (63 seconds) #DunamisPower

The purpose of the power is to be a witness. It says, and I'll read the verse again. You will receive power, that was point number one, when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And I'm adding this word, then, to make a point. And then, once you have received the power, then you will be able to be a witness in all of these different places. Purpose always answers the question, what's the point? If you want to know the purpose of this table, you say, what's the point of the table? If you want to know the purpose of the chair that you sat on, you ask the question, what's the point of the chair? And if you want to know what the purpose of the power is, you say, what's it for? And what it's for is so that you and I can live on display. [00:15:09] (49 seconds) #WitnessWithPower

Because me displaying me is not going to change anybody. But if I can somehow, with the Holy Spirit's help, just show a little bit of what God is like, then that's transformational for this city. And this city deserves our church and all the other churches. To be full of people who recognize that we have a great time in the house, so that we can leave the house and live on display. The purpose of the power is to be a witness. Displaying the supernatural God to a society that desperately needs truth and freedom and peace and hope. And that cannot be found anywhere else. [00:15:57] (45 seconds) #FruitOfTheSpirit

Heaven is not just saying, can I get a witness? They're saying, can I get a credible witness? Because when you go to court, your credibility is really important as a witness. If you're like, well, I think I saw it. Yeah, the guy was always a girl. Can't remember. I was going to get thrown out of court because the witness is not credible. But your credibility as a witness is not that you can stand and wave your hand and shout in the street or whatever. No, the credibility is the fruit in your life. [00:21:43] (30 seconds) #StepOutInFaith

Self-control does not come from yourself. I know it sounds like it does because it says self. But it's listed as a fruit of the Spirit. I know what the fruit of Paul Reed is. We've discussed this. Lazy and selfish. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. If you want to keep porn off your devices, drunkenness out of your behavior, promiscuity from your reputation, lies from your language, gossip from your mouth, compromise from your future, money from your heart, jealousy from your mind, you're going to need a daily encounter with the Holy Spirit. [00:24:13] (46 seconds)

I'm making a step. I'm stepping out in faith. And I'm believing that as I receive from God. I'm going to have the power and the purpose to live on display. And God is going to produce something in me. That will cause me to be able to say. It's not me. It's Jesus. When they say. Why are you so kind? You just say. Well, it's just God. God working through me. Why are you so patient? How can you keep your head. When everyone's losing their jobs. And everything. You can say. You know what? It's not me. It's Jesus. Let me tell you about him. [00:27:02] (25 seconds)

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