Sunday Morning Service | The Friend You've Been Missing #3 | Pastor Shawna Thomas

Jun 21, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Clothed in Power from On High

The Holy Spirit’s empowerment isn’t an abstract concept—it’s as tangible as putting on a jacket. Jesus told His disciples to wait until they were “clothed with power,” a visible, practical covering enabling them to fulfill their mission. This clothing isn’t about earning God’s love but accessing His strength for daily purpose. Just as a lamp must be plugged in to shine, believers need the Spirit’s power to live out their calling. Surrender isn’t passivity; it’s positioning oneself to receive what God freely gives. The same promise that transformed fearful disciples awaits hungry hearts today. [53:18]

“But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49, NIV)

Reflection: What area of your life feels unplugged from God’s power? How might surrendering your self-sufficiency open you to being “clothed” anew?

Day 2: When Fear Becomes Boldness

Peter’s denial of Jesus reveals how human frailty collides with divine purpose. Yet after Pentecost, the same man stood before thousands, unshaken. The difference wasn’t education or personality—it was the Holy Spirit’s fire rewriting his story. Fear didn’t disappear; it was overwhelmed by a greater force. This boldness isn’t manufactured confidence but a supernatural byproduct of surrender. When we stop relying on our limited strength, the Spirit rewires our responses to impossibility. [56:45]

“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them… ‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’” (Acts 2:14, 36, ESV)

Reflection: Where has fear silenced your witness? What would it look like to invite the Spirit to transform that fear into boldness today?

Day 3: The Lamp That Needs Plugging In

A lamp’s design means nothing without connection to a power source. Similarly, believers can have doctrine, passion, and good intentions yet remain ineffective without the Spirit’s current flowing through them. The baptism in the Holy Spirit isn’t about spiritual elitism—it’s functional wiring for everyday ministry. Just as a lamp illuminates darkness by staying plugged in, our lives shine brightest when dependent on His presence. Resistance to this power often stems from misunderstanding, not theology. [58:42]

“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:6, ESV)

Reflection: Are you functioning as a decorative lamp or an illuminated one? What practical step could you take today to “plug in” to the Spirit’s power?

Day 4: Praying Beyond Words

When grief, confusion, or exhaustion choke our prayers, the Spirit intercedes with “groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Speaking in tongues isn’t a party trick but a lifeline—a way to pray beyond human limitations. This gift builds up the believer, aligns prayers with God’s will, and sustains worship when emotions run dry. Like a parent deciphering a child’s wordless cry, God receives Spirit-led prayers as perfect communication. Resistance often melts when we stop analyzing and start receiving. [07:53]

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…” (Jude 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: When have you felt speechless before God? How might embracing a prayer language deepen your trust in His understanding?

Day 5: Surrendered Handlebar Faith

Learning to ride a bike requires releasing white-knuckled control—a picture of yielding to the Spirit. Surrender isn’t abandoning responsibility but cooperating with His guidance. The gifts of the Spirit flow through willing vessels, not perfect ones. Just as a child gains confidence by relaxing into the ride, believers discover supernatural capacity when they stop striving. Availability, not ability, unlocks miracles. The question isn’t “Can God use me?” but “Will I let Him steer?” [14:00]

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)

Reflection: What areas are you gripping tightly today? How might loosening your control invite the Spirit to direct your “ride”?

Sermon Summary

The baptism in the Holy Spirit stands as Jesus’ own promise of power for witness. Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:49 set the frame: Christ clothes his people with power from on high so they do not try to accomplish a kingdom mission in their own strength. That picture of being “clothed” carries the weight of the call. Like a jacket that becomes visible and shapes how someone moves, this clothing with power marks and enables Christ’s witnesses. The day of Pentecost makes the difference plain. Peter moves from denial before a servant girl to bold proclamation before thousands, not because of education or personality, but because the Holy Spirit changes fearful disciples into confident witnesses.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct empowering, not a different salvation. Salvation makes a person new; this baptism makes that person effective. The lamp image brings it home: the lamp is well designed and set in place, but it does not light anything until it is plugged into the source. Empowering does not increase worth or earn love. Empowering connects design to purpose.

Receiving comes by faith, not technique. A good Father gives the Spirit to those who ask. Feelings may vary, but the evidence is the Father’s faithfulness. “Ask, yield, receive” keeps the posture clear. A seasoned believer like Max Lucado taking Scripture at face value and opening his hands to whatever the Lord gives shows the heart posture the Father honors.

Scripture presents tongues as a consistent initial evidence of this baptism, yet insists the goal is a life empowered by love. The personal prayer language builds up the believer and helps pray beyond the limits of understanding. The public gift of tongues, interpreted, edifies the whole church. Misuse does not cancel the gift. Love and order safeguard the gift’s purpose.

Surrender unlocks the Spirit’s manifold gifts. The Spirit is not limited to assigning one gift for life. As availability increases, the Spirit distributes as he wills for the common good. Jesus’ promise of “greater works” rides on this availability. Like a child releasing a white‑knuckle grip on the handlebars, yielded cooperation makes the ride smoother. The gifts are not talents, trophies, or toys. They are tools for ministry.

Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits. Faith, miracles. Prophecy, tongues, interpretation. Scripture names them and real life proves them useful. The Spirit’s aim is not a flashy service but a changed daily life. Neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and homes look different when people live empowered, not just talk different. The Spirit has been pursuing all along. The real obstacle is not his willingness to fill, but human willingness to surrender.

Key Takeaways

1. Clothed with power for witness Jesus promises power so his people carry his mission, not their resumes. “Clothed” means visibly marked and practically enabled, like putting on a jacket that changes how someone moves. Pentecost shows what this power does in frightened hearts. The risen Christ keeps this promise today. [53:18]
2. Baptism empowers, not makes holier Salvation settles belonging; baptism in the Spirit supplies enabling. The lamp illustration clarifies the point: design without connection cannot give light. Empowering neither increases worth nor earns favor, but it does connect calling to capacity. [58:42]
3. Tongues: prayer language and public gift Scripture distinguishes a private prayer language that edifies the believer from a public message in tongues that must be interpreted to edify the church. Misuse creates confusion, but love and order recover the gift’s beauty. The goal is not chasing an experience, but living a life the Spirit animates. [66:19]
4. Surrender turns gifts into tools The Spirit leads; he does not force. Yielded availability lets him use any gift he chooses for the common good, not to make anyone look spiritual. Availability matters more than ability, and love is the guardrail for power. [75:42]
5. Take it beyond the sanctuary The Spirit’s tools are meant for homes, jobs, classrooms, and neighborhoods, not just a Sunday service. Real change looks like people who pray, listen, obey, and carry Jesus’ presence into ordinary moments. When the church lives that way, cities quietly begin to heal. [83:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[49:25] - The Friend who carries the load
[50:05] - Who the Spirit is
[51:35] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
[53:18] - Clothed with power image
[55:30] - Peter’s boldness at Pentecost
[57:26] - Distinct from salvation and water
[58:19] - Plug in the lamp
[60:18] - Ask, yield, receive
[62:17] - Max Lucado’s surprise breakthrough
[65:13] - Evidence and benefits of tongues
[66:19] - Personal and public tongues
[72:21] - Gifts operate through surrender
[76:01] - Revelation, power, utterance gifts
[83:00] - Beyond four walls everyday

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.”
- Luke 24:49 (ESV): “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Observation Questions

In Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:49, Jesus uses the phrase “clothed with power.” What does this imagery suggest about how the Holy Spirit’s power impacts a believer’s life?
How does Peter’s behavior change after being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, compared to his denial of Jesus earlier? ([55:30])
The sermon compares the baptism in the Holy Spirit to a lamp needing to be “plugged in” to fulfill its purpose. What does this illustration teach about the relationship between salvation and empowerment? ([58:42])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus instructed the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit’s power (Luke 24:49) instead of immediately sending them out after His resurrection?
The lamp metaphor emphasizes that empowerment doesn’t increase a believer’s worth but connects them to their purpose. How might this truth combat feelings of inadequacy in sharing the gospel or serving others?
The sermon mentions that surrender allows the Holy Spirit to distribute gifts “as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Why is surrender necessary for the gifts to function as tools rather than trophies? ([01:14:34])

Application Questions

When have you tried to accomplish something in your own strength (e.g., sharing faith, overcoming a habit) and realized you needed the Holy Spirit’s power? What practical step could you take this week to “ask, yield, and receive” His empowerment?
The sermon describes tongues as a personal prayer language that builds up believers. If you have this gift, how could you incorporate it more intentionally into your daily prayer life? If not, how might you posture your heart to seek God’s promise in faith? ([01:05:13])
Surrender is compared to a child releasing a “white-knuckle grip” on bike handlebars. What area of your life (e.g., control, fear, pride) do you need to release to the Holy Spirit this week to become more available for His use?
Max Lucado’s story shows openness to Scripture challenging assumptions. Is there a biblical truth or spiritual practice you’ve resisted due to tradition or discomfort? How could you approach God with a yielded heart about it? ([01:02:17])
The Holy Spirit’s gifts are meant for everyday spaces like workplaces and neighborhoods, not just church gatherings. What is one ordinary moment this week where you could intentionally rely on the Spirit’s guidance to reflect Jesus’ love? ([01:23:00])

Sermon Clips

69s

#SurrenderToSpirit

“And maybe the greatest obstacle isn't whether god wants to fill you. Maybe the greatest obstacle is whether you're willing to surrender. Because god never called you to do his work in your own strength. He has always intended for you to do it through his spirit. The Holy Spirit is not looking for perfect people. He's looking for willing people. People who will say, Lord, here am I. Use me. Fill me. Lead me. Empower me. And when you say yes to that, he does what only he can do. He fills us, he empowers us, and he transforms us. He uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.”

56s

#GiftsForEverydayLife

“Can you imagine what Olive Branch, South Haven, Byhalia, Holly Springs, wherever you live, Collierville would look like If every believer began walking in these gifts every single day. What would it look like? Our neighborhoods would be different, our workplaces would be different, our schools would be different, our homes would be different. Maybe this is a good place for a lot of us to start. Let's just do this at home. Not just come to church on a Sunday morning. People who encounter the love, power, and presence of Jesus in tangible ways, lives would be changed. That's why the Holy Spirit empowers us. Not so that we can be an impressive church and have great services but so that we can be the hands and the feet of Jesus everywhere that we go.”

36s

#ClothedInHisPower

“just picture that image, clothed. Right? So, like, I had to put this jacket on this morning. Right? You to be clothed means that it covers you. It becomes visible. All of you can see that I have this jacket on, this blazer on this morning. It becomes a part of how I move and how I function. It's a part of, you know, what I'm doing and so Jesus was telling his disciples, don't try to accomplish this mission of spreading the word on your own and in your own strength but wait until you are clothed in my power.”

53s

#LifeEmpoweredBySpirit

“But while speaking in tongues is important and it is initial evidence of the baptism in the holy spirit, it was never meant to be the ultimate goal. The goal is a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. To be empowered, it's gonna look different and once again, the same disciples who hid behind locked doors became fearless witnesses. The same Peter who denied Jesus stood before the crowds and boldly proclaimed the gospel. When the holy spirit fills a person's life, something changes. The holy spirit doesn't just change the way the pro that we pray, he changes the way that we live which goes back to what we talked about last week about the fruit.”

54s

#GiftsForTheCommonGood

“In first Corinthians twelve seven, it says this, it says, to each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good and so, these gifts are given are not given to make us look spiritual. It's not about us. It's about him. They are given to help people and they are given to glorify Jesus. Remember, last week, we talked about how the fruit is who we are in Christ. The gifts are what we do through the Holy Spirit. And so, as we go into these gifts, these gifts aren't natural talents. They are not learned skills. They are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit given for specific moments and specific needs as he chooses.”

44s

#PrayInTheSpirit

“And here's what it is. It is a beautiful gift from God. It helps us pray when we don't know what to say. Anybody ever been praying and you're just like, I have no words. Okay. Well, when we're baptized in the Holy Spirit and we have the evidence with speaking in tongues in our prayer language, we can pray in the spirit and where we don't have words in the natural, we're praying the perfect will of the father for the situation. can it get any better than that? It can't. It builds us up spiritually. Just as Jude writes, he says, building yourself up in your most holy faith and praying in this holy spirit. It deepens our worship. It strengthens our relationship with god.”

52s

#PracticeGiftsBiblically

“Because let's be honest, throughout church history, there have been times when the gift has been used in ways that created confusion rather than clarity. But a misuse of something does not mean that the gift is not genuine and it doesn't mean that it's not for today. It simply means that we need to understand and practice it biblically. And so, we're gonna look at that for a moment. Scripture describes both a personal prayer language and a public gift of tongues. And when used biblically and in order, both are beautiful gifts from god and so the goal is never the gift this itself. The goal is a deeper relationship with god”

54s

#LiveDifferentlyBySpirit

“And let's be honest, that's what most people need today. They don't just need people who talk differently, but they need people who live differently. Talk is cheap. Anybody can talk. But how many people can actually walk it out every day twenty four seven? And so the Holy Spirit gives us greater intimacy with God, boldness to share our faith, empowerment for ministry, and strength during hardships. And guys, I know from my own life that there have been seasons when I felt spiritually strong and then there have been seasons when I have been exhausted, stretched thin, and running on empty. Can anybody, anybody been there? Been there, done that?”

42s

#PlugIntoGodsPower

“you get it home, you put the bulb in, it's installed, everything's in its place, but it doesn't work until what? You plug it in. Right? So it looks great, but until you plug it in to the power source, it cannot fulfill its purpose. And so the baptism in the Holy Spirit, guys, it doesn't make you more valuable. It doesn't make God love you more, but it empowers you to function the way that God designed you to function. And it's true for every single believer in this room.”

40s

#FaithBeyondFeelings

“Now, some of you might be wondering, well, what if I ask and nothing happens? What if I don't feel anything? What if I don't do it right? And let me just say this, that sometimes this is something that people receive immediately, some people receive quietly, some feel overwhelming emotion, and some don't really feel much at all. But the evidence of God's faithfulness is not what you feel in the moment. The evidence is that your father keeps his promise, and it's a free gift that he wants to give to every single one of you.”

55s

#ListenAndObeySpirit

“Often, the supernatural looks much more practical than we expect it to. It starts with listening and then obeying. It starts with being willing when the Holy Spirit prompts us, not ignoring it. Oh, that's just me. Okay, Lord. I'm gonna do it as you. But I'm scared. Oh, but I just read that your holy spirit empowers me and gives me boldness. So I'm not doing it in my own strength. I'm doing it in you. These gifts are not for toys, for spiritual entertainment. They are tools for ministry. They are tools for the holy spirit gives us to bless people, to build up the church, and to draw more souls to the father.”

42s

#BoldnessTransforms

“I believe that's when everything changed for them. The fearful became bold. Peter then stood before thousands and proclaimed the gospel with confidence. He wasn't timid. He wasn't running. He wasn't making excuses and we know that that very day that about 3,000 people were added to the church. Three p thousand people called upon Jesus to be their lord and savior and so, you know, I don't believe that the difference was their education, their experience, or even their personality. The difference was the power of the Holy Spirit.”

47s

#PersonalPrayerLanguage

“It is one of the ways the holy spirit helps us pray beyond the limits of our natural understanding. Like I said a while ago, communicating exactly, communicating with the father in ways that our own words sometimes cannot express. It is a beautiful gift from a loving father who desires to empower us and to strengthen us. Now, before we go any further, it's important to understand that this is a personal prayer language is different than what Paul is talking about and describes as the public gift of tongues within the gathered church and so, when we're talking about a personal prayer language, we're talking about us communicating”

51s

#TonguesForEdification

“And so that's why Paul teaches in first Corinthians 14 that if a message in tongues is given publicly, so right here in front of all of you, it should be accompanied by an interpretation. God's not trying to create confusion. He is seeking to build up, to encourage, and to strengthen his people. So, other words, your personal prayer language is primarily directed towards god while the public gift of tongues when interpreted becomes a message that edifies the entire church, the entire body. So both gifts are of the holy spirit. They are both biblical and they both should be practiced with humility, with love, and with order.”

50s

#SpiritDiscernment

“So, what that might look like for you is, you know, maybe you're praying and someone unexpectedly comes to your mind and so you reach out to them and you actually find out that they were going through a hard time and needed you to reach out with that encouragement in that moment. The other one under there is the discerning of spirits. You know, the Holy Spirit helps you recognize the spiritual influence that can be work in a at work in a situation. You ever been with somebody and you're like, what is going on? I just don't get it. A lot of times it can be a demonic influence that's going on and so the lord can be like, you're not dealing with the person right now. You're dealing with a spirit and then what to do with that and so some of you kind of have this revelation and this understanding of there's more going on here.”

56s

#HumbleReception

“Without any pressure, hype, or emotional buildup, he found himself praying in tongues. He wasn't trying to make something happen. He wasn't trying to put on a show for anybody. He wasn't following a formula. He simply asked, trusted, and received. And so what speaks to me the most about the spirit this story is not just the experience itself, but it's the posture of his heart. Here was a man who had walked with God for decades, yet he was still willing to let scripture challenge his assumptions. And he was still willing to receive whatever God wanted to give him.”

30s

#AvailableToBeUsed

“As we surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit and we remain available to him, he can use us in any of the gifts that he desires for the advancement of his kingdom. Amen. Why would be like, why would he be like, oh, nope. You can't minister to that person. I'm not gonna give you that gift. Joe Blow's gotta come around to make it happen. He wants to use each one of us in whatever way if it's gonna get them to become a believer and to follow him and to have a greater understanding of who he is.”

30s

#SupernaturalProvision

“Another example that comes to mind is some friends of ours that pastor a church. You know, they were needing a building and it was going into foreclosure and the one that they wanted and they're like, call this person at this time and they're now a church that has three services a weekend and is making an impact for the kingdom of god. Supernatural. It couldn't have been done in the natural. Nothing added up. Nothing made sense. It was truly a miracle that god intervened”

31s

#NotByOurStrength

“God has never called you to fulfill his purpose in your own strength and that's where we fall flat. It's because we a lot of times think we have to do it in our own strength. Guys, we can't do it in our own strength. We have to be empowered by the holy spirit and so we see this pattern in the New Testament in several different locations. We see that the disciples believed in Jesus, but then they were told to wait for the promised power of the holy spirit in acts chapter one and verse chapter two.”

55s

#GiftsForRealLife

“These gifts aren't reserved for just this church building inside four walls. They're designed for real life. They're designed for you in the workplace, in your neighborhood, at school, with your family. These are tools that the Holy Spirit uses to reveal Jesus to people. And the more surrendered that we are, the more available we become. You guys get that? We have to surrender, give up stuff to be available, to be used. And what I love is we don't have to like worry or try to figure out what's the one gift he wants to use me in. No. He's gonna use you in whatever way as you're yielded to him. Some might be more comfortable.”

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Sunday Morning Service | The Friend You've Been Missing #3 | Pastor Shawna Thomas

Devotional

Day 1: Clothed in Power from On High

Day 2: When Fear Becomes Boldness

Day 3: The Lamp That Needs Plugging In

Day 4: Praying Beyond Words

Day 5: Surrendered Handlebar Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Sunday Morning Service | The Friend You've Been Missing #3 | Pastor Shawna Thomas

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