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One of the biggest problems facing the church today is our obsession with Christian superstars. We have TV evangelists and mega pastors, but I believe that the Holy Spirit wants to use ordinary believers, like you and me, in powerful ways.
A few weeks ago, a friend sent me an article about a story published by Crescendo Magazine in 1990 on how God powerfully used a Finish music student Päivyt Rajamäki.
In October 1989, then Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev was scheduled to visit Finland.
When Päivyt heard the news the Holy Spirit said ‘You absolutely must meet him and say something to him!’
Over the next few days, the urge continued, but she had no idea what she would say to Gorbachev.
When Päivyt, who was studying violin at Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, heard that Gorbachev was visiting Oulu university, she booked a flight.
When she arrived, Päivyt easily made it through the university’s security, and went to the reading area in the library.
Päivyt who can read Russian, opened the Russian Bible she had brought along at the last minute and began reading it.
There were only 20 people in the room, when Gorbachev entered along with his wife Raisa, the Finnish president and others.
The Soviet President immediately focused on Päivyt. When he saw her reading a Russian Bible, Gorbachev spoke to her in Russian.
At that moment, the Holy Spirit gave Päivyt the words to speak fulfilling Christ’s promise in Luke 12:12 that the Holy Spirit would give His disciples the words to speak in the hour they needed them.
She thanked Gorbachev for Glasnost, which brought freedom to Russian Christians as well as other Russians.
She then asked him what he thought about the Bible and would he allow Bibles to be shipped into Russia. Gorbachev surprised Päivyt by stating that he was considering relaxing religious restrictions.
Päivyt then asked if she could send a Russian Bible, to Gorbachev’s wife Raisa. She responded positively.
The news of this brief conversation was published in newspapers across the Soviet Union.
When Päivyt sent a beautifully bound Russian Bible to Raisa, it opened the doors for Bibles to be shipped across the Soviet Union. If the president’s wife could get one, then anyone could.
It reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. After being blinded in his encounter with the risen Christ, Paul went to a home in Damascus unsure of what was happening.
The Holy Spirit spoke to a man named Ananias urging him to visit Paul. He had no big titles, Ananias was described simply as being a disciple. He was told to lay hands on Paul to heal him of his blindness.
After initially resisting, Ananias obeyed. He laid hands on Paul. Healed him and filled him with the Holy Spirit. Though we never hear of Ananias again, the Apostle Paul changed the world.
We are ordinary believers filled with an extraordinary Holy Spirit!
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