JJ25 #23 – The Sent Spirit Empowers

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. (Acts 1:8)

God Sent His Spirit

Power. This is something that so many look for. The thinking is that with power, great things can be accomplished. With power, progress can be made in reaching set goals. With power, people can be convinced that enterprises are worth joining. The show of power can thrill and intimidate, and whatever the nature of that power, there is an attraction to it in terms of how it could positively affect me, even at the cost of others. Power can be very addictive.

There is a sense in which people realise that without power, nothing gets done. It’s all well and good talking a big talk, but what’s required is the power to match that so that it’s not a motivational speech, but a call to fulfil the will of God.

This pursuit of power has led humanity to seek sources that promise power but ultimately end up in a trap, operating according to forces that demean and dehumanise, even as the supposed power is being put into effect. God gave signs that, though man had rebelled against Him, there was still a route back to Him, and that included experiencing the power of God in action. That route would open up a man to operating by a power that would enrich and encourage life, rather than the opposite.

The stories of faith in Hebrews 11 are about how the power of the Spirit supported those who moved in faith to accomplish miraculous tasks. Faith connected men and women to the source of true power that could establish, restore, heal, provide for others, and defeat those who opposed Him. The power of God in action expressed the character of God that was for people to experience peace and prosperity, and that often the path there called for action against the enemy to establish His righteous rule.

God gave hints throughout the time before His Son emerged that His idea of power was not selfish and self-serving but liberating, enabling and equipping. His Spirit would move men and women to do and say incredible things that only could happen because of God’s Spirit. Whether it was raining people from the dead or supernaturally providing for many hungry, the power was displayed to encourage people to consider a radically different way to appreciate power – not as something to grasp, but as something to steward, reflecting the character and purpose of the Creator and Ruler of the Universe.

The way was paved for God to help lost humanity realise that they could not operate in real power without living by the power of the indwelling Spirit. That power is not just for show, but to enable people to operate according to the calling God has on their lives. This is exemplified most notably in Jesus Christ. He was equipped and led by the Spirit to do all His wondrous work, and the big finish saw the Spirit raise Jesus from the dead to display ultimate power over the forces that sought to destroy Him. This power also became the birthright of those born again of the Spirit of God. The early church was noted for those who operated in the power of the Holy Spirit to heal and provide, as well as for issuing stark warnings to those who didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, such as Ananias and Sapphira.

So God sends us the Spirit.

The children of God should be known for their character that is humble, wise, peace-loving, merciful and compassionate. These qualities are dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. The children of God should be known for their desire to serve in ways that preserve, protect and provide. These acts are dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. The children of God should be known for how they carry on Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming, healing, teaching and shepherding as well as establishing new expressions of the community of grace. These projects are dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit.

God did not leave His church paralysed and powerless. Jesus did not ascend to heaven and expect His followers to work out things for themselves and muddle through against overwhelming opposition. The lasting impact of the Body of Christ was not about occasional displays by a few gifted. The plan was that each follower of Jesus would have the presence of the Holy Spirit living in them, and that presence would bring with it His power – power to save, power to serve, power to heal, power to help, power to talk right, and power to walk right.

With a renewed appreciation for the Holy Spirit of God being present to empower us, we’re encouraged to explore the answer to the question …

God, where do you want us to put into practice the power of your Spirit in this situation?

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom