Empowered

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses...” Acts 1:8

Jesus commanded His disciples in Matthew 28:19 to, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This command was not just for those who were there with Jesus to hear His words, but also for all who have followed Him since those words were spoken. Upon hearing that command almost 2,000 years ago, I can imagine that the disciples’ reaction was similar to the reaction many Christians have today…”How are we going to do that?” Jesus gave the answer to that question in Acts 1:8 when He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

It is difficult for us today to fully appreciate the magnitude of this statement. Remember, at this time in Israel’s history, they lived under the power and authority of the powerful Roman Emperor. It wasn’t a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The idea that common people – like Jesus’ disciples – would have any kind of power was completely unheard of and ridiculous. In the 1st Century, only kings and Caesar possessed power. Furthermore, generally the only people who had any power were either born into it, or took it through the end of a sword or spear.

But Jesus wasn’t talking about politically or military power – He was talking about supernatural power. God’s Kingdom is different from human kingdoms. This Kingdom was going to grow and expand by witnesses, not by soldiers. It would spread through a Gospel of peace, not by a declaration of war. It would expand by the work of the Holy Spirit, not by the force of bullets or bombs.

When the Holy Spirit came upon these early believers that had never happened before. Up until this point, the Spirit came occasionally upon certain people for a certain purpose, but then He would leave. As Christ followers we, beginning with these disciples, have been given the Holy Spirit permanently. We have the power of God’s Spirit living within us.

What these disciples were about to learn is that God never expected them – or us – to carry out His mission in our own strength. The work that God gives us to do is not our working for God, but rather God working in and through us. Every time we go beyond borders to take the Gospel to those in need we are not dependent on our personality, our persuasiveness, our possessions, or our position. We are completely and totally dependent on the power of God living in us. We have been empowered to go beyond our borders.

Dear Father, thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Give me the wisdom and discernment to live by the Spirit rather than trying to live in my own power and understanding. Amen.