Power

“You will be filled with power” (Acts 1:8)

We know ourselves pretty well. We have a good feeling for the amount of change we can accomplish in our lives through our own willpower. The sad fact is that while we can sometimes change ourselves to a degree, more often than not we end up back where we started. Even if we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it, this is a lesson we learn through experience.

I remember the influence this had on me as I considered becoming a Christian in the years prior to my decision to follow Jesus. My thoughts were, “It’s better to be an honest pagan than a professed Christian who isn’t able to meet God’s standards.” “I may be a sinner, but at least I’m not dragging Jesus’ name through the mud with me with all my mistakes and misdeeds.” You may be having those very same thoughts your self. If you are, then you need to understand the role the Holy Spirit plays in the life of a new believer.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus called all of HIs disciples together for a last meal. They gathered around a table in an upstairs room of a building in Jerusalem. Jesus knew He would be leaving them soon and there were some things He wanted to make sure they understood. We see this conversation recounted in the book of John. It spans five chapters (John 13-17). Jesus repeatedly tells the twelve certain things they need to sure and remember.

One of the things he repeated was He was going to be leaving them but that this was actually better for them because when He left, the “Counselor” would come to them (John 16:7). This was somewhat cryptic and in my opinion they only heard the first half of what He said. The sadness they felt at the thought of Him leaving kept them from being able to fully consider what He meant about this Counselor.

Jesus reiterated this promise to them after His resurrection. In fact, the last thing He told them before He ascended to heaven was they must go to Jerusalem and wait for this promise to be fulfilled (Acts 1:8). He added that they would receive power as the result of this encounter they were going to have with the Holy Spirit in this upper room. The coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of this promise Jesus made to HIs disciples. One hundred and twenty people are gathered in the upper room. The Holy Spirit arrives and all are filled with His power. God uses His power to transform their lives and jump start the growth of the church.