Saturday, July 24, 2021

Holy Spirit: Power


We Seek To Satisfy

"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 Jesus speaking).

Do you ever feel powerless? There is so much change in the world, things are moving so fast in our cultures and our lives. Many find this to be frightening.

Our TV listings show this too, here are a few of the many "powers" movies recently offered in our city; "supernatural" powers are central to all the hope in these stories: powers, strengths and abilities beyond physics or human physiology or what science can explain:

"Edge of Tomorrow" - "a soldier fighting with aliens is in a time loop"

"The Mask" - "A bank clerk is transformed into a manic superhero".

"Twelve Monkeys" - "Bruce Willis is sent back in time to stop a deadly virus"

"The Host" - "A dysfunctional family rescues their daughter snatched by a mutated amphibian monster". Winner of 18 awards!

"Inferno" - "a race .. to foil a deadly global plot".

Fiction is seeking to fill our need for hope and comfort when all about us seems to be out of control.

Our local classical radio station showcases "video games" music; these games feature titanic struggles against vast supernatural forces; they are played by millions.

Our Certain Hope

Our desire, really our great need, is for more power and more strength than we can find in our mortal selves. Where can we look? To science? To sports research? No, there is not enough there.

As always, there is hope. Countless times our lovely Bible College theology teacher assured us: "the answer to every question is 'Jesus'".

We live in a fallen world of sin where Satan's lies flow towards us and around us (John 8:44).

But our reality is that Jesus, the Saviour of the World, not only saved us and brought us into His family, also He lives inside us by His Holy Spirit (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; John 14:17); His intercessory prayers and His endless grace flow towards us and around us all the time (John 1:16).

Jesus has defeated Satan and sin and death, including that in you and in me, we appropriate the joy and peace of this victory as we cleave to Him (John 15:11; John 16:33).

Yes. Jesus does offer "power" to His people, power to heal, transform, deliver, persevere, supply, to stand, even to prevail; the same mighty power which raised Jesus from the dead and took Him into the Heavenly places where He now rules with Father God (Ephesians 1:19-20; Hebrews 4:14).

The practical result of our salvation is a change, an amazing growth in our person. It is our experience of our salvation that satisfies our mind and brings our certain hope in Christ.

But let us remember, this mighty power is not universally available. Jesus died so that "resurrection power" (Philippians 3:10) might be released (Romans 15:17-19; 1 Corinthians 2:4). Jesus became weak and submitted to false accusations, not just from the evil Roman authorities but also from His own Jewish people, He was humiliated and beaten, then killed, for the sins of others, for our sins; killed by crucifixion, the cruellest and most awful death which could be devised at that time.

"For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God" (2 Corinthians 13:4). Jesus' wonderful work in the world (John 5:20) is to continue after He rose to Heaven (John 14:12)

Our Bible is the "living Word of God" (1 Peter 1:23), it is Jesus in written form (John 1:1). Jesus told Paul, and thus tells us today: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is God's grace which is the emphasis here, not some quality or action of Paul, or of me or you! 

And note too; God’s grace and power, which are sufficient for us, come with a big condition .. they are only "made perfect in [our] weakness"! We are again reminded that it is "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Holy Spirit Baptism

Holy Spirit baptism brings God and each one of us together in a way we could not imagine. God comes inside us (John 14:20) and His Holy Spirit is united with our human spirit. We are thence-forth "God's temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16) on the Earth (1 Corinthians 6:19), we have truly become a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Holy Spirit brings gifts to us, "spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), for us to use in the service of God and humankind (Genesis 1:28).

(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Message) "God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 
God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit.
God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind them all. 
Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. 
All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! 
The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. 
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when".

One of the first things I remember (as a new Christian and where I was involved): A young woman was in a wheelchair, her life was a constant struggle, she was very much part of the life in that church community. This young woman would often come to our prayer meetings and would ask for prayer for healing. One time a number of us were praying for her healing and that she could leave her wheelchair. I felt a very strong call to pray that, in her inner person, she would find peace, "the peace of God" (Philippians 4:7). I was at the outside of the group and not one of those laying hands on her, (I felt small and insignificant). Why was I being asked to pray this seemingly "partial" prayer when everyone else was praying for a full healing? The "big" prayer was covered by several in the group. I obeyed Jesus and prayed His prayer.

The next time I saw this young woman she was sparkling, transformed. I believe that Jesus had given her peace (John 14:27). Our local supermarket gave her a job helping customers to bag their shopping, she had a bright and cheerful word for everybody so became a wonderful ambassador for the shop. Everyone knew that she was Christian so she also became a glorious ambassador for Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:20). It was not my prayer, it was Jesus' love and power at work.

(There may have been several praying for her peace, not just me. We don't know because we don't need to know. Jesus is the faithful one (Revelation 1:5)). I do not know why Jesus did not get her out of the wheelchair, but He did give her new fullness of life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

I don't know why the gifts in us do not always appear to work, despite our seeming faith and the clarity of what the Scriptures say! I do not know why He has answered only many, but not all, of the prayers or commands I have seen and shared in. I cannot tell you why Jesus has healed only some of my illnesses and maladies, (some quickly, others after months or years). 

But I am so grateful for what He has done, He has added many new seasons to my life over many years. At the same time I always carry around the "thorn[s] in my side" (2 Corinthians 12:7) which helps me to remember that I belong to Jesus and that He is in charge.

I have a friend who is a great man of prayer. He suddenly began to have trouble sleeping. Despite much prayer this difficulty persists. He accepts that it is from God, like Paul's "thorn"; and when sleep won't come he gets dressed and walks his neighbourhood, praying. Blessings abound from this (2 Corinthians 9:8), most of which will not be recognised, but Jesus is able to work in that neighbourhood and in the Christian church because of all the prayer.

Some Gifts

"Words of knowledge" are a Holy Spirit gift (1 Corinthians 12:8), a part of the prophetic gifting which Paul wants us all to have (1 Corinthians 14:1-5). I hear so many stories from Christians who have been in conversation with a troubled person; they have become aware that what they are saying is totally beyond what they could know or communicate, so it was Holy Spirit speaking into the trouble and bringing His healing. Jesus at work today through His people.

Anyone who has been set free from an evil (demonic) spirit will know that these spiritual gifts from Jesus (Matthew 12:28) are a blessing for all humankind.

Do these testimonies seem small, even insignificant? I don't think so. Christians are in virtually every people-group on our planet. Lots and lots of workings of God’s Holy Spirit power through all of Jesus’ people will make vast changes in the world, just as our Lord Jesus always intended (John 14:12). Our God is very big!

Praise Jesus. Amen.

Favourite Scriptures

"For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

"You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him" (Acts 10:37-38).

"My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of  God"  (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

"Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope" (Acts 2:26).

"And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,  who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.  And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all" (Luke 6:17-19).
After these verses come the Beatitudes where Jesus, in simple yet beautiful words, describes the Kingdom of God and how we are to respond to it.

Permalink:

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2021/07/holy-spirit-power.html

Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment