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.

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Amen.

Holy Spirit: Life

Disciples

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Since Pentecost Sunday I've heard people, and particularly Christian leaders, saying things like: "without the Holy Spirit people cannot pray right, cannot minister right, cannot live right". Their clear desire is to see more discipleship in Jesus' ecclesia, His gathered ones (Matthew 28:19).

"live" and "life" are very big words, they include so much. Once we are saved our lives are being "brought to fullness" in Jesus (John 10:10; Colossians 2:10). "Fullness" is one of my favourite Bible words, I see it as including "complete, active, transparent, clean, precious", and that would be a lovely place to be. Certainly all the "fruit of the Spirit" words would be included in such fullness of life.

When we are "baptised with the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5), our relationship with our God moves from our outside, from being something external that we can put on and take off, to being internal, that is, a part of us all the time. No wonder the Bible describes us as a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is a radical change and will bring us much more into the nature of the "image and likeness" of Elohim God that we were created to be (Genesis 1:26), and more into "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) that Jesus has planned for us all (Philippians 1:6).

"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high". "For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:5 Jesus speaking).

Jesus promises us "power"; we see that that power comes when Jesus baptises us with His Holy Spirit. Our capacity to follow Jesus (Mark 1:17) and play our part in His work (Matthew 5:16) is multiplied and we are grateful: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

I often think about Adam and Eve in their early years, that lovely time before they believed Satan, sinned and fell so terribly (Genesis 3:7-19). Humankind were the last element of the Creation. Everything else was created so that we would have a really great place to live the "fullness" that God planned for us.

Like Adam and Eve, Trish and I are a "garden" family, Trish is a creative and very enthusiastic gardener and our place is always beautiful. The birds and bees love it too. Many of our children and daughters-in-law have caught this passion and their gardens too are full of life and colour.

Adam and Eve will have had a "full life". God put them together, I cannot imagine a better matchmaker; theirs will surely have been a "marriage made in Heaven"! Good marriages are one of those "greater-than-the-sum-of-their-parts" things we sometimes encounter. More than Adam and Eve enjoying just one another, God was their intimate friend and they spent time with Him every day. Family was a reality too, God made it clear that the couple would have babies and become a big family, even that they would "fill the Earth" (Genesis 1:28). They had work, to care for the Creation and to name every kind and species of life; we know that work is good for us, we wither without something meaningful to do.

In every culture we enjoy our food, regardless of where in the world we live; people love to get together around a table and share meals; Adam and Eve will have been the first to be blessed by the bounty of nature in this way, they had (almost) the whole garden to select from. Their climate must have been special too, (they were before the Flood of Noah's time; the weather we know is post Flood); Adam and Eve needed no clothing, neither did they feel any lack. A great marriage and a great life!

Time and again the Bible gives accounts of full lives of God's people when they follow His way. As we grow in Christ likeness (Ephesians 4:11-13) we also will be blessed (Luke 12:37).

Fruit

When Trish and I were new Christians we knew "Life In The Spirit" classes where the baptism in Holy Spirit was explained in Biblical terms, and also its impact on the believer, and the church, (and the world). The classes were frequently offered and brought understanding and much joy to many.

We also learned that our God is looking for obedience in us, and that obedience yields the fruit of faithfulness. The Christians we know are distinctive for the Holy Spirit fruit we see in them (Galatians 5:22-23), fruit which comes from living with, and for, the God of all Creation.

The world has no good explanation for any of the "fruit of Holy Spirit", but these fruit are seen everywhere in Scripture because they add such quality to our lives. I think of these nine words as "God's words". Atheists and others use them extensively, as though they are their own, but no, these words, and everything they represent, come from God alone.

Here are some Scriptures about our "full life" when Holy Spirit comes to us; nine big "fruit" words:

Love - "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26 Jesus' words to our Father).

Joy - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).

Peace - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

Patience - "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him" (2 Peter 3:15).

Kindness - "In the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). 

Goodness - "I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another" (Romans 15:14). 

Faithfulness - "It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it" (3 John 1:3).

Gentleness - "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:5).

Self-Control/self-restraint/temperance - "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin" (Romans 7:14).
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Thank you Jesus for your great love for us, each one.

As Jesus' people we can know that we are close to God, trusting Him, even so close that we can call Him "Abba Father" (Romans 8:15).

Because Jesus is in us (Colossians 1:27) we are equipped to be in great relationships within our community, and have the gifts and the fruit to rejoice in worthwhile work for our lovely Lord forever (Ephesians 2:10).

Praise Jesus. Amen.

Favourite Scriptures

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:9-10).

"Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). 

"We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,  but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,  beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;  by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;  by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;  through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;   as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;  as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything" (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).

"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good - crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives" (Galatians 5:22-25 Message).

"But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25 Amplified).

Bless Jesus.

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Amen.