Do We Understand What God’s Power Is For? (Part 2)

In this article on “WHY” the power of God comes,  I want to explore what God’s power is for. So much has been taught about God’s desire to heal us from our brokenness, whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual brokenness.  All too often believers get a distorted or lopsided perspective on God’s intentions and willingness to release power for our equipping. That being said, I will take us through various scriptures to unpack what God’s intentions are for a release of his power.  Some of this may be elementary for some of you but, whatever the case, it will remind all of the purpose and plan of God in the believer.

As unbelievers, we lived our lives according to our limited perception of life that had us in charge of making decisions both great and small. By coming to a saving knowledge of Christ we choose to yield our rights to the will of God in exchange for his forgiveness and adoption in becoming children of God. It is the “Seeking First” principle that Jesus taught concerning putting God’s kingdom authority first in our lives.

John the baptist prophesied about the coming Messiah and what he would do for his followers. John said the average believer would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This idea of the Holy Spirit being given to all was mind blowing for the Jews. It was astounding because the Holy Spirit was only given too high ranking individuals like kings and prophets, and occasionally special individual. This pattern of only special people receiving the Holy Spirit was engaged for nearly 4,000 years.

Matthew 3:11                                                                                                                                                                                                    “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 

As he left to return to the Father, Jesus taught his disciples that he would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit in order to live with each of us so that we would have the counsel of God available at all times. The Holy Spirit would help each believer to live the life that God always intended us to live, namely living in relationship with God rather than being in rebellion to him.

John 14:25-26                                                                                                                                                                                          “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

Jesus defined the role of the Holy Spirit in the believers life in many ways. His very title was “Spirit of Truth“. (John 14:17) He would would dwell with us. In other words, through good times and bad he would be with us. He will be our “Helper” because he will teach us all things and help us to remember what he taught us. (John 14:26) The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. It is an interesting thing that many in the church think that this passage does not mean believers but that is false. The Holy Spirit convicts “ALL” who are in sin regardless of who they profess to follow. Lastly, the Holy Spirit will guide us into the truth. How much does the believer need the Holy Spirit not only to reveal truth but to guide us to understand the truth. (John 16:13)

So, these are the basic elements and purposes of the Holy Spirit in the believers. The next role of the Holy Spirit is to release “POWER” into the believer. The question is when does this power get released and why? First, let us be clear that if we are not seeking the advice and counsel of the Holy Spirit to guide our very lives then praying for power most likely will not come or only come on rare occasions. The Holy Spirit’s primary function is to help believer’s become more like Jesus and secondly to have the capacity and power for special purposes. Jesus, when leaving his disciples to go back to the Father, spelled out one of the primary functions of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4 & 8                                                                                                                                                                                                             And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;  [8] “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus said power would come from the Holy Spirit to “WITNESS” about God’s love and offer of forgiveness. He didn’t say the power would come for us to impress others or to bring about healing in others or to make our special church gathering more awesome. If you look at the people Jesus healed he did so in order to focus on his role as the coming Messiah. We receive power to become ambassadors for Jesus, not to have great meetings or more impactful events.

John 6:40                                                                                                                                                                                                     “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 14:11                                                                                                                                                                                              “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, which is 50 days after the resurrection. Acts 1:3 says he gave proof of his resurrection for 40 days and taught on the kingdom of God.  So, when Jesus was ready to return to the Father he told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit and the “POWER” of the Holy Spirit came 10 days after the disciples were waiting in the upper room praying.

So, what were they praying about for 10 days? When I have prayed with others over an extended period of time there seems to be a progression of topics people pray about until finally people start following 2 Chronicles 7:14. We all want to praise and honor God’s name until we begin to truly seek his face, which is intimacy with God rather than giving him our shopping list of requests. It is at this point, which may take a considerable time to reach, when we start to realize we need to confess sins that we may have overlooked. Maybe the disciples in the upper room needed to take time in the 10 days to work through this list and maybe we need to take time in our own personal lives to confess whatever needs confessing before we ask for power from on high. Maybe then the Father will see we are ready to handle such power and help us to share the gospel regardless of the cost to ourselves. Maybe then revival will happen to the body of Christ that will impact the world for Jesus as he desires!

2 Chronicles 7:14-15                                                                                                                                                                                       If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 

Consider learning to pray for breakthroughs like the disciples in the upper room. It may take a while of pressing through but it will give you the breakthrough you and God are looking for.

Questions:

1) Why do you seek power from the Holy Spirit? Is it for personal advantage or for kingdom advantage?

2) Have you tried to get with other believers and pray for an extend period of time so that the Holy Spirit will feel comfortable in joining you in a special way? Your answer tells a lot about your level of faith and spiritual maturity.

Longing for a deeper walk with God,

Pastor Dale