It was announced in Acts 1 that when the Holy Spirit came, the disciples would receive power to witness for Jesus. Chapter 2 tells us of the fulfillment of this promise. The Holy Spirit came to them, filled them, and they began to prophecy and testify about Jesus, who had come and walked among them, doing “miracles, wonders, and signs.” He had lived a perfect life, and according to God’s plan, he was crucified by his enemies. But God raised him from the dead! I love the way Peter said it, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Jesus did this to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:15). This is his story, and it is also our story that we are to share with a lost world. The Holy Spirit lives in us for the purpose of empowering us to witness for Jesus Christ!
One element of the human condition is the desire to have power. History is full of stories of people who would do anything, even kill, just to have power over others. We have a modern-day example in Vladimir Putin. And yet, when Jesus offers the greatest source of power known in the universe, the very power of the creator God so that we can be witnesses for Christ, people often turn away. Why? Because to have this power — power that allows us to “do all things through Christ” (Phil. 4:13) — “power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20) — we must deny selfish power (pride) and acknowledge that God is omnipotent, all-powerful. When this happens, we see the manifestation of the greatest single act of power known to humanity, something that a person can never do: transform their sinful heart and cross over “from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). By the power of God, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Ac. 2:21).
-Al Gary
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