May 25, 2007 4 min read

Scripture reading: Acts of Apostles 2:1-9, 12-13. Text: Jesus said to his disciples just before he had ascended into heaven: “But YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts of Apostles 1:8. The expression of “power of the Spirit” appears in the New Testament in Luke 4:14, Romans 15:19, and Galatians 4:29. In Luke 24:49 we read this: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with POWER FROM ON HIGH.’ At Pentecost the disciples had received special power or gift that enabled them to speak in tongues and reach the hearts of those who listened to them. Please study our Scripture reading. If the apostles were blessed with the power of the Spirit, how can we receive it and utilize it?

POWER AND ENERGY.

Power is manifested in our lives in various ways. For instance, we talk about the strength of the motor of our car, namely how many units of horsepower it generates. Or, we also talk about muscle power, that is, how strong we are. We also know that energy is needed to become powerful. Not counting physicists whose specialty is to deal with energy and power; we can ask the regular people: what do they know about these subjects? We will find out that we have some basic knowledge about energy and power, but we do not know the details. How can we describe then the spiritual power?

LET TWO WORDS COME TO OUR HELP: GENERAL AND SPECIAL AND EACH OF THEM IS IMPORTANT.

In the GENERAL HOSPITAL every kind of sickness is treated, however, in the operating room many SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS are used. Ladies, you have special utensils in your kitchen to prepare the meals, and a mechanic has special tools to repair the cars. A specialist is one who is an expert only in his/her specific field.

When we talk about the power of the Spirit, we should keep in mind that we do not deal with a general source of energy (one size fits them all) but with a specific or unique power, as Jesus had said: “but stay in the city until you have been clothed with POWER FROM ON HIGH.’ Luke 24:49. In what way is the spiritual power special or unique?

The “power from on high” is a special or UNIQUE FORCE, that is, spiritual. A special instrument and tool can be used only for the purpose it was designed. Think about the scoop of ice cream, can you use it as a ladle? The spiritual power is like a “miracle grow” that makes fruits of the spirit more desirable, read Galatians 5:22-23.

The “power from on high” originates from a special or UNIQUE SOURCE: God. Our Lord had promised: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever… . But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16 and 26 verses.

The “power from on high” is given for special UNIQUE or PURPOSE, like to be born again: “Jesus answered (Nicodemus), ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.'” John 3:5; or, to represent God, Ephesians 2:22; or, to work on our salvation, 2 Thessalonians 2:13; or, to inspire, 2 Peter 1:21.

The “power on high” is given to SPECIAL PEOPLE but not exclusively to those who like to call themselves saints. Such special people had been the apostles at Pentecost who were together in one place. Please see our Scripture reading. Those who can pray honestly: “Thy will be done . . .” receive sooner the spiritual power than those who simply just demand it or want to purchase it, please see Acts of Apostles 8:18-20.

As your parents have the rights to specify in their will what their child/ren will inherit from their possessions, likewise, our heavenly Father, as our sovereign Lord, has the right to “allocate and grant” the power of the Spirit as he sees fit. The Holy Spirit is a foretaste and a guarantee of things to come: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 also 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.