Power! ­ Part Two

“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.” (Luke 24:49 ESV)

   The spectacular works of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the first church has caused people in the modern church to ask: “What about us?  How come the Holy Spirit doesn’t perform miracles now like He did then?”
   Many believers have become  discouraged when comparing their ordinary, simple, down-to-earth life of faith with the lives of ancient believers.  When these feelings are taken to extreme, brothers and sisters in the faith have questioned whether the Holy Spirit really does dwell in them; have wondered whether they have missed some secret key for unlocking the Spirit’s power; have simply ignored His power and promptings as meaningless; or have tried to live Christian life without the Holy Spirit.
    While these approaches deny the believer the blessing of Life by the Spirit, they are very real emotions and experiences. It is so tempting to read into the Bible that extraordinary works of the Holy Spirit were customary and usual. However, when the whole of New Testament record is considered, the Spirit’s miracles must be considered rare.
    Consider the words of Jesus…did He really promise miracle-a-minute lives for believers when He said believers would receive the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1:8)  Not even the disciples lived life like that!  After the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13 ESV), the Bible records that the first disciples lived ordinary lives in the power of the Holy Spirit, and only occasionally witnessed extra-ordinary demonstrations of the Holy Spirit’s power.
    Consider the life of the Apostle Paul.  He was slandered, libeled, assaulted, beaten, stoned, stalked throughout his work for the Kingdom in Palestine, Asia Minor and lower Europe.  In the midst of Paul’s difficulties, however, the power of the Holy Spirit was evident—not in transporting him away from the tribulation—but in the provision of the Lord’s strength and confidence for Paul as he traveled the deep valleys of persecution.  What a fabulous display of the Spirit’s power!
   Believers today can have real hope that the Spirit may do the miraculous (Pray for it!) and realistic expectations that He will provide His power in the daily, ordinary and routine. Yet, believers see the Spirit doing miracles when He…
     ·     Speaks through a believer who proclaims the Gospel.

        ·     Transforms a bitter, angry believer into a miracle of forgiveness and grace.

        ·     Heals a believer from serious disease and protects him or her spiritually.

        ·     Gives the believer the freedom to call God, “Abba, Father” in prayer.

        ·     Brings a wandering son or daughter back to love Jesus again.

        ·     Provides joy in the midst of life difficulties or persecution for Jesus’ sake.

    God is the Lord of the miraculous, supernatural and mysterious.  Grasping this truth, how then, should believers live?
   More to come!