From Weakness to Power

Weekly Devotion Feb 12, 2015

From weakness to Power

“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." (Luke 24:48-49)

Have you ever wondered why  the believers since the ascension of Jesus Christ have preached the Gospel powerfully, all over the world even though logically the Gospel message is really offensive and has a bloody message?  The good news tells of this seemingly unknown Jesus of Nazareth that suffered, died and shed his blood as a criminal. The message is foolish and a stumbling block.  “The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness…” (Message Bible, 1 Corinthians 18). In fact Islam totally rejects the message that Jesus was crucified.   When the disciples of Jesus started preaching about Jesus, they were jeered, stoned, imprisoned and even killed.  It was never an attractive message and it is not even today.

Jesus knew that. Jesus willingly suffered and died as a sacrifice for the sin of the world.  This was the message that his disciples were to preach. But Jesus also promised his disciples “power from on high”. The Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of Christ, The Spirit of God that would empower the disciples. This power burned in the hearts of the disciples that exploded in the whole world.  The Apostle Paul, could not have achieved his mission if he did not have this power. He says:  “I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it…” (  2 Corinthians 2:3-5 The Message Bible ) .

Are you afraid to share the Gospel since you believed? Do you find yourself inadequate, scared to death?  If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart, you can ask God to empower you with his Spirit. Do not buy into the theory that if I have Jesus, I have it all. I earnestly urge you to ask and trust his Word to fill you with power from on high. There is a Pentecost for everyone though you might not hear the “wind” or see the tongues of fire.  There is a filling of the Holy Spirit and re-filling over and over “… This comes with prayer and total surrender to Him. how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"(Luke 111:13).