What For This Power?

"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." (Acts 1:8)

As I was reading this morning I saw this and the question came to me, "And what is this power supposed to be for?" Whatever it was, the followers of Jesus were willing to remain 10 more days to receive it. And what a tremendous display of power accompanied the fulfillment of this promise. A violent, rushing wind! Many in the southern part of the United States can relate to this right now because it is hurricane season and there have been quite a few lately. This week I was standing inside my kitchen and watching the wind whip the trees around outside. I have been in situations where I thought that if I didn't hold on to something nearby, I would be blown away. Take all of that power and capture it inside a room and you have an attention getter!

The Bible tells us that it was immediately followed by another event that captured their attention to the extent that the wind was all but forgotten. They all began to speak in the languages of the nations that were visiting Jerusalem at that time. Now, people outside the room where they were gathered are paying attention. Even today, 2000 years later, when the Holy Spirit makes His appearance, people pay attention.

Amazed and perplexed, the people wondered aloud, "What does this mean?" Now, with an audience, the Holy Spirit performs his first evangelistic act. He moves upon the one person in the group that has the reputation of putting his foot in his mouth. Peter proceeds to answer this question, but with a boldness and straightforwardness that probably shocked the others. You see, they were in the upper room for more than a prayer meeting-they were hiding from these men outside. To all of a sudden make themselves and their hiding place known was a bold step of faith. This takes a life changing power.

Next, we find Peter and John going to the temple. In itself, this was a tremendously courageous act. The temple would bring them into direct contact with the very men who had killed their leader. They did not go along skulking in the shadows. No! Just outside the temple they worked a miracle and they did it in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene! Indeed, they are flirting with danger. This takes boldness derived from power-power to be a witness!

Of course, this draws a crowd, just the thing that people on the run would want to avoid. But does Peter and John care? Not a bit. Again Peter, who a few days earlier had denied even knowing Christ, speaks boldly to the assembled crowd and tells them without any minced words, "Repent!" May I repeat myself here? This takes boldness!

You know what is coming next. Yep, the bad guys arrive with their black hats, riding on black horses with double six-guns! Acts tells us that they were "greatly disturbed." This would be like being found manhandling one of Condolezza Rice's aides! Did you see that picture of her. Now that was one angry lady-and with the clout to do some serious hurt on someone. Presidential material for sure. Back to my point.

Here Peter and John find themselves out of hiding, drawing attention to themselves, name dropping that Name again, and now doing it on the back doorstep of the enemy. This is not politically correct for sure. What does all of this get them? Jail time! Not exactly what you want on your resume, and in light of what happened to the last Guy that found himself on the bad side of these guys, it didn't look like a good career move.

But we have to look at the big picture. They had the Holy Ghost on their side. Oh, and Jesus was standing beside Him and behind them both was the Big Guy - GOD! And they all had that Condolezza Rice look. What a family portrait that would have made.

What am I trying to say? The power that comes when the Holy Spirit comes upon us (for the promise is to all of us) will give us boldness, will make us do things that we have never done before, will keep us going when everyone around us is quitting, and will make us fruitful, efficient, effective and life changers. Oh, and by the way, we get to speak in another language (at least most of us). God told me, "No, yours can't be Polish." Bummer!