This is our last week focusing on the Holy Spirit. We’ve discussed how He unites us, seals us, and teaches us. Today we zoom in on how He empowers us.
Let’s define the word “empower”.
Two definitions that are significant to us, 1. give (someone) the authority or power to do something 2. make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights[i]
If we consider that the Holy Spirit unites us with other believers in order for us to work together using our individual gifts and talents, and if we take into account that He seals us and authenticates us as believers, and if we also consider that the Holy Spirit is always teaching us, doesn’t it make sense that He does all of these things in order for us to do something outside of our normal abilities?
We’re going to look at just one example from the Bible on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 3:1 MSG “One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.
6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.
8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.
11 The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.”
The story continues with Peter taking the opportunity to tell the people that this was done, not from Peter and John’s power, but from God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say that it was faith in them that activated the power. “Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.” (Acts 3:16 MSG)
Peter exercised his faith when he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” The healing was done by God through the name of Jesus with the empowered faith from the Holy Spirit.
The people were shocked by what they had just witnessed. They knew this man or at least knew of him – enough to know that he had been unable to walk, much less dance, only moments before. The man, himself, is overflowing with joy and praise. His eyes have been opened and the understanding of the source of this healing has been made clear to him. He knows that a miracle has occurred, and Scripture tells us that he is praising God. But you see the people, the witnesses, were in need of a bit more of an explanation.
When we personally are empowered by the Holy Spirit, no other explanation is needed. Because that authority, that strength, or that confidence is unmistakable if we are in communion with the Holy Spirit. Others may not understand it. They may question our thought process, our timing, and our reasoning because the empowerment of the Holy Spirit will often prompt us and enable us to do what isn’t expected or even, at times, what doesn’t make sense.
Acts 4:1 CEV “The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived. 2 These men were angry because the apostles were teaching the people that the dead would be raised from death, just as Jesus had been raised from death. 3 It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. 4 But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So by now there were about 5,000 followers of the Lord.”
The religious leaders couldn’t understand the power, authority, and capability that was given to Peter and John by the Holy Spirit. It didn’t make sense. It defied logic. And it was threatening.
As a result, Peter and John were placed before the leaders and it was asked of them, “By what power and in whose name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7b CEV)
How does Peter respond? By Whose power? Acts 4:8 CEV “Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the nation’s leaders and the elders:
9 You are questioning us today about a kind deed in which a man who could not walk was healed. 10 But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life. 11 He is the stone you builders thought was worthless, and now he is the most important stone of all. 12 Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.”
Pretty powerful speech, right? But notice what was most convincing to the religious leaders. Acts 4:13 WEB “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
It was because Peter and John were considered unlearned and ignorant, illiterate and untrained, uneducated and ordinary that the leaders were able to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit working in them. Verse 14 tells us that the religious leaders could not deny what had taken place. These men had been with Jesus.
“There was a natural proximity to Jesus’ life and ministry that the Sanhedrin could try to understand as the healing power of God had somehow rubbed off on Peter and John.
But, no matter how close in proximity to Jesus they had been, that was all in the past now. Believer, your spiritual power and courage can not come from proximity, but from presence. If Jesus is not present with you personally through the indwelling and constant filling of the Spirit of God, you will not have the power and boldness available to you.
The boldness and courage of Peter and John came not from their proximity to Jesus, but their evident continuing abiding with Jesus. “They had been with Jesus.”
What does your “being with Jesus” look like? Being with Jesus changes everything! And the presence of the Holy Spirit within you manifests the presence of Jesus in your daily life.[ii]
The Holy Spirit’s voice is as loud as you want to listen.
Unknown
[i] empower definition – Search (bing.com)
[ii] Credit to Andy Cauble
Beacons of Light 