There are certain things that are necessary and essential for a believer to possess if they are to live a fruitful, productive life. Our greatest need of course is Christ. But, after our conversion, we should start to grow and mature spiritually as believers. The advancement of the kingdom of God depends on that development in us. We first must realize our inability to do this ourselves, and then find the source that will enable us.
The early church was given the task of carrying this new truth to the world, but before they could even begin, they were told to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise, the coming of Holy Spirit. Jesus then told them if you do this, you will receive power after Holy Ghost comes upon you (Acts 1:8). The proper translation would be that they would “Lay hold of or be infused with” power that Holy Spirit would manifest. This infusion of power would be necessary to accomplish the enormous task that lay before them.
There are those who believe that the power, the signs, wonders and miracles was just for the age of the new church, and that because of the advancement of the gospel, these things are not necessary any longer. My question would be “Has the church accomplished our mission to such a degree that the power of Holy Spirit is no longer necessary or needed”? Is the world influenced by the church to the extent that we no longer need to depend on that power? A careful and honest look around you will give you the answer to this question. How you answer it will determine the value you place on this precious gift.
Some would have said “it’s not for everyone”. A closer look at scripture will show us the truth about this line of thought. In Acts 2:39 Peter stated that this experience was for those who were there, their children, and to all who were a far off, for as many as the Lord God would call. People are still being touched and changed by the Gospel, he is still calling people, so the promise is still available to the people God is calling in. Paul said that we were to earnestly desire the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:30). He said again in Rom. 8:32 that because God did not spare his own son, wouldn’t he, with Jesus, give us all things? (My paraphrase). Peter said in the 1st chapter of 2nd Peter that God had given us all things that we need to live productive rich, full Godly lives. You see the point? There is nothing that God has denied us, if it will cause us to mature and fulfill his purpose for us. To say it’s not for everyone is to say that God picks and chooses who he blesses. The gifts that he says are ours, are available without having to earn them or be good enough for them, we just have to accept them by faith.
Our greatest need in this hour is the need for Holy Spirit, fire breathing power and the signs that accompany that power. Political, social power is not the answer. These powers can cause change in leadership but cannot change a single heart. They can change the way people think but cannot affect their spirits eternally. They can win influence, gain notoriety, even win elections, but they cannot save a single soul. I love this quote from A.W. Tozer.
“If the Holy Spirit was removed from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would continue and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit would have been removed from the early church, 95 percent of what they did would have stopped and everyone would have noticed the difference. I do not believe in a repetition of Pentecost or a new Pentecost, I believe in the perpetuation of the original Pentecost and there is a vast difference between the two. “
The idea is not to pray for a new Outpouring, but for a continual, perpetual manifestation of the fire and power of the 1st Pentecost. It is praying back in what has already been given, the power to reignite what has already been ignited then. When you rely on organization, you get organization. When you rely on education, you get education. When you rely on eloquence and personality, you get a cheap imitation. These things in themselves are not wrong, but they must be infused with Holy Ghost power if they are to be effective and benefit the kingdom of God. When you rely on Holy Spirit Power, you go beyond what man can do, and begin to experience what God can do. Again, I’ll pose a question. Have we, with all our programs, organization, eloquence and personality even come close to accomplishing what the early church did? Have we reached the level of supernatural evidence of a life changing, sin destroying Christ like they did? You may argue that the numbers are greater, but our influence on the world does not come close.
Jesus knew that the disciples, as dedicated as they were, wouldn’t be able to fulfill their mandate unless they were infused with this mighty power. Without that power, they could only recount what Jesus did. With that power, they would demonstrate what Jesus did. Most of our witness today is a recounting of what Jesus did and what is needed is a demonstration of what Jesus can and will do for us. What we must return to is the manifestation of what Jesus wants to do right now through the power of Holy Spirit.
The word for power here is Dunamis. It is translated as “dynamic, explosive power”. This is a keyword in the book of Acts. Of the 10 times it is used, 7 of those times it is used to describe supernatural power necessary for ministry. You can read the different accounts of men and women of God who were supernaturally catapulted into their assignment when the experienced the infilling or infusion of Holy Ghost power. It was Holy Spirit power that changed Smith Wigglesworth from a stammering plumber who refused to preach into a hell shaking dispenser of that mighty power. It was the infusion of Holy Spirit power in the life of Charles Phinney that brought the manifestation of conviction of sin at an unparalleled, supernatural level.
It is this power that will propel us into the great 3rd awakening we are entering into. The power of man, the eloquence and influence of man, the personality of man will become irrelevant. What will move people’s hearts will be the raw, unaltered Power of God released through the infused into believer by Holy Spirit. If you want to be a difference maker in this moment in time, you must not pray for a new Pentecost, just get out of the way and let the original explosion of power that the coming of Holy Spirit released. Let it become a perpetual manifestation in your life.
