150. Power
Acts 1:8a But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.
With the Holy Spirit we are promised power. Power and authority are sometimes used interchangeably, but the Greek makes a distinction. Authority is the right to rule; power is the ability to enforce that rule and make it happen. “All authority” was given to Jesus Christ, so He says. Then He says: Therefore, going, make disciples…. On the basis of Jesus’ authority over all the enemies, proclaim the gospel to all people, baptize and teach to obey. The authority, or right to rule, belongs to Jesus and He commands his disciples to make more disciples by announcing His authority over all.
Here He promises that we, His followers, will have the power, the ability to enforce that authority of Jesus, after the Holy Spirit comes upon us. It is still the power of God, the Holy Spirit, that does the influencing and changing, but He gives it to us to exercise by witnessing through word and deed. The HS living in us uses our bodies, hands and tongues to witness and proclaim the lordship of Christ over all enemies. The HS influences people to hear and believe the Gospel that changes and overcomes—this is conversion through repentance and faith in the Gospel.
The power (dynamis) of HS that we receive is the Gospel. Romans 1:16: “The gospel is the power (dynamis) of God for salvation.” The Gospel is the power; HS uses the gospel to save lives; HS uses us to proclaim this power. No one of God’s created humans has the power or ability to convert people, convince minds, or change lives. But HS uses those powerless humans to speak and live out the message to bring lost sinners to Himself forever. We do not have control of the power to make happen what we want to happen; we have received it, but HS controls and uses it for purposes of salvation and life. The power is exercised by the decision and plan of God to save, but He has chosen to use us, who have received HS. Having received the power we become instruments of God to witness His life and love to the people of all nations. Take hold of the promise of power and let it flow, for good.