“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
When Jesus was on the earth, He was the power of God walking and doing on the earth. It was Jesus that saved sinners, Jesus made the blind see, Jesus healed many people from many things, yes it was Jesus the Son of God. How did Jesus manage to do all these things, He is God in the flesh. It was also Jesus that started the church in Jerusalem, and as He called lost souls to salvation, He began to build His first church. We see this church membership in Acts 1, we even see them vote and select Matthias to be the 12th Apostle to replace Judas who betrayed Jesus. However, the Lord Jesus selected Apostle Paul as the 12th Apostle. When Jesus ascended into heaven the church was powerless, because without the power of God Christians and churches are powerless. Even the Apostle Paul admitted that everything he can do is through the power of God. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 God also told Israel these words, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
Therefore, we must conclude that without the power of God we cannot do anything for God. But it was ordered by God that the church would begin to do their spiritual duties once the Holy Spirit replaced Jesus as the Christian strength. It is only AFTER we receive the power of the Holy Spirit that we can be witnesses for God. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing, but with His power we can move mountains. “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:19 Jesus told us, His churches to go into the world and preach the gospel to every person. However, He did not mean our preaching would accomplish anything. The gospel of itself is just words and words have no power. The power of the words is the power of God in them. Paul asks this question, Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” This preacher is not necessarily a pastor or a minister, the word is defined as – one who cries the divine truth of the gospel – meaning it is simply a witness of the true gospel. It is not our witness of the true gospel but of the One who makes the lost soul with the dead spirit able to hear the gospel for the first time. As witnesses we are to carry the gospel message to the world, but the gospel is heard where the Holy Spirit makes it heard. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent…” Romans 10:15a If there is no ability to hear the gospel then the gospel is just words. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Therefore, without the Holy Spirits power we have no power, none. Whether it is Christians, Pastors, or entire churches, we live and have our being only by God’s Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for that power!
