Let the Power Flow

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

LET THE POWER FLOW

Acts 1:6-9

6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

NIV

Why is it that men want to see the kingdom of God on this earth? Of course, his disciples were not thinking in spiritual terms, but merely thinking in the realm of their world, wanting Jesus to overthrow the Roman occupiers and reestablish Israel to what it was supposed to be, a nation of itself. And now they have a leader who has overcome death, who has the power of God coursing through him. However, although they are thinking of a present kingdom, Jesus speaks to them of a kingdom that is to come. There is a time coming that only the Father has set by his own authority. It does seem a bit strange that Jesus said all authority has been given to him on earth and in heaven, yet there is one thing the Father has kept all the authority to himself and that is the end of times. However, in the meantime, Jesus gave his disciples, which translates to us, some information about what will happen to them and what the result of what will happen to them will be. When the Holy Spirit comes on them and on us, we will receive power. Who would not want to live with the power of God flowing through them? Why would anyone want to live without the power of the Spirit? This would leave us weak and defenseless against the powers of this dark world. When we have received the Spirit he brings his power, all his gifts, and all his fruit to manifest in our lives. Jesus told his disciples that because of the power of the Spirit they would become his witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We know they did witness, as we have much of their exploits recorded in this letter to Theophilus, or the friends of God, which would be us. Luke wrote this letter to us so we would know what we should be doing. Although Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria are local areas that his disciples would be able to travel through, we can handle the ends of the earth, especially in this modern age of mass communications. Even our blog where this writing is posted can be read throughout the world through the medium of the internet. With the correct technology of translation software, it can be read in many languages. There are so many ways we can be witnesses for Jesus within the ends of this earth. We can even start right in our own living area, with our neighbors, our co-workers, and the places we play, or shop. There are people all around us who may or may not have heard the message of Jesus and the only way we can be witnesses is through the power we receive when the Spirit comes upon and within us. We need to be aware of when we receive the power to let it flow.