Power Over All

On this final day of a most enlightening week, we come with open hearts and minds before the all-encompassing and all-surpassing power of the Holy Spirit.

People to witness to

The disciples who were speaking in other languages were not doing this to edify or enhance themselves. I have marvelled at, and still am held spell-bound by the power, precision and command of the Holy Spirit. These disciples, without even knowing it, are witnessing to people from all over the world. There they are, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues they have never learnt, and doing it so masterfully, others are listening to them and being moved with conviction. Have you ever thought about things such as these?

The disciples never planned any of this. They never asked specific people in Jerusalem to gather around at that early morning time, in that localized vicinity where they were. They never asked the people to remain within hearing distance, so that they could speak in their different languages for them to hear.  There was absolutely nothing of human planning here, I tell you. It was all divine and supernatural planning.  In addition, to make it even more convincing, to make it even more of God and God alone, the disciples were not even aware that non-disciples were being drawn to them through the ‘tongues’ of Pentecost. The manifestation of power was not a silent experience. There was noise, sound, talking and preaching for listening ears to hear. This is all of God, nothing of human planning. Whether the disciples wanted people to hear them or not, God made them to be heard by people.  This is God’s Divine plan for Pentecost. When one is filled with the Holy Ghost, one simply surrenders oneself and the Spirit does all His Spiritual work through you. There is no kind of fear, intimidation, weakness, human designs and schemes, to do the Spirit’s work. He does it Himself.

Presence To Witness

The disciples have not just been given the power and the people to witness to, but they are given the presence.  Yes, reading the account as told in Acts 2, the power and the people are most visible. However, where does presence fit in? May we receive, as we are made aware that without presence, there would be no fulfilment.  Think of it! At some point or other, these disciples in this locked room, would have to show themselves.  They could not just remain in that room in Jerusalem, where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them took place.  No! They would have had to come out and give their listeners their presence. It is in giving them presence that the hearers received the Presence of the unseen Holy Spirit. We are viewing presence, in three ways.

The Presence of Authority. Note, the disciples are still in Jerusalem, the place of Crucifixion and Resurrection, where Jesus told them to remain. On their own, they would have no authority to address these Jews and people from other places, no authority to speak to them publicly about the wonders of God, for who would listen to Galileans? This was no acquired, or fought for authority on the part of the disciples. This was all of the Spirit, supernaturally done. To have Jews, and these would be men of standing, who had come to Jerusalem, listen to Galileans, is truly only of God. 

The Presence of Boldness.  The crowd that was gathered, saw in these ordinary men, a boldness that baffled them. These simple, unlearned followers of Jesus, assumed status in the eyes of all those foreigners and citizens, for the Holy Spirit had given them the perfect presence of learned people. Ordinary men, enabled by the Holy Spirit, have a boldness that is most amazing. Their presence captivates.  

The Presence of Commandeering. The disciples were given presence in the commanding image they received. Think about it!  These Spirit filled men commanded the attention of their listeners. The hearers were mesmerized, curious and totally taken, not just by what the disciples were saying, but by their command of each native tongue, that never was spoken by these disciples of the Man called Jesus. I tell you, these Spirit filled men, did not have to demand people to hear them. They did not have to do tricks, gimmicks and antics to get the presence necessary to hold the attention of their listeners. No! Absolutely not!  Through the Holy Spirit, they were given the commandeering presence that held the crowd. 

God the Holy Spirit has power over all things and all people. When He indwells you, it is His power and presence, which are seen and felt, in His words and works.

Somehow, although Pentecost Week is over, we must carry on, for our teaching is flowing and our learning is growing.