- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.
By J.C.Metcalfe.
“Our spiritual strength will be in proportion to the absence of self-dependence and self-confidence. When we are weak in ourselves we shall not fail if we apply to the right source for help, to be found strong in the Lord. “ Thomas Upham.
The Greek word ‘dunamis’ is used in close connection with the work of the Holy Spirit of God in and through His people, and means the natural capability, the inherent power and the ability to perform anything. It is not merely power capable of action, but power in action.
The word is used on a number of occasions in 1 Corinthian, and the power is attributed to “the message of the Cross” (1 v18). Christ is spoken of as “the power of God” (1 v24) and later we are told that “the Kingdom of God is not a matter talk but of power” (4 v20). The phrase, “the power of our Lord Jesus Christ” is used in the next chapter (5 v4) and power is later ascribed to God (6 v14). Finally we read of power in connection with the resurrection of the dead (15 v43, see also Phil. 3 v10). Here is power in action, inherent in God and seen in all the workings of His Kingdom. He is the Almighty, and absolute power is one of His attributes.
In 2 Corinthians Paul says of the Christian life, “For God, Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (4 v6-7). All power is inherent in God, and it is when He is enshrined in the human heart that enablement is given to live as a Christian to His glory. Later, speaking of the Christian worker, the Apostle mentions as part of his equipment, “in truthful speech and in the power of God, with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left” (6 v7). The placing of power between truth and righteousness is surely significant, these three cannot be separated. Next Paul gives us a glimpse into his own experience, and after telling us of the thorn in his flesh and his earnest intercession for its removal, writes, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest upon me” (12 v9). The practical lesson which must always be learnt about power is that “Power belongs to God” (Ps. 62 v11) and can only be exercised through us when we know as a reality something of our weakness. Lastly we are given a glimpse of this principle in operation by the way in which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself deliberately laid aside His own power as God and trusted only in the might of the Father, “For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power”.
In other places power is associated directly with the Holy Spirit. Luke’s Gospel contains one or two interesting passages. In Luke 1 v15 Zachariah is told that John “will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth”, and when we read further we are shown the particular way in which this filling is to mould his path, “He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of righteousness - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (v 17). The terms of John’s commission are clear and he is to be equipped with power for this work. This power is only to be found in the presence of the Holy Spirit, whose purpose is to lay hold of his life so that the will of God may be done. Outside the scope of God’s will there could be no question of power.
Then there is a lovely verse in this same chapter when Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Redeemer. Mary asks in wonderment, “How will this be . . . since I am a virgin?” upon which she receives the assurance, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (v 34-35). God Himself stooped to work in a human frame the mighty miracle of the Incarnation. Humble readiness for His will was Mary’s part, the power was God’s. This is always so in all His dealings with us.
In Luke 4 v14 we read that when the Lord Jesus had faced and conquered the Tempter in the wilderness, He “returned in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside”. The Spirit of God, who had come upon Him at His baptism, enabled Him in His hour of bitter conflict, and then brought Him back in great triumph among the people, so that their dire need might be met by His power. In verse 36 we find this commentary, “All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits, and they come out”. Again this was power seen in action, and people recognizing its reality marvelled.
Another reference to look at is Luke 24 v49. The Lord Jesus Christ has explicitly defined their commission to His disciples. They are to be witnesses to His death and resurrection, and to proclaim in His Name the offer of forgiveness to the repentant. Then He says, “I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high”. Power and authority are interwoven. The authority of our witness is vouched for by the empowering Spirit. We have no right whatever to attempt to bear our witness without this empowering. The work of God can only be done by the power of His Spirit and we need to deal very closely with Him to ensure that we are linked to this Person, the Source of all effective working, and are not just beating the air. We must never forget that He who is the power of God will only empower us for that task which God has planned for us.
This brings us naturally to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1 v8 reiterates the promise, and implies the command of Luke 24 v49, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. The purpose of the power brought by the indwelling Spirit was to enable them to witness. The darkness of the human heart can only be penetrated and enlightened by the Spirit’s power. Evidence, argument, persuasion and even preaching are of no avail without it. The Christian’s witness is not only to be faithful but also fruitful and this is guaranteed by a personally sought, and reckoned upon, enabling of the Holy Spirit.
In the early verses of Acts 3 a notable miracle has occurred, and in verse 12 we read that when Peter saw that the people ran together he said, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” In our day there is in some circles much talk of healing and miraculous powers, but there is also much dismal failure. Sensationalism is always dangerous and the so-called miracle which needs human advertisement to bring it to peoples’ notice is usually counterfeit. Peter was concerned that the people should not misunderstand what had happened, and anxious to see that all honour was rendered to Jesus, who alone works great marvels. No one in their senses would deny that God can and does work miracles in our day, but where the miraculous takes the centre of the stage, we have only an exhibition of self, which will not only prove abortive but positively dangerous.
Power is also used in close connection with the Holy Spirit of God to describe the effectiveness of the apostles’ witness, even when opposed and persecuted (4 v29-30). Power is given as one of those qualifications which made Stephen fit for his office as a deacon (6 v8). The Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of during His earthly ministry as being full of divine power (10 v38).
Romans 15 v13 gives as one of the evidences of the power of the Holy Spirit operating in the life, “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. This certainly is a miracle of grace when we can see beyond the material, which hedges us in on every side, and can be buoyant with hope in the darkest most unpromising situations. Then in verse 19 Paul speaks of “the power of signs and miracles through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ”. The display of power is here again seen to direct all thoughts into one channel, the glory of Christ, and the proclamation of His saving grace.
In 1 Corinthians 2 v1-5 Paul assesses his own preaching as being not “with eloquence or superior wisdom . . . but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power”, surely the only worthy objective for preaching.
The Epistles to the Thessalonians provide us with a contrast. Paul writes, “our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction”. We have this picture of a group of emancipated men and women planted in a Roman Colony whose new-found faith was obvious to those amongst whom they lived, and if hated by some was respected by all (1 Thess. 1 v5). In the second letter we find the direct warning against one who will come “in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing” (2 v9-10).
One more reference would seem to be relevant, and to bring real joy and assurance to every Christian heart, “For God did not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1 v7). How descriptive of the might, and yet the loving, gracious orderliness of the Holy Spirit. This is the power which we need to know in all its fulness, so that we too may be powerful in witness and see, in any realm in which it is His pleasure to work, miracles that shall redound to His glory, and His alone through all eternity.
From “The Bible and the Spirit-filled Life”.