Experiencing The Power of God

Welcome to Day One of our track, “Experiencing God’s Power” with Dr. Crawford Loritts.

Over the course of 5 days, we will study how our need as Jesus' followers is not for more theological information or Christian activity, but for transformative power. We will uncover the places where we are living powerless, confront our inherent need for what Jesus freely promises and experience the gift of living yielded. 

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “You heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:1-8 ESV

Following His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days appearing to the disciples. In community with them, Jesus answered every question they had and transferred their doubts into assurance in the kingdom of God. Throughout these days together, the disciples gained exposure to the Savior, education in his ways, and a brand new understanding of Jesus and the resurrection. We might read these words and feel confident that the disciples were ready and able, to do all that Jesus would instruct them to do.

Like the disciples in this moment, many of us have resolved that our awareness of Christian content and our involvement in church activities should be enough to set us on the right course. So we sign up for another bible study, show up for another Sunday, and serve on another team, believing that we might experience the breakthrough we are believing for.

Instead we find ourselves in the same spot, taking two steps forward and three steps back. How do we break the cycle? How do we step into a different dance? 

We can look to the words and instruction of our Savior. Jesus tells them to remain where they are in Jerusalem until they have received the promise of the Father.

Look at what Jesus said in verse 8: 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

It may be your nature to muster up insights, create accurate analysis and collect information, but the truth we find in Jesus’ words is that this change is not a might we can muster up.

The disciples may have felt that their own exposure, experience and education was enough to get them where Jesus wanted them to go. 

But what we need, and what Jesus promised to send, was power. This transformative power is not just a downpour of solutions, instead, it serves as a declaration of identity that encourages us to be witnesses of Christ wherever we go.

We don’t need more fill-in-the-blank activities to accomplish what Christ has called us to do. We need His power.