stephen R Harrison

The most misunderstood, underutilized, and misrepresented Person of the Godhead is the Holy Spirit. He is a Person of power. He is our Helper. He is our Friend.

Let’s look at His power. Power is something many have sought and even fought to attain. Power has been abused and misused. But power is the last thing Jesus promised His disciples before leaving this earth. They had seen His power on this earth, but it was limited. Jesus never traveled over 300 miles from His hometown, and His ministry only lasted about three years on this earth. Wherever He was, His miraculous power was revealed, but His divinity was purposefuly limited by His humanity. Don’t misunderstand me – Jesus was fully God, yet He was fully man at the same time. He told His disciples that it was better if He went away (back to Heaven) so He could ask the Father to send the Helper – the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit would indwell EVERY believer and would not be bound by time or space.

The last thing Jesus told His disciples was they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). They had seen Jesus’ power. He performed many miracles. He raised people from the dead. He resurrected from the dead. They would soon see Him ascend to Heaven right before their eyes. However, the power of the Spirit wasn’t limited to a place or a time. The Spirit would be given and abide in EVERY believer at salvation. Why? The Spirit’s power helps us in many ways, but the main reason was listed by Jesus Himself. This power was for the mission to which He called them – witnesses of His saving gospel to the whole world. It was not for their purposes or mission. Jesus even corrected them about this a couple verses earlier when they had the wrong idea about only a small area and singular people group. Jesus had a bigger mission – the biggest of them all and it included the best idea – the gospel, and would stretch beyond one people – to the whole world and beyond one generation.The disciples needed something way more powerful than themselves to accomplish this – they needed the power of the Holy Spirt – the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) that would indwell them and every believer from that point forward. 

We also need the Sprit of God and His power to accomplish His mission.

Holy Spirit, help us use your power for your purposes. We do not possess the power to accomplish your plan. Your Holy Spirit changes the human spirit – something man’s power could never do. Thank you for changing me from the inside out. Help me operate in Your power for your purpose.