Three weeks ago, Vickie and I had the opportunity to minister at one of my all-time favorite churches, Riverside Church which is located down in Sebastian, Florida. Since the drive was only about two hours, we woke up on that Sunday at 4:30 AM to get showered, dressed and on the road by 5:45 AM so that we could be on time for the 8:15 AM service. Saturday evening, I went to bed knowing what God had wanted me to preach. In my time of preparation, I knew that I knew that the Holy Spirit would definitely show up and lives would be changed. I couldn’t wait to preach the two services!
Here’s a cool thing about the Holy Spirit. He is full of surprises! Upon hearing the alarm clock, I sensed in my heart that God had something to add to the messages. I knew that I was to go to my office and pull out the Wuest – The New Testament: An Expanded Translation from my library bookshelf and look up Acts 1:8. Listen, at 4:30 AM, I know that this thought wasn’t from me. At that time of day, I am doing my best to get out of bed. And, to add even more validity to what happened that morning, I hadn’t thought of or used this translation in months. In other words, it wasn’t my first, second, or even third go-to translation.
Here is what I read…
“But you shall receive power of the kind which God has and exerts after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be those who testify of what they have seen and experienced, my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Like you, I’ve read this scripture so, so many times. I know about the word “power” is translated from the Greek word “dunamis”. I know and have quoted in so many sermons and teachings “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit…” from the Amplified Bible (Classic). But as I obeyed the Holy Spirit’s instructions, the words “you shall receive power of the kind which God has and exerts” literally exploded in my spirit.
We have short-changed what could and should be happening in and through our lives. This isn’t just power, supernatural power, and ability, efficiency, and might. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), we actually receive the “power of the kind that God has and exerts.” This is what I call power on steroids. Because of this revelation, seeing the power of God in motion is no longer an issue. It is now a reality.
There is so much more that I could add. But, it isn’t necessary. As you meditate on this revelation, I know that your spirit will grab ahold of what we have received by the Holy Spirit. Get ready for a new day of working together with the Holy Spirit.
