The Holy Spirit is The Promise, The Power, and The Proof!
Without the power of The Holy Spirit, our credibility is in question.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 1:
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus (friend of GOD), of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
In this context, “to wait” means to dwell and meditate on the revelations of the Kingdom of GOD just taught to them by Jesus. The disciples needed this Promise to be effective witnesses of the Kingdom of GOD coming to the earth.
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive miraculous power (G1411) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the promise of The Holy Spirit has been given to us by Jesus Himself. What evidence were the disciples to expect? The power of The Holy Spirit was to come upon them. What was and is the purpose of such power? To be a true witness of Jesus Christ to the world with signs and wonders following.
To be a genuine witness of The Gospel, people want proof!
The word power (G1411) means:
- strength power, ability
- inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
- power for performing miracles
- moral power and excellence of soul
- the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
- power and resources arising from numbers
- power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
This power validates a true witness.
There is an old saying, “Talk is cheap, it takes money to ride the train.” A witness has to produce evidence, not just hearsay. When we receive The Holy Spirit, we have received His power as well, whether we walk in it or not.
In chapter 2:
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Have you personally seen 120 people in one place and in one accord? That was impressive within itself.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This initial evidence confounded the crowd. As a result of what the people saw and heard:
40 And with many other words Peter testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then Fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
The Holy Spirit provided proof as the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. With such proof, new believers were added to the ekklesia daily.