Participating in the Tree of Life series: Boldness and power

 This is the 12th post in the Tree of Life series.  Here are links to the first and most recent posts. This post continues to explore aspects of the Holy Spirit, the water of life, which continuously flows through those who are connected to Jesus through belief in Him.  It is critical to the Christian believer to know and understand what God has made available through the Holy Spirit.  The last two posts shared how the Holy Spirit is our source of truth and understanding.  As a final reflection on the Holy Spirit as the source of truth and understanding, consider this passage Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2: 12-14:

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

It seems we are more and more in a world and culture where many people conduct their lives according to their feelings, rather than on truth and understanding.  It is great news that we have a source beyond ourselves to guide us in truth and understanding!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF BOLDNESS AND POWER

There’s a great story described by Luke concerning the provision of the Holy Spirit to the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection, and the impact the Holy Spirit had on them.  This story actually begins in the Gospel of John, where Jesus explains to his disciples that He is leaving and He will ask God to send the Holy Spirit (John14: 15-29).  After Jesus’ resurrection, when He appears to His disciples, and fulfilled this promise of the Holy Spirit (John 20: 19-22).

This is where Luke picks up the story, first in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 44-49, which is Luke’s description of the same post-resurrection interaction of Jesus with the disciples found in John chapter 20:

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

It was a consequence of the Holy Spirit (John 20: 19-22) that the disciples were now able to understand the scriptures.  In addition to this understanding, note what Jesus instructs in verse 49 – the disciples would soon be receiving power.  Luke continues this story in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1.  Here are Acts 1:1-5, and Acts 1:8-9

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

This passage clearly demonstrates that the Holy Spirit brings power to the believer.  Moreover, verse 8 connects the receiving of this power with a specific intention – that of the Great Commission – sharing the message of Jesus to the world.

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES BOLDNESS OF WITNESS

In Acts chapter 4, Luke describes an interaction between Peter and John with the Jewish Sanhedrin, after they healed a lame man (a demonstration of God’s power working in them), and were declaring that Jesus was raised from the dead. For brevity, here are a few key verses from this story, but I recommend you read the entire chapter (Acts chapter 4).

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them.

The power of the Holy Spirit is a source of courage and boldness to accomplish God’s will – that the message of salvation through Jesus is proclaimed throughout the world, so that as many as will believe, can be reconciled with God.

POWER AND BOLDNESS IS FOR ALL BELIEVERS

The same Holy Spirit received by the Apostles, is the same Holy Spirit available to all believers.  Consider the words of Paul as recorded in Ephesians 1:18-20, concerning the power available to all who believe: 

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…

We are all called to share the good news message of Jesus Christ.  The great news is that God equips us to do so – even those of us who feel timid or lack the social skills to do so.  Take a look again at Acts 4: 13-14 above – unschooled, ordinary men boldly proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so.  The same is true of us, if we are willing to allow the river of water of life to flow through us.