After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, he spent 40 days with his disciples. At the end of that time, he was taken from them. But before he left, he told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came on them. And when he did, they would receive power and be Jesus’ witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
What was this power they received? And was it just for them? Or is it available for believers today?
The Greek word dynamis is used 119 times in the New Testament. And 73 times, it is translated as power. It is also translated as miracles, miraculous powers, abilities, powerful, mighty, plus a variety of variations on these words.
Power refers to strength or ability. That strength may be physical or moral. But having power in a specific arena enables a person to be successful and overcome obstacles they may face. And the greater the power, the greater the obstacles they can overcome.
In Acts 1:8, the power the disciples were promised was not physical strength. They were physically no better off than anyone else. The power that they were promised was spiritual. It was a strength that would enable them to bear witness to Jesus throughout the world, despite any opposition they might face.
Acts 1:8 tells us that the power they were promised would come with the Holy Spirit. This power was not something that was inherent in them. Rather it was given to them by God; it was God’s power that would be at work in them.
This is more explicitly discussed in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. In this passage, Paul described an experience of being caught up to the third heaven. And, as a result, he received a thorn in the flesh to prevent him from becoming conceited because of the experience. Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed but was told that it was for his good – that God’s power would be perfected in Paul’s weakness.
And through this, Paul learned that when he was weak, he was strong. The power that enabled him to do what he did was not his own. Rather, it was God’s power at work in him. And it was his weakness that forced him to rely on God’s power rather than his own.
Both passages mentioned above could potentially be construed as referring to just the original apostles, including Paul. That they were given a power that was not available to other believers in their day and throughout history. But is that the case?
In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul shared his prayer for those he was writing to. And in it, he prayed that they might know God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe.” To know is more than just possessing information. It involves experience. Paul’s prayer is that they (we) would experience God’s incomparably great power – the power at work in those who believe.
The working of God’s power was not just for a select few at the beginning of church history. It is available for all who believe.
We understand God to be omnipotent, all-powerful. There is nothing God cannot do that is not logically impossible or contrary to his nature. But whereas God is omnipotent, I am not. God’s power working in me does not turn me into a superman, able to leap tall buildings or outrace speeding bullets. There is only one who is omnipotent.
It is important to remember that it is God’s power at work in me. It is not my power to harness as I wish. And he gives it to me for a reason. God’s power working through me enables me to accomplish whatever task he has given me.
In Acts 19:11-12, Luke records that while Paul was in Ephesus, he was able to do extraordinary miracles. Even handkerchiefs that he had touched were able to heal the sick. Yet, in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul said that he had left Trophimus in Miletus. The healing power that Paul had was not always at his disposal. It was only there as God supplied it to him.
A second limitation of my use of God’s power is faith. In Matthew 21:21, Jesus told his disciple that if they had faith and did not doubt, they could command a mountain to be cast into the sea, and it would be. It is probable that Jesus was referring to a specific mountain, and maybe not even a literal mountain. But it is clear from this that our faith plays a role in the power we can use.
And it is not always my faith that is the determining factor. Several times, Jesus told those he encountered that it was their faith that had healed them (Matt. 9:22, 29). And, in Matthew 13:58, we read that one time when Jesus came to Nazareth, he could not do many miracles because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 14:25-33 records an amusing but instructive story. The disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat during a storm. During the night, as they were straining at the oars, they looked up and saw Jesus, walking on the water toward them. Jesus assured them it was OK, that he was not a ghost. And then Peter made an unusual request.
He asked Jesus to invite him to walk out on the water to Jesus. And Jesus invited him to come. Peter jumped out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus. At least for a few steps. Then he looked around, saw the storm, realized he could not walk on water, and began to sink. Jesus rescued him, and then chided him for his lack of faith.
This story is sometimes good for a laugh at Peter’s expense. But it does illustrate the two limitations to the exercise of God’s power mentioned above. Peter did not just jump out of the boat and try to walk on the water. He asked and then was called to walk out to Jesus.
And so long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, rather than the circumstances and his lack of ability, he did just fine. But in the end, his faith was insufficient for the task, and he lost his ability to walk on water.
God’s power is not given to me for my own personal use. Instead, his power enables me to accomplish the work he has given me. I do not get more power than I need. Nor any less than is necessary.
A look at a number of passages will help to illustrate this
Acts 1:8
Ephesians 3:17-19
Colossians 1:11
2 Timothy 1:7
God will never call on us to do something without also providing what we need to accomplish it. And that includes the necessary power.
While Jesus was giving his final instructions to his disciples, he told them that “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
Jesus could walk on water, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and feed a multitude. So, it might seem like I should be able to do those things as well. And I can. At least if I have faith, and, more importantly, if it is what God has called me to do.
The power to act is God’s alone. I am simply a conduit through which he uses that power. And when I am where he wants me to be and trusting in him, then his power will enable me.
I do not expect that God will ever lead me to walk on water or feed a multitude with limited food. But I do believe that his power works through me to accomplish things I would not otherwise be able to do. His power has transformed my life. I have seen his power work through my prayers. And it is through his power that I am enabled to teach his word. But if walking on water was needed in what he had given me to do, no doubt he would give me the necessary power.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul expressed an important principle. While it may seem counter-intuitive to us, the stronger we are ourselves, the less of God’s power we will experience. It is only when we are weak that we are forced to rely on God’s power. And it is when we are weakest that God’s power will most fully work through us.
A hammer is a useful tool for someone trying to drive a nail. But that hammer had no ability to drive a nail by itself. It must be wielded by someone who knows how to use it. And the more proficient the user, the more effective the hammer is. I am like a hammer, or another tool, that God is wielding. His power flows through me. And it can do great things. But it is not mine.
It is important to remember that God’s power is not given to me for my own use or benefit. God’s power in me is for the benefit of other people and for the accomplishment of any task he has given me.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13). If God has called me to do something, no matter how great or small, I can do it. Through him who gives me strength. Nothing the Lord asks me to do will be impossible.
Ed Jarrett is a long-time follower of Jesus and a member of Sylvan Way Baptist Church. He has been a Bible teacher for over 40 years and regularly blogs at A Clay Jar. You can also follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Ed is married, the father of two, and grandfather of three. He is retired and currently enjoys his gardens and backpacking.
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