The Explosive Power of the Holy Spirit

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you,

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8 CSB)

Here in Acts 1:8 Jesus, once again, was having to redirect the disciple’s questions about the kingdom (Acts 1:6) to the real mission—bearing witness. He additionally told them how they would do it—by the Holy Spirit.

There is only one way to do it properly: By the Spirit’s power. That power Jesus referred to is the Greek word dynamin. It’s the root for our English word “dynamite.” That’s some serious efficacy!

Having received the Spirit, Peter preached before the crowd in the Temple courts that very day. Quoting the prophet Joel, he said that in these last days God “will pour out My Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17, 18; Joel 2:28 emphasis mine). That promise is not specific to gender, status, accomplishment, or ethnicity. Just Jesus (Acts 2:21). As Peter proclaimed, “the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39).

The Spirit, descending in violent wind and flames (Acts 2:2-3), was the explosion of the newborn church. On that first Pentecost-day, the church blasted from 120 to over 3,000 (Acts 2:41).

Because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, those tongues of fire in Palestine have spread into a wildfire to span the globe . . . to reach right where you are.

Will you spread that flame by bearing witness? 

We bear witness by the same Spirit . . . sharing the same good news of Jesus Christ. That dynamin power is within you to share the best news the world has ever known!

As did the Lord’s apostles, the Lord’s work is to be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. As C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless.”

Let that flame move out – beyond you – by bearing witness to what the Lord has done. The church has yet to reach the “ends of the earth” if there is even one person you know who hasn’t heard of the kingdom of the Christ.

Be encouraged by the Power gifted within to do it. He was given for just such a purpose—to glorify Jesus and expand His church.