The Power to Serve

“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." – Acts 1:8

Often when we refer to the Power of the Holy Spirit, it is represented as a raw, unbridled, and or un-harnessed energy. It is not a focused energy, but it is something that just gives us a little extra pep in our step or a little more force behind our words. Sometimes it is perceived as a force that allows the evangelist, missionary, or pastor to do “Herculean” type stunts while performing the mundane things of everyday ministry. But what if the pastor’s local church is not growing? Or what happens if a missionary does not experience mass conversions? Does this imply that they are not filled with the Holy Spirit? Is there another way of understanding the nature and quality of this power?

Ironically, the most common comparison used to describe the nature of this power is the explosive - dynamite. The word translated in the above passage as power is the Greek word δυναμις (dunamis) which also happens to be where the English word dynamite is derived from. What is ironic is that preachers often focus on the explosiveness of this power, rather than the purpose or composition of this power. According to Wikipedia, “Dynamite contains three parts nitroglycerin, one part diatomaceous earth and a small admixture of sodium carbonate. This mixture is formed into short sticks and wrapped in paper.” When Alfred Nobel combined these elements, the result was a safe and highly manageable explosive that could be used for a very specific purpose.

Similarly, the purpose of the power that is promised is to equip the people of God to effectively witness both locally and internationally. The Holy Spirit empowers Christian servants to stand firm in the midst of trial, stand up for his/her convictions and speak boldly even in the midst of the fiercest persecution. The true beauty of this “power” is in its composition. In God’s master plan, He created us with the capacity to think, tremendous natural abilities, and graced us with spiritual gifts. All of this affirms the Apostle Paul’s words that we are “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good work” (Eph. 2:10). You see, it has always been God’s plan for the Holy Spirit to work in harmony with His Creation for His Kingdom’s sake. Therefore, when we combine our human faculties, natural abilities, and spiritual gifts with God’s power it results in a servant who will do great things for the Kingdom! This is why it is essential we learn how to think biblically and theologically, how to rightly interpret scripture, and how to effectively communicate the full gospel message