Luke 24:49 “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.”

This is intimately connected with John 14:12, the verse that the Lord has given this church for this year. It is physically and spiritually impossible for ordinary human beings to “do [Jesus’] works, and even greater works” in their own strength; it’s got to be by God’s power. The Bible is clear throughout, though it doesn’t use these words, that God never requires anything of us that He doesn’t enable us to do. That’s why even faith is a gift, available to all who will receive it. (Ephesians 2:8-9) The one thing God asks of us is the exercise of our free will, choosing to obey Him and receive what He offers. That’s what makes the Gospel all the more radical and shocking: we are involved, but we can’t earn it. In this particular instance, what was required of the disciples was humble patience. They had no idea how long “until” meant. It turned out to be 10 days, and then the glorious events of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, unfolded. It’s interesting to think about the fact that there were 120 people gathered in the upper room at Pentecost. (Acts 1:15) Luke tells us in Acts 1:4 that the instructions given in this verse we’re considering were given “while He was eating with them,” so it was probably a much smaller group. However, those present talked with others, and that generated the 120-person prayer meeting. One of the unique factors of the Gospel is that any individual can be used to multiply the Church: we’ve just got to share what we’ve already received. What the believers before Pentecost had was faith, based on their experience of Jesus to whatever degree. Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) If the Holy Spirit had been poured out at Pentecost only on the remaining 11 of the original apostles, the Church would never have taken off the way it did. However, He was poured out on all who had gathered in faith, and continues to be available to all believers. He is indeed “the promise of the Father,” and Father God always keeps His promises!

I’ve got to make this clear to the believers, so that they won’t try to “do Jesus’ works” in their own strength and be totally discouraged, but will open up to allow the Holy Spirit to fill and use them. Some have tasted the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but all of us need to be far more available for Him to flow through us in our daily lives. We are not called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) only on Sundays! We all have a stubborn tendency to limit God by our fearful unbelief. I can’t correct that even in myself, much less in anyone else, but I can choose to allow God to do it through me. If I will do that, then I will indeed be “clothed with power from on high” to do Jesus’ works in every area of life, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this very clear Word! Help me live it out myself as well as express it clearly to the believers, so that together we may choose to believe and receive, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!