Power from on high

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. – Luke 24.45-49

I often feel quite defeated and beaten. I feel weak and powerless. Sometimes I feel something like ‘what’s the use?’ I can feel like nothing ‘works’ and that maybe we should just hang it up.

But I do that when I forget where our commission and where our power comes from. Just before Jesus left He gave what might be called His farewell address. He took off any spiritual blinders that remained with the disciples. They were able now to accept what He said.

His last lesson was pretty simple. Everything that has happened had to happen. Jesus had to suffer and die so that He could rise from the dead.  Now that message of repentance and salvation had to be carried to all nations, starting with Jerusalem.

They were not expected to go our powerless though. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high.

We know now that the promised power was the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the church for the task of spreading the gospel.

The Holy Spirit did come at Pentecost and now indwells and empowers every believer.

When we get defeated and feel like there is nothing we can do there is one reason. We are depending on the wrong power. Instead of allowing ourselves to be endued with power from on high we try to endue ourselves with our own power and wisdom.

We need to keep going forth and keep plugging away – but we need to do so in the right power.