“YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER.”
By G.
In any great controversy with a powerful enemy the essential thing is power. Our contest is against the “prince of the power of the air.” As compared with our own strength, this is a mighty power, one that easily overcame the race even in its upright beginning. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12. For this reason nothing short of the “whole armor of God” will enable us to conquer. During the last meeting of our Saviour with His disciples on earth, they manifested a deep anxiety about the time when His kingdom would be established. They still entertained the prevalent Jewish idea that the Messiah would rebuild the temporal kingdom of Israel, and they were expecting prominent positions. Jesus did not intimate that He would not at some time set up a tangible kingdom in the earth; on the contrary, He left them to understand that He would do so, but had studiously taught them that it would not be confined to the Jewish race. A new birth was essential to citizenship in that kingdom. Christ had told these disciples that “when the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Matt. 25:31. But He had not told them when this would be. He had also promised them exalted position. “Ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Ch. 19:28. He had given them signs by which they might know that His coming was “near, even at the doors.” But in no instance had He advised them of the definite time of the consummation. In fact the promise of position to them, yes, even their salvation at all, was predicated upon their enduring to the end. Ch. 24:13. And one of their number (Judas) had already failed, making it necessary for another to take his “office.” Acts 1:15-20, R. V. Hence the question of definite time was of no practical importance to them. It was best for them not to know the time, else the Lord would have told them. Under the circumstances of their situation and calling, it was power that they most needed. The Lord always knows what His people need, and it is well that He supplies according to need, rather than according to request. Requests often betray selfishness, and this our heavenly Father knows better than to encourage. “We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:26-28. The knowledge of profitable asking comes by the Spirit thru the Word, and not thru mere anxiety. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. The “promise of the Father” was the Holy Spirit, and with it was to come the “power from on high.” In this also is comprised the presence of the Father and the Son. Speaking of the sending of His Spirit upon the disciples, Jesus says, “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20. The source from which we must derive power successfully to “resist the devil,” is Christ, to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth. The power that He imparts is the power that overcomes the world. John 16:33. “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. Then instead of telling the disciples when He would set up His kingdom, Jesus told them what was essential to have a part in the kingdom. It was necessary to have the Spirit of Christ, who had given His life for sinners. It was necessary to go out to seek and to save that which was lost. He had commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Their burden, like His, was to be the gathering in of perishing souls to make subjects for the kingdom. This was the purpose of giving them power from on high, and not that they might immediately become rulers. They were to go out as witnesses for the truth, “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” It was a very important trust to repose in fallible men, and it was essential that they be endowed with every possible qualification, and surrounded by every safeguard. But these were all included in the promise, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” To step out in the faith of this promise is the assurance of Christ’s dwelling in the heart, of His being with us to guide and to protect and to provide. It is the assurance of overcoming grace against every obstacle, of wisdom for every obligation, and power in every emergency. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32. “God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7), and “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”