By Pastor Dave Holland
“You are witnesses of these things. 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.” Luke 24:48-49, NIV
Our super-heroes want to be clothed with power. Superman and Batman have their capes. The Hulk has his muscles and Wonder woman has her uniform. We use these figures to fantasize that we have a superpower. It’s fiction with no foundation in reality.
Jesus wants to clothe us in real power, Spirit-power.
The disciples had witnessed Christ’s life by living with him and working alongside him. Day and night for over three years they observed both his miracles and listened to his teachings. The Lord is now commissioning them to tell the world about what they have learned. But they lack something important—power.
The same Spirit that empowered Mary to conceive Baby Jesus is now promised to us by the Father. The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead and now pledged to us. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received this promise.
They waited in prayer for 10 days for the Spirit to come during the Holiday of Pentecost. And the Spirit came with power.
The King James Bible translated Luke 24:49 with the phrase “endued with power.” But the modern phrasing catches the meaning better, “to be clothed with power,” literally to sink into God’s garment of power. The Sprit of God is real.
Christ has a purpose and a mission for each of us. But, we cannot achieve that purpose without being clothed with power. Not a fantasy cape, but clothed with the Spirit of Christ and his power.
What would happen to our lives if we waited for the Spirit to come? What would happen to our churches if they waited on the Spirit instead of their agenda?
We do not have the power to change lives. The Holy Spirit has that power. As the Apostles went forth witnessing, the Holy Spirit persuaded and confirmed their witness, and people received salvation. It happens the same way today.
Many years ago, I was leading a summer youth camp in New Hampshire. As always, there were some troublesome young people among the bunch. Some teenagers had come from inner-city Boston, being sponsored by various business people in our church.
One of these rambunctious kids was brought to me for discipline. Though I was irritated by his constant disruptions, compassion overwhelmed me and I laid my hand on his shoulder, looked into his eyes, and said the words given to me. “Young man, you are better than this. I see you as leader who is destined to be a man of God.” The Holy Spirit was speaking through me with grace and power I did not have. The Spirit was writing on his heart.
Fast forward roughly 25 years with my daughter Jessica, now a youth pastor in the Columbus, Ohio, area. She had taken a group of young people to a summer camp in the Midwest. There, a dynamic speaker ministered effectively to the teenagers present. The preacher was from the Boston area, and he described how a camp director had once spoken into his life, leading him to a lifetime of ministry.
Yep, that troubled teen from the camp in New Hampshire was now the dynamic minister in Ohio. God is great.
We don’t need a superman cape to be a powerful Christian. If we wait and ask to be clothed with the Spirit, the Lord can use us in wonderful ways. The Holy Spirit still moves with power, confirming Christ’s saving power.
Dave Holland pastored churches for 38 years before retiring in Destin. Learn more about him from his website, DaveHolland.org. Pastor Dave is available to preach and teach at churches and conferences. Contact him at DavidvHolland54@gmail.com.
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