We were blessed to go to church with our California family last Sunday. It was Pentecost Sunday, a remembrance of that first Pentecost promised by our Lord Christ Jesus following His resurrection.
Power. The funny thing about the church in California on Pentecost Sunday was that the church (and neighborhood) was experiencing a “partial” power outage. They were able to power up some lights, but not all. The coffee bar was closed, the screens were dark, so no words could be displayed. There was a piano and guitar, and they were able to power a few mics. It was like being in church decades ago!
We were also warned that the power company to restore full power might shut down all power any minute, and if the room got dark, we should use our cellphone flashlights to find our way out.
Power. Full power. Partial Power. No Power. With all that talk about electrical power, I could not help but think about heavenly power and the church on Pentecost Sunday.
Following Jesus’ resurrection, He gave His disciples instructions. First, He told them to go into all the world and make disciples. We call this the Great Commission. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matthew 28:19 HCSB]
Then He told them to wait where they were until the Father sent them the power needed to carry out the Great Commission. “I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” [Luke 24:49 HCSB]
Jesus then told them that the Holy Spirit would provide the power to be witnesses through the entire world. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [Acts 1:8 HCSB]
Everyone agrees that the Great Commission is still in force today. We have not yet taken the testimony of Christ Jesus into all the world. So, it always seems funny to me that we often dismiss the spiritual power provided by the Holy Spirit that first Pentecost as not necessary in our day and age. If anything, we need it even more! Full power, not partial power, is necessary to reach our world!
