Power of the Spirit Available To All

In this week’s gospel reading, the Bible explains that Jesus returned to the Galilee region filled with “the power of the Spirit.”

When Jesus arrived at his boyhood hometown of Nazareth, He went into the local synagogue, stood up in front of the congregation, and read a passage from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…”

As Jesus finished reading the rest of the verses, he rolled up the scroll and announced, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The power of the Spirit—which theologians later realized was none other than the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit—was absolutely essential for Jesus to complete His mission. Without the Holy Spirit as a supernatural bridge between Heaven and earth, Jesus would have been cut off from His Father. He would have been left with nothing but His earthly, natural abilities, which means He would have been unable to perform miracles and, most importantly, unable to rise from the dead Himself on that first Easter morning.

The same is true for us. If we don’t tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re left with nothing but our earthly, natural abilities, which means that we, too, will be unable to perform miracles and, most importantly, unable to rise from the dead at the Final Judgment.

Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t think we’re able to perform miracles? Sure we are. I’ve seen it happen. Miracles definitely happen. As far as the rising from the dead thing, well, Jesus promised us it can and will happen, so for now, I’m taking His word for it by faith.

Granted, the miracles I’ve witnessed are a little less spectacular than the ones Jesus performed. I’ve never seen a leper instantly cured, nor a crippled man instantly able to walk, nor a dead guy suddenly sit up in his coffin and say, “Hi Mom, what’s for lunch?” (When Jesus did that for the poor widow of Nain [Luke 7:11-15], can you imagine how stunned she must have been? I’m surprised she didn’t croak right on the spot, causing her and her son to switch places and the funeral procession to continue to the cemetery.)

Although a little less spectacular, the miracles I’ve witnessed are nonetheless bona fide supernatural occurrences. There are no natural explanations for them.

People whose minds were as ravaged by fear and hatred as the skin is ravaged by leprosy, were miraculously filled with peace and kindness. Others whose hearts were crippled with bitterness and anger were miraculously filled with joy and gentleness. And still others, whose relationships with their spouses were as good as dead, were miraculously resurrected with an infusion of love and faithfulness.

These things don’t happen by accident. They don’t just naturally occur. They are true miracles, performed by the power of God through the Holy Spirit.

I also know a guy whose insatiable craving for alcohol miraculously disappeared when he asked Jesus to come into his heart. One day he couldn’t live without getting drunk, the next day the idea of having a drink repulsed him. Another miracle. (By the way, I see this guy quite often…in fact, every time I look in the mirror.)

Back in that synagogue, Jesus made a big deal of proclaiming that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him because the presence of the Holy Spirit was not an everyday occurrence back then. During Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit occasionally filled various patriarchs and prophets, but He wasn’t very available to the average person.

All that changed at Pentecost. Jesus had promised His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth….He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all of them, completely transforming their lives.

To this very day the Holy Spirit is available to all believers who sincerely ask Him to dwell in their hearts.

We are so fortunate to live in this age of grace. Unlike Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit does not make brief and sporadic appearances. He is present for all of us all the time. We are able, just like Jesus, to be filled with “the power of the Spirit,” and to declare confidently that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”

Far too many people, however, think the idea of being “filled with the Spirit” is a little too weird and spooky. It doesn’t jibe with our modern, scientific view of the world, so they steer clear of it.

What a shame. That’s like pushing your car down the street because you don’t understand that turning the key will allow the motor to do the pushing. When you fire up the engine, you have a lot more power and a lot less frustration. 

We should not ignore the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke about Him at length. And Jesus said the coming of the Holy Spirit would be a “gift” (Acts 1:4). We should accept this gift from our Creator with joy and thanksgiving.