Clothed with power

Scripture shows us four ways in which the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. First of all, as Jesus says, no one knows Him unless they are born of the Spirit. Therefore, the Spirit of God dwells in all Christians. Secondly, we are called to dwell in the Spirit, to remain intimate with Him in prayer. Thirdly, we must be continually filled with the Spirit, constantly drinking from its well of living water. All this does not mean that the Spirit leaves us, but rather that we have a part in our relationship with him.

Finally, there is a breathlessness of the Spirit that fills us with power, which exceeds our ability to generate. You may be wondering, "If I have been born of the Spirit, and the Spirit dwells in me, and I drink constantly of the Spirit, why should I need the Spirit to be poured out upon me ?" Because it helps us understand our need for God. We could never do the work of his kingdom in our passion or our zeal. He must come from him.

Sometimes we found him in the Church. We believe that God chooses the ardent person, the one who will get everyone zealous for God. But the Lord does not seek an ardent heart; he seeks a hungry heart - the one he can fill with his mind, heart and spirit. This means that even the mildest among us are eligible.

Note the word Jesus uses to describe the outpouring of the Spirit : "Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from above" (Luke 24:49). This suggests an external movement of the Spirit in our lives, something that comes from outside of us. All other movements of the Spirit within us are internal - born again, preserving, filling us. But it is an action that God does for us. We depend on him to bring it to us.

Gary Wilkerson