The Power Of Pentecost Series

Jesus said: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The word translated power is the Greek word dunamis. Dunamis is used 120 times in the New Testament. It is a word that refers to ‘strength, power, or ability’. Dunamis is not just any power it is miraculous power or marvellous works. Dunamis can also refer to ‘power and excellence of soul’. Dunamis is the root word of the English words dynamite, dynamo and dynamic.

In John 14:15-17 Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.”

Advocate in Greek: Paraclete or parákletos - the one who consoles; comforts; encourages; uplifts; refreshes; or intercedes. On the day of Pentecost, the Advocate arrived in power. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 disciples gathered together in the Upper Room and they were changed, they were transformed. Peter preached the Gospel and 3,000 people were saved that day.

Power, boldness, to go out and speak the truth and thousands were saved. Could that happen today? Yes, it can! God has not changed, and His power has not diminished. The Holy Spirit still operates in power in our lives. The truth of the Gospel still changes and transforms lives today and God uses ordinary people like you and me to share the truth of who Jesus is with others.

The disciples were filled with dunamis power and today we, as disciples of Jesus, are filled with the same dunamis power as those first disciples.

Remember, we do not live the Christian life in our own power, but in God’s. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.