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Pentecostal Power

Pentecost Sunday is the day churches celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.1-21. Luke, the disciple, mentions the coming of the Holy Spirit first in his gospel account (Lk 24.49) and I particularly appreciate the translation 'clothed with power from on high'. In these words, three ideas are given but I will focus on the aspect of power.


'Power'

What is this power? I ask this question because power is often associated with evil, the wish to hurt and harm others. Men and women lust after power, lust to exercise power over others for their own ends and to the misery of others.

Contrariwise, Jesus' use of his Holy In-Spirited power was to do good, to release others from the grip of Satan's bondage, to bring light into darkness. 

He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power (Acts 10.38), and went around doing good and healing people oppressed by the devil. Jesus delivered those imprisoned in the devil's clutches.

And what Jesus began, the church of God continued under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and with power, so were his chosen apostles.  

'Power' is one of the common themes in the Lucan gospel account (Lk 24.49) and The Acts (see Acts 1.8) coupled with the descent of the Spirit upon the waiting disciples. We also know that 'signs and wonders' are connected to continuing work of the Spirit within the community of faith (Acts 4.30-31; 5.12, 15-16 etc) particularly through the apostles. 

When these signs and wonders are examined they all have this same liberating* character (Acts 3.8; 9.32-35; 9.36-41; 14.8-10; 19.11-12; 28.5-6, 8-9) as found in Jesus' ministry. By this means, the apostles and disciples fulfill the words of Jesus, 'As the father has sent Me, so I am sending you' (Jn 20.21).


*Except for a few which evidence judgement. Judgement is also an aspect of God's dealing with mankind (e.g., Acts 5. 1-11; 8.20-24; 10.42; 17.30-31; 24.25) and demonstrates that God will in no wise ignore the cry of those unjustly treated. 

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