The “power of one”.
I have been so blessed by it this past week watching individuals volunteer…….knowing that their contribution…their “power of one”….was extremely IMPORTANT.
Jesus was the absolute best example of the “power of one” when He walked on earth…loving, serving , and ministering…. and when He died on the cross and rose on the third day! For 40 days after His resurrection, HE showed himself and gave convincing proof to a group of people and then ascended into heaven.
The very cool and marvelous thing is that HE didn’t leave any of us on earth to operate in our own strength. He sent the HOLY SPIRIT which is His Spirit in us that empowers us when we invite Jesus into our hearts!! Do you REALIZE that when you have Jesus YOU have “HIS POWER OF ONE”? The Holy Spirit in us can and will enable us to do things that in our “own strength” is impossible. I know for me this week it has been HIS SPIRIT…inside of me and others…to accomplish many things. Never in my own strength could some of the things I have seen happen be done with out His power in me and others:)
I love reading and studying about the Holy Spirit and the power available to anyone who believes. The power talked about in Ephesians 1:19-20. “And his incomparably great POWER for us WHO BELIEVE. That POWER is the SAME as the MIGHTY STRENGTH HE EXERTED WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far ABOVE ALL rule and authority, power and dominion and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” [emphasis added]. Paul wrote this passage to encourage the church and it is there to encourage us today.
Just read these verses below about the Holy Spirit, the power of the HOLY Spirit and the POWER of one. It is a free gift to anyone who believes and disciplines themselves to listen and follow the Spirit’s promptings.
Acts 4:31, “After they PRAYED [key word here], the place were they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The Holy Spirit enables you to testify to others…BOLDLY…the power of one-on-one sharing.
Also, people recognized, even non-believers, that when people were filled with the Holy Spirit…and obeying God…nothing could stop them. “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. BUT if it is of God, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” [emphasis added–Acts 5: 38-39].
I love that. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and obeying HIS LEAD individually, “we have God’s power”. The REAL “power of one” that will enable us to do amazing things. All the CREDIT GOES to GOD. Like we see in John and Peter’s life in Acts 4:13, “When they saw the COURAGE of Peter and John and realized that they were UNSCHOOLED ORDINARY MEN, they were ASTONISHED and they TOOK NOTE that these MEN had with Jesus” [emphasis added]. Do you see this? They were mere men…but they had Jesus.
Today, we CAN all have that POWER that Jesus so freely gives when we ask. For me at times..I refer to the Holy Spirit as my daily “GPS” or my “holy adrenaline.” We have to invite HIM in. We have to pray and BE with HIM. And then, like Stephen when he was being stoned to death (a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power in the worst of circumstances), he was filled with the Holy Spirit. “But Stephen full of the HOLY SPIRIT, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55).
I find comfort in believing that those Christians who stood for Christ in Oregon, knowing that death was imminent, were filled with the Holy Spirit as Stephen was. You know why I believe that? They loved Jesus so much. They STOOD UP and had the “power of one” in the most horrific circumstances. That power was…the POWER OF OUR RESURRECTED SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
THAT SAME POWER…THAT SAME LOVE…IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO ASKS. IT IS A FREE GIFT. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Yes…Jesus is our Greatest example of the “power of one”…but understand, humans like…Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Truett Cathy all understood the “power of one” that they possessed with Jesus as their “power”…it didn’t prevent pain or adversity or death…but it left a legacy of what is possible for all of us…if we truly understand what is possible if we choose to live our life…surrendered to the “ONE” who equips!