DIVINE POWER FOR IMPACT (1)

“But you shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you...” – Acts 1:8a

GOD is the Ultimate Source, Possessor, and Provider of DIVINE POWER for IMPACT in ever-increasing scopes: “But you shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you: and you shall be WITNESSES to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). There can be no genuine, positive, life-transforming Impact outside the ambit of Almighty God! And, His Divine Power always answers to Purpose. God never wastes His Power. Neither does He display Power just to please the whims and caprices of any individual or group of people. His Power is ever purposeful!

In January, we meditated on the meaning and essence of God-glorifying Impact, Call to a Life of Impact, Believers as Agents of Positive Impact – Salt of the earth, Light of the world, and city set on a hill (Mt.5: 13-17). In February, we received unique Insight and Faith for Impact, two crucial factors for manifesting meaningful Impact. In March, we got rooted on the foundation of Intimacy for Impact – the reality, benefits, and pathways such as the Word, worship, prayer, listening and retreat. Last month, we examined the Ingredients and Drivers of Impact, namely: Focus, Vision, Choices, Decisions, and Responsibility.

Now, we are getting to “where the rubber meets the road’ – Divine Power for Impact; the real arena of purposeful Performance! Here, “Pentecost” was the purpose! Prior to this prophetic event, the Lord Jesus had declared: “Behold, I send the PROMISE of My Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with POWER FROM ON HIGH” (Lk.24:49). In both scriptures, POWER is directly linked with the HOLY SPIRIT. As the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit is our Advocate, Teacher, Reminder, and Counsellor (Jh.14:25-26). To receive Him is to receive God’s Power; driven by Heaven’s Purpose!

POWER can be destructive when it is not directed at PURPOSE. The primary purposes for the Power of the Holy Spirit are: to FILL Believers; equip us as WITNESSES to the broken and sinful world; and DISPLAY the Glory of God through us. It’s all about being prepared, equipped, and empowered for Divine IMPACT. Believers must be constantly filled and re-filled by the Power of the Spirit: “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18). Nothing else can fill us as perfectly and completely as His Power. Our Loving Father cares to fill the diverse holes and hollows in our lives with the Power of His Spirit, for ever-expanding Impact.

Impact is progressive. Jerusalem is our immediate local community, family, and people; the starting point of every mission. Judea represents our neighbours. Samaria is the cross-cultural sphere of sinful humanity. The Ends of the earth are the global.