Waiting for the Power

It happened more than once. Falling down. Or “slain in the spirit” as some people liked to call it. I didn’t know what it was. All I knew was that I had lost the ability to remain standing. The first time someone caught me; the second and third time, I just slowly fell to the floor unattended. A couple of decades later, I can now identify, at least I think I can, what happened.

I remain in my study of the Holy Spirit, continuing to read the book, “Familiar Stranger.” But I have found myself quite desperate…no, that’s too strong of a word; maybe hounded by intrigue to learn more about the Holy Spirit. I headed to one of my favorite teachers of the Bible, Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Virginia. I wanted to hear his thoughts on the book of Acts and, boy, did he awaken something in me; thoughts I had never even considered before. Thoughts surrounding the “power” of the Holy Spirit.

Gary pointed out two important verses that I had never before placed side by side. 

• John 20:22 - After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

• Acts 1:8 - “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

Two different days, two separate acts. One, receiving the Holy Spirit and the second, the Holy Spirit coming upon them with power. Well, this riveted me. Has put me in a daze for almost a week now as I ponder and wrestle with this new truth: receiving the Holy Spirit and experiencing its power. I’ve been looking back at my life and suddenly recognizing times when I think the power of the Spirit was actually upon me.

Times when I wrote sketches for Willow Creek. Sketches that came fast and furious. A scene or characters would enter my mind and all of a sudden I had to get to a pen or my computer to write. Nothing or no one could stop me. I just had to get it down and done. Then I’d sit there, stare at the pages, wondering how it all happened. Well, now, I look back at those times and wonder…well, realize that the power of the Holy Spirit was upon me.

The same thing has happened on occasion when I pray for someone. Suddenly I get pictures and use phrases that I hadn’t planned. They just come to me. Then there are others with whom I've prayed. Then, I thought they were just praying powerful prayers; now, I realize that they were praying with the power of the Holy Spirit upon them. Because I was shaken by their prayers.

All I seem to do these past days is play “Where’s Waldo” with the Holy Spirit. Where did I miss him? Where did I take credit when it wasn’t me at all? Where was his power demonstrated and I walked right by it? 

In addition, I’m looking to my present and future. I’m wrestling with how to live with the Holy Spirit going forward. Do I pray for His power to come? Or, as the disciples, do I wait for it, not knowing when and how it will happen? The men and women in that Upper Room didn't pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. It just came. And boy when it came they began to speak and do and believe beyond anything they could have ever dreamed of. Suddenly Peter is preaching and 3000 people come to believe in Jesus. Philip teleports, demons are cast out and tongues are unleashed. Did they even think to pray for such a thing? No! Because this power-driven-Holy Spirit stuff was beyond their wildest dreams.

So, who am I to limit that power? Therefore, I’m choosing to wait. And hopefully recognizing, at some point, when the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon me and/or those I’m with. Because I’m starting to unwaveringly believe that the Holy Spirit and its power that is written about in the Bible, power that was upon guys like Peter and Paul and Steven, is still moving and working powerfully today. Upon people like Sara and Jake and...me. Whether it’s falling to the floor, writing words in a manic state, praying surprising prayers, inviting people to Christ, even teleporting - yikes! I’m waiting. Waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit. Whenever, however, to whomever He chooses. And hoping and praying that I don’t miss it!