Power from heaven - What are we going to do with it?

I never dreamed our journey to the cross way back in April would lead us to this “power from heaven.” But, as we continue to discover why we have been given The Holy Spirit, many of our questions are being answered. Two weeks ago, we learned “how we can be sure we have this power.” Last week, we unlocked the Why-Because. This week, we are going to find out WHAT we are supposed to do with it. It is the missing piece to an active, vibrant life in Christ.

When Jesus walked this earth, he did miracle after miracle. He did so for two reasons; 1) to reveal his glory and 2) so that we might believe. (John 2:11 NIV) Why did Jesus need us to believe? In John 14:12 NLT, He explains, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works…”

Are we doing the same things Jesus did?

In the book of John alone, my Study Bible lists eight miracles or signs that Jesus did. They are as follows;

Healing of the official’s son (John 4:46-54)
Healing of the sick man at the pool (John 5:1-9)
Sight to the man born blind (John 9:1-7)
Walking on water (John 6:19-21)
Feeding the 5000 (John 6:6-13)
Turning water into wine (John 2:1-11)
The large catch of fish (John 21:1-11)
Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44)

There are 20 more miracles in Luke, 18 in Mark and 20 in Matthew. Some are duplicates. But in John 20:30-31 AMP, we read, “There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God; and that by believing [and trusting in and relying on Him] you may have life in His name.

These are written so that we may believe…

By believing, we are given life. In that life, we are to do the same things Jesus did. When is the last time you experienced a miracle? You could have seen it with your own eyes or maybe you are the miracle. Think about it. The simple fact that you woke up this morning and took a breath is a miracle. If you have ever birthed a child, you have participated in a miracle. The miracle of life. Maybe you have been healed from chronic pain? Or maybe you are still waiting, but your faith has grown exponentially.

Our breath is God’s Spirit living within us. It gives us life. Without it, we die. We do not tell ourselves to breathe. We don’t have that much power. But what we do have is God’s Spirit within us. That’s the power from heaven working within our lives.

I am a living miracle. So are you. When we embrace that power that lives within us, it gives us life. When we share that power, we give life to someone else, thus glorifying God and helping that person believe.

The Holy Spirit is the missing piece. It makes our lives vibrant, our faith active and our relationship with God real. Others can see it. Through this Spirit working within us, we can do anything that Jesus did; heal the sick, give sight to the blind and even bring the dead to life. That’s the power from heaven!

I don’t want to live some kind of dead faith. I want a spirituality that embraces all the power from heaven. A faith that is alive and well. Living and breathing. Healing and comforting. Bringing life to these dry bones. When we embrace this power from heaven, we bring glory to God and amazingly, others just might believe! I want my faith to look like that! I want to be part of something like that!

Let us pray; Oh Glorious God, thank you that you sent your Son to show us the way. Thank you that you breathed life into our lungs so that we might do the things that Jesus did. Thank you that we get to participate in your power from heaven. May everything we do bring glory to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M

Wanna go deeper? Look for miracles today and in the coming days. Make a list of all the miracles you see. Thank God for the ones you get to be a part of, recognizing that you are bringing glory to God and helping someone else believe.