“you are clothed with power on high”
There is a great deal of chatter (out there in the world) about the topic:
Faith is a display seen through one’s works.
&
Works are a display of one’s faith.
The Bible has much to say about “faith and works.”
As we know, the apostles of Jesus were sent by Jesus Himself into the world to preach the Good News of God’s Salvation, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to help the needy, to . . . to be the “hands” & “feet” of Jesus Christ.
- It is a fact: GOD DOES NOT NEED YOU OR ME TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL!
But
- It is also a fact: GOD ALLOWS US TO BE A PART OF HIS WILL TO OFFER SALVATION TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, TO ALL HUMANITY!
There is something authoritative about a doctor, and it is the Great Physician who gave these words to Dr. Luke to write:
“Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
(Luke 24: 36-49 NASB)
But they were startled and frightened, and thought that they were looking at a spirit.
And He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why are doubts arising in your hearts?
See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.”
And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
While they still could not believe it because of their joy and astonishment, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They served Him a piece of broiled fish;
and He took it and ate it in front of them.
Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and He said to them, “So it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power on high.”
Wow!
Imagine the scene there that day!
- Imagine the scene—when they saw Jesus (who they knew was dead) ALIVE and standing there with them?
- Imagine the apostles’ discomfort when Jesus said: “beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; . . .”
- Imagine their fear—at seeing Jesus alive—after three days in the tomb, back from the dead.
- Imagine their dread—at hearing Jesus’ words, that they would proclaim His name to the nations—there in Jerusalem—where He had just been put to death on the cross for proclaiming Himself as the Messiah.
- Imagine their amazement—at sharing a meal, one of earthly food that they prepared—with Jesus.
- Imagine their awe—at Jesus’ promise that they were to be filled with “the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power on high.”
Just Imagine the scene there that day!
Let’s first be reminded of the way Jesus reassured His disciples.
“See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.”
(Luke 24: 39 & 42-43 & 44-45 & 48-49 NASB)
“They served Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it in front of them.”
“These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, . . .”
“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, . . .”
“You are witnesses of these things.
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; . . .”
“but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power on high.”
Jesus Himself took time to reassure His disciples!
- of their faith,
- of God’s promise, &
- of why they first believed &
Then Jesus gave them a work to do!
Yes, the Bible has much to say about “faith and works.”
Faith is a display seen through one’s works.
&
Works are a display of one’s faith.
It is within the book of James we read:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. . . .
(James 2: 24 & 26 NASB)
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
It is within the book of Ephesians we are reminded:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
(Ephesians 2: 8-9 NASB)
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
- May we realize the gift we have been given by Almighty God!
- May we realize how impactful our life is within the world.
- May we remember our faithfulness to God never goes to waste.
- May we walk throughout life in steadfast obedience to our LORD!
- May we keep our focus on things of eternal value and not on temporary hardships experienced here on earth. &
- May we recall how we were created in Christ Jesus for good works that God Himself ordained for us to do!
Let us go to our Jerusalem.
Let us go to our Judea.
Let us go to our Samaria.
Let us go as far as God sends us to go.
Let us go & Let us not be afraid.
&
Let us go, primarily because “you [and I] are clothed with power on high.”
- We are empowered with the Holy Spirit of God.
- We are promised the personal presence of Jesus as we go to all nations.
- We are ensured that God will go with us—wherever He leads us to go.
- We can go & do & speak with confidence that only the Holy Spirit can provide.
- We can testify and proclaim Jesus to the nations. &
- We can begin right where we are—today—as the Holy Spirit leads.
May we be aware of God’s call on our lives, &
May we be “on-mission” until God calls us home.
Some may ask, “Why?”
Jesus gave His life for us!
God is not finished with us! &
God will lead us to the nations surrounding us!
So, in closing, Dr. Luke was empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to write these words at the beginning of The Acts of the Apostles.
May we take them to heart as the world sees our faith by our words we speak & by the works we do.
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
(The Acts of the Apostles 1: 4-8 NASB)
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority;
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
Jesus would be with them through the presence of the Spirit.
Within the “mystery of the Holy Trinity!”
Thank You, Jesus, for sending Your apostles into the world.
- I am so thankful the apostles of Jesus were faithful to GO & to PROCLAIM JESUS!
- I am a product of their “Going” & of their “Doing” & of their “Works of Faith.”
- Maybe you are too.
Today, may we realize how Jesus is also sending us & is also giving us a task to do & is also promising how we too can walk by faith, as we too are “clothed with power on high.”