Understanding Spiritual Power

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3)

New life in Christ brought new freedom to believers in Corinth. However, like children or immature adults, they did not know how to behave responsibly to each other or to God. They needed to be taught, which was why Paul wrote this letter. The Spirit of God had given special abilities to different people, but instead of treating God's gifts as tools (for serving the Lord and spreading the gospel) they used them as toys to feed their pride.

Corinthian citizens and slaves were used to the idea of supernatural power: the mythical gods of the city were supposed to be able to command cosmic and earthly events. Many of the new believers in Jesus had previously grown up to think that the temple idols had personalities and authority (which was why they were worshiped and sacrifices were made to them). They now had to understand that the Holy Spirit has genuine power, but radically different from their indoctrinated ideas or demonic lies about idols. 

So how could they recognize the difference between the pagan preachers, demonic miracle-workers, and Christians filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul's test was simple; what did they say about Jesus? If anyone cursed Jesus or failed to recognize Him as the Lord God of eternity, then the Holy Spirit was not speaking through them. But whoever announced that Jesus is the Lord to be worshiped and obeyed, demonstrated that the Holy Spirit lived in them. It was a dangerous claim to make about Jesus, and one for which the apostles faced severe persecution (Acts 4:13,17-18), so no one would fake the claim that 'Jesus is Lord' unless the Holy Spirit empowered them.

Being willing to announce the identity of Jesus is the critical evidence that the Holy Spirit is resident in a human heart. Jesus is more than just a good man, a wise teacher and a prophet. When people confess that 'Jesus is my Lord', you know they are saved and have the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9-10). Their public identification with Him is also the beginning of their gospel witness. Others will be drawn to Jesus, even though believers may face difficulties from unbelievers. "What do you think of Jesus Christ?" is still a potent diagnostic evangelistic question in the community or workplace. Those who are ashamed of Jesus need to beware because He will be ashamed of them on the Final Day (Luke 9:26). So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord (2 Timothy 1:8).

The Power to Share Christ
But we all...beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...even as from the Lord Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses (Acts 1:8 )

If the inward aspect of the Spirit is more important than the outward aspect of the Spirit, why do we need the outpouring of the Spirit? Those who live a life of holiness and who know the Spirit as a person will have the strength to share this holiness with others once they receive the outpouring of the Spirit.... A man may have received something from God and may have accumulated something within yet not have the power to share it with others. Although others may admire or look up to them, they cannot get any help from them. Once they receive the outpouring of the Spirit, they will be able to share with others what is inside them.

Those who have the Spirit within are like a power plant. The plant may be full of light, but the whole city may be in darkness. There must be power lines to join the power plant to the city in order for the power to be conveyed to the whole city. If there is no power in the plant, nothing will happen. However, if there is power but no power lines, nothing will happen either. The power-conveying lines are a picture of the function of the outpouring. Many people have power lines, yet they have to light candles at night. They do not have anything inside them, yet they try to convey something to others. This will not work. We must have both the outward and the inward aspects of the Spirit.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that Jesus Christ is Lord, to be worshipped and obeyed. Forgive me when I have not been willing to identify myself with Him, or when I have allowed people who deny His Lordship to have spiritual authority over my life. Please help me to discern the true voices from among those who claim to be spiritual, by applying the test, 'What do you think of Jesus Christ?' And help me to be an unashamed ambassador for Jesus Christ the Lord. In His Name. Amen.