The Difference

What is the difference between the early church where Peter, Paul and so many other believers preached with miraculous results and todays church where at best we can pass for lukewarm. A study of the great moves of God in the book of Acts clearly reveals that the difference was power. In Christ's final instructions to his disciples in Luke 24:49 "He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." They were clothed (or as the King James Version puts it endued) with power from on high. It is clear from the text that Christ was speaking of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that occurred at Pentecost.

Today we have programs, education, marketing plans, high tech outreaches and huge churches but somehow we have lost the resonance of the Early Church. We are not experiencing the ourpourings and response to the Gospel like those simple fishermen and tax collectors. Something is missing. Let's not explain it away or make excuses but rather bare our souls and ask for what we so clearly have lost. Some reject the Power. Some try to explain it away. Other claim what they say is the Power but then say it has changed and doesn't do the same thing it did when this Power was manifested in the lives of the early believers.

Think about this. The Disciples had 3 1/2 years of on-the-job training from Jesus. They heard his sermons. They watched his example. They shared in all that he did. They went to the best seminary ever! Christ was the head master and led them by example. Still when it was time to go and share the Good News with the world Jesus told them, "but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." He was talking about the baptism of the the Holy Spirit. It was needed by the Christian of the first century and it is needed by the Christian of today.

After spending 3 1/2 years with Jesus, Peter denied the Lord three times. He went so far as to call down curses on himself and deny ever knowing Christ.(Mark 14:71) Now look at Peter only 7 weeks later after the experience of Pentecost, far from deny Christ he preached a mighty, soul winning sermon to the very ones who crucified Christ and 3000 were saved and baptized. The difference? Being clothed with power from on high.

If we want to revitalize the church of 2009, then let's humble ourselves before God and seek for that baptism that was promised to every believer. It is not just for shouting or dancing. This is the power to change our nation. The power to change our world.