Power to Change Things

Acts 1:8, 10, 21-26

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

This is a two-part assignment. First came power from on high and secondly came the mandate as his witnesses. Note that these are not witnesses to the cruelty of this world, the wickedness of hell, or to the defeat of all things loved and held dear, but rather Jesus's witnesses. His ownership is established by the words "my witnesses." It is important to establish his ownership to explain what came next. In Revelation 19:8-10, the wedding supper of the Lamb is announced. White garments which are the righteous acts of the saints are handed out; then the armies of God appear dressed in white following behind him into battle. When he was gone into Heaven, two angels showed up dressed in white. See the ownership fulfilled. These are God's witnesses. The thing had not even been done yet. Just as quickly as he had gone, he came back and went away again. Notice the promise of power from on high. This is his power. If he is made unto us wisdom, he is also made unto us power according to 1 Corinthians 1:30. He is appointed ruler of what is rightfully his. He ensures this witnessing of himself through the Holy Spirit which is the dwelling of God in the believer according to Romans 8:16. Now this begs the question of Romans 10:16, a divine story of placement. He is Savior of all who accepted him whether Jews or Gentiles. Contrast this with the stubborn refusal of some who established their own righteousness. This is why some believers have no power and some have no witness. You cannot have one without the other.

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

With divine power comes witness. You will not have either without God. The possession of God comes on you in Acts 1:8. It is an indwelling of yourself leaving. This is also the pathway for indwelling by evil. Demonic possession is complete, leaving the person afflicted with little control over their actions. The indwelling of God means less of you and more of him even if you are in complete control of your actions. This is why he commands us to "quench not the Spirit" in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. At the same time, "he must increase [and] I must decrease" according to John 3:30. The ascension was a picture of what would happen when the Spirit came. Christ was there all by themselves; then he was suddenly pulled up by a supernatural force. Two men in white appeared speaking as one in his own power and under his control. There is an attitude of prayer mentioned in Acts 1:13-14. All God needed is an invitation. Invitation led to partaking upstairs. Partaking upstairs led to possession by God. Note the places of ministry.

The Spirit of God led them wherever he would. Even though there is wandering of the Spirit of God in divine ministry, there is also settling of his power. Here is a possessor who would never be cast out, one who would never leave as long as they were his witnesses in John 6:37. As they went, he went with them. See the believers gathered in unison. The brothers and sisters are together. There is power in divine unity. The spirit of Satan had the demonically possessed man wandering by himself in the tombs and inflicting himself with all sorts of tortures as in Mark 5:5. The Spirit of God gave unity. Foreign languages understood one another in Acts 2:14-16. People who had no idea about the inner things were suddenly experts. Leadership stood up and walked among them. The Spirit of God cast down what they would have been by themselves: fishermen and tax collectors. Without him, they would be quarreling about whose boat and nets to us, what time of day they were going out next to make a living, and how to avoid the tax collectors stalking them. Here they are brothers and sisters in unity by the Spirit of God.

Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs."Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Do not tell me God cannot change things. You have to chose to walk in it. See the example of Judas who walked out before God could exorcise him of himself and the demonic as in John 13:30. Newness replaced the old. Do not be afraid if the Spirit of God has to change some things around. Mathias was appointed due to prophesied human sinfulness and Satan's stratagems to bring about God's divine plan. His power and his witnesses. We are not just us by ourselves, but Christ lives in us in Galatians 2:21. There is not just Christ but us with him. See, the first fruits were delayed so that what followed could make perfect the former according to Hebrews 11:40. This is not a completion of him but of us in Hebrews 12:23. Therefore, he lives in us and we in him as in the parable of the vine and branches in John 15:1-6. His power and witness are our own. We might like to smite some people down with a curse, but the work is of God for his glory rather than our own. This vindication comes from God.

Judas was a hissing of the people, the talk of the prophets, and a pain for the disciples who were once twelve. God allowed this situation to multiply, elevate, and heal. One man's healing became the corporate healing. One man's exaltation became their fellowship. One man's punishment became an example. One man's end became their divine justice. The one who betrayed Christ with his mouth blessed them all by speaking healing and by providing for what had been taken. Sometimes the power cannot come from on high because you got your stuff jacked up. The Spirit of God brings out things to cause healing and restoration. This is not done to stir up controversy, but to make you his witnesses so that he may be unhindered. Sometimes you must get yourself out of his way. The possession requires a vessel fit for the master's use. Those who say otherwise do not have a clear conception of Christ. He uses your stuff to accomplish his purpose and cancels the debt for the return of the greater. See, his purposes for the judgement of the world and the restoration once the old has passed away. If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged along with the world in 1 Corinthians 11:31.