What is the difference between potential energy and energy? The difference between capacity and power? When Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” they had the capacity, the potential restored to them permanently that they had only previously experienced while present with and under authority of the Incarnate God in Christ. We believe that little children are covered by that capacity and potential through God’s Prevenient grace until such time as they are able to decide for themselves if Jesus Christ truly shall be one’s own Savior and Lord.
These 1st Gen disciples were mere babes in the Spirit. When Jesus spoke His Words on the day of Resurrection to them, they now had all they needed to decide. Shall we believe and follow The Christ who is our Lord and God?
Recall Peter’s affirmation of his knowledge of the truth of the Christ at Caesarea Philippi when Jesus said, “who do men say I am?”
“They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” The revelation of The Christ’s true identity to Peter was the sign that it was Kairos time for Jesus to move forward. Jesus Himself had not revealed this. Peter’s capacity and potential were ready. (It would soon prove to be a false start, when in his fear and confusion over events as they unfolded, his faith then folded. But Jesus knew Peter would and cautioned him that the failure of faith was coming, but he would survive it and encourage his brothers. ( just as Christ anticipated and prepared his Church for what would be its failures, as well!)
Then consider Thomas’ affirmation and worship of Jesus and a blessing upon all future believers who would come to believe, spoken in the Upper Room when Jesus returned to include Thomas, the Doubter who had to see to believe: “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “MY Lord and MY God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20
Peter’s confession was one of his general, informed recognition of Jesus’ true identity, the Christ. But none of them yet knew what being “The Christ, the Son of the Living God” would truly be! Thomas’ confession after the resurrection was humbled, confessed repentance for doubting, and personal worship of the God he now knew intimately. With Thomas’ proclamation the stage was now set for the initialization, the ignition of the potential energy that resided in them all, a capacity ready to be catalyzed and unleashed by the Breath-of-Heaven-driven, swirling, fiery flame-starter that was the very Life of the Holy Spirit spoken into their being with tongues of fire. The dry bones had been assembled, the tendons and muscles were attached and tested for strength, the cohesive and protective “skin” had been fashioned during the 40 Days before Christ’s Ascension. They were prayed up and prepared by their 10 day lockdown in the Upper Room. They had reviewed everything they had heard and witnessed. It was time. All that remained was to be filled with the fuel that would Self-generate as needed from within what would be an eternal,?internal combustion engine. They were ready to drive this muscle car. The engine of the Church Age was waiting. And on The Day of Pentecost the checkered flag was rsised:
Ready……Set……GO!
The first lap in the streets around the Temple gathered 3000 cheering fans from the corners of the earth. But this was going to be a life-long, generation-spanning, obstacle-overcoming, faith-building, kingdom-coming, devil-stomping, Hell-harrowing, seed-planting, gut-grueling, mettle-testing, endurance-training race to the……Starting Line????
Time to go into the Temple……
Acts 3
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Continual prayer and faith-filled obedience sustain the endless supply of Holy Spirit anointing oil/ blood/Living Water/wine mixture and the Bread of Life fuel in the soul’s trademarked, unique one-of-a-kind VIN-numbered Body-By-Christ ( a tip of the sun hat to my dear father-in-law who built cars for Chrysler❤️) as the Holy Spirit-LED battery, placed there by God Himself at creation as an image of Himself, now charged up and permanently connected to the Source of Sustainable Energy by an invisible cord, a tie that binds and will not ever be broken.