Dunamis Power: Acts 1:8
“8) 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 even to the remotest part of the earth.”” Acts 1:8
This verse highlights the Great Commission purpose of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for “power” is “dunamis.” It is the same word from which we get the English word for “dynamite.” That intrigues me!
The basic idea in this verse is that God would do extraordinary things both in and through believers through His indwelling Holy Spirit. This “power” would give them both inner unction for effective witnessing and supernatural outward signs to confirm the gospel message.
It doesn’t mean that the miraculous would become common or ordinary. Then it would cease to be miraculous. But it means that God would step up and confirm the message of the gospel in powerful ways.
This is the point behind Hebrews 2:4. When the gospel is preached, God Himself would bear witness of the message with signs and wonders and miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. In this verse, the word “dunamis” is translated as “miracles.” A true miracle can always be traced back to God.
In Acts 3-4, one miracle of healing opened the door for numerous evangelistic messages and opportunities to teach and preach about Jesus Christ. In the process, the disciples displayed unusual courage and boldness. This is a great example of the power of God at work. Only one man was healed and that resulted in many hearing the gospel.
Acts 1:8 provides another principle. God’s promised power was tied to the spread of the gospel. I look at it as “front lines power.” God did not promise His power for those sitting on the side lines or for personal consumption. It accompanies the spread of the gospel. It is an unction for witnessing.
I cannot explain it, but I’ve seen it hundreds of times over. When ordinary believers step up and step out in witnessing and sharing the gospel, glorious things begin to happen. Personal joy is compounded and God begins working in marvelous ways.
There is a wave or surge of power that accompanies the spread of the gospel. It translates into experiencing God in extraordinary ways.
If your walk with God is dry and mundane, it may be an indication that you are not living on the front lines of faith and world evangelism. Instead, you have most likely retreated into the comfort zone of self focus.
I cannot find a single verse in the Bible promising dunamis power for self consumption. Yet this is where many modern churches are content to live. Then they make that tragic observation that God doesn’t do miracles today.
Let me state this clearly, dunamis power is for making Jesus known and not for making self comfortable. It’s for actively reaching Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the remotest parts of the world with the gospel. If you want to experience God, get off your blessed assurance and report for duty on the front lines of sharing the gospel.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
