You Will Receive Power – Part 2

Power is part of every area of our lives. In the blog “You Will Receive Power – Part 1” we looked at the possibilities of receiving and proclaiming God’s love for the people around us and for the people we encounter every day.

You can find “You Will Receive Power – Part 1” here.

In Part 2 we want to explore the purpose of power in relationships. So, let’s read Acts I:8:

Read: Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Reflect

The church’s mission is God’s mission. It functions by the presence and power of God and is carried out in trust and obedience to God.

In response to a question the disciples asked Jesus about power, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6), Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:7-8).

As a Jesus follower, your purpose is to be who God created you to be, a witness to God’s love. You live out your purpose in a relationship with the people you encounter each day. You extend the love you have received with family and friends, colleagues and neighbors, those who need special care, to strangers and, yes, even to enemies.  

You are given power to live into your purpose and to assist others in living into their purpose. Even when you think you are not equipped to love as you have been loved, you have been given power to do so.

You are given the power to communicate past the barriers of race, gender, nationality, culture, and your likes and dislikes. It is the power of God’s love that becomes your priority, and you are empowered to love when you do not think you have the power or ability to love.

Respond

Over my years of ministry, I have learned there are different types of power. Keeping in mind your purpose to witness to God’s love, there is:

The Power Over

This power can be seen in parenting or in the classroom, as well as in the workplace and in the church. There is a place for the parent or teacher to have authority. This power is used effectively when exercised in relationships grounded in love, trust, and compassion. 

But when this power is seen in the workplace or in the church, it is usually because the person of authority feels threatened or is afraid of losing power. It is difficult to develop healthy relationships of trust when you feel you must control every situation, decision, or person you encounter.

When you focus on having and keeping power, you seek to protect it. You leverage fear and intimidation to keep it. There is little trust and lots of manipulation. Vulnerability and empathy are seen as weaknesses, disagreements are seen as negative, and being nice becomes the major mode of operation. At this point, you have lost sight of your purpose of loving as you have been loved.

To use this power might help you succeed in the short term, but over the long run, you become a detriment to your purpose, and you lose any positive influence you could have with the people around you. You might feel you are courageous to face the resistance you receive, but there is little or no courageous leadership when you lead by exercising power over people.

The Power With and Power To

This power can be seen in the workplace and in the church, as well as at home and at school. In each context, those in authority know that power is not theirs to keep, so they seek to share it with the people around them. 

Whether at work, in the church, as a parent, or a teacher, you come alongside others as a mentor, and you learn and grow together. You model the characteristics of vulnerability and empathy. When fear and uncertainty are present, you lead with transparency and grace. You leverage love and connection as ways of bringing people together to accomplish your purpose.

When you focus on others, whether it be your children, colleagues, or friends, you create a climate for discovering, learning, and developing. You focus on the needs, desires, and values of the people with whom you live, work, and associate. You love them as you have been loved. You seek to serve rather than be served. You empower people to live into their strengths and talents and you benefit from their exercise of power. You love people because the development of people is your purpose. 

Using this power helps you become a person of positive influence. Bob Goff says it this way, “God doesn’t give us influence so we can lead people better. He gives it so we can love people more.” Who you are is rooted in your love and care for people, as you share power with them and love them. 

The Power Within

This power is about developing your own sense of agency, as well as instilling a sense of agency in the people around you. In the words of Martin Luther King, “I can achieve purpose and effect change.” 

When you live from your center, you genuinely love people. Your care and concern are not about dominating them but loving them. You depend on empathy, rather than showing your strength. You choose respect over friendship and want truth and transparency. You work for the good of the people you influence and encounter.

Your power to influence comes from within. As you learn that the power is not about you, you begin to understand that your character is important. You learn that it is not only what you say, but how you say it that makes the difference. As you live from within, you discover that being clear is kind and that people appreciate clear and direct communication. Because you are centered upon the love of God deep within, you become more credible, competent, and persuasive as a follower of Jesus.

Using this power helps you empower others to live into their potential. So, you become more the person you were created to be by “recognizing the potential in people and ideas,” and sharing your power, as you come alongside them to love them.  

So, how are you using the power given to you? How are you developing the potential of family members, colleagues, and friends? What do you need to change? In what areas do you need to grow?    

Return

As you reflect upon the day, think of two people who have influenced you and helped you in living into your potential. What did they do to assist you? Now, give God thanks for them and their love and care for you.

Think of two or three people you have the potential to influence. How will you assist them in developing their potential? What help do you need to assist them? Now, give God thanks for them. Ask God for the power to love them as God has loved you.

What step will you take to become who God has created you to be? You have been given the power to love as you have been loved. What step will you take to allow the power of God’s love to direct your life and relationships?  

Remember, you have received power…starting where you are with the people around you. Be the witness of God’s love you have been created to be.