Encouragement for Your Week: January 11-17
This Week’s Verse
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. - Acts 1:8 NIV
Devotion
The Greek word used for "power" in this passage is dunamis. It describes a specific kind of strength—one that is active, overflowing, and often miraculous. This isn't just a little extra energy; it is the exact power we need to live a sincere Christian life and share our faith effectively. We can’t manufacture this on our own. Left to our own strength and willpower, we will always come up short. We need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bridge the gap.
The Bible describes our relationship with the Holy Spirit using three distinct Greek prepositions:
Para: This means "alongside." In John 14, Jesus describes the Spirit as a Comforter who stands beside us, drawing our hearts toward God.
En: This refers to the "indwelling" of the Spirit. We see this in John 20 when Jesus breathed on the Apostles and they were born again.
Epi: This is the word used in today’s verse, meaning "upon." Throughout the New Testament, this "epi" experience represents a supernatural empowerment that comes upon a believer to fuel their witness and actions.
Think of the epi experience as the fuel in a car’s tank. It is the "spark" that transforms a stagnant, repetitive faith into a powerful witness for Christ. Just as a meal is better with the right seasoning, our daily walk is infinitely better when we are empowered by the Spirit. This ongoing filling is what allows us to be better students, friends, and leaders. Without it, we are essentially running on empty.
A Spirit-empowered life creates a ripple effect. You might feel like your individual witness is just a single drop in a massive puddle, but that one drop creates circles that expand across the entire surface. This impact starts in your "Jerusalem"—your home, your school, and your immediate circle of influence. From there, it moves to your "Judea" and "Samaria"—your wider community and country—and eventually to the ends of the earth. Missions’ trips are wonderful, but we shouldn't become so focused on the other side of the world that we forget to be a light in our own backyards.
If you feel like your spiritual tank is hitting "E," take a moment to refuel. Ask God for a fresh outpouring of His power this week. You might be surprised at the amazing things He can do through a witness that is fully charged by the Holy Spirit.