“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” – Luke 24:49

Believe it or not, the devil, who Jesus described as the “prince of this world,” is at work in this world. We see demonic influence and the oppression of mankind all around us.

For us to gain any inroads into the kingdom of darkness, we need divine power.

Jesus was successful because the Spirit of God descended on Him at the launch of His ministry.

“Being full of the Holy Spirit He returned” from His River Jordan baptism. 

After 40 days in the wilderness, “He returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.” 

Wherever He preached, the “power of God was present to heal.”

He knew that His disciples would need that same power if they were to fulfill the mission He was sending them for. 

So, He told them not to dare go out to do anything before being endued with the “power from on high.”

In our meditation today, we reflect on the word ‘endue’ in the King James Version.

 The original word means to ‘be clothed with’ or ‘to get into’ as into a uniform.

In the Old Testament, the power of the Holy Spirit would once in a while descend on people (they would be clothed with the Holy Spirit) in order to enable them carry out certain special assignments (see example in Judges 6:34).

In the New Testament, the power of the Holy Spirit denotes both power (dunamis) and authority (exousia).

Both are available to every believer, not just a select few preachers or pastors.

‘Exousia’ denotes the right to exercise power (see Matthew 21:23).

For example, it is the kind of power exercised by a judicial officer or by that little Traffic Police officer when she is dressed up in her uniform.

When you’re “endued,” you’re borne along by the power of the Holy Spirit, manifesting and acting under His divine authority to subdue powers, thrones, rulers, principalities and dominions in the heavenly places.

Even though you’re driving a huge truck, you will have to stop when that small lady in uniform raises her hand in front of you.

On the other hand, ‘dunamis’ is power in action, which denotes the ability or capability residing in something or a person.

It’s from this word that we derive our English word ‘dynamite’ – a seemingly innocent and ordinary powder yet an extremely powerful explosive that shatters rocks into pieces.

Jesus told His disciples that they would be clothed with both ‘exousia’ and ‘dunamis.’

And one thing that we must note about clothing is that it is personal – I mean someone else can’t wear that beautiful uniform on the policeman’s behalf; he must wear it himself if he is to exercise his authority.

Without the uniform, not many motorists would take him seriously.

Similarly, when you’re “endued,” you’re borne along by the power of the Holy Spirit, manifesting and acting under His divine authority to subdue powers, thrones, rulers, principalities and dominions in the heavenly places.

After being endued with power, Peter, who had fearfully denied Jesus three times and had later gone into hiding for fear of the Jews, suddenly had the courage to face any authority and to perform undeniable miracles.

Things are largely different in the contemporary Church.

As someone has aptly put it, the Church started losing its influence when it lost touch with the Holy Spirit, who is the essence of its power, replacing Him with ‘qualifications,’ motivational sermons and acts of benevolence!

Yet the Bible says; “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power” (1 Cor. 4:20).

Brethren, be endued! Only endued saints can change destinies.                                                                              

Prayer:

Almighty God, may your divine power and authority be manifested in my life as I fulfill my mission and purpose on earth, for nothing can ever a suitable substitute for it. So help me Holy Spirit, in Jesus Name, Amen!