“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The word here for “power” in the Greek is “dunamis” and it implies action with an abundance of strength, might, ability, and often in the realm of miraculous. In other words, it is the power necessary for a real and sincere Christian walk and witness. The Holy Spirit must supply it, as we could not possibly pull this off on our own. My flesh, my might, and my will always come up short without the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

For the Christian there is a threefold relationship with the Holy Spirit as seen in the Bible with the use of three Greek prepositions. There is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—or “en” experience—which the Apostles already had when Jesus breathed on them in John 20. They received the spirit and were born again. There is the “para” preposition seen in John 14 as Jesus speaks of the comforter—the presence of the Holy Spirit who comes alongside and draws souls to God. And then there is the “epi” preposition from our passage, wherein the Holy Spirit will come “upon” you. Seen throughout the New Testament, it is the supernatural relationship of the Holy Spirit that comes upon a believer as an expression of power in action and witness.

The “epi” experience of the Holy Spirit is like the gas in our cars to make them go. It is the “juice” that makes the difference between having a powerful witness for Christ or a static, same-as-always witness. Just as everything goes better with bacon, so does our walk go better with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The “epi” experience is the on-going filling of the Holy Spirit that I need to be a better husband, father, pastor, and man of God. Without it, I am powerless and inept as a Christian. The “epi” experience of the Holy Spirit is the true outpouring that the world needs for a movement of God.

Believers must have a Holy Spirit-empowered witness. Even when covered in prayer and filled with the Holy Spirit, your walk may seem like a drop in a puddle. But as one drop of water has a ripple effect on the whole pond, so can your witness leave a widening impact by the power of the Holy Spirit. First, you begin to witness in Jerusalem: your immediate circle, your home, neighborhood and community. Then to Judea: beyond your local community and into your region and state. To Samaria: your country, and then to the ends of the earth. Missionary trips to other parts of the world are great, but never forget your Jerusalem—your local witness and mission field. Sometimes churches are so focused on the world that they forget about witnessing in their own backyards.

Perhaps you feel like your Holy Spirit gas tank is empty. Fill up today, my friends, and go forth shining brightly as a mighty witness for Christ. Ask and pray for a fresh filling of power from the Holy Spirit and enjoy the amazing experience of what God will do with you.

By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International contributor, California U.S.