Necessary Power

[MaxPC]

The disciples were still hungry for political power even after the cross and 40 days of witnessing the Risen Lord. They still had not gotten over their hunger for a Rome-crushing victory, for their side to win. They wanted political power when what they needed was Holy Spirit power. Jesus bequeathed no other power to His followers than the Holy Spirit. He returned to the Father with the command to tarry “until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The Spirit is the secret power of the Kingdom of God; the Spirit alone enthrones Jesus in the heart. The more we hunger for political power the more Holy Spirit power will become a distant forgotten memory in the church.

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Acts 1:6-9 (ESV) Christ Our Holy Way

[Valerie]

The disciples were still hungry for political power even after the cross and 40 days of witnessing the Risen Lord. They still had not gotten over their hunger for a Rome-crushing victory, for their side to win. They wanted political power when what they needed was Holy Spirit power. Jesus bequeathed no other power to His followers than the Holy Spirit. He returned to the Father with the command to tarry “until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The Spirit is the secret power of the Kingdom of God; the Spirit alone enthrones Jesus in the heart. The more we hunger for political power the more Holy Spirit power will become a distant forgotten memory in the church.

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Acts 1:6-9 (ESV) Christ Our Holy Way

Not to make this 'political' but do you see a difference in the Apostles desire and what Christians hope to do 'today' in 'preserving the faith' as they see it becoming a more secular atmosphere? Their concerns may be different, then the Apostles at that time? Just considering-

[barnhart]

Not to make this 'political' but do you see a difference in the Apostles desire and what Christians hope to do 'today' in 'preserving the faith' as they see it becoming a more secular atmosphere?

I don't see much difference.

[Ken]

We know what happened a couple of decades later in 66 A.D. when the Jews did revolt politically and militarily against the Roman Empire in a religious war to restore the independent kingdom of Israel as the disciples had wanted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Jew ... 3Roman_War

According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, upwards of 100,000 Jewish soldiers and zealots were killed, 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem, 100,000 died in Galilee, and 97,000 were enslaved. Modern historians put the numbers somewhat lower. Roman casualties were around 10,000.

[MaxPC]

Not to make this 'political' but do you see a difference in the Apostles desire and what Christians hope to do 'today' in 'preserving the faith' as they see it becoming a more secular atmosphere?

I don't see much difference.

I believe the difference is that today’s disciples know (at the very least should know) that Christ redeemed us and provided the Holy Spirit as a source of power for our maturation in discipleship rather than ruling the secular world. Many do know this; others are beginning to understand it. God knows our hearts; I trust His judgment.

[Kai]

The disciples were still hungry for political power even after the cross and 40 days of witnessing the Risen Lord. They still had not gotten over their hunger for a Rome-crushing victory, for their side to win. They wanted political power when what they needed was Holy Spirit power. Jesus bequeathed no other power to His followers than the Holy Spirit. He returned to the Father with the command to tarry “until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The Spirit is the secret power of the Kingdom of God; the Spirit alone enthrones Jesus in the heart. The more we hunger for political power the more Holy Spirit power will become a distant forgotten memory in the church.

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Acts 1:6-9 (ESV) Christ Our Holy Way

Not to make this 'political' but do you see a difference in the Apostles desire and what Christians hope to do 'today' in 'preserving the faith' as they see it becoming a more secular atmosphere? Their concerns may be different, then the Apostles at that time? Just considering-

I don’t see any difference. The disciples’ hope for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel and the modern Christian hope of preserving the faith through political means are both misguided, unwise, dare I even say, unconverted hopes.

I completely concur with this quote “The more we hunger for political power the more Holy Spirit power will become a distant forgotten memory in the church.” This is because the political means of reformation and the spiritual means of reformation are opposites of each other.
After the Holy Spirit is given at Pentecost we never see the disciples returning to this pre-conversion hope of restoring God’s kingdom through political means. When the New Testament church understands the power of the Holy Spirit it will no longer worry about saving morality through government.
One method works every time, the other method never works

[barnhart]

I believe the difference is that today’s disciples know (at the very least should know) that Christ redeemed us and provided the Holy Spirit as a source of power for our maturation in discipleship rather than ruling the secular world...

Yes, they should.

[MaxPC]

I completely concur with this quote “The more we hunger for political power the more Holy Spirit power will become a distant forgotten memory in the church.” This is because the political means of reformation and the spiritual means of reformation are opposites of each other.
After the Holy Spirit is given at Pentecost we never see the disciples returning to this pre-conversion hope of restoring God’s kingdom through political means. When the New Testament church understands the power of the Holy Spirit it will no longer worry about saving morality through government.
One method works every time, the other method never works

Indeed and Amen.