The Misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit’s Power
The modern Church often celebrates the Holy Spirit as the source of emotional highs, supernatural manifestations, and personal blessings. Congregations gather to experience “goosebumps” during worship, seek the euphoria of spiritual gifts, and prioritize speaking in tongues as evidence of divine encounter. But what if we’ve missed the heart of Jesus’ promise about the Holy Spirit? What if the power He spoke of in Acts 1:8 was never meant to end at personal edification or mystical experiences?
This blog is a call to re-examine the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power. It’s a challenge to move beyond the shallow waters of blessings and dive into the ocean of transformative authority Jesus intended for His Church. The disciples didn’t tarry in Jerusalem for emotional highs or spiritual novelties—they waited for power. And that power had a mission: to turn ordinary believers into bold, world-shaking witnesses of Christ.
Let’s explore why so many Christians today are “camped” at the point of blessings, how this stalls the Great Commission, and what it means to break through to the fullness of the Spirit’s power.
1. The Biblical Promise: “You Shall Receive Power”
Key Scripture: Acts 1:8
“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.”
Jesus’ final words before ascending to heaven were not about spiritual comfort but about supernatural enablement. The Greek word for “power” here is dunamis—the root of our English words “dynamic” and “dynamite.” It signifies explosive, transformative force. This power wasn’t given to make the disciples feel holy; it was given to make them act holy—to live as agents of God’s Kingdom in a broken world.
The Disciples’ Expectation
The disciples had no prior concept of speaking in tongues, prophetic utterances, or other charismatic gifts. Their only frame of reference was Jesus’ life: healing the sick, confronting religious hypocrisy, preaching repentance, and sacrificially loving the lost. When He promised the Holy Spirit’s power, they likely recalled His ministry and assumed the Spirit would empower them to do even greater works (John 14:12).
Yet today, many reduce the Holy Spirit’s role to a spiritual “experience” rather than a commissioning. Speaking in tongues, while a valuable gift (1 Corinthians 14:18), often becomes a trophy rather than a tool. The result? A Church that celebrates the gifts but neglects the Giver’s ultimate purpose.
2. The Modern Disconnect: Camping at Blessings
The Trap of Emotionalism
Many believers confuse the Holy Spirit’s presence with emotional stimulation. Worship services are judged by how much they make people cry, shake, or feel “chills.” While emotions are a natural response to God’s presence, they are not the goal. The disciples didn’t leave the Upper Room saying, “What a rush!” They left with unshakeable courage to preach Christ crucified—even when it cost them their lives.
The Charismatic Campout
The apostle Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, including tongues, prophecy, and healing. But he immediately follows this with the “more excellent way” of love (1 Corinthians 13:1). Tragically, much of the charismatic movement has fixated on the gifts themselves rather than the love-driven mission they’re meant to fuel.
When we “camp” at speaking in tongues or other gifts, we risk treating the Holy Spirit as a divine vending machine: insert a prayer language, receive a blessing. But Jesus didn’t die to make us feel powerful; He died to make us be powerful—to walk in authority over sin, fear, and darkness.
3. The Pitfalls of Camping at Spiritual Gifts
Gifts Without Governance
Spiritual gifts are meant to operate under the governance of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture. When we prioritize gifts over the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), we create a dysfunctional spiritual culture. For example:
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Prophetic words that lack humility and accountability.
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Healing ministries that ignore the brokenness of the heart.
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Tongues used to show off spirituality rather than edify the body (1 Corinthians 14:27–28).
The Danger of Spiritual Complacency
Camping at blessings breeds complacency. If our faith revolves around what God can do for us, we’ll never step into what He wants to do through us. The disciples could have stayed in the Upper Room, marveling at the sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire. Instead, they hit the streets, preaching with such boldness that 3,000 were saved in a single day (Acts 2:41).
4. Rediscovering the True Purpose: Power for Witness
What Does “Power” Look Like?
The Holy Spirit’s power manifests in both inward transformation and outward impact:
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Inwardly: Conviction of sin (John 16:8), freedom from fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and Christlike character.
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Outwardly: Bold preaching (Acts 4:31), miracles (Acts 3:6–8), and sacrificial love that draws others to Jesus.
The Proof of Power: Changed Lives
In Acts, the Spirit’s power wasn’t measured by how many people spoke in tongues but by how many lives were transformed. Peter, who once denied Christ, stood before thousands to proclaim Him. Stephen, full of the Spirit, forgave his murderers as he was stoned (Acts 7:59–60). Entire cities were stirred as ordinary believers turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
5. Breaking Past Blessings: How to Pursue the Spirit’s Power
Step 1: Reorient Your Hunger
Ask yourself: Do I seek the Holy Spirit for His gifts or for His power to fulfill Christ’s mission? Fast from chasing experiences and start chasing intimacy with God.
Step 2: Embrace Surrender
The Holy Spirit’s power flows through surrendered vessels. Let go of control, pride, and self-sufficiency. As Watchman Nee said, “God does not fill a man until He has emptied him.”
Step 3: Step Out in Obedience
Power is discovered in action. Share your faith. Serve the poor. Pray for the sick. The Spirit’s dunamis often meets us mid-step, not while we’re waiting for a mystical sign.
Conclusion: A Call to the Upper Room
Jesus’ command to “tarry” in Jerusalem wasn’t a call to passive waiting but to desperate seeking. The disciples weren’t killing time—they were aligning their hearts with Heaven’s agenda. Today, the Church needs a fresh return to the Upper Room. Not to chase blessings, but to cry out, “God, make us dangerous for Your Kingdom.”
The world doesn’t need more Christians with goosebumps. It needs believers ablaze with the Holy Spirit’s power—men and women who live as witnesses, not consumers; as warriors, not campers. Let’s stop settling for crumbs of blessing and feast on the fullness of His promise: “You shall receive power.”