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Send It On Down . . .For What? December 1, 2008 By Martin
Schmaltz There is an
old song that said, “Send it on down, send it on down, Lord, let
the Holy Ghost, come on down!” We were singing about a power
from heaven descending on us that would result in a powerful demonstration
of the presence of God. “Send it on
down” is still the concept of many individuals today. Lately, I
have had this thought percolating in my spirit. Much of the terminology
around church today regarding spiritual empowerment seems to have
a notion of some external “thing of God” that must happen to us.
This is what did happen on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost
(or Spirit) was poured out on the first church. However, the
Bible shows us that from the time that each believer first experiences
their own Spirit infilling, they are to walk by an internal
power. We are told: 1.) We will receive power with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8). 2.) The Holy Ghost/Spirit of God is in us (Romans 8:9). 3.) He does abundantly in us according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). 4.) Paul told
Timothy to stir up the gift within him (II Timothy 1:6). Once we are
born again (John 3) we should be seeking a greater sensitivity to
His Spirit in us. We should be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14),
so that in our ordinary daily lives we see opportunities to reveal
the power that is in us. My Opinion, Paul's Words In my opinion,
Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesians 1:16-20 gives us great
insight into this indwelling power. Part of his prayer was that
God would enlighten them to two things: 1) What is the hope of His calling. 2) The riches
and glory of His inheritance in the saints. He then goes
on to elaborate on the power of this inheritance as being operative
and demonstrated in the resurrection of Christ. In the ministry
of the early church, they revealed the power that was dwelling in
them as they went about their daily lives. When they were mingling
with other individuals, opportunities to minister presented themselves.
Peter Didn't Pray I like the story
of Peter and John's interaction with the lame man in Acts 3. Let
me list what I feel are some interesting points: 1) They were on their way to pray--apparently they had not yet prayed that day. 2) They took the time to respond to the unfortunate--they were not too busy. 3) They spoke with faith--from a relationship with Jesus and knowing what was in them. 4) They acted
on their faith by reaching down and pulling the man up. Peter and John
did not have to get into a spiritual “zone” to manifest the power
of the kingdom. It was their understanding of what was in them and
living a life led by the indwelling Spirit that allowed them to
be ready when the opportunity presented itself. Are you waiting
for something to “happen” to you to be used? Or are you listening
to the Spirit and stepping out in faith to demonstrate what is already
in you? Martin Schmaltz is the author of Apostolic Authority, Every Believer's Privilege. He travels ministering the principles of apostolic authority and structure. Check out his blog here.
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