The final chapter of Luke’s Gospel contains one of the most precious promises Jesus ever gave His followers.

It is a promise every believer should understand—and one that far too many Christians have never fully experienced.

God never intended His children to live the Christian life without His power.

Yet countless believers are trying to do exactly that.

In Luke 24, we discover something remarkable. Before Jesus commissioned His disciples to carry the Gospel into the world, He did something extraordinary.

He opened their understanding.

And then He promised them power from heaven.

I’ve learned something important through decades of walking with God: Understanding God’s Word prepares us to fulfill God’s assignment.

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples:

“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
— Luke 24:44 (NKJV)

Then something wonderful happened.

“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
— Luke 24:45 (NKJV)

Don’t miss those words.

JESUS OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING!

These men had listened to Jesus teach for years. They had witnessed His miracles. They had heard His explanations of Scripture.

But now something changed.

Not the Scriptures.

Something changed inside the disciples.

Jesus supernaturally enabled them to understand what had previously escaped them.

And, dear friends, this is where I suggest you fasten your seatbelts.

Because what comes next can change the way you live.

When God Opens Your Understanding

There is a difference between knowing what the Bible says and understanding what God is revealing through it.

Knowledge alone is not enough.

Familiarity is not the same as revelation.

And information is not the same as transformation.

We need the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Without His help, Scripture can sometimes seem distant, confusing, or disconnected. But when the Spirit of God illuminates His Word, truths we have read dozens of times suddenly become clear.

The words haven’t changed.

Our understanding has.

Just yesterday, Paula and I finished reading John chapter 17.

We’ve read that chapter many times over the years. Yet yesterday, certain truths seemed to come alive as never before.

We saw things we hadn’t previously recognized. The meaning became clearer, richer, and more personal.

And those truths are still stirring in our hearts today.

That’s what the Holy Spirit does.

He takes the unchanging Word of God and helps us grasp its living truth through changing our understanding.

So, here’s a simple suggestion.

The next time you open your Bible, pause and pray:

“Father, open my understanding. Holy Spirit, teach me what You want me to see. Help me not merely to read Your Word, but to understand it, believe it, and obey it.”

If you do this each time you read God’s Word, you may be surprised by what begins to happen.

From Understanding to Power

After opening the disciples’ understanding, Jesus explained the heart of the Gospel.

“Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”
— Luke 24:46 (NKJV)

Christ’s suffering was not an accident.

His resurrection was not an afterthought.

Both were essential to God’s plan of redemption.

Through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, Jesus accomplished what mankind could never accomplish for itself.

And now this message was to be proclaimed throughout the world.

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
— Luke 24:47 (NKJV)

Repentance involves a change of mind and heart that turns us toward God.

Remission means the forgiveness of sins—removing the penalty of sin from the perpetrator—you and me.

Together, these two powerful components—repentance and remission—describe the wonderful blessing of the Gospel: forgiveness and freedom to live a new life through Jesus Christ.

But notice something.

Jesus did not simply give His disciples a message and send them out to deliver it.

He told them to wait.

Why? Why would He delay the gospel message going to the world?

Because they needed something beyond human understanding, determination, or ability.

They needed power.

Listen carefully to His words:

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (clothed, infused) with power from on high.”
— Luke 24:49 (NKJV)

There it is!

POWER FROM ON HIGH.

Not human enthusiasm.

Not religious education.

Not personality, talent, or persuasive speaking.

Power… from God Himself.

God’s power.

Why Jesus Said It Was Better That He Leave

Imagine being one of those disciples.

For years, Jesus had walked beside them, taught them, corrected them, and guided them.

Now He was telling them He would soon be leaving.

Naturally, they were troubled.

But Jesus told them something astonishing:

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
— John 16:7 (NKJV)

Think about that.

Jesus said His departure would be to their advantage!

How could that possibly be?

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had willingly accepted the limitations of human life. His physical presence was localized.

But the Holy Spirit is not limited by physical distance.

He can be present with believers throughout the world, simultaneously.

And under the New Covenant, something extraordinary has happened.

God no longer confines His dwelling among His people to a physical sanctuary.

The believer’s body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

Consider the magnitude of that truth.

The Spirit of the living God dwells within those who belong to Jesus Christ.

You are not abandoned.

You are not expected to face life’s battles alone.

And you were never intended to accomplish God’s purposes through human strength.

Don’t Confuse the Gift With the Giver

Now, let me address something important.

Whenever the Holy Spirit is mentioned, some Christians immediately think of one particular subject.

Speaking in tongues.

For some, that subject brings excitement. For others, confusion, disagreement, or even apprehension.

But notice something about this teaching.

We have been discussing the Holy Spirit’s power without making tongues the center of the conversation.

Why?

Because the Holy Spirit is a Person, not merely a spiritual experience.

Speaking in tongues is a biblical spiritual gift. But it is not the whole story of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

He teaches.

He guides.

He comforts.

He convicts.

He strengthens.

He reveals truth.

He empowers believers to witness for Jesus Christ.

And He produces the fruit of godly character in surrendered lives.

We must never become so preoccupied with debating one gift that we neglect the Giver Himself.

Jesus promised His followers power from on high.

And that promise deserves our attention.

How Do We Welcome More of His Power?

Perhaps you’re wondering, “Dale, how do I experience more of the Holy Spirit in my daily life?”

Begin with surrender.

If you belong to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit already dwells within you.

But Scripture also calls believers to be continually filled with the Spirit.

Paul wrote:

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)

The original Greek carries the sense of an ongoing command—a continuing activity .

In other words, don’t think of being filled with the Holy Spirit as merely a one-time event.

Keep yielding. Keep surrendering. Keep being filled.

Every day.

Bring Him your decisions.

Bring Him your fears.

Bring Him your unanswered questions.

Bring Him your weaknesses, responsibilities, and disappointments.

Ask Him to guide you and direct your steps.

And when you recognize an area of your life that you’ve been trying to control without God’s help, surrender it.

You might pray something like this:

“Heavenly Father, I want more of You. I surrender my plans, my desires, and my will to Jesus Christ. Please fill me now with Your Holy Spirit. Open my understanding, strengthen my faith, and teach me to walk in obedience to Your Word. I don’t want to live today in my own strength. I want to live by Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

You don’t need impressive words.

You need a willing heart.

Scripture speaks of vessels made for different purposes, including vessels of honor.

And here’s something I’ve learned:

The most useful vessel is not necessarily the most impressive. It is the one surrendered and prepared for the Master’s use.

God is not looking for people who can impress Him with their abilities.

He is looking for hearts that will trust Him, obey Him, and make themselves available for His purposes.

So don’t wait until tomorrow.

Begin today.

The Holy Spirit is not merely a subject to study.

He is God, present with His people, and He desires to work in and through your life.

And when we begin living in greater dependence upon Him, the Christian life becomes an entirely different journey.

Now THAT is a flight worth taking!

A Personal Word From Paula and Me

If today’s teaching has encouraged you, would you consider sending us a short note?

We genuinely love hearing what God is doing in your life.

Your spiritual growth matters to Paula, Kara, and me. We care about your questions, your challenges, and your victories.

Sometimes the questions you send become the very subjects we address in future teachings and videos.

And to those who pray for us, write encouraging letters, or financially support our small publishing ministry, please know how deeply grateful we are. Your help is such a blessing to us.

Your partnership allows us to continue sharing these messages with the body of Christ and those who still need to know Him.

A quick update on our winter storage project: Thanks to the generosity of several wonderful friends and partners, we raised approximately half of our original budget. Rather than incur additional expense, we purchased a smaller shed. It has now been assembled, is functioning beautifully, and has resolved our immediate storage problem.

Thank you! What a blessing you’ve been.

An Invitation to Become a Founding Partner

Paula and I are also inviting a special group of founding partners to help bring our upcoming book about the Holy Spirit to publication.

We believe these teachings can help Christians grow in their understanding of God’s presence, His voice, and His power.

Founding partners will have the opportunity to receive permanent recognition with their name inside the book, although anonymous sponsorship is equally welcome, if you prefer.

If the Lord places this project on your heart, we would be grateful for your prayerful consideration.

Please visit the Projects page at DaleBlack.org to learn more about becoming a founding partner.

And above all, please continue praying for us as we seek to remain faithful to Jesus Christ in a world increasingly willing to compromise His truth.

Remember, dear friends:

Jesus is coming again.

Let us be found faithful, watchful, and filled with His Spirit when He returns.

God bless you.

Would You Help Bring Our Next Book to Life?

God has placed an important new book on my heart—The Holy Spirit, a message about knowing His presence, hearing His voice, and walking in His power.

Paula and I are inviting a special group of Founding Partners to help bring this next book in our Messages From Heaven series to life. Your sponsorship will help cover the writing, editing, design, and publishing costs, with the special opportunity to have your name permanently recognized inside the finished book (or you can sponsor without your name in the book, if you prefer to remain anonymous).

Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us to bring this life-changing message to others?

Visit the PROJECTS page at DaleBlack.org to learn more about becoming a Founding Partner and help us share this important message with the world. Your prayers for this new book are very much appreciated.

 

To help us produce uncompromising videos, articles, books, and teaching materials that
strengthen faith, share biblical truth, and introduce others to saving power of Jesus Christ,
we invite you to Join the Mission.

God bless you.

Dale and Paula Black

Keep looking up.