Skipper’s Spirit of Power

After givin’ instructions ter the apostles, the Son began ter teach and show himself ’till the day he whar taken in ter heaven by Skipper’s Spirit of power. It happened this way.

He showed himself ter the Eleven and the other disciples. He gave many convincing proofs that he whar alive even after being nailed ter a cross and left fer dead in a tomb. He appeared ter folks over a period of 40 days, all while givin’ evidence of the kingdom of Skipper and its glory.

Skipper’s Spirit of Power

On one occasion, while eating with his mates, the Son gave ’em this command:

“DO NOT leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 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.” (Acts 1:1-5, 8)

After the Son appeared ter the Ten, then Thomas (a chap who had all manner of doubts ’bout the Son being alive), the Eleven trekked up ter Galilee ter do a bit of fishing. After casting thar nets all night and comin’ up with diddly, the Son waved ter ’em from shore and asked:

“Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” (John 21:5-6)

We might imagine the crew be grumbling ’bout this lubber seated on the beach telling a hardy crew how ter catch fish. Only, since the lubber ashore warmed himself by a fire and whar grilling fish the crew did as commanded. Well, blow me down! As one they hauled in 153 fish. Now you might be thinking this story sounds fishy and you be right, but not fer the reasons we might imagine.

Some time earlier the Son had promised his mates they would be fishers of men. He told ’em ter stay in Jerusalem and wait fer Skipper’s special gift of power and boldness. Only it appears that waiting in Jerusalem became ter much fer the crew so they went back ter thar old ways. And like most times when we return ter what worked be fer we met the Son, they got caught diddly. No fish, no fun, no joy.

Right then the Son called ter ’em: “Come and have breakfast.” None of the mates dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it be the Son.

Back on the beach, just like he did with the 5,000 and the 4,000, the Son took some bread and gave it ter ’em, and did the same with the fish.

Fish fer folks . . . bread of life . . . This whar at least the third time the Son appeared ter his mates after he be raised from the dead, only this time they got the message clear: Old ways be done fer. New ways, new work be thar calling.

We can imagine that soon as the fish fry be done fer, the Eleven hoofed it back ter Jerusalem, fer some days later the Son met with ’em again and led the Eleven out of Jerusalem ter the vicinity of Bethany. Thar whar the Son’s home away from home and the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. While he be near the Garden whar he prayed the night ‘fore he be arrested, the Son told ’em plain:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. I am always with you and will be to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

After saying this he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he be blessing them, he floated up in ter clouds and went on ter heaven ter rejoin Skipper. (Luke 24:50-51)

This be the second ascension of the Son only this time the Eleven done as told. Soon as they lost sight of him, they trekked back ter Jerusalem and waited fer thar special gift ter arrive.

Do you wait on Skipper be fer runnin’ out ter do his work? Do you obey all the Son teached and preached? Do you ‘ave Skipper’s gift, this Holy Spirit of Power? The prophet Isaiah lists seven blessings from ‘aving Skipper’s Spirit inside us.

From the stump of Jesse a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

If we be filled with Skipper’s Spirit of Power our lives ‘ill project the character of the Son and we ‘ill ‘ave his wisdom, understand ’bout Skipper’s word, be able ter counsel others in the ways of our Lord, act with boldness and power, retain knowledge ’bout Skipper and the Son others may not ‘ave, and live with reverent fear and awe of the Lord.

If our lives don’ live up ter this mark, may we make it our task ter get a full dose of Skipper’s Spirit of Power. Then may we be about the business of watching and waiting and fishing fer folks ’till the day the Son comes back or we go ter Davy Jones.