Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.                                                                                 (Mark 3:13-15)

Have you wished you had the power or authority to affect the spiritual environment in the places and relationships around you? According to Mark Chapter 3, it is possible. Jesus called the twelve, an unusual mix of people, to do just that. He called them to do things they could never have imagined were possible. He gave them the power and authority to share the good news and drive out evil spiritual forces. However, this power wasn’t found within themselves. It was generated by Jesus.

This reminded me of a school field trip to the science museum where I took my students when I was a fourth-grade teacher. One of the big attractions was the Van De Graff Generator.  It looked like a giant silver ball on a stand. The dome of the generator was charged with either positive or negative electrons, depending on the design. Anything that came in contact with the dome also gained the same charge. My students would put their hands on it, and it would cause their hair to stand on end. It was really cool!  

My students didn’t have the power to make their hair stand up straight on their own. They had to be in contact with the Van De Graff Generator. The generator was the source of the power.  

In the same way, the disciples Jesus chose didn’t have the power to heal or cast out demons on their own. They received that power from Jesus, the ultimate power generator. They had to continually be with Jesus to hold the charge of His power. Jesus also invested his time in training them. They learned from being at his side and by looking at his life. Being with Jesus transformed their thoughts, values, behaviors, and abilities.

This power is also granted to all of us. However, it is not something we can generate on our own. We must be connected to the Jesus Generator- the source of that power. 

Instead of making a New Year’s Resolution this year, which rarely works anyway, decide to find resources to help you to be more connected with Jesus. Attend a small group, go to church, spend daily time meditating on Scripture, or find an accountability partner. We don’t have the power within ourselves, but when connected to Jesus, his power can transform our lives, our relationships, and our environments.