THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,” (Second Thessalonians 1 vs 4.) 

READ: Acts 2 vs 1 - 4:

2:1 When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

INTIMATION: 

The power of the Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, has appeared throughout Scripture as a Being through and by whom great works of power are made manifest. His power was first seen in the act of creation, for it was by His power the world came into being (Genesis 1 vs 1 - 2; Job 26 vs 13). 

The Holy Spirit also empowered men in the Old Testament to bring about God’s will: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (First Samuel 16 vs 3; see also Exodus 31 vs 2 - 5; Numbers 27 vs 18).

Although the Spirit did not permanently indwell God’s people in the Old Testament, He worked through them and gave them power to achieve things they would not have been able to accomplish on their own. All of Samson’s feats of strength are directly attributed to the Spirit coming upon him (Judges 14 vs 6, 19; 15 vs 14).

Throughout history God has revealed His power through mighty miracles over nature. He promises to continue to reveal His power. The apostle Paul urged us to understand how great God’s power is (Ephesians 1 vs 18 - 23). The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to help us with our daily problems. 

When you feel weak and limited, don’t despair. Remember that God can give you strength. The same power that control creation and raises the dead is available to you. The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of God who works in and through Christians in this dispensation of time in order to accomplish the work of God on earth through the church. 

Jesus promised the Spirit as a permanent guide, teacher, seal of salvation, and comforter for believers (John 14 vs 16 - 18). He also promised that the Holy Spirit’s power would help His followers to spread the message of the gospel around the world: “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” (Acts 1 vs 8). The salvation of souls is a supernatural work only made possible by the Holy Spirit’s power at work in the world.

At Pentecost (Acts 2 vs 1 - 4) the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit (are baptized with Him) when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the light of his total work in Christians: (1) The Spirit marks the beginning of the Christian experience. We cannot be Christians without His Spirit (Romans 8 vs 9); we cannot be joined to Christ without His Spirit (First Corinthians 6 vs 17); we cannot be adopted as His children without His Spirit (Romans 8 vs 14 - 17; Galatians 4 vs 6 - 7); we cannot be in the Body of Christ except by baptism in the Spirit (First Corinthians 12 vs 13).

(2) The Spirit is the power of our new lives. He begins a lifelong process of change making us more like Christ (Galatians 3 vs 3; Philippians 1 vs 6). When we receive Christ by faith, we begin an immediate personal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us become like Christ. 

(3) The Spirit unites the Christian community in Christ (Ephesians 2 vs 19 - 22). The Holy Spirit can be experienced by all, and he works through all (First Corinthians 12 vs 11; Ephesians 4 vs 4). The kingdom Jesus preached about was, first of all, a spiritual kingdom established in the hearts and lives of believers (Luke 17 vs 21). God’s presence and power dwell in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

The “power” the believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4 vs 1), led by the Spirit (Luke 4 vs 14), and empowered by the Spirit to perform miracles (Matthew 12 vs28). After Jesus had ascended to heaven, the Spirit equipped the apostles to perform miracles, too (Second Corinthians 2 vs 12; Acts 2 vs 43; 3 vs 1 - 7; 9 vs 39 - 41). The power of the Holy Spirit was manifest among all the believers of the early church through the dispensation of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, teaching, wisdom, and more.

Jesus had instructed His disciples to witness to people of all nations about Him (Matthew 28 vs 19 - 20). But they were told to wait first for the Holy Spirit (Luke 24 vs 49). God has important work for you to do for Him, but you must do it by the power of the Holy Spirit. We often like to get on with the job, even if it means running ahead of God. But waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan. Are you waiting and listening to God’s complete instructions, or are you running ahead of His plans? We need God’s timing and power to be truly effective.

All those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8 vs 11). And, although some of the spiritual gifts have ceased (e.g., speaking in tongues and prophecy), the Holy Spirit still works in and through believers to accomplish His will. His power leads us, convicts us, teaches us, and equips us to do His work and spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit’s powerful indwelling is an amazing gift we should never take lightly.

PRAYER: Abba Father, thank You for the unparalleled gift of the Holy Spirit and the subsequent manifestation of His power in the lives of believers in Christ. I covet earnestly the constant leading of the Holy Spirit in my life at all times and in all things, in the Jesus’ mighty Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!