God's Power for God's Purpose

Introduction

This year, my goal is to help you live a life that is empowered by God. The only way I know to do this is by teaching God’s Word. The revelation that God has given me this year is “it’s not a magic trick.” As if, God’s blessings and God’s power are manifested by a simple prayer or act of belief. Rather, it is accessed through these things and the obedience of God’s Word.

We know these things. However, it is hard to do this, because of the songs we sing and the sermons we preach. Everything presents the work of God as a magic trick, and such is naturally acceptable to us.

We’d rather have magic, because magic requires nothing from us. However, empowerment requires our involvement and our work. Even the supernatural and the miraculous is not simply by magic. It is by the exhaustion of relentless obedience to God that we receive the interaction of God in our lives. Yet, so many try to take the shortcut and would prefer magic over empowerment. In Acts 8:14-25, Simon, who is a sorcerer, tries to buy what can only be given through empowerment.

When preferring magic over empowerment are hearts are revealed. Magic reveals the deceit in our heart, because only those who have a pure heart will be willing to labor for empowerment (Acts 8:22).

There’s an incredible difference between Simon and the apostles. The apostles were empowered by the Spirit because of their relationship to Jesus Christ. With relationship comes power. This is why it is important for us to connect with Jesus and walk as closely as we can with Him. Because no one who is complacent in their relationship with Jesus will receive power that enables them to live as He lived in the earth. They were taken from different backgrounds and experiences and were gifted to serve in an extraordinary way.

Fishermen- Andrew, Peter, James, John

Tax Collector- Matthew

Zealot- Simon

Thief- Judas

Not important enough to mention- Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Thaddaeus

Tent Maker- Paul

How did God take these men, from these professions and backgrounds, and make them messengers of a divine message? They were not trained to be preachers. Yet, these men went through cities and traveled across the world preaching under the power of God—seeing thousands come to Christ, witnessing the healing of the sick, and the liberation of the demon possessed and mentally bound. These men went on to turn the world upside down with some other power than magic.

Peter and Paul makes up most of the history given in the book of Acts. They gave their life evangelizing the Jewish and Gentile community.

Andrew served in the Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey and Greece.

Thomas served in east Syria as far east as India.

Philip preached in Carthage (North Africa) and Asia Minor. There, he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. Consequently, the proconsul arrested him and killed him.

Matthew preached in Persia and Ethiopia.

Bartholomew preached in India, Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia.

James ministered in Syria.

Simon preached in Persia.

Matthias preached in Syria.

John preached and led in Ephesus and was exiled to Patmos.

All of these men were used to begin the movement that became the Christian community through the preaching and teaching of the things they learned from Jesus. Yet, it was not only the teaching. For, teaching is the service of the ministry and to some extent the means by which they are impactful. However, it is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that gave these men the authority to do the work.

All I’m trying to say is we need the Holy Ghost! We need to be empowered! We need to be authorized for the purposes and the things we do in this life.

God’s Power for God’s Purpose

However, I must put us on notice that living an empowered life does not come when we are desiring our own kingdom. The apostles spent 3 years being taught by Jesus. Yet, they still had an interest and desire for their kingdom instead of the kingdom God. Take a look at Acts 1:3. It says, “After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

The problem is they had their hearts on their kingdom. Acts 1:6 says, “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”” We often try to use God’s power for our kingdom and purpose rather than God’s purpose and kingdom. God made it clear to them that His power could never be used for their kingdom. The power they are being given is to build God’s kingdom and purpose.

Being empowered is about getting on board with God’s plan and using it for His purpose and plan.

An Example of the Power

The power of God fell through the preaching of the Word, because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Peter, the man who was “just” a fisherman spent time with Jesus and was empowered by His Spirit (see Acts 4:18 “18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” )

Acts 10:44-48 “44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.”

Acts 19:8–22 CSB

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. 11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem. 18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed. 21 After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “It is necessary for me to see Rome as well.” 22 After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

Conclusion

I want us to ask God today for a dose of His power. I want us to have a desire for the power of God in our life. There will be things that arise that only the power of God can defeat and overthrow. I don’t want you to be afraid or timid about invoking the power of God, because He has gifted you with His Spirit so you can overthrow the attacks of sin and death which is deemed powerless by the blood and body of Jesus Christ.