The Holy Spirit and the Power

Text - Acts 1.6-11

Acts 1:6–11 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

The Power is Promised

Power - Grk. dynamis

basic meaning: the ability to do something

Holy Spirit power: demonstration of supernatural ability over the material or physical

Only after He was resurrected did the Lord speak about power coming with the Holy Spirit.

What prompted Him to make a promise about “power”?

Reason No. 1 - many of the disciples were doubting and perhaps afraid.

40 days after the resurrected Christ, many of the disciples still “disbelieved”

Luke 24.36-41

they were startled, frightened and thought they saw a spirit

they still did not believe

Matthew 28.16-17 - some doubted

They were instructed to “wait until they are clothed with power.”

Luke 24.48-49

Stay/Tarry (wait - Acts 1.4)

Notice:

Hours, perhaps minutes into Christ’s ascension, some of the disciples still doubted.

Perhaps, this was the reason Jesus promised the power?

Maybe they were thinking what happens to them when the Lord is no longer present.

Reason No. 2 - they were more focused on the restoration of the kingdom of Israel - a Jewish pride!

“Will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1.6-7

Notice Jesus’ response: “it is not for you to know times and seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.”

Don’t focus on the kingdom yet - you have a gospel to preach to the nations! - Matthew 24.14

That is power/authority reserved for the Father alone. On the other hand, there is power allotted to you, and it’s coming!

Reason No. 3 - They needed to be prepared for what’s to come.

The disciples most likely had no idea what happens when the promised Holy Spirit comes.

Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit always comes with power!

Power came with the Holy inside Mary’s womb

Luke 1.35

Power came with the Holy Spirit after His baptism

Luke 4.1, 14

Power came with Holy Spirit at His resurrection

1 Corinthians 6.14

Romans 8.11

The Purpose of Power

Why did Jesus put an emphasis on the power that will come with the promised Holy Spirit?

To empower His “witnesses”

Luke 24.46-48

The disciples are going to bear witness that Jesus was -

the Messiah - in His suffering, death and resurrection

the Son of God - the Lord and Savior

TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST IS TO SPEAK OF HIM IN THE HEARING OF THE UNBELIEVING, DECLARING HIS GREAT AND WONDERFUL WORKS, AND GIVING PEOPLE A REASON WHY THEY MUST ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES.

The disciples are going to bear witness in the midst of unbelieving peoples

the “power” of the Holy Spirit will give them boldness to proclaim the gospel

the power of the Holy Spirit will courage to face threats

the power of the Holy Spirit will help them endure pain and suffering

The power of the Holy Spirit will vindicate their work before the eyes of the unbelieving

Power vindicated the ministry of Jesus

Acts 10.38

Power will also vindicate the work of the church - the saints!

Mark 16.15-18

Romans 15.18-19

WHAT’S THE POINT?

IF YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY, YOU CANNOT BE POWERLESS!

IF YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY, YOU HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POWER IS TO BRING THE GOSPEL OUT INTO THE WORLD!

To bring the promised Holy Spirit to places beyond Jerusalem…

Acts 2.38-39

The empowered witnesses are to move geographically

Acts 1.8 - Jerusalem first, Judea and Samaria next, the end of the earth last

Note: the Book of Acts itself can be divided based on the march of the gospel

Acts 1-7 - Jerusalem. During this time, the disciples were content to preach in and around Jerusalem.

Acts 7-12 - Judea and Samaria. Persecutions caused the disciples to spread out into Samaria and Judea

Acts 13-28 - the gospel going to the end of the earth. Jewish rejection of the gospel inspired the apostles to go to the Gentiles

WHAT’S THE POINT?

YOUR WITNESSING SHOULD NOT END IN YOUR “JERUSALEM”.

Give a faithful testimony to your family and friends. Do your best to bring them to Christ.

If they don’t want the gospel. that’s not the end of the ministry.

THE CHURCH, THE BELIEVERS, MUST SET THEIR SIGHT ON THE MISSION FIELDS.

Manifestations of the Power

If “power” is ability to do something, how was the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrated?

They spoke in other tongues!

Acts 2.1-8

Acts 2:4 ESV

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:6–8 ESV

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

The Holy Spirit gave them “utterance”!

NOTE:

Acts 2.4 - “other” tongues, different (from what is usual)

Mark 16.15 - “new” tongues - having relatively come into being, acquired, or discovered

Their utterances were heard outside by the multitude of Jews in Jerusalem.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

TO SPEAK IN “OTHER” AND “NEW” TONGUES ALSO MEANS

LEARNING TO SPEAK IN “WAYS” THAT WERE NOT COMMON PRACTICE TO THE PERSON.

SPEAKING IN NEW WAYS THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH A SUPERNATURAL AID (OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)

YOU WHO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT - YOU CANNOT BE SPEECHLESS ONCE THE POWER BEGINS TO MOVE IN YOUR BODY!

YOUR TONGUE WILL BE LOOSED AND EMPOWERED TO TESTIFY!

AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT - YOU ARE EMPOWERED NOT ONLY TO PROCLAIM CHRIST AMONG US - BUT TO PROCLAIM HIM OUT THERE - YOUR JERUSALEM, JUDEA AND SAMARIA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD!

They performed signs and wonders

Acts 2.42-43

Acts 2:43 ESV

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Signs and wonders were done through the apostles.

Acts 4.29-31

Signs and wonders accompanied the bold proclamation of the gospel.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

JESUS CHRIST IS STILL THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER!

WHY ARE THERE “FEW” - IF NOT NO - SIGNS AND WONDERS TODAY? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE NOT WITNESSING!

SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL ONLY MANIFEST WHEN WE ARE DOING THE WORK OF WITNESSING!

CHRISTIANS TODAY ARE MAJORING ON THE MINOR USES OF THE POWER LIKE - PERSONAL NEEDS, PERSONAL HEALING, WEALTH AND PROVISIONS.

They endured

Acts 5.40-42

Acts 5:41–42 ESV

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Despite the threats and the pain and the suffering, they continued to preach and teach about Christ.

1 Corinthians 4.11

1 Corinthians 9.12

WHAT’S THE POINT?

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN SO WE CAN ENDURE - NOT ESCAPE - HARDSHIP AND THAT THE GOSPEL PROCLAMATION WILL CONTINUE!

A CHURCH THAT IS MORE INTENT ON LIVING A COMFORTABLE LIFE IS A POWERLESS CHURCH!

THE LESS POWER WE HAVE, THE MORE WE WANT TO ESCAPE PAIN AND SUFFERING!

Conclusion

What kind of church are we today?

Are we a comfort seeking church? Always running away from the burden of being a witness for Christ?

OR, are we an empowered church? Willing to go where the Spirit leads, and ready to endure hardship if it means Christ will be magnified?

IN LIGHT OF THIS MESSAGE, THIS CHURCH CAN ONLY BECOME ONE OF THE TWO:

A COMFORT-SEEKING CHURCH, or

AN ENDURING CHURCH

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED ONCE AGAIN - SIGNS AND WONDERS, AND A BOLD PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL -

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO GOD’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE WHEN HE FIRST GAVE POWER TO THE CHURCH - WITNESSING!

ASK GOD TO HELP TESTIFY OF THE RISDEN LORD WHEREVER YOU ARE!

SONGS SELECTION

I Love You Lord (Peter’s Song)