The Power Of The Holy Spirit Series

SERIES: UNDERSTANDING POWER PRINCIPLES

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - POWER PRINCIPLE TWO

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:

• Give a Biblical reference which reveals the relation of the Holy Spirit to power.

• Identify the main purpose of the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Identify the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

• Give a Biblical reference which lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

• List Scriptural Guidelines for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

KEY VERSE:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

INTRODUCTION

Jesus made an important promise to His followers regarding spiritual power:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

• The power of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit are two key principles in understanding the Biblical concept of power.

• Experiencing both is necessary to receive spiritual power.

• You have already learned the importance of the power of the Gospel.

• But there is another vital spiritual experience which you must receive.

• It is the power of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus.

This lesson discusses this important principle. This lesson is only an introduction to the Holy Spirit. To study this subject in depth, we will cove this in a new series soon.

THE PROMISE OF POWER

Jesus told His followers He would. . .

. . . pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He mayabide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seethHim not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you,and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

The Spirit of which Jesus spoke is the third person of the Trinity of God, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit would "endue" or literally "clothe" the Disciples in spiritual power:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in thecity of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

THE RELATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO POWER

Note that this great spiritual power was to be experienced after receiving the Holy Spirit:

But yet shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Power is a spirit:

But God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. (Luke 4:14)

That "spirit of power" is the Holy Spirit:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

PURPOSES OF THIS POWER

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 8.18 19

The Holy Spirit ministers in many powerful ways in the lives of believers.

The HolySpirit:

a. Dwells in him: (I Corinthians 6:19) We are actually the temple or dwelling place of the Holy Ghost.

b. Unites him in one spirit with God and other believers: (I Corinthians 6:17) There is greatpower in unity as demonstrated in the story of the tower of Babel (See Genesis 11;especially note verse 6).

c. Intercedes for him: (Romans 8:26) This powerful intercessor prays for us according toGod's will.

d. Guides him: (John 16:13) The Holy Spirit enables us to walk in power and not confusion.He guides us to the place of power, the perfect will of God.

e. Imparts the love of Christ to him and through him: (Romans 5:5) You will learn moreabout the power of love in the next chapter.

f. Reveals Biblical truth to him: (I Corinthians 2:10) Powerful spiritual revelation comesthrough the Holy Spirit.

g. Comforts him: (Acts 9:31 and John 14:17, 26) He comforts us in times of grief.

h. Conforms him to the image of Christ: (II Corinthians 3:18) We are powerless to changeourselves into the image of Christ. Self-improvement plans are doomed to failure. Butthrough the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be conformed to the image of Jesus.