Becoming Powerhouses For God

BECOMING POWERHOUSES FOR GOD

Acts 1:4-8

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300°C.

2. The Russians used a pencil.

B. TEXT

4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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."

C. THESIS

1. Jesus said those who receive the Holy Spirit, receive power. Power for living, power to witness, power to pray, and power to perform miracles.

2. Power to be like Jesus in this world; Power to live like He would have us live; Power to emulate Him; Power to do the things He did - and greater. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (Jn. 14:12)

3. How can we do the miracles Jesus did? With the help of the same Holy Spirit by which Jesus performed them. We have the opportunity to be clothed in power from on high.

4. A powerhouse is a power-generating plant, of which there are not very many. One power-generating plant provides power for a large geographic area and population. There could be no modern civilization without powerhouses.

5. We’re looking today at how to become God’s Powerhouses to the lost world around us.

I. NO ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT THE POWER

A. DEMONSTRATION

1. QUESTION: Agree or Disagree? GOD NEVER ASKS US TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE CANNOT DO.

2. Give three individuals the identical task of putting together two 1x6 boards using 2" screws.

a. The first person is given no tools to work with, just the two boards and 3 screws.

b. The second is given the same materials and a screw driver.

c. The third is given the same materials and a power drill.

3. Whom do you think will complete the task? Obviously, the one with MORE POWER!

B. THE IMPOSSIBLE ASSIGNMENT?

1. Jesus left His disciples with a job to do - the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere”

2. For Jesus’ disciples, this task was impossible; how could a small group of followers tell the world about Jesus? It would be like trying to screw together our 1x6’s without any tools.

3. But Jesus also told them something else; “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5.

4. The Holy Spirit is God’s power-source to accomplish the Great Commission.

C. HUMOR: The Highest Power

1. A Sunday school teacher was talking to his class about how powerful were the Kings and Queens in Bible times. He was steering their thoughts back to God.

2. He asked, “Who can tell me of a higher power than kings and queens?” An 8-year-old instantly raised his hand and shouted out, "It’s Aces, teacher! Aces are higher than Kings and Queens!"

3. That’s not really what he had in mind. GOD is above all powers – in heaven, Earth, and under the Earth.

II. POWER FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE

A. POWER FOR A PURPOSE

1. The Holy Spirit power was given to empower us WHEN WE NEED IT; like Samson. The spirit came on him when there was an adversary or a battle, and he needed it. If we're not in a spiritual battle, we don't need it.

2. The primary purpose of the power given on Pentecost was to assist us in witnessing. The power won't flow unto you begin witnessing. What if I said, "I give you POWER to sing." Unless you sing you wouldn’t experience the power given to sing. (Same would be true if I gave you power to “draw,” “run,” or “throw.”)

3. 95% of the SUV’s (Sport Utility Vehicles) ever produced never leave the road. They are designed for a purpose for which they are rarely, if ever used. A believer who has experienced the power of the Spirit and is not sharing Jesus is like a 4-wheel drive vehicle that’s never taken off the road. They have power for a purpose, but they aren’t utilizing it.