Encountering Power Series

Introduction

• Expound on the text.

• Power-filled ministries are so needed today.

I. Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

A. a lot is going on in Luke Chapter 4.

1. V. 1 – Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2. V.14 – Jesus returned in the POWER of the Spirit.

3. V. 18 – Jesus began declaring His ministry.

4. V. 28-29 – Jesus is thrust out of the city

5. V. 32 – He declares the Word of the Lord in Capernaum and they are astonished at His doctrine: for His Word was with POWER!

6. V. 33-37 – Jesus casts out a devil

7. V. 38-41 – Jesus heals the sick and casts out devils

8. V.42 – Jesus begins His itinerate ministry.

B. Before Jesus went into the wilderness, He was still the Son of God.

1. Why didn’t Jesus do all of this before the wilderness? He needed the POWER OF THE SPIRIT!

2. The POWER makes all the difference.

II. The POWER of God is demonstrated where the anointing is present.

A. The anointing = the burden removing, yoke destroying POWER of God!

1. The anointing is tangible.

Tangible - TAN’GIBLE, a. [from L. tango, to touch.] Perceptible by the touch; tactile. That may be possessed or realized – Webster’s. Another way to say this is “the effects of the anointing are visible!”

B. In I Kings 8:1-11, we see the manifestation of God’s presence in the form of a cloud.

And it came to pass when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

1. Notice the organization that went into bringing the Ark of God into the sanctuary.

a. In verse one, the Bible says that King Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel together unto him in Jerusalem that “…they might bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.”

b. In verses two and three, we see that “all” of the men of Israel also assembled, and king Solomon, with the elders and the priests, “took up the ark.”

c. The free flow of the anointing is accelerated when there is unity among the seekers.

2. After everything had been set in place according to the commands of the covenant, a cloud of glory filled the house of the Lord. (This cloud was so thick and powerful that the Priest could not even stand to minister, and they had been in the Holy Place!)

a. The glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

b. The effects of the anointing are experienced through the open manifestation of the presence of God in our midst.

C. Just desiring the anointing is not enough. The candidate for the anointing must set their house in order – to receive. A few questions we can ask ourselves:

1. If the glory came right now, would I be ready for it?

2. Am I living a pure life? – Pure living is a key to power with God.

3. Do I tend to fight spiritual accountability? – Have I succumbed to personal pride?

4. What is my place in the body of Christ, and am I maximizing my potential there?

5. What else do I need to work on in the interest of unity, organization, and structure?

III. Encountering POWER – Acts 3:1-8

In Acts 3:1-8, we see the anointing manifested when the lame man was healed at the Gate Beautiful.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the Temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Notice the Chronology of Events:

1. Peter and John had a habit of going to the Temple at the ninth hour to pray. (Consistency)

2. It was not just any man but a “certain man…” lame from his mother’s womb. – He was laid “daily” at the gate of the Temple. (There is a miracle with your name on it)

3. The lame man asked of Peter and John. What if he had failed to ask? (Ask and you shall receive)

4. Peter and John “fastened their eyes upon him.” (Focus the anointing)