Power for a Purpose!
4/29/07am
Acts 1:8 NLT
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Let’s start this morning with a question: Agree or Disagree? GOD NEVER ASKS US TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE CANNOT DO. We’ll come back to that question in a few minutes.
*ILLUSTRATION*
Imagine that I give four individuals the identical task of putting together two 2x4’s using six 3" screws. The first person is given no tools to work with. The second is given a small screw driver. The third is given a cordless drill with dead battery. And finally the fourth is given a power drill. Whom do you think will complete the task?
• The first person with no tools may get the screws to start into the wood, but theirs is an impossible task that would never be completed.
• The second individual would get the screws into the wood, and may even work hard enough to join the two boards together, but with a small screw driver, they would be unable to finish the job.
• The third person with the drill and dead battery may have some success, but will also have not finishing the job.
• The fourth person is the only one will complete the task as required and then also finish the job the others started.
Jesus left His disciples with a job to do.
We call it the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere”
For Jesus’ disciples, this task was an impossible; how could a small group of followers tell the world about Jesus?
It would be like trying to screw together our 2x4’s without any tools.
If Jesus had first given the Great commission to you and me today then we might have an easier time trying to do it.
Even with the world population exceeding six billion, we could at least make use of the media, the internet and air travel to make our way into the distant places of the world.
Still our best efforts would be like using a small screw driver, or worse still, a cordless drill without any power.
Jesus told his disciples to tell everybody, everywhere, but He also told them something else. Jesus said, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 1:4-5 NLT).
In order for Jesus’ disciples to accomplish the great task before them they needed to be plugged in to power of the Holy Spirit.
Even with all the modern technology available to us today, we also must wait for our “battery to be charged.”
Without the power of the Holy Spirit it is impossible for the world to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So now back to the question we started with: Agree or Disagree, GOD NEVER ASKS US TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE CANNOT DO?
Is there anyone who wants to change their mind?
If you have not already guessed, we cannot do anything God asks us to do apart from Him.
Now if you’re paying attention, I just said BOTH! Can we do what God asks us to do? Absolutely . . . and absolutely not!
God wants us to live righteous lives, to be free from sin.
The Bible tells us, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16 NIV).
Unfortunately our best efforts apart from God are useless; “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NIV).
God can give us a dream, and we can pursue a God-given vision for our lives with everything in us. Unfortunately all our effort and hard work will miss the divine purpose God has for our lives.
We’re like Abraham and Sarah with God’s dream for a son finding our own “Hagar” and giving birth to an “Ishmael” instead of waiting for God to give us our promised “Isaac.”
We can try to do what God asks us to do on our own, but our best efforts apart from God are not even a “second best.”
We can’t really do anything for God without His help.
God knows our limitations; He knows how weak we are even when we try to appear strong.
Therefore, when God asks us to do something He provides the enablement.
God won’t ask us to do anything that He is not prepared to help us do; He won’t leave you to do it on your own.
Philippians 4:13 For I CAN DO EVERYTHING WITH THE HELP OF CHRIST who gives me the strength I need. (NLT)
Paul learned to depend upon God; he knew that there was nothing he could not do that God asked him to do . . . provided he relied upon God and didn’t try to do it himself!
Jesus gave the disciples no small task; likewise you and I have a big job to do. We are to tell the world about the love of Jesus.
(Now just so no one feels like they are “off the hook,” The Great Commission begins with our neighbors and moves out in ever widening circles.)
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is God’s enablement to do what Jesus has asked us to do. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for you and me to reach our world for Christ.
Acts 1:8 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. (NIV)
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is POWER FOR A PURPOSE.
It is not just to make us feel good or to know how much God loves us.
Jesus said the power of the Holy Spirit would make us WITNESSES; the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to tell our world about Jesus.
• How does the Holy Spirit empower or energize us to fulfill the Great Commission?
• What does it mean to have the “POWER” of the Holy Spirit?
The gives the believer power with a passion, proficiency and presence.
1. HOLY SPIRIT POWER PRODUCES A PASSION!
GOD IS LOVE: (see 1 John 4:8). John 3:16, perhaps the best know verse in the Bible, tells us God’s love is the motive for why we can receive eternal life.
God’s love compelled Him to take action; He could not sit and watch us be destroyed. God loved you and me so much He gave Jesus to die in our place.
After Christ’s resurrection, Peter was a man without a passion; he had been with Jesus, but his response was to go fishing.
However after being filled with the Holy Spirit Peter had a passion that motivated him to action.
Even after Peter had been arrested and stood before the same men who had Jesus crucified, he told the religious leaders, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Peter had a Holy Spirit-given passion; the love of God was burning within his heart for people, and nothing was going to stop him from telling them about Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was also transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit giving him a passion and love for people that motivated everything he did.
Prior to accepting Christ, Paul, then known as Saul, did everything he could to try to put a stop to those who followed Jesus. The Holy Spirit changed all that. Paul said, “Christ’s love compels me.”
Only Holy Spirit power can produce a divine passion for people in your heart.
The Holy Spirit will give you:
• Eyes to see people the way that Jesus would see them.
• Ears to hear their brokenness of their lives.
• A love for the lost.
The key for setting the captives free is the love of God.
The power of the Holy Spirit will produce a passion in our hearts, but there is more.
2. HOLY SPIRIT POWER PRODUCES PROFICIENCY.
Proficiency means competence. It’s an ability or mastery.
*ILLUSTRATION*
Before going to college, a student must first take an SAT.
The purpose of the SAT is to assure they are proficient enough, or competent to take the classes at the level necessary to succeed.
Holy Spirit power gives us Christ’s proficiency.
God’s competence and ability is now at work within us and through us.
Remember the source of Paul’s confidence? “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength ¨proficiency”
Let me put it to you another way: The baptism in the Holy Spirit does not just enable us to speak in tongues.
The Holy Spirit also enables and equips us to speak in English (or whatever your native language is)!
Holy Spirit power gives us the proficiency and competence to tell our world ¨our families, friends, co-workers, anyone¨ about the love of Jesus.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)
The Spirit enabled them to speak in tongues.
Here in Acts 2:4 it shows us that the Holy Spirit produced language unknown by those speaking, but was clear and sensible to some who heard it.
Many of those in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost said, “We hear them telling of God’s great love in our own languages.”
When you have been baptized in the Spirit you are enabled to speak in tongues and to speak of Christ’s love in English with a proficiency and competency that is Spirit inspired.
It’s not your ability; its Christ’s in you! The Holy Spirit made it possible.
The Holy Spirit gives power producing passion and proficiency, but that’s not all.
3. HOLY SPIRIT POWER PRODUCES PRESENCE.
A. He is there to direct - example - Phillip - only the Holy Spirit really knows what is going on in a person’s heart at a given time. He knows the heartache, pain, joys.
B. He is there when you witness to touch others by His presence. It’s not you, it’s the Holy Spirit at work in someone’s heart.
