Introduction:
When Jesus Christ was on earth, He was responsible for all the needs (including spiritual) of His disciples. When He was about to ascend to heaven, He recognized that they would need power. He therefore promised and reminded them on the day of ascension that they would receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon them.
At one time or the other in our lives we felt need for spiritual power, may be to fight our enemies or to use it for other beneficial purposes. Therefore in today’s message we shall look at this power and how we can receive and benefit from it.
What is Spiritual Power?
Power is the ability to do things, whether by strength, skill, resources, or because of authorization by someone. It is also the strength to do something that ordinarily could not be done. Thus there are different kinds of power, mechanical power to drive vehicles, electrical power, chemical power, financial power, political power, etc,
1. Every other power can be created by man,
2. Spiritual power comes only from God.
3. It is a power that is above every other power.
4. It is a power that works wonders;
5. It is beyond the understanding and imagination of man.
6. It is the power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave.
Why we need Spiritual Power.
While Jesus Christ was on earth, His disciples depended so much on him for every of their need including the need for power; He was responsible for their needs including spiritual. But as He ascended to heaven, they need to have power resident in them.
1. Jesus Christ can no longer be with us physically,
Mk 9:17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Mk 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
9:19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
9:26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He’s dead."
Lk 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
Lk10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
2. We need the power to fight our battles,
Job 1:7The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
1Pet 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The enemy move to and fro the earth looking for who he will devour, we need to be prepare for his attacks.
3. To be able to help people solve their problem,
Math. 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness
Math. 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Lk. 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
As He helped people solved their problems while He was on earth, He also wants us to help the harrased of our time.
4. To be a true witness for Him,
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."
He wants us to use the power to win more souls for His kingdom.
5. To be able to take the kingdom of God,
Math 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
How to receive Spiritual Power?
The spiritual power of God is in the Holy Spirit, therefore to have spiritual power; you must have the Holy Spirit. To have the Holy Spirit of God you must:
1. Be born again: It is a promise for the children of the kingdom; therefore every recipient must be born again,
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Desire the Spirit,
Acts 2:39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
3. Wait for Him,
Lk 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
Acts 1:4On 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.
4. Put the power into use and the more you use it, the more you get. It is not to be kept dormant,
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."
Math 25:24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. ’Master,’ he said, ’I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25:25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
25:26"His master replied, ’You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
25:28"’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
25:30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Why did Jesus told them to wait for for the power? Why not give them the promise immediately on the mount especially since He Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Ghost, moreover, since He was no longer going to be with them?
The power of God is not for those who are eager to get it (as quickly as possible) and use it for personal/worldly benefit. Rather, it is for those with contrite and humble heart that is ready to use it for the benefit of the kingdom. And so by asking His disciples to wait for it, He wanted them to be prepared psychologically, mentally, morally and spiritually for it; i.e. to humble them.
Jesus Christ Himself was in the wilderness for 40 days before he came out to start His ministry, why 40 days? He was being prepared psychologically, mentally, morally and spiritually; he was being humbled. Paul who also received the power of God and used it to do extraordinary wonders also waited for some time before he started his ministry,
Acts 9:8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
9:17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
9:18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
So if you have been waiting for the power and you have not received it know that the Lord has not yet found you ready. You need to be ready psychologically, mentally, morally, spiritually, etc. so prepare yourself like the household of Cornelius did,
Acts 10:1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
10:2a devout man and one who feared God with his entire household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
10:44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
Why Jerusalem? Why not Bethany or the Mount of Olive?
Jerusalem was the place where Jesus Christ had most of His enemies. It was there He was arrested, sentenced and crucified. Bethany and Mount of Olive are much safer than Jerusalem, why Jerusalem then? What is this telling us here?
You don’t run away from your enemy, stay and confront him with your God given power; stay and manifest the power of God in you to such.
Result of receipt of spiritual power
1. Ability to open the eyes of the blind and deliver those in bondage,
Lk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
2. Ability to preach the word with boldness,
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
3. Ability to wake up the dead,
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.
9:37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
9:38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
9:39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
9:40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
4. Ability to do greater works than Jesus did,
John 14:12 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.
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
5:16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
19:12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
5. Ability to overcome every power of the enemies,
Mk 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues
16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Conclusion:
The Lord promised His children, His Spirit and power. The promise still stands firm today. However, the impartation/manifestation of the Spirit and power of God in the life of a believer can only happen when the Lord finds him/her suitable. Our prayer therefore, is that the Lord will find us suitable to entrust his Holy Spirit and Power on to us. And when eventually we receive it let us avoid misusing it so that the Lord does not take it from us. The Lord helps us in Jesus name.
