Power of the Holy Spirit
Introduction
The Holy Spirit is a person and not an inanimate object, an ‘it.’
John 16:7: Jesus promised that he would send the counselor. In his perspective, Christ being with the disciples was not as important as the presence of the Holy Spirit. In the last few days of his life on earth, Jesus spoke so much about the Holy Spirit.
Work of the Holy Spirit: If our lives are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit, our lives will be transformed and our ministry will be transformed. The Holy Spirit filled Saul when he became Paul. At once, he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God.
Acts 1:8. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit is upon you. There are several words used in the Bible to signify anointing.
1) Filling,
2) Anointing,
3) Baptism, (Mark 1:8. Baptiso = Putting into and pouring out on)
4) Receiving (Lambano = Receiving to over flow.) (Decomai = either here or there).
When the anointing is on you, you will receive it and overflow with the power of the spirit.
John 7:27-29: On this occasion, Jesus was speaking at the feast of tabernacle. He declared, ‘Out of him shall flow rivers of living waters.’ Pouring out of the Holy Spirit was not done until Jesus was glorified.
John 15 – John 17: Holy Spirit is given to be with us forever, he will teach you. I will send him to you.
Joel 2: God promises the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.
Jesus promises us, ‘He will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father.’ This is because the Holy Spirit will come to you. Anointing is given as a means of continual filling and continual pouring out. Even Jesus needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the ministry the Father had given him. How much more we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Gift of tongues is for personal edification.
Works of the Holy Spirit:
1) Helping us to pray:
The Spirit leads us in praying, according to the will of God. When preaching the Word, you must know the Word. To learn the Word, you need the Holy Spirit.
2) Teaching us the Word: Depending on the Holy Spirit will help us not to be confused with different kinds of teachings. John 14:26: He will teach us. Col 3:16: Let the Word of God dwell in you so richly, as you teach and admonish one another. Apostle Paul was taught directly by the Spirit. Our prayer can be ‘Lord I surrender myself to your teaching.’ 1 Cor 2:13. We are not teaching with knowledge or pre-prepared wisdom, but with words of wisdom the Holy Spirit gives us.
3) Faith:
Faith is a manifestation of the Spirit. 1 Cor 12:9: talks about the gift of faith. There are times when the measure of faith we have is not sufficient to overcome a difficult situation. God gives us a special gift of faith to overcome that situation. Faith comes by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Lord, by your anointing, may I be filled with faith.
4) Hope:
We are given the power of the Holy Spirit to be overflowing with hope. The Holy Spirit fills us with hope for the future. We need to talk to the Holy Spirit as well as hear from the Holy Spirit. This is a fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He will fill you with hope and you will soon be overflowing with it. The foundation of Christian life is faith, love and hope. God helps us to be overflowing with hope.
5) Holy Living:
Anointing will break every bondage of sin. No Christian can say, ‘I cannot give up this problem.’ It is the Holy Spirit that makes us Holy. God wants our willingness. Isaiah 11:2: The Holy Spirit counsels and empowers. We need to agree to hear the counseling and then you are empowered. Gal 5:16. Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Holy Spirit is our resource to overcome sin and lead a holy living. A person who is living in sin, has God’s resource of the Holy Spirit, but is not subjecting himself to the counsel of the spirit.
6) Wisdom: Word of wisdom.
1 Cor 12:8: The Holy Spirit gives specific instruction at the right time for the right situation. God’s Spirit will reveal to you, according to your need. Only way we can stand against the powers of darkness is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
7) Against Demonic power:
We see the power that is there by the name of Jesus. Demons shudder even as they hear the name of Jesus. We have power and authority to cast out demons, through the power of the Holy Spirit. When you move in, command the spirits to leave. Remember that the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. You have nothing to fear.
8) Fears go away:
The spirit given to us is not one of fear, but of love. Perfect love drives out all fear. The only fear we are supposed to have is a reverent fear of God.
9) Boldness:
When fear goes away, boldness steps in. In the first century, the disciples spoke the Word of God with boldness. When you are filled with the spirit, he fills us with boldness. This glorifies the Lord Jesus.
10) Gloryfying Jesus:
11) Encouragements:
A person can behave with the Holy Spirit by
1) Resisting him Acts 7:51
2) Grieving him Ephe: 4:30
3) Quenching 1 Thess 5:19
4) Insult him Heb 10:29
5) Blaspheme Matthew 12:31,32
God wants us to receive the Holy Spirit. The primary purpose of anointing us with the Holy Spirit is to be a witness for Jesus.
