Sermon Central
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The Power Of The Holy Ghost Series
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Jun 2, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Holy Spirit is no more the property of a few prophets, saints but for everyone who seeks him. Though He is unseen by the World but experienced by believers, he took the form of Dove, the form of fire, and the form of flames of tongues.
Text: Acts 1:1-8
Theme: The Power of the Holy Spirit.
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction:
The Holy Spirit of God is introduced in the Old Testament with several occasions severally. But St. Luke introduces the Holy Spirit in different altitude.
He is no more the property of a few prophets, saints but for everyone who seeks him. The promises of the OT are going to be fulfilled in the Acts of the Apostles. Though He is unseen by the World but experienced by believers, he took the form of Dove, the form of fire, and the form of flames of tongues.
Today, I would like to share with you the works of the Holy Ghost with reference to his power. He instructs us, he indwells, and he ignites us for holy life and evangelism.
1. He instructs (Acts 1:1-3)
The Holy Spirit instructs into God’s counsel, God’s Wisdom, God’s plans, purposes and the Will of God from the holy scriptures. The Holy Spirit purifies us, brings God's presence closer to us, and he empowers us to live a life that reflects God's Holy image and likeness the true nature.
Jesus told that the Holy Spirit will teach you all the truth, and help you remember all that Christ has taught you (John 14:26; 16:12-13). His anointing teaches us all things (1 John 2:27). He teaches us to speak the very thing needed on critical hours (Luke 12:12).
Nehemiah thanked God for the His good spirit who instructed the wilderness community during their journey and led then into a land flowing with honey and milk (Nehemiah 9:20).
He searches the depths of God in scripture and reveals to us what no eye has seen which he has prepared for us in the earth as well in the heavens (1 Corinthians 2:10). He teaches combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Corinthians 2:13).
He is the spirit of Counsel and Strength (Isaiah 11:2). He reveals the events before the death who has completely surrendered to his will (Luke 2:26).
The Holy Spirit opens our ears to hear God’s voice (Ephesians 6). The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the prophetic vision of God and understand it for the Church, the world (Proverbs 29:18). The Holy Spirit opens our minds to give us knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God and his ways (Isaiah 11:2). The Holy Spirit opens our tongues to praise God and to speak his word with faith, conviction, and boldness, to encourage the fainthearted, the hopeless, and the weak (Isaiah 56:4). The Spirit anoints our hands to bring blessing, healing, comfort, and help to others (Acts 7, 8, 9). The Spirit equips our feet with a speed and haste to bring the good news to every one near and far (John 20 - Mary, John 21 – Emmaus Disciples).
The Holy Spirit purifies our hearts and minds and sets us on fire with the love of Christ. The Holy Spirit will often give people greater confidence, sharper insight, clearer direction, or even a thought that opens doors for them to serve God in ways they never even imagined.
2. He indwells (Acts 1:4-5)
My wife and I, when we visited Europe for the first time, were amazed to see such huge Church buildings, high towers, beautified and wonderful architectural designs, but now turned into Bars, theatres, and Markets because they forgot to please the Holy Spirit who like only the sanctity of the people rather than the designs and beauties.
Holy Spirit indwells in us as a person. He sits at our thrones of the Hearts because he likes the temple of God rather than the buildings constructed by the hands of the people.
The word Parakletos refers to a person ‘Who,’ and not a thing ‘what.’ This word is transliterated as “Paraclete” literal sense of “called to one’s side”, “One who is called to someone’s aid.”
The word parakletos is translated in the Bible by various translations as Counsellor (NIV), Helper (ESV, NASB, and NKJ), Comforter (KJV), and an Advocate (NRS, NLT, and NET), a mediator or an intercessor.
Edward Klink refers this title as “the intimate presence of God with his people”. Parakletos is found five times in New Testament. Four in Jesus’ Farewell Address (John 13-16), The fifth in John’s epistle (1 John 2:1-2).
His Relationship is explained in three eras of our lives and distinguished by three prepositions “meta, para, and en”. He is with us, He in us, and He is beside us. The word ‘with’ for ‘meta’, the word “beside” for ‘para’, the word “in” for “en”.
Accepting the forgiveness offered through the blood and ransom of Jesus Christ guarantees the separation from sin and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The seal of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event.
