WE’VE GOT THE POWER – 5
“Turn On The Power”
Introduction: Over the past several weeks I’ve been preaching a series of messages called, “We’ve God The Power”. This morning is the final message in that series. The first message, “Where It All Began”, had to do with when and where the New Testament Church actually began. The second, “What’s The Purpose”, had to do with what exactly is the purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The third in this series, “Wake Up Sleepy Head” had to do with the sleeping giant, the church of God universal, and it’s time to wake up and do the Lord’s business. The fourth, “It’s Time To Celebrate”, had to do with how God fills His people with the Holy Spirit - during prayer, praise, and worship. Today, I want to talk about power! Power to shake an individual, a church, a nation, a world. The message today is called, “Turn On The Power”.
I want to share with you a question by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who is certainly not known as a Pentecostal preacher. His doctrine and theology was that of the Reformed Church. When he was the pastor at Westminster Chapel in London, England, near the end of his life--and some say at the very pinnacle of his ministry--he asked his congregation a question. He said, "I want to talk to you today about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may call it what you want, but I want to know, have you experienced the fullness of the Spirit? I know all of you listening to me come as I do from a Reformed background. But it’s not good enough. I know that all of you would want to say to my question about the Holy Spirit, ’Well, we got it all at conversion; there’s no need for any more experience.’ Well," said Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "I have only one other question to ask you. If you got it all at conversion, where in God’s name is it?"
Many Christians today, from all denominations – (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Reformed, Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of the Brethren, and yes, even the Charismatics and the Pentecostals - all of them, are asking the same question as Martyn Lloyd-Jones. If I got all the power at conversion, where is it? Where is the power? The power to overcome the world and all of it’s troubles, trials, and temptations? The burden for the lost? The power of healing? Where is the power? (expound)
I. The power is here! Ever since the New Testament Church began it always has been and always will be hear until God takes the church out of this world.
A. Scripture says in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Then in Malachi 3:6a it says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change.” The power always has been and will always be here. It is available to all believers who seek it – with their whole beings.
B. Jesus said in Luke 24:49, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Then again in Acts 1:8a, Jesus says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
1. The word endued in the Greek means - in the sense of sinking into a garment – to be fully clothed. This is in a sense, baptism.
2. The word power used here in the Greek means - strength power, ability; might – as in an army; inborn power, power living in a thing by virtue of its nature. What a person puts forth. Power for performing miracles.
C. Again, I ask the question that Martyn Lloyd-Jones asked. “If you got it all at conversion, where in God’s name is it?" Jesus promised the power – where is it? (expound)
1. Jesus promised in Acts 1:5, "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
2. Again in Acts 1:8 He promises, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
a. This power is automatic when the Holy Spirit baptizes believers. Again, I say, it automatic. So where in God’s name is it?
II. There is boldness to proclaim the gospel; there is power to overcome circumstances and the world and temptation, etc.; there is power to perform miracles; there is power for healing; there is power to hear directly from God the Father through prophecy and tongues with interpretation; power to edify both individuals and churches. And it all comes through baptism in the Holy Ghost! You want to see that power?
A. Look at Acts 4:31. It says, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
1. That’s power to proclaim the gospel with supernatural power. (expound)
B. Look at Acts 16:25-26. It says, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
1. That’s power for deliverance! (expound).
C. Look at Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:16-17. In Joel it says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”
1. In Acts it says, "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ’And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.”
D. Where is this power? Why are we not seeing it today?
1. Jan Johnson in Moody Monthly said, “Many believers are "rabbit hole" Christians. In the morning they pop out of their safe Christian homes, hold their breath at work, scurry home to their families and then off to their Bible studies, and finally end the day praying for the unbelievers they safely avoided all day.” Where’s the power?
2. Jesus promised it to us so where is it? It’s in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (expound).
III. I suggest to you today that it is time – no it’s past time – to get this power! And if you don’t have that power, regardless of your religion or doctrine, get it – and get it NOW!
A. It’s time for the Church of God universal – and particularly this church – to get this POWER!
1. Ephesians 5:18-20 says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled (did you catch that? – it says, FILLED) with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
3. 1 Corinthians 14:26 says, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.”
B. These two Scriptures give some of the verifications of that power.
What are they? (repeat the verses again then expound).
C. Other evidences are: The fruit of the Spirit; the Gifts of the Spirit; Boldness to proclaim the gospel with signs and wonders following; Power-packed services; etc. (expound).
D. Now I want to stop right here and ask each of you a few questions. Do you have that kind of power in your life right now? Do you have an unquenchable burden for the lost? Are your heart, mind, spirit, soul, and strength on the Kingdom of God? When you come to church, do you have a song, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation? Or, do you too feel like something or some things are missing in your own personal Christian experience?
1. Now I am not judging you, nor am I condemning you today. I am merely asking you to ask yourself – are you where you want or need to be in your relationship with God today? Do you have this kind of power? Do you have it turned on? Are you using it?
IV. It’s time – no it’s past time – to TURN ON THAT POWER! It’s time to get it (if you don’t already have it) and TURN IT ON!
A. It’s important to God first, the Church second, to Believers third, and to the lost!
1. It’s important to God because – we, the Church are to establish His Kingdom here on earth. (expound).
2. It’s important to the Church – because we need divine direction - to hear directly from God through prophecy, and tongues with interpretation; and we need to be edified through the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit (expound).
3. It’s important to us – because we need to be more than conquerors; to be edified.
4. It’s important to the lost – because we must proclaim the gospel with boldness and with signs and wonders following. We are the only vessels in which to proclaim the gospel. (expound).
Conclusion: Martyn Lloyd-Jones also said, “You and I are to be such that as we walk up and down the streets of life, people will be struck and attracted. You have seen them turn and look at a well-dressed person. ... They should be struck by us, and look at us, and think, "What is this person? I have never seen anybody quite like this before!" ... That is the kind of people we can be and the kind of people that we must be. And when we become such people, believe me, the revival we are longing for will start, and the people outside, in their misery and wretchedness, will come in and will want to know about it.”
Will you, along with me today, turn on that power? (expound).
You can e-mail me at: Sharing_Him_Today@msn.com
