The Power of the Holy Spirit
Introduction
John 4:24 ESV
"God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
John14:26 ESV
But the Helper (KJV: Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Acts 1:8 ESV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...
God is Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is the energized, activated power of the living God. When the Bible speaks of God in action it speaks of Him as the Holy Spirit. From the time God created the space-time continuum, His Spirit has filled and pervaded all that exists. The Holy Spirit is responsible for the acts of creation. The Holy Spirit has always been present at every twist and turn of history. He has been there moving upon and energizing believers and those whom God has chosen for specific purposes in each particular era.
1. Our Story Begin With the Holy Spirit
We only know our story, the story between God and us. There may be glimpses of other stories in the record of creation and in Scripture, but we only know what begins in Genesis 1:1 and the Holy Spirit was there at the beginning:
Genesis 1:1-3a ESV
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said..."
Job 26:13 NKJV
"By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent."
Psalm 33:6 NKJV
"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the Breath of His mouth."
Understanding the way that the Bible begins holds the key to a moving of the Holy Spirit throughout the story of human history.
God moved into the thick empty blackness of the chaos at the beginning. It is almost as if it attracted Him.
The psalmist wrote that "Deep calleth unto deep." Someone said that the opposite is true as well, shallow calls to shallow. When we are deeply hungry and in need, God answers the depths of our need by the depth of His Spirit. Paul writes in Romans 8 that the Spirit groans along with us in the moments of our deepest sorrow, in the middle of our story. We know that all creation groans, and we know that ultimately God will work all things together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. There is a whole lot in between the here and now and the world to come that we do not know. The Holy Spirit does know! He comes alongside us. He prays in us and through us. In the depths of the darkest places of our lives, He breathes light.
In Genesis, there was darkness "over the face of the deep." Water is pliable, sensitive, yielding. When we find ourselves in the darkness, in over our heads, God will move on our behalf. He is attracted to our emptiness. He responds to our deepest needs. The chaos, the emptiness, the darkness of our lives can create an opportune setting for the Spirit of God to move upon us.
2. The Spirit Works in the Old and the New
The Holy Spirit is always there at the beginning and the end. In the Bible, He is the Book End. When we read through Genesis we find that close to the end when God is working to protect His purpose in the nation of Israel, Pharaoh acknowledges that the Spirit of God is in Joseph (Genesis 41:38). Joseph is anointed to bring order to the coming abundance and the chaos and emptiness that will follow.
When God gives the plans for the tabernacle to Moses, He places his Spirit in Bezalel to have the wisdom to build everything (Exodus 31). The closing chapter of the Bible says that the Spirit of God is calling, inviting whosoever will to come and drink of the waters of life freely (Revelation 22:17)!
From beginning to end and at every place in between, the Holy Spirit is present.
In Acts 2, on the birthday of the church at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is there creating once again. The New Testament creation was the Church of the Living God!
There are many parallels between what the Bible says about the work of the Holy Spirit in the OT and in the NT. We can discern the work of the Spirit drawing the animals to the ark before the flood. Jesus said that no one could come to Him unless they were drawn by the Holy Spirit draws them (John 6:44). The Spirit moved upon Moses, Abraham, Saul, Samson, Isaiah, and the other OT prophets. Peter said that the Holy Spirit was in them, speaking beforehand about Christ's sufferings and glory (1 Peter 1:11).
Daniel wrote down his visions in his powerful book under the influence of the Holy Spirit, just as John saw the Revelation when in the Spirit on the Lord's day. The reason for the similarities throughout the canon of Scripture, despite the fact that the Bible was written by over 40 people on three different continents in three different languages over the period of thousands of years, is because the Holy Spirit is the real Author. The Scriptures are God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16).
The OT records at least eight occasions where the Spirit is said to be "in" men. On 25 occasions it says that the Holy Spirit "came upon" men. The recipients of the Holy Spirit in the OT were few and far between. They were anointed for specific responsibilities. When Moses's father-in-law suggested that Moses appoint others to help him, God took of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed it upon seventy men (Numbers 11). When Joshua, Moses's servant, got upset because two of the men were prophesying, Moses stopped him with the words "I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" (Numbers 11:29). This prayer is answered at Pentecost. The clouds of God's glory literally burst with blessing, the door was open to all women and men everywhere could now become personal containers of the Deity. God promised to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh!
The Bible breaks human history into two ages, the present age and the age to come (Galatians 1:4). The coming of Christ and God joining all people together in one body, the Church, is superior in every way to all that had come before. Luke writes of Jesus that "of His kingdom, there shall be no end!" (Luke 1:33). When Jesus came to those gathered in the upper room at Pentecost as the Holy Spirit the promise of the age to come was inaugurated and it continues to this day.
The writer of the book of Hebrews explains how much better, superior, to the law of Moses that Christ is. He expounds on 15 ways that Christ is a better prophet. He explains 35 ways that Jesus is superior to the angels. He explores seven areas, where Christ excelled Moses, and five ways He is above Joshua. He is superior to the Levitical priesthood. A priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. He exceeds Abraham. Jesus's blood sacrifice far supersedes the animal sacrifices of the OT system. Jesus leads His people to a better country. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8). The NT has a better sacrifice, Christ Himself, and a better Promise, the Holy Spirit is for everyone! The Spirit was poured on throughout the early church. Luke writes about it in Acts 2, 8, 10, 19... And God continues to work in the life of the church to this day. The age to come has been inaugurated and it has begun in the life of the church! Joel spoke of it:
Joel 2:28
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh..."
To pour out, to empty out. There was to be a cloudburst of heavenly rain! It was as though God had in the past erected a heavenly reservoir, and throughout the past age, untold promises and prophecies had been poured into this reservoir and stored for a future day. Finally, the promises of God, the prophecies of the OT, and the pre-figuring of Pentecost were more than the heavenly dam could contain. Suddenly, there was a rupture, and the reservoir was broken, causing all of the contents to rush out in one mighty stream to the lowlands of human need! The fullness of time came!
Hosea saw former and latter rain coming together (Hosea 6:3). Ezekiel saw waters of God's Spirit that were ankle-deep, then knee-deep, waist-deep, and finally waters to swim in. In Acts 2, the Spirit was poured out on a gathering of Jewish people, then a group including Jewish proselytes, but the further you read in Acts, you find Samaritans, then gentiles, and finally whoever will can become a part of the Church of God, baptized with Holy Spirit!
Acts records the acts of the Holy Spirit through the early church. They had power! This is what Jesus promised them.
3. Which Kind of Power?
People call for power. They want it! They thrive on it! Some live for it! Some see power as a force that can set them free while others see it in different ways. God's power is not a toy that we can think we can use for our own benefit. The power of Pentecost flows from the cross of Jesus Christ. The way up in God's kingdom is down. Our church ought to be defined by the five Ps: power, prayer, preaching, praise, and helping the poor. That is what defined the first church and it was the secret to their power!
4. Faith to Receive the Power
When the NT church first received the baptism of the Holy Spirit they had pooled their faith. The 120 had spent ten days praying and seeking God together. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch were just two, praying together in the waters of baptism when the Holy Spirit fell upon the eunuch. we find this pattern repeated in Acts, as people prayed together, the Holy Spirit fell upon them.
If you have not yet received the baptism of the Spirit, let's unite together in prayer and believing. Romans 10:17 says, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." It is only as we focus our faith on God's Word that we can expect it to be fulfilled. Faith must always have a focus. Our preaching is not about reciting religious truths, but proclaiming the saving Word of God.
The message of John the Baptist was:
He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost... (Matthew 3:11)
He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost... (Mark 1:8)
One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire... (Luke 3:16)
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost... (John 1:33)
In each of these accounts, there is an emphasis on the Giver, not the receiver. Our focus must ever be upon the Lord Jesus Christ!
Why did each of the Gospel writers mention the coming of the Spirit? Maybe it is because God knows how we work. Spaced repetition works in advertising and in learning. God wanted us to know that the Holy Spirit is for all of us. He wants us to believe that! God help us to believe!
The first step to receiving is believing. In Isaiah 11:2 there is a list of seven attributes of the Holy Spirit. One writer noted that it seems five are connected to intellect and two to emotion.
Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
We must mentally ascent to the fact that the Holy Spirit is for us today. The assertion that the Holy Spirit was only for a select few of an earlier era has to be completely washed from our minds. The Holy Spirit, just as He was experienced in the book of Acts is still available today!
Christ said believing was the key in John 7:37-39. Listen carefully to the words, "any man thirst...come...drink...believeth...receive." It does not take a theologian to comprehend that if a man is thirsty and will come to the Savior in faith believing, he will receive. This is the promise of Acts 2:39, "For the promise is unto you..." This is the promise of Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Some approach the reception of the Spirit with their faith in reverse. They are convinced that He will only come after much seeking. This is an attitude of doubt. Receiving the Holy Spirit is as easy as taking a drink of water. Faith is the key. The only prerequisite is that you are thirsty.
It was upon believers that the Spirit was poured out. The Gospel of John uses the language of belief. Luke uses the word repent.
5. Repent to Receive the Power
The first word in John the Baptist's preaching was, "Repent" (Matthew 3:2). The first word in Jesus's public ministry was, "Repent" (Matthew 4:17). When those gathered at Pentecost asked Peter what they must do, his first word was "Repent" (Acts 2:38). To repent means to change one's mind and thus the direction of one's life. Part of repentance is often confession. Asking God to forgive us of the things we have done, said, or thought that is displeasing to him and making a decision to yield our lives completely to Him. When we are willing to be empty of our selfishness, God will fill us with Himself, His Holy Spirit!
Following repentance, Peter instructed his hearers to be baptized in Jesus's Name. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32). The dove is a representation of the way the Holy Spirit comes at the right time. A dove will not lite upon its own nest unless everything is just right. Sometimes in our tarrying, for the Spirit to descend upon us, there are things that are out of place. We must completely yield our everything to Jesus. When we do the Spirit will come down upon us and God will declare that we are in Christ, the Beloved Son!
6. Pray and Worship to Receive the Power
Throughout the book of Acts we read about the Holy Spirit coming as God's people responded to Him by faith, repentance, prayer, and worship:
Acts 1:14
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication..."
Luke 24:52-53
"And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God..."
Supplication is that humble prayer that grows out of desperate need. It is the prayer of one whose only hope depends on an answer. It is the type of prayer that we read in the Psalms.
Psalm 63:1-2
"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary"
Later, in the records of Israel, we read that the Spirit of God spoke by David (2 Samuel 23:2). The Spirit of the LORD came upon David when he was first anointed to be king, but David stayed hungry. He knew how to present his inner chaos to God and God's Spirit was attracted to the emptiness and the void in David. David would cry out, "Create in me a clean heart" and "Take not your Holy Spirit from me!" The Spirit of God looked into David and saw all of the unformed potential and emptiness and spoke light into it and began to create. The result was that the Spirit of the LORD spoke! Like He spoke in Genesis 1, He spoke through David.
Before the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, the 120 had been praying and worshipping. They exalted the Lamb of God, and consequently, the Dove of the Spirit descended! Whenever the general Presence of God settles over a congregation, reach up and claim a personal Presence for yourself.
Focus on the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, His Name is Jesus. When we seek for the Holy Spirit, we are not seeking for tongues. The tongues will come automatically, issuing spontaneously from your heart freshly-filled. When we are filled, we will automatically speak!
Once we have received the initial baptism of the Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues, we should be open to other encounters with the Holy Spirit. We should be open to the development of the fruit of the Spirit and we should not reject the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. You get to speak in tongues when you receive the Holy Spirit! What a wonderful thing!!! It is a privilege that unites us!
On the day of Pentecost, the NT church was "born again" with the outpouring of the Spirit!
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:3-4).
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:46).
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:6).
The Holy Spirit comes by marrying. Be willing to wait. Worship and pray together while you wait. Jesus told them to "Tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power" (Luke 24:49).
Our church, our community, our state, our nation, our world needs revival. We have to be willing to pray and wait. God has perfect timing and He will pour out His Power on those who seek and wait.
Remove your preconceived ideas and just seek God. Tarry for the Promise.
Conclusion: The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Revelation 22:17
"And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
This is the Promise that the Bible concludes with. Would you take the Gift from the Hand of the Savior? Faith makes us look up for the good. There is pardon. There is rest.
Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people saying, This is the rest...
I remember the night God filled me with the Holy Spirit with signs following. What a glorious night!
When we are baptized in water, we submit ourselves to a minister as a candidate. When we are baptized in water, we do not really have to do anything except yield as the minister called the name of the Lord over you as you were immersed. Likewise, when a person yields themselves to Jesus, He baptized them with the Holy Spirit.
There are two types of promises in Scripture. One is based on the sovereign will of God. It will be fulfilled regardless of what happens. The Messiah was promised, and He came. Likewise, the second coming is inevitable; He promised and He will return again!
There are other promises, however, that even though they are spoken by God, will not come to pass without prayer and preparation. These must be prayed into fulfillment by the servants of God. So often we lack faith in God's promises, and seem to think that if the wall of Jericho is going to fall the seventh day, there ought to be a crack in it by the sixth. The Promise of the Holy Spirit will never come to pass until you pray and believe for its fulfilment. The promise of rain was given to the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18:1, but he did not sit in the shade and wait until God was ready. He went up on the mountain and prayed it into fulfilment. god is now ready to fill your hungry soul with the Holy Spirit. Claim it in an act of faith! The promise is unto you!
