Sermon Central
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The Power Of The Holy Spirit Series
Contributed by Steve Meenho Kang on Oct 26, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: We will examine three distinct qualities that the power of the Holy Spirit wants to give to us. This is what we can have when we have the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Part 8
(From Steve Meenho Kang, Live by the Spirit (Bloomington, IN: Westbow Press, 2022)
Currently we are going through the message series, “The Holy Spirit.”
During this series, we are examining the work of the Holy Spirit.
Today, as we conclude this series, we will talk about the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, the power of the Holy Spirit was demonstrated in many different ways.
The Holy Spirit empowered Joseph to rule over Egypt.
The Holy Spirit empowered Moses to lead people out of Egypt.
The Holy Spirit gave Joshua military power to fight in battles.
The Holy Spirit came upon Samson to tear the lion apart with his bare hands.
The Holy Spirit gave words to prophets to speak prophetically over God’s people.
In the New Testament, this power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in many ways.
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He promised His followers
that He would send them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This Holy Spirit came to believers during the Pentecost.
Ever since then, the Holy Spirit dwells in all Christians.
And we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
Therefore, let me ask you this question:
Have you ever seen some Christians that seems to have more power of the Holy Spirit than you do?
Sometimes we see other Christians who seem to have more spiritual power than us.
When they pray, their prayers sound so much more powerful than ours.
When we talk to them, they seem to have more Bible knowledge than us.
When something goes wrong, they are not shaken.
They seem to have this real, deep spiritual power.
And we are wondering, how is it that they seem to have more spiritual power than us?
The answer could be that they have more ‘spiritual power’ than us.
In reality, there are people who have more spiritual power through the Holy Spirit than others.
It is like this.
There is major construction going on in our neighborhood right now.
They are repaving the street around our house.
It is major construction.
If they were to put on their work gloves and use shovels to remove all the pavement, that would take forever.
However, they brought huge machines, and they broke concrete, pealed off the street and repaved the street.
It is so much easier to use those machines than doing the same work with their hands.
Many Christians put on their little work gloves, and they take out their shovels, and they say; “We are going to live the Christian life!”
In their own strength, they strive and fight, but they do not get very far.
Why?
Because they are trying to live the Christian life with their own strength when there is a far greater power available to them.
We have the ability to live a supernatural life in a natural world.
Yet, so many Christians put their work gloves on and grab their shovels and struggle without the power available through the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, as we conclude our series, we will examine three distinct qualities that the power of the Holy Spirit wants to give to us.
This is what we can have when we have the power of the Holy Spirit.
I. We can find power even when we are weak (vv. 26-27).
Verses 26-27 say this.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
The Apostle Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
And one area that he mentioned as an example is the area of prayer.
When we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
He knows the will of God the Father.
And He intercedes for us according to the will of God the Father.
During this week, someone might ask us to pray for him or her.
“Can you pray for me?”
We might feel, “Oh no! I am not good at prayers!”
But all of a sudden, this prayer comes from nowhere.
That is the Holy Spirit giving us the power to pray confidently!
One other way that the Holy Spirit gives us the power is to witness Jesus boldly.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 say this.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
