We Go: The Holy Spirit - Go With Power
Focus: We need not simply know his name, we need to be continually filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Power to be a Witness
Power to Live
Power to Preach
Power to be a Witness
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses as we go.
Acts 1:1-8 ESV
“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The power of the Holy Spirit was central to ministry and mission in the New Testament, shaping not only the individual lives of believers but also the spread and establishment of the early church.
Jesus' command to be his witnesses to the end of the earth was binding on his disciples and the Church at all times and places.
But we could not obey that command without the attached promise: "You will receive power."
Jesus trained his disciples for three years to bring the message of repentance and faith to the world.
Yet, that was not sufficient to take that message to the world.
They needed to wait until they received the Holy Spirit and were clothed with power.
Once the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, then they could go to their city, region, and all nations as his witnesses.
The Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the church's missionary activity from the beginning, and he still is, energizing us to do the work of the ministry.
God desires to manifest his power among the nations, and this manifestation comes from the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit works miracles and healings, revealing knowledge, wisdom, and prophecies through us for God's glory.
What does it really mean to be a witness?
“People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration, nevertheless.”
-Pandita Ramabai
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
We are witnesses of what we’ve seen and heard about Christ with signs and wonders confirming the gospel of the resurrected Jesus.
We are also living epistles testifying to his power by our transformed lives.
1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV
“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”
That power is first demonstrated in the way that we are freed to live.
Power to Live
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live set apart (consecrated) lives.
God wants to repeatedly fill each of us with his Spirit, empowering us for his service.
It begins with how we live.
Because of what we consume (whether in our thought life, actions or entertainment) many of us have pipes that produce this:
How does the Holy Spirit influence us to live - meaning what is the fruit of you being continually filled with the person and power of the Holy Spirit?
Ephesians 5:1-21 ESV
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
God wants to fill us so the fruit of our lives looks like this:
The grace of God empowers you to live this way through the Holy Spirit.
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
What if I’ve failed and been far away?
Come back to the cross of Christ!
Jesus lived sinlessly, died sacrificially and was raised victoriously so that through his faithfulness we might be reconciled to God!
As we embrace his grace and repent (turn from our sin) to put our trust in his finished work at the cross, God will embrace us today!
My Master has riches beyond the calculation of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look and study and ponder, but Jesus is a greater Savior than you think Him to be even when your thoughts are at their best. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you are to sin, more able to forgive than you are to trans-gress. My Master is more willing to supply your needs than you are to confess them. Do not tolerate small thoughts of the Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on His head, you will only crown Him with silver when He deserves gold. My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like His music that He, the Shepherd, plays for His sheep as they lie down at His feet.
-Charles Spurgeon
Power to Preach
The Holy Spirit empowers us to preach with confidence and stand firm in the midst of opposition.
Dwight L. Moody discovered his need for the Holy Spirit to empower him to preach with confidence.
His ministry began in a vacant saloon in the poor part of Chicago, Illinois, in the USA, caring for street kids rejected by the church.
Soon, his outreach became so large that he quit his prosperous business and lived by faith.
He started a church, built a new building, and was elected Chicago president of the YMCA.
Everything was going well for him, but he felt something was missing.While contemplating his need, two elderly congregants spoke to him after a church service.
"We have been praying for you," they said.
"You need power."
Moody said to himself, "I have the largest congregation in Chicago."
The ladies continued:
"You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit."
As they prayed for Moody, a great hunger came into his soul.
He felt he did not want to live if he could not have this power.
Not long after, he was walking the streets of New York when God baptized him in the Holy Spirit.
He said, "I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. I can only say that God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of his love that I had to ask him to stay his hand."
He quickly retreated to a friend's house, praying for several hours, soaking in God's presence.
His sermons were no different.
He did not present any new truths, and yet tens of thousands were converted as a result.
Moody discovered what the New Testament clearly teaches: bold preaching is a direct result of the Holy Spirit's empowerment.
Whether it is Peter at Pentecost, the apostles before the Sanhedrin, or Paul in prison, the Holy Spirit equips believers to proclaim the gospel fearlessly.
This boldness reflects the transformative power of the Spirit, who enables us to overcome fear, speak with divine authority, and bear witness effectively.
There will be obstacles as we proclaim God's Word boldly.
Rembrandt’s 1625 masterpiece “The Stoning of Saint Stephen”
Stephen - a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit - experienced opposition from the Jewish Sanhedrin.
Luke records,
"But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him" (Acts 7:55-58).
The Holy Spirit's presence during Stephen's ministry and martyrdom confirms the words of Jesus to his disciples:
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (Matthew 10:19-20).
The Holy Spirit's power enables us to do everything God calls us to.
Without his help, we may engage in religious activity but fail to advance his kingdom.
Yet as we look to depend on Jesus in all things, God kindly fills us with his Spirit - not because of our good works, but because of his mercy and grace (Titus 3:5).
Titus 3:4-8 ESV
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”
Jesus did all of this for us at the cross - after being God in the flesh who lived sinlessly, died sacrificially to take the wrath that we deserved and rose again three days later in his innocence so that we could have both forgiveness of sins and eternal life in him!
And thus we overflow with gratitude as we turn from our sin, put our trust in Christ and proclaim Jesus to the nations!
He urges us to earnestly desire the Spirit's empowerment as we go to the nations.
1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”
Revelation 19:10 ESV
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
And we so desire and ask for the Holy Spirit, so he fills us!
Luke 11:13 ESV
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”