POWER FROM ON HIGH

POWER FROM ON HIGH

FOCUS WORD:  POWER FROM ON HIGH

FOCUS VERSE:  Acts 1: 8 - You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

DECLARATION:  I receive fresh power from the Holy Spirit today; I live and move in divine strength.

God never intended for us to live our Christian life in our own strength:                                                                Without getting close to God or knowing Him intimately or living in holiness, there can only be ‘religion’/  before sending the disciples all over the world, Jesus told them to wait for the power from on high; to wait for the promise of the Father.  The prophet Jeremisah teaches that a person depending on man or flesh instead of God is cursed (chapter 17).  Walking with Jesus, the Apostles had knowledge, experience, a prayerful life, ministry where they were witnesses to mighty miracles and also saw His glory revealed.  

Zechariah 4: 6 - Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.
John 15: 26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about Me.
Ephesians 3: 16 - That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.

God’s work requires that God’s power work in us.  

The Holy Spirit empowered ordinary people for extraordinary work:                                                              Jesus used ordinary people for His ministry. Evangelists Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, John Wesley - all were ordinary people who did ministry for the Lord.  It was not their theological training, wisdom, wealth or any other factor but the power from on high that worked in them.  The disciples of Jesus were fishermen, tax-collectors, etc., but when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them, fearful followers became bold witnesses.  They were persecuted from all sides but kept on gathering together and praying.  And when they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, all fear was gone and they went out to all regions speaking the word and salvation to all peoples.  People turned to the Lord not because of the fascinating language of the apostle Peter, but because of the mighty signs, wonders and miracles done by him through the power from on high.

Acts 4: 31 - They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word boldly.
1 Corinthians 2: 4 and 5 -  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.
2 Timothy 1: 7 - For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The Spirit does not merely improve our ability but transforms our capacity.  A piece of iron when brought into proximity with a magnet and its qualities released into the iron, it too becomes highly magnetic and can be used for various purposes.  Similarly, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are able to do mighty deeds in His power and strength.

The Holy Spirit gives power for our daily living:                Not only for ministry but the Holy Spirit gives power to turn from sin, overcome temptations, ability to love others, endure trials, walk in holiness, be faithful till the very end, etc.  

Galatians 5: 16 - Walk by the Spirit.
Romans 8: 13 and 14 - Led by the Spirit of God.
Ezekiel 36: 27 -  And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

The human heart may be very small but it has a purpose to keep on pumping life-giving blood to every part of our body.  It does not wait to get our instructions but keeps on at its responsibility throughout our lifetime.  We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis that He may work in every area of our life.

Power is given to us for witnessing and kingdom purpose:                                                                             Jesus connected power with Kingdom purpose - to be His witnesses.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to make Christ known throughout the world.  The disciples of Jesus were not intimidated by the powers of the time because they could not hold the good news inside of them and went on to preach to the nations facing great persecution and backlash.

Acts 4: 20 - For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
Romans 1: 16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  
Matthew 5: 16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

There is a spiritual engine working inside each of us and we need to keep it running.  Our  ministry is not for personal display, but for the expansion of His Kingdom.


GOD BLESS YOU ALL!