Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
By Michael Adekoya – Over two thousand years ago Jesus Christ gave us, the Church, the biggest job of all: the job of building the Kingdom of God on earth, the job of carrying the Gospel -Good News – to the ends of the earth. We have had that job for over two thousands years, yet it is not even one third completed. Could the problem be that we never realised how humanly impossible the job is? “Not by might, nor by human power but by My Spirit, says the Lord” (Zech 4:6)!
Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). To be effective witnesses in our homes, on the streets, in our work-places, in the community, city or nation, we need Holy Spirit and His power! My friend, look at the difference the Holy Spirit made in the lives of the early disciples. James and John wanted Jesus to build a political kingdom and give them the “top spots.” Inspite of all the miracles, Thomas still doubted. Then, there is Peter; glorious one minute and gone the next; declaring the revelation of who Jesus is one minute, denying Him the next. Jesus performed His greatest miracles before them but they were still inadequate. He taught them to pray, but they still lacked real power in their lives. So, He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with Holy Spirit and the power from the Holy Spirit. When they received the power, they became invincible! Set-backs became springboards, obstacles became opportunities and barriers became blessings. These cowards became conquerors and rewrote history. Why? Because they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31).
Their daily lifestyles became “The Acts of the Apostles” we read today. My friend, the same power is what we need now. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” That’s what we should pray for in our personal and corporate prayer meetings and then go into our community, villages, and market places to demonstrate the power as Peter and John, Paul and Silas did. They carried the unction to function. That’s what they had and that was what saved, healed and delivered the people they came in contact with. My friend, Holy Spirit river of power wants to flow through you to others. It’s a matter of availability, and spiritual hunger. Are you hungry enough for God’s power to flow through you to bless others and to help you fulfill your divine assignment? It’s time to humble ourselves, pray, turn from our wicked ways and seek the face of God until our lives are set on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Early disciples were first filled with the Holy Spirit we read that He “sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3).
What a descriptive phrase! That means when they were about to show off, the Holy Spirit sat on them. When they were about to give in to the flesh, He sat on them. When they were about to throw in the towel, He sat on them. When they were about to have a burn out, He sat on them. The Holy Spirit kept them in balance, in peace, and on track. He comforted them! revealed things to them! He directed them! He testified of Jesus! He empowered and strengthened them for the Great Commission and He led them everywhere. That’s what we need today! My friend, I am convinced with all my spirit, soul and body that the only way we, the Church, will be able to fulfill the Mission Mandate to our families, communities, cities and nations of the world is through united, focused, concentrated, strategic warfare prayers. United prayer involves being joined together with one mind, one heart, one purpose with God’s will and plan. When we pray earnestly with one voice and no grudges or hidden agenda, power will be released! That was what happened at the Upper Room. The Early Church received the Holy Spirit and power – miracle working power – when they prayed with one accord in one place. By their hands, many signs and wonders were done among the people! (Acts 4:31-33).
We need to get back to the basics. We need God’s power for the job. The Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom 8:14). My friend, we need the leading of God’s Spirit. When others put you down, it is the Holy Spirit who will remind you of who you are and lift you up. The Bible says, “The Spirit itself bears witness with our Spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom 8:16) He steps in when we don’t know how to pray about any situation. The Bible says, “We don’t even know what we should pray for… but the Holy Spirit prays for us… in harmony with God’s own will” (Rom 8:26-27)
Listen! It is only the power of the Holy Spirit that will enable us to preach the Good News to the lost souls, to heal the broken hearted, to minister deliverance to the captives and the oppressed; to set at liberty those who are bound, to impact and change lives positively (Luke 4:18). Not by might, not by grammar, not by power point, not by riddles or jokes! My friend, hear me! Christianity without God’s power is a frustrated and powerless religion. Worship songs without the power of the Holy Spirit is simply entertaining songs. Preaching without the power of the Holy Spirit is just a noise, not a voice. Paul knew this too well and he told us the secret of his dominion and great works when he said, “My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:4). It is impossible to do greater works that Jesus promised with our education, seminary certificates, 7 point-sermons, human wisdom or power of the flesh but by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think but according to the power that works in us (Eph 3:20). Did you hear that? Can you see why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and not with wine, pride or unbelief? There was a secret power behind Elijah’s prayers. His prayers superseded natural limitations. As a result of his prayers, the heavens opened. After three and half years of drought, rain fell.
My friend, the same prayer energized by the Holy Spirit’s power is available to us today. The Bible says, “ The prayers of the righteous on behalf of their families, churches, communities, cities and nations makes tremendous power available, so dynamic in its working (James 5:16) These are better days than the days of Elijah! God has started raising up men and women who are “Power Houses” – people more than Elijah who prayed with power and authority of God to fulfill God’s will on earth. Are you one of them! My friend, you should remember that this power does not travel through empty words but in relationship with God. God is calling us, the Church, into this new dimension of power intimacy with Him. Are you available? While the other disciples went back to the world after Jesus ascended to heaven, only twelve disciples obeyed the command of Jesus, not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of God – the promise of the Holy Spirit and power. They made themselves available and God filled them with the ability – the power of the Holy Spirit – to be witnesses unto Jesus of what they have heard and seen. God wants to do the same for us in this end-time! He wants to work in the lives of people through us. But, the question is, “Are we available?” “Are we not too busy to wait on Him?” Remain blessed!
…to be continued…
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