God’s Power WITHIN You!!
God’s Power WITHIN You!!
An American with an English gentleman was viewing the Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: “Come, and I’ll show you the greatest unused power in the world.”
And taking him to the foot of Niagara Falls, “there,” he said, “is the greatest unused power in the world!”
“Ah, no my brother, not so!” was the reply. “The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the living God.
Today is Pentecost Sunday!
Now what is Pentecost? Pentecost simply means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated fifty days after Passover. It was at Passover, the Lamb of God was slain for the sins of the world.
Pentecost also marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit. 2,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon 120 disciples of Jesus Christ who were waiting for the Promise of the Father.
Pentecost is more than just a ‘Jewish Festival’ or a ‘Christian Denomination.’ It is an encounter with the Holy Spirit – an experience that will change our lives – FOREVER.
In the Old Testament God predicted, through His prophets, that a new day would come when His Spirit would be Within and Upon ALL of His people.
Joel 2:28,29 ‘And afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy (male & female) Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions (old & young) Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Before his ascension to heaven, Jesus admonished his disciples to wait for this outpouring from heaven.
Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (clothed) with power from on high.
Act 1:4,5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Some Christians argue that we get filled in the Holy Spirit the day we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. I respectfully disagree. If this is true, Jesus need not ask his disciples, who were already saved believers (Luke 10:20), to wait for another experience of being filled in the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is at work in the life of an ‘unbeliever’ to convict him of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come. (John 16:8-11)
Anyone who is a ‘believer’ is saved because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an additional bonus for believers to be effective witness for God.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Now, what are we waiting for? Let us seek the Lord to be filled in His Holy Spirit – and allow Him to use us powerfully in our lifetime.