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Friday, July 31, 2009

Power from on high

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Jesus had promised that those that believe and follow Him would be clothed or endued with power from on high. Here that power to be His witness is imparted through the baptism or filling with the Holy Spirit. It is evident by the record that this "power from on high" was exactly what they needed for effective ministry. It is the Holy Spirit that is needed to bring sinners to Christ.

Mark 16:7-11 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (NIV)

The words “convict... of guilt” translate from the one word elenxei, “to present or expose facts, to convince of the truth.” The Spirit works on the minds of the unsaved to show them the truth of God for what it is. When we become vessels (or temples) of the Holy Spirit then our witnessing becomes truly effective. A "decision" made because of man's persuasive words or the ability to move someone emotionally can never be enough to bring about transformation. If we want to see sinners repent and be saved (transformed into followers of Christ) then we must be baptized with the "power from on high". The results of the Early Church receiving the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit were immediate and quite amazing.

In Acts 2 Peter preached an anointed and powerful message that resulted in 3000 souls being saved and water baptized.

In Acts 3 Peter and John gave a crippled man what they had in the name of Jesus and another 2000 people were saved.

In Acts 5:12 the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders resulting in more and more men and women beleiving in the Lord.

In Acts 6:8 Stephen and man full of God's grace and power did great wonders and miraculous signs resulting in his death but souls kept being won to the Lord in spite of persecution.

In Acts 8:5 Spirit filled Phillip (Acts 6:5) did many miraculous signs resulting in souls being set free and joy in the city.

The list could go on and on. But this is sufficient to make the point. God told us to be filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. It is the power of God living in His people that will turn our cities, our nation, and the world upside down for Christ.

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