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The Spirit Empowered Church

Acts 4:31 – “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

            In Luke 24:49, Jesus instructed His disciples, “to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The New International Version says, “stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” In Luke 24:47-48 He reveals the Great Commission, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.”


            In Acts 1:8 Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work of the ministry. E. Stanley Jones said, “Pentecost is not a spiritual luxury; it is an utter necessity for human living. The human spirit fails unless the Holy Spirit fills.”


            Acts 5:12-16 gives us a glimpse of the power of Pentecost. “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.  Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

           

            The Holy Spirit gives us to power to be effective witnesses. He empowers us to hear His voice, to be holy, and to overcome the enemy. We have power to pray in the Spirit. Jude 20 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”


            There is no expiration date on the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” We must experience His power to be successful in reaching our communities for Christ.


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