Where Has All the Power Gone

The Holy Spirit is the power of God and Jesus has promised us the power.
You will receive the power.
The power of the Holy Spirit is unlike any other power.
It is not a power that is invented sculpted, or demolished by human hands.
It is not a power that can be manipulated for political or social purposes.
It is not a power that can be manufactured, canned or distributed like dry goods.
The power Jesus promises is a transforming, liberating redeeming, life changing power that can change the course of nations, history, you and I and this church.
It is a power unlike any other.
The Greek word for the power is dunamis, it is the root of the word dynamite.
It is explosive, changing power.
It is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary.
It is not just the power of miracles;
It is also a power that brings courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability and authority. Jesus knew the disciples needed this power to fulfill their mission.
This power to face the challenges and temptations of this world,
This power to fulfill our individual and corporate church mission,
We need the infilling of the Spirit,
Jesus promises we will receive the power.
Verse 8 - you will receive the power and you will be my witnesses. Now I know this means that we will be testify and tell others about God’s power but also Jesus was making a little play on words here.
Jesus said you will be witnesses,
Jesus said amazing things will happen.
The disciples waited on the power of the Holy Spirit,
They became witnesses for God,
They saw astounding results.
120 Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit began to speak a new language,
A language of love that breaks down all barriers.
They saw three thousand come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in one day.
They saw a new synagogue of faith formed in the birth of the church.
They saw their numbers grow daily – every day someone else came to faith in Christ.
On the Day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered together in one place, in a house, with four walls just like this church.
When they received the power of the Holy Spirit they could have remained in the house.
They could have kept the power for themselves and I believe that power would have worked in them to bring changes in their lives and bring them closer to Christ and give some peace.
But I also, know that power could not have worked in those people to the fulfillment of God’s plan if they had not committed themselves to going out to where the people where.
If they hadn’t committed their lives to following God’s lead.
If they hadn’t committed to sacrificing their own desires and wishes for the glory of God.
And they had to commit together.
It was not a job for one or two people.
It took all 120 of them to convert 3000.
It took all 120 of them to bring others to Christ every day of their lives.
when we commit together to make a difference in the community, when we commit to sacrificing our own priorities and schedules in lieu of God’s plan and purpose for this church – we too will witness amazing results.
The Power is still here,
The Power is in the Atmosphere,
The Power is in your praise,
The Power is in your hand,
It is time to open up to the life changing power of God.
The power of God that can invade the body,
The power of God will inflate the mind,
The power of god will swell the soul,
The power of God will lift the Spirit and make us more than we ever imagined.