I am so pleased that you have joined me for our teaching today! When was the last time you were amazed by something the Lord has done in your life or in the life of those you know? Praying the Lord will help you take any steps you might need to take to witness the Lord’s amazing power in your life! Eric

Shortly after we arrived at our last pastorate before retirement, when speaking to a local in our community, we were told, “Oh, you’re with that church where people jump over the pews and swing from the light fixtures!” When we asked if they had ever visited the church, they responded with a very emphatic, “No!”

Why was that? They had heard that the people in that church were’charismatic’ or ‘Spirit-filled” and they either had no idea of what that meant or it frightened them.

After our retirement, while visiting churches to decide where we would attend, we heard from the pulpit (two weeks in a row) in one of the churches, that if the people encountered anyone who was involved in some of our typical activities, to get as far away from them as possible!

Just lately, a dear sister in the Lord, in the church we are now attending stated, “I thought you guys were people that passed snakes around!” We see and comprehend once again that there are a number of people ‘in the church’ who have no understanding of what it means to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Considering the condition of the world and church right now, it is very disconcerting to realize that members of the church have no knowledge or understanding of the purpose and workings of the third person of the God-head, the One who is the source of the church’s gifts and power.

As we look at a number of Scriptures, we will see that Charles Spurgeon accurately stated, “The power of the Spirit of God has never been dormant.”

We first encounter the ‘Spirit of God’ in Genesis 1:2 (NLT), “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” ‘The Spirit’ (ruah) means, an energy of life. The Hebrew word for ‘God’ in this passage is elohim, which is the plural of God or triune. The Spirit was present and involved in the creation of the earth. He is the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal and coeternal with the Father and Son. We read in Job 26:13a (NLT), “His Spirit made the heavens beautiful.” Consider this, every time you look at a magnificent sunrise, sky, sunset, or the stars - the Holy Spirit created it!

The Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus from the dead! (Romans 8:11). He gave life to the dead body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is very much a part of your life also, in that, He lives in you and will give life to your mortal body.

The father gave the Spirit and the power of the Spirit to Jesus without measure, (John 3:34). It was through the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus that He performed the works of witnessing. What were His works? Raising the dead, healing lepers and the sick, and ministering deliverance to those who were oppressed. Remember, Jesus worked those miracles through the Holy Spirit, as a man. Who was Jesus witnessing of? The reality and presence of God. It is by the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit that the lost come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I sincerely desire that in reading this post so far, you have a better understanding of Who the Holy Spirit is, what place He has in the God-head, and in your life. We have the same Holy Spirit in us that was in Jesus.

Understand this, the Holy Spirit has the same nature as Jesus and the Father. As you realize Who He is, I hope you also realize that you should not reject Him because of fear.

The purpose for which God gave the Holy Spirit’s power and gifts to Jesus and believers alike, is to enable the Body of Christ to show the world, through demonstration and confirmation, that His love and the gospel is the power of God for salvation.

After John was put in prison, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, where He said, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). Kingdom Dynamics in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible added this excellent insight for this verse, “Jesus’ ministry did not begin until He received His ‘anointing’ as Messiah - the empowering that came through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him. Though conceived and born by the Spirit’s power (Luke 1:35) and sinless His whole lifetime (John 8:46), He did not attempt ministry without the Spirit’s power. He insisted John baptize Him because He knew the Holy Spirit would come upon Him at that time (Matthew 3:13-17). From that time, He is led of the Spirit (Mark 1:12) and moves into ministry - declaring the presence of God’s kingdom and manifesting its miracles, signs, and wonders. ( Luke 4:14,15; Matthew 4:23-25). Spiritual rebirth saves, however, spiritual enduement is needed for ministering in kingdom power. Jesus’ Person and perfection exceeded ours in every way, yet Jesus still acknowledged the need of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to pursue His ministry.” Jesus commanded, “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:23).

What I want us to examine, at this point, are the Scriptural references which reveal what makes the Holy Spirit’s power and gifts effective in leading the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:8 (ESV), “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." According to Barnes Notes on the Bible, literally, this verse means: ‘You shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you! ‘Power, dynamin - from the Greek word dunamal means: force or specially, miraculous power.

Some today, say that signs and wonders are not needed, because we have the written Word. In Scripture, we will see that the signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit’s power do make a difference in convincing people of the truth, weight, and authority of God’s Word.

Often times, people simply do not believe the words that are spoken to them. In fact, Jesus’ in response to Philip’s request that He show them the Father stated in John 14:10 and 11 (ESV), “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” Then we read in John 5:36 that Jesus told the religious leaders that the works He was doing ‘testify’ that the Father sent Him (John 4:32,36 ESV).

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and those there were “amazed” at His teaching because His word possessed power and influence and He spoke with authority. The word translated ‘amazed’ or in some translations ‘astonished’ in other translations, is ekplesso meaning: to strike and panic or shock, in a strike out of one’s senses with the outcome of being utterly amazed. The Greek word for ‘authority’ is exousia meaning force, capacity, competency, mastery, and delegated influence.

Time and time again we read of this same reaction to Jesus’ ministry because of the authority of His words or the miracles He performed. (Matthew 15:31; Matthew 9:6-8; Luke 9:42 and 43 NIV).

We see that Jesus began His ministry in Mark 1, starting with verse 21. In Capernaum, Jesus taught with authority, cast a demon out of a man in the temple, and healed Peter’s mother-in- law. How did the people respond? They were amazed and recognized He had authority. “His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. (verses 27 and 28). “ At sundown, all who were sick and oppressed by demons were brought to Him.” In fact, “the whole city was gathered at the door.”

He went to Galilee, preached, cast out demons and healed a leper. How did the people respond? “The news of Him spread, He was no longer able to enter a town, and people went to desolate places from every quarter to receive ministry from Him.”

The Holy Spirit began working through the early church with Peter and John in Acts 3:2-10 (NIV).

The first time a ‘gift’ of the Holy Spirit was used through the believers (the church) occurred on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and endued them with power. All 120 of those waiting for the ‘Promise’ (the Holy Spirit) in the upper room, spoke in unknown (unlearned) tongues to the foreigners in Jerusalem (16 different languages). Peter preached and 3,000 got saved or was added to the church (Acts 2).

We read of Paul ministering healing by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The rest of the people on the island with diseases came to him and were healed. (Acts 28:8 and 9).

Acts 5:12 (ESV) reveals that many signs and wonders were regularly done by the hands of the apostles. Verse 14 reads, “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. The sick were carried out to the streets, placed on mats and cots hoping that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them. (v15) And those sick and afflicted with unclean spirits were all healed.” ((v 16).

In Acts 9 we read that, by the Spirit, Peter raised Dorcas from the dead and thus, throughout Joppa many believed in the Lord.

Philip was ministering in Samaria ‘where the crowds paid attention, heard him, and saw the signs he did.’ Unclean spirits were cast out and many were healed. Acts 8:8 reads, “so there was much joy in that city!”

We shared last time that if we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power - Ask! You can also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. (Acts 8:14 17). He will fill you. Then, listen to His voice, and move in obedience to what He tells you to do or say.

You need not fear!

Enter into relationship with the Holy Spirit’

Whatever God calls you to do, He enables and equips you to accomplish it.

He desires that you be filled with the Holy Spirit!

He is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever!

When you are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, you and those around you, will be Amazed by the work He will do through you!

NLT New Living Translation

ESV English Standard Version