Acts of the Apostles
Unleashing the Power within
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water: but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The book of Acts, written by St. Luke (the physician) who also wrote the third Gospel, the Gospel of Luke, is said to be a sequel to that Gospel. Some theologians contend not only the Gospel of Luke, but it is a sequel to all four Gospels. The book of Acts substantiates, supports and propagates the gospel message to the fulfilling prophecy of the promised gift of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit). He is the third member of the trinity, the God-head bodily, he is the comforter, our teacher and guide, the spirit of truth.
The setting or back drop of the book of Acts is the 40 day period after the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, where Jesus appeared unto over 500 witnesses. During this time Jesus was preparing, teaching, and training his disciples for the Apostolic ministry, following his imminent departure. Moreover it is the launch of the New Testament Church, after the upper room experience on the day of Pentecost. Jesus had instructed his disciples to tarry at Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. Acts 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. The disciples needed dunamis, power to carry out the great commission that was charged to them by Jesus before his ascension. Matt. 28:19, 20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world A-men. The disciples had already received the Holy Ghost when Jesus breathed on them; this is the anointing (anointing comes upon you-empowerment) this was authorization for their office of Apostleship (appointed and anointed). Jesus gave them authority, what they needed was power.
In the book of Acts there is a very extensive time-line of events. That’s why it’s called the Acts of the Apostles; some refer to it as the acts of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, when the power came, the anointing fell, and the Holy Ghost showed up, or was manifest. There was a whole lot of shaking going on! (Jerry Lee Lewis) Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Peter preached one sermon and 3,000 souls were saved. This was the birth of the Apostolic Ministry, the New Testament Church, the Gentile church, Gentile Christianity. The mother church at Jerusalem (the Jewish Church) gave birth to the Christian Church. Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate.
Philip’s ministry began with the baptizing of the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Ananias and Sapphira were struck down with death for lying to the Holy Ghost. God said, a liar will not tarry in his sight. For it’s impossible to stand before a Holy and Righteous God, in unholiness and unrighteousness.
Stephen was one of the seven that was chosen to serve tables or as we call it today the Deacon Ministry. He became the first martyr. Saul had witnessed the stoning of Stephen, for he was a persecutor of the Christian Church.
Saul on the road to Damascus was converted when he encountered the risen Savior. He was a chosen vessel to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter’s ministry was to the Jews, the circumcised. Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles, the uncircumcised. But it was Peter who was responsible or used by God for what is sometimes referred to as the Gentile Pentecost. The conversion of the first Gentile converts, Cornelius’ family and friends. Cornelius was a devout man of God. He believed God, he feared God, he worshiped God, he prayed to God, and he gave alms to the people. But he was not saved, he didn’t have salvation. Cornelius needed a word, but how could he hear without a preacher? Cornelius had a visitation. God sent an angel and told Cornelius to send 3 men for Peter. Peter was in prayer meeting and God gave him a vision. God revealed the mystery of the Gospel to Peter. Salvation is not exclusive; it’s not just for the Jew. Salvation is inclusive; it’s for all mankind. Before Peter could deliver a word, he had to have a revelation. The revelation is that, God has no respect of person. What God has cleansed that call not common or un-clean. Cornelius’ visitation was connected to Peters’ vision. While Peter was trying to understand the vision, the Holy Spirit spoke to him and gave him affirmation. Cornelius needed confirmation: I found out that affirmation comes before confirmation, and you can’t have a vision without divine visitation and that’s revelation. How can they preach accept they be sent? Peter preached Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, we preach not ourselves, but Jesus and him crucified. Phil. 3:10That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.
Let’s make our transition to the present, to the here and the now. That’s exactly what the book of Acts allows and enables us to do. For the book of Acts is the Bibles’ catalyst for transition from the old covenant or testament to the new covenant or testament. It is the transition from Judaism to Christianity, from the Jewish church to the New Testament church, sometimes referred to as (Judeo Christian). It represents the transition from walking with Christ and Christ walking with his disciples, to the indwelling Christ living in us, and we living in Christ. In the old covenant he died, but in the new covenant he is resurrected. Being made conformable unto his death, we die with him by baptism that we may also be resurrected to walk in the newness of life. Do you know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings? The power of his resurrection confirmed him as our Savior and High Priest, and fulfilled the prophecy of the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The ascension of Jesus, our Lord and Savior was the transference of dunamis (power) to the Apostles.
Unleashing the power within; we need to unleash the power within us. Yes, if you are a blood bought, born again, saved and sanctified Christian, you have the gift; you have power.
Pt. #1 Unleashing the power within; Let go and let God.
Unleashing means to release from, or as from a leash; the connotation is, before you can unleash, something has to be leashed. It is implied that something is being harbored, or held onto, restricted, or restrained, suppressed, bridled, limited, or kept in check. What is that something? An old spiritual that we used to sing, says there’s something within me that holdeth the reins. Something within me that banishes pain. Something within me I cannot explain. All I know, there is something within. I Corinth. 2:12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. We have something within us; you have something within you. I John 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. There was a disco song out not long ago, and the catch phrase was; I got the power! You need to stir it up-unleash it-release-let go-Surrender-obey-let God-rule, reign, and live in you, and through you.
Pt. #2 The power within us is a gift, He is the Holy Spirit. You/we have the spirit of God within us. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, a young man, a young minister/Pastor, to stir up the gift within him; the gift of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. Eph. 3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. We have the indwelling presence of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The power within us/you is the word, knowledge, wisdom, and love of God; the grace and righteousness of Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of promise and truth. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.(John 14:23)II Timothy 1:7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind. How do we know we have the power within? John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. The Apostle Paul said in Gal. 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Pt. #3 Youth is potential-Potential is Power.
God created everything with potential, including you and me. He placed the seed of each thing or creation within itself, and planted within each person or thing he created the ability/potential to be much more than it is at any one moment, thus everything in life has potential. The tree is in the seed, and the seed is in the tree. Jesus said, in Mark 4:14, 26, 31, 32The sower soweth the word. (26) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; (31) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: (32) But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. Potential is dormant ability-reserved power- untapped strength-unrealized success-hidden talents, and capped capability. All you can be, but have not yet become. All you can do, but have not yet done. How far you can reach, but have not yet reached. What you can accomplish, but have not yet accomplished. Potential is unexposed ability and latent power. I Corinth. 4:20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in Power.
Potential is therefore not what you have done, but what you are yet able to do. In other words, what you have done is no longer your potential. It is said that unless you do something beyond what you have already done, you will never grow or experience your full potential. Potential demands that you never settle for what you have already accomplished. Potential is always present, waiting to be exposed. One of the greatest enemies of your potential is success. God wants you to maximize the potential he has given to you. Though you may be pleased with what or who you are now, you are not yet what you could or should be. Don’t accept your present state in life as final, because it is just that, a state of being. Don’t be satisfied with your latest achievement, because there is much more to accomplish, and many more levels of perfection to be perfected in Christ; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) I would like to offer a word of caution, it is an observational, and statistical fact that the graveyard is full of potential, quote the late Rev. D. P. Williams. There are as many short graves as there are long graves; both young and old. The cemetery is full of unfulfilled dreams, unmet goals, and aspirations. Time is of the essence, what are you going to do?
In closing, God has given you potency/potential to be or become. Youth is potential, potential is talents and ability. Potential is power; the power is a gift. The gift is the Holy Spirit. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no fickleness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 God has blessed you with potential/power to be, but there is no potential in God. Why? I’m glad you asked, God does not need potency/potential to be, because God is. God is Alpha and Omega, the first and last; the beginning and the end. God is the eternal one; the one eternal. God is the creator and sustainer of life. God is our father. God is love. God is peace. God is holy. God is righteous. God is just. God is faithful. God is merciful. God is gracious. God is omniscient. God is omnipresent. God is omnipotent. God is sovereign. God is God! Amen, Amen, Amen.
The Acts of the Apostles- Unleashing the power within. Acts1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Point #1. Unleashing the power within; let go and let God.
Point #2. The power within us is a gift; He is the Holy Spirit. You/we have the spirit of God within us.
Point #3. Youth is potential; potential is power.
Unleash the power within – Let go and let God-maximize your potential-the power within is the gift of the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory. AMEN