How Is God's Power Working IN You?

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 Judaea, and in

 Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

God’s Holy Spirit is the enduement of power from on high.  

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.   Luke 24:49

Because of the adamic nature we inherited, it is necessary to have something within us to assist us in fulfilling and achieving the will of God.   That ‘something within’ is spiritual power which Jesus promised to us upon His ascension.

The one of the purposes of spiritual power is salvation:

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.  John 1:12

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.   1 Corinthians 1:18

The demonstration of God's power results in salvation. The villages of Lydda and Sharon were converted when Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bed ridden for eight years, was healed (Acts 9).

A major purpose of the spiritual power delegated to believers was given when Jesus first promised this power:

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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.   Acts 1:8

The power Jesus delegated to His followers was to come upon them after  the coming of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the power was to extend a mighty Gospel witness, starting in Jerusalem and spreading to the ends of the earth.

The first demonstration of this spiritual power was seen in the Apostle Peter. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he gave powerful witness to the Gospel which resulted in salvation for 3,000 people. This was the same Peter who fled at the time of Jesus' arrest. This was the same Peter who denied even knowing the Lord. What had happened?  Peter had been endued with spiritual power!

Our witness of the Gospel must include both testimony and evidence. Evidence is the demonstration of God's power:

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  Acts 4:33

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.   1 Thessalonians 1:5

Jesus promised to work with those who fulfill the command to go into the world as witnesses to every creature. Some people seek powerful signs in their ministry, but they are not fulfilling the command to go. The power Jesus promised is to those who fulfill this command.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

In the early Church, the Gospel went forth in boldness because of the enduement of spiritual power:

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.   Acts 4:31

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.  Acts 9:27

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.   Acts 18:26

And He went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God.   Acts 19:8

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 1 Thessalonians 2:2

The disciples were amazed at the powerful works of Jesus:

And He (Jesus) went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him.  And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?   Mark 6:1-2

Jesus said:

I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.  John 9:4

Jesus had a definite purpose: He was to do the works of God. This was His motivation. After witnessing these works for a time, the disciples came to Jesus with this question:

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?   John 6:28

Jesus answered:

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.   John 6:29

The greatest work of God was manifested in Jesus. The Lord focused the attention of His disciples upon this fact rather than the visible demonstration of signs and wonders. True miracles always exalt Jesus. This is the work of God.

Later, Jesus told His followers:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.   John 14:12

His followers were to do the same works He had done.  They would do greater works. These works would be greater in quantity, not quality--because Jesus must return to Heaven.

His promise came true. Throughout the book of Acts, we witness believers doing the works of God. The sick are healed, demons are cast out, prison doors are opened, and the dead are raised again to life.

One reason God demonstrates His power on earth is to reveal Himself to man. Spiritual power delegated to believers is also for this purpose:

But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.   Matthew 9:8

Through a powerful Church, God desires to reveal Himself to the entire world:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.  Ephesians 3:10

The purpose of this revelation through power is to:

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  Acts 26:18

Power demonstrates the Kingdom of God in action:

Ö        Casting out demons signals God's invasion of the realm of Satan and his final destruction: 

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Matthew 12:29; 

(Also see:  Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21; John 12:31; Revelation 20:1)

Ö       Healing the sick looks forward to the day when all suffering will end: 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Revelation 21:4

Ö      Miraculous provision of food tells us of a day when all human need will end: 

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.  Revelation 7:1

Ö      Stilling the storms looks forward to victory over the powers using nature to threaten the earth:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  Revelation 21:1

Ö     Raising the dead announces that death will be forever done away with:

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  1 Corinthians 15:26

Powerful signs and wonders confirm the Word of God:

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  Acts 14:3

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy WORD.  By stretching forth thine hand to heal: and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  Acts 4:29-30

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.   Mark 16:20

The power of God rested on Jesus to equip Him for ministry:

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.  Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.   Isaiah 61:1

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him.   Acts 10:38

And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.   Mark 1:22

This same power was evident in the ministries of believers in the early church. Apostle Paul said:

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.   Ephesians 3:7

The effectual working of God's power within you results in ministry. Your ministry comes into being and develops into maturity through the power of God at work in you. Apostle Paul said:

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The early Church was born in a demonstration of God’s power, not through great orators or theological debate. This permitted their faith to be in God instead of the charismatic, skillful speaking abilities of men.  God's power enables all areas of spiritual ministry: 

• Spreading of the Gospel, 
• ministering to the sick, 
• oppressed, and 
• those bound with demonic powers:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   Matthew 28:18-19

And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.          Mark 16:17-18

.And when He had called them unto Him, His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease  Matthew 10:1

You are approved as a minister of God by the power of God:

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,   2 Corinthians 6:4,7

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