You Have The Power

You Have the Power (Acts 2:1-4, 22-24, 32-33, 36-41) In the Bible, fire is a symbol of the presence of God Fire is also a symbol of transformation! Fire changes whatever it touches The Holy Spirit empowers believers to fulfill their mission as witnesses for Jesus (Acts 2:4 & 33) Believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, the very person of God resides within them (Acts 2:4 & 38; John 1:33) God’s Holy Spirit is a mark of God’s ownership of us (Eph. 1:13) The Bible tells us that the Spirit of God does many things within us · helps us in our prayers · helps us to understand the deep things of God’s Word · guides us · teaches us · AND empowers us The Holy Spirit gives them the ability to speak powerfully & boldly (Acts 2:4; 4:13, 29 & 31; Eph. 3:12; Phillip. 1:20; 1 Sam. 10:6-11; 2 Chron. 20:14-17; Isa. 48:16-17, Ezek. 11:5; Acts 4:29-31; 1 Cor. 2:3-5) parrhesia {par-rhay-see'-ah}Gk. open, bold, frank, unambiguous, without fear, cheerful, confident, full of comfort and assurance. It was the Holy Spirit that turned Peter from a man who denied Jesus to a man who proclaimed Jesus! Its not so much about you using the Holy Spirit, its about the Holy Spirit using you. Witnessing is an act that combines divine dominion & power with human action and responsibility.

Evangelism involves both proclamation and invitation, presenting the truth and giving an opportunity to respond to it. Justification (acquittal/absolution/pardon) - by faith (Acts 13:38-39, Rom. 1:16 & 5:1, Eph. 2:5 & 8, Gal. 2:16, Titus 3:5-8, 2 Tim. 3:15, 1 Pe. 1:9) During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train. In the process he killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang. Because of public sentiment against capital punishment however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson. After all, it was his first offense. Eventually President Jackson intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused. Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a presidential pardon. Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court’s decision: "A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon... We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die." George Wilson, as punishment for his crime, was hanged. A pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be granted, it must be accepted. We have only give the invitation “Come and see”, based upon our own personal witness. (John 4:29) The invitation is to those in need of salvation (Gen. 7:1, Noah & family from the flood, Ex. 14:13, the Jews from slavery in Egypt, Matt. 9:12, sinners, Luke 19:10, the lost) Salvation = rescue/deliverance Jesus himself will be the one to change the hearts (John 4:42)

go, I guilt in

John 16:7-8 says: “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor (or Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”

The Lord tells us, “Do not be discouraged if you do not reap the harvest.” He says that his Word will not return unto him void, but that it will accomplish what he pleases. Luke 1:37 says, “For no Word from God shall be void of power,” verifying what Isaiah said. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and

spirit, and of joints intents of the heart.”

and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and

Importance - ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Rom. 10:13-15) Urgency (Isa. 55:6, 2 Cor. 6:2, James 4:14, 1 Thes. 5:2-3 ) Responsibility - Each generation has a responsibility to pass on what they have learned & experienced about God’s nature, works and kingdom (Ps. 71:16-18, 78:3-7, 145:4, 11-13, Deut. 6:7, 11:19, Isa. 38:19) Each of us individually also has a responsibility to speak about this (Ps. 96:3, 145:5, Isa. 12:4)