Faith: The Power of the Holy Spirit and Thy Kingdom Come

Sunday February 16, 2014
Speaker:

Jesus’ public ministry ended when He died, but His private ministry began with His disciples after He rose from the dead. In Acts 1:1-8 Jesus was giving His disciples leadership training. He told them that they would receive power (dunamis) after the Holy Spirit would come upon them. Jesus told the Pharisees that if He cast out demons by the Spirit of God that the kingdom of God had come upon them (Matthew 12:25-29). In the Lord’s Prayer it says, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. The kingdom of God comes after the devil’s kingdom is destroyed (Luke 11:14-22). When His kingdom comes, the atmosphere and culture change. (Pastor Dale tells of the kingdom of God coming into the life of a co-worker.) The kingdom is in our lives. Acts 1:8 and 10:38 tell us that we will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon us. That means both proximity and progression. It’s our receiving the kingdom personally. Power is progressive. Jesus conquered the devil in the wilderness, after He was full of the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22; 4:1). Personal battles need to be won before you can minister to others. It is your personal victories that put you in a place of power. (Pastor Dale’s personal victory over asthma put him in a place to destroy that sickness in others.) Every personal victory causes an increase of power in your life so that you can possess the kingdom of God. After your personal victory, you’re in a position to bind the strongman (Luke 11:20). Challenge: Pray for God’s kingdom to come in the area that you need victory. Personal victory over the devil separates little children from men (1 John2:12). Be strong in God and His Word and bring the kingdom of God into your life. After the Holy Spirit has come upon you, each day should bring you greater power.