Empowered by the Holy Spirit: True Strength in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the concept of power through the lens of Acts 1:8, which speaks of the power believers receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. We began by discussing different types of power: general power, good power (God's power), and bad power (Satan's power). God's power, as given by the Holy Spirit, is the ultimate power that believers receive upon accepting Christ. This power is transformative, enabling believers to overcome sin, forgive others, and live a life that glorifies God.
We also examined the deceptive nature of satanic power, which is real and more powerful than human strength. However, God's power far surpasses Satan's. We looked at the story of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19, who tried to cast out demons without truly knowing Christ, only to be overpowered by the evil spirit. This illustrates that religious rituals without a genuine relationship with Jesus are powerless.
Man's power, often perceived through wealth, status, or physical strength, is ultimately fragile and fleeting. We reflected on the story of Herod Agrippa, who was struck down by God for his arrogance and failure to give glory to God. This serves as a reminder that human power is insignificant compared to God's power.
The sermon concluded with the story of Paul and Silas in prison, who, despite their dire circumstances, sang hymns and prayed, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Their faith and joy led to the conversion of the jailer and his entire household. This story underscores the transformative and redemptive power of the Holy Spirit, which enables believers to rejoice in suffering, love their enemies, and witness effectively for Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Indwelling Power of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit's indwelling power is transformative, enabling believers to live a life that glorifies God. This power is not about physical strength or worldly status but about spiritual strength and the ability to overcome sin and adversity. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ, as seen in Acts 1:8. [03:12]
2. The Deceptive Nature of Satanic Power: Satan's power is real and more powerful than human strength, but it is no match for God's power. The story of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19 illustrates that religious rituals without a genuine relationship with Jesus are powerless against evil. True power comes from knowing and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. [07:52]
3. The Fragility of Human Power: Human power, often perceived through wealth, status, or physical strength, is ultimately fragile and fleeting. The story of Herod Agrippa, who was struck down by God for his arrogance, serves as a reminder that human power is insignificant compared to God's power. True strength and wisdom come from God, not from human achievements. [13:06]
4. Rejoicing in Suffering: The story of Paul and Silas in prison demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit to enable believers to rejoice in suffering. Despite their dire circumstances, they sang hymns and prayed, which led to the conversion of the jailer and his household. This shows that the Holy Spirit gives believers the power to find joy and purpose even in the midst of trials. [22:16]
5. The Power to Love and Forgive: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to love and forgive, even when it would be easy to hate. Paul and Silas, despite being mistreated by the jailer, responded with love and shared the gospel with him, leading to his salvation. This demonstrates the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to change hearts and bring about reconciliation. [26:56]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:36] - Introduction to Power
[03:12] - The Indwelling Power of the Holy Spirit
[04:37] - Illustration: Dirty Harry and the Bullet
[06:16] - The Reality of Satanic Power
[07:52] - The Story of the Seven Sons of Sceva
[09:35] - The Fragility of Human Power
[11:40] - The Story of Herod Agrippa
[13:06] - Human Power vs. God's Power
[15:17] - God Uses the Weak
[16:41] - Paul and Silas in Philippi
[18:02] - The Slave Girl with a Spirit of Divination
[19:23] - False Religion vs. True Salvation
[20:39] - Paul and Silas' Response to Imprisonment
[22:16] - Rejoicing in Suffering
[23:33] - The Jailer’s Conversion
[25:16] - Standing Firm in Faith
[26:56] - The Power to Love and Forgive
[28:27] - The Jailer’s Household Saved
[30:01] - The Call to True Relationship with Christ
[31:27] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
2. Acts 19:13-16 - "Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, 'In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.' Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?' Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding."
3. Acts 16:25-34 - "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!' The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.' Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household."
### Observation Questions
1. What types of power were discussed in the sermon, and how are they different from each other? [01:36]
2. How did the seven sons of Sceva attempt to use power, and what was the outcome? [07:52]
3. What was Paul and Silas' reaction to being imprisoned, and what was the result of their actions? [20:39]
4. How did the jailer and his household respond to the message of Paul and Silas? [23:33]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Acts 1:8 suggest about the source and purpose of the power given to believers?
2. How does the story of the seven sons of Sceva illustrate the difference between religious rituals and a genuine relationship with Jesus? [07:52]
3. In what ways does the story of Paul and Silas in prison demonstrate the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? [20:39]
4. How does the reaction of the jailer to Paul and Silas' message reflect the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about conversion and transformation? [23:33]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own strength rather than the power of the Holy Spirit. How did that situation turn out, and what could you have done differently? [01:36]
2. The seven sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus' name without truly knowing Him. Are there areas in your life where you might be relying on religious rituals rather than a genuine relationship with Jesus? [07:52]
3. Paul and Silas rejoiced and sang hymns even in dire circumstances. How can you cultivate a similar attitude of joy and faith in your current struggles? [20:39]
4. The jailer and his household were transformed by the message of Paul and Silas. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear the gospel? How can you share it with them this week? [23:33]
5. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to love and forgive. Think of a person you find difficult to love or forgive. What steps can you take this week to show them Christ-like love and forgiveness? [26:56]
6. Reflect on the story of Herod Agrippa and the fragility of human power. Are there areas in your life where you might be placing too much trust in your own abilities or status? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's power? [13:06]
7. Paul and Silas' faith led to the conversion of the jailer and his household. How can you be a witness for Christ in your daily life, even in challenging situations? [23:33]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's indwelling power is transformative, enabling believers to live a life that glorifies God. This power is not about physical strength or worldly status but about spiritual strength and the ability to overcome sin and adversity. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ, as seen in Acts 1:8. This power is a gift that comes upon accepting Christ, and it enables believers to overcome sin, forgive others, and live a life that glorifies God. The Holy Spirit's power is not just for personal transformation but also for empowering believers to be effective witnesses for Christ in the world. [03:12]
"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." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's transformative power to overcome sin and adversity? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to be a more effective witness for Christ today?
Day 2: The Deceptive Nature of Satanic Power
Satan's power is real and more powerful than human strength, but it is no match for God's power. The story of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19 illustrates that religious rituals without a genuine relationship with Jesus are powerless against evil. True power comes from knowing and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This story serves as a warning that relying on religious rituals or human strength without a genuine relationship with Christ leaves one vulnerable to the deceptive and destructive power of Satan. [07:52]
"And the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?' And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 19:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are relying on religious rituals or human strength instead of a genuine relationship with Jesus? How can you deepen your relationship with Christ to experience His true power?
Day 3: The Fragility of Human Power
Human power, often perceived through wealth, status, or physical strength, is ultimately fragile and fleeting. The story of Herod Agrippa, who was struck down by God for his arrogance, serves as a reminder that human power is insignificant compared to God's power. True strength and wisdom come from God, not from human achievements. This story highlights the danger of pride and the importance of giving glory to God rather than seeking it for oneself. [13:06]
"Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last." (Acts 12:23, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to rely on your own strength, wealth, or status? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's power and give Him the glory in your life?
Day 4: Rejoicing in Suffering
The story of Paul and Silas in prison demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit to enable believers to rejoice in suffering. Despite their dire circumstances, they sang hymns and prayed, which led to the conversion of the jailer and his household. This shows that the Holy Spirit gives believers the power to find joy and purpose even in the midst of trials. Their faith and joy in suffering became a powerful witness to those around them, leading to transformation and salvation. [22:16]
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened." (Acts 16:25-26, ESV)
Reflection: How can you find joy and purpose in your current trials? What steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to help you rejoice in suffering and be a witness to those around you?
Day 5: The Power to Love and Forgive
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to love and forgive, even when it would be easy to hate. Paul and Silas, despite being mistreated by the jailer, responded with love and shared the gospel with him, leading to his salvation. This demonstrates the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to change hearts and bring about reconciliation. The ability to love and forgive, even in difficult circumstances, is a powerful testimony of God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. [26:56]
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today? How can you demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit in your relationships through love and forgiveness?
Quotes
1. "This is the power of the Holy ghost that every believer receives upon trusting Christ as their savior. And it's kind of wild because we, we talk about this a lot. We talk about this a lot. We talk about this a lot. We talk about this a lot. We listen. Some people were like, what are you talking about? The indwelling power of the Holy spirit. And the scripture tells us that if anyone trust Christ as their savior, trust in his shed blood to forgive their sins, invite him into their life, that the Holy spirit literally comes inside and indwells that person. They become a born again believer." [03:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Satan's power is more powerful than our power. 100% of the time, anytime you take on the powers of sin or the powers of Satan, you will lose 100% of the time. Uh, Bob read this Ephesians six, 12 and 13, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you might be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand." [06:16] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Man's power, boy, we think we got it. Don't we think we got, we think we got it because of our intelligence. We think we got it because of our looks. We think we got it because of our strength and working out and all that. And it can be taken in a second. Don't ever forget that it can be all taken in a second. Your life can change drastically in a moment, in a moment. About five weeks ago, I remember laying in a hospital bed in Mason and not being able to get out of that bed, not being able to get out of that bed." [11:40] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God uses things that the world doesn't think is mighty. God can use you at any age in any physical state. God can, and we'll use you. He'll use you flat. He'll use you flat on your back somewhere because it's not again, how the world thinks of it. Again, I remember, um, four o'clock in the morning was, was the time that the nurse came in and I would sit and stare at the ceiling until she came in needing someone to talk to." [15:17] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The spirit of God, the power of God in them gave them power to rejoice when it would be easy to whine. The power to rejoice, the power to sing God's praises when it would have been easy just to shout out, this is unfair. You can't do this. He gave them power to rejoice when it would be easy to whine. Two things, not good for spiritual growth. Don't, uh, if you're a wino, it's not good. If you're a whiner, it's not good. It's not good, but they had good reason to fuss and complain and cry, but their joy and happiness in Christ could not be. Taken from them no matter where they were put, no matter the circumstances, their joy could not and would not be taken." [20:39] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If you're a believer, especially you need to stand up and fight for what God has given you. You need to fight for your marriage. You need to fight for your kids. And I'm not talking about fistfight. I'm talking. Getting on your knees and fighting like a man. We need to fight the good fight of bringing the gospel to a lost and dying world." [25:16] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Power to love when it would be easy to hate. It would have been easy for them to say, excuse me, we know what you deserve. Wow. And they said, listen, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. It's amazing. The power of the Holy spirit in one's life." [26:56] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So now this guy that was going to kill himself because that he's like, you know what, Rome, whatever you want to do to me, you do to me because more important than life is that my family hears this message. Message of the gospel, this life-saving eternal life message. And they go there. Second Peter three, nine says the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some count slackness, but it's long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance." [28:27] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "That power is power to overcome sin in our life, power to deal with any mental or physical problem. God can, can, uh, bring that power into your life and get you to people and get you to places where you can have the, all those things taken care of power to forgive others for believers, to forgive other believers and power to be saved from your sin and spend eternity with Jesus." [30:01] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Are you a religious person? Are you a person with a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you walk out of here, trusting in your religion, I feel for you because you got nothing in the end, power of the Holy ghost living in you. We have a room just out these back door to the right. It's called. The lighthouse. People would be glad to tell you about more. If you don't quite understand it, you can ask Jesus into your heart and life, right where you're sitting right now, just in the quietness of your heart, your life can change not only for this life, but for all eternity." [31:27] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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