You Will Receive Power | Pastor Tim Notz

Devotional

Day 1: Broke but Enough: Faith in God’s Provision

When resources run thin, faith speaks a deeper truth. A family’s raw confession—“We’re broke, but we’ve got enough”—reveals trust that outlasts bank accounts. Their story isn’t about pretending hardship doesn’t exist, but anchoring hope in the Provider rather than the provision. True faith isn’t measured by what’s in our hands, but by who holds our hearts. This kind of trust creates space for both honesty and miracles. [00:46]

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been tempted to hide your needs behind “faith talk”? How might confessing both lack and trust deepen your reliance on God?

Day 2: Uneducated but Astonishing: The Mark of Jesus’ Presence

Cowardly fishermen became unignorable witnesses. Religious leaders marveled not at Peter and John’s training, but at the undeniable residue of time spent with Jesus. Courage isn’t mustered—it’s transferred through proximity. When we prioritize presence over performance, our ordinary lives carry extraordinary weight. The world doesn’t need more experts—it needs people radiating holy familiarity. [02:33]

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
(Acts 4:13, ESV)

Reflection: What daily habit could help others “recognize” Jesus in you? Where does self-reliance still overshadow holy dependence?

Day 3: Fire Fanned by Obedience: Keeping the Spirit’s Flame Alive

A smoldering fire becomes an inferno when oxygen hits. The Holy Spirit’s power works similarly—He waits for our obedience to unleash His blaze. Like a leaf blower igniting embers, our “yes” to God’s nudge releases supernatural momentum. This isn’t about grand gestures, but daily steps that align our will with His wind. Power builds when we move as He breathes. [13:36]

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
(Ephesians 5:18, ESV)

Reflection: What “small obedience” have you hesitated to act on? How might saying “yes” today reignite His power in you?

Day 4: Breath and Blaze: Two Gifts from the Risen Christ

Jesus first breathed life into fearful hearts, then baptized them in fire. Salvation’s breath restores; Pentecost’s flame empowers. Like a resuscitated body needing strength to run, we need both the Spirit’s indwelling and His infilling. One brings rebirth, the other boldness—both essential for the race ahead. [22:43]

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
(John 20:22, ESV)

Reflection: Have you settled for spiritual CPR when God offers marathon training? What would stepping into His power require releasing?

Day 5: From Locked Rooms to Loud Proclamation: Pentecost’s Courage

The same Peter who cowered behind doors now confronted the crowd that crucified his Lord. Pentecost didn’t erase his past—it rewired his identity. Fear melted under the Spirit’s fire, transforming trauma into testimony. When God’s breath fills our broken places, our greatest failures become launchpads for His glory. [23:36]

“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.’”
(Acts 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: What locked room still holds you captive? How might the Spirit’s fire redefine your story today?

Sermon Summary

Acts 4:13 sets the tone as Peter and John stand before the priests and Sadducees, and the text says they could tell these “uneducated, common men” had been with Jesus. The transformation is the point. Pentecost power makes cowards bold. Distance from Jesus breeds worry, boredom, and shrinking faith; closeness to Jesus by the Spirit makes courage rise, faith speak, and the life of Christ become visible. Jesus orders the disciples to wait, not work, until the Father’s promised gift comes. Acts 1:8 names it: the Spirit will come upon them with dunamis power so they become witnesses everywhere. That power is not a personality tweak but a dynamite infusion. Like a leaf blower on a big fire, the Spirit breathes and everything intensifies, heats up, and spreads.

Acts 2 shows the wind, the fire, the tongues, the multilingual witness, and the sneers. The naysayers always show up, but hunger for God is the right answer. Then Peter, who once locked himself behind closed doors and denied Christ, steps forward and preaches Joel’s promise fulfilled. He names Israel’s sin without flinching, exalts the risen Lord whom God raised, and calls for repentance and baptism. Three thousand are cut to the heart and baptized. That is what boldness looks like after Pentecost.

The doctrine is clear: salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two distinct graces. In John 20, the risen Jesus breathes on the disciples and they receive the Spirit unto new birth. Later, at Pentecost, the Spirit falls upon them for power. Acts 8 repeats the pattern in Samaria: many believe and are baptized in water, then Peter and John lay hands on them and they receive the Spirit. The same word baptizo names both waters and Spirit, meaning immersion. New birth fills the life; Spirit baptism immerses the life. God wants believers filled and then submerged.

The call lands here: keep being filled. Anointing leaks when closeness fades, so the church needs both Spirit and Word. The Word is the sword in hand; the Spirit breathes on that Word and makes it cut clean and heal deep. The Spirit still says go, not by puppeting but by prompting. When faith steps, words come, chains break, and Jesus gets glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Pentecost turns fear into witness Peter’s shift from locked doors to public proclamation is not human resolve but holy power. The Spirit does not pad personalities; he remakes them for mission. When Jesus is near and the Spirit is full, courage shows up and opens its mouth. [23:36]
2. Salvation and Spirit baptism are distinct John 20’s breathing gives life; Acts 2 and Acts 8 give power. New birth puts the Spirit within; baptism immerses the believer in the Spirit for bold service. Both graces are Scriptural, normal, and needed. [32:26]
3. Obedience unlocks the Spirit’s flow The Spirit prompts, then meets faith in motion. The leaf blower only amplifies the flame when someone picks it up and aims it. Start moving toward the person God puts on the heart and the words will meet the moment. [15:28]
4. Word and Spirit belong together The Word arms the mind and conscience; the Spirit breathes life into that truth. Power without Scripture misfires, and knowledge without Presence goes dull. Together they make a sharp, living witness. [08:59]
5. Keep being filled, not once-and-done Grace received yesterday leaks in today’s pressures. The call is to stay close, keep praying in the Spirit, and return again and again for fresh oil. Continual fullness keeps love hot and faith ready. [06:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Quiet generosity in crisis
[02:33] - Recognized as having been with Jesus
[04:02] - You Will Receive Power
[10:16] - Wait for the Father’s promise
[11:53] - You will be my witnesses
[12:19] - Dunamis power and the leaf blower
[14:52] - Step out, He meets you
[17:24] - Pentecost: wind, fire, tongues
[23:36] - Peter’s sermon: Joel fulfilled in Jesus
[25:45] - Three thousand repent and are baptized
[28:00] - Salvation and Spirit baptism are distinct
[33:58] - Baptizo: immersed in water and Spirit
[36:40] - Order, and when God fills a room
[38:47] - Honest invitation and salvation prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 4:13 (ESV)
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Observation Questions

What specific details about Peter and John’s background stood out to the religious leaders, and how did they explain the disciples’ boldness?
In the sermon, the “leaf blower” analogy was used to describe the Holy Spirit’s work ([13:09]). What does this analogy reveal about how the Spirit empowers believers?
According to the sermon, what two distinct experiences did the disciples have with the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 and Acts 2:1-4?
How did Peter’s behavior change after Pentecost compared to his actions before Jesus’ resurrection (e.g., locked doors vs. public preaching)?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the religious leaders connected Peter and John’s boldness specifically to having “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)? What does this imply about the visible impact of closeness to Christ?
The sermon describes salvation and Spirit baptism as “two distinct graces” ([28:00]). Why might God design these as separate experiences, and how do they work together in a believer’s life?
The analogy of the Spirit as a “leaf blower” ([13:09]) suggests believers must “pick up and aim” the tool. What might this look like practically when responding to the Spirit’s prompting?
Why is it significant that the same Greek word baptizo (immersion) is used for both water baptism and Spirit baptism ([33:58])?

Application Questions

What practical steps can you take to cultivate a closeness to Jesus that others might visibly recognize, as with Peter and John? Are there habits or relationships that need adjustment?
The sermon emphasizes that “obedience unlocks the Spirit’s flow” ([15:28]). When have you hesitated to act on a spiritual prompting, and what would it look like to step out in faith this week?
How can you intentionally pair Scripture (the “sword in hand”) with the Spirit’s guidance in your daily decisions or conversations ([08:59])? Give a recent example where one felt lacking.
The pastor mentioned his need to “keep being filled” with the Spirit regularly ([06:19]). What rhythms or practices help you stay refilled, and where might you need to prioritize this more?
Think of a situation where fear or silence has held you back from sharing faith. How could relying on the Spirit’s dunamis power change your approach in a similar future moment?

Ask a question about this sermon