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.
Introduction
The Christian believers are called and chosen as Christ’s ambassadors, witnesses and representatives upon the earth today (2 Corinthians 5:20). However, we cannot fit these roles effectively by our own skills, social positions and acquisitions, but only in the demonstration of the power of God.
Power is a special, peculiar and distinctive prerogative of God and God alone. God is God and all power belongs to Him (Psalms 62:11). Nothing moves except as He directs. Nothing happens except as He permits. Nothing will be except as He allows. Only God rules in the affairs of men and nations.
Contrarily, man remains human no matter the level of grace made available to him. He is naturally frail, fragile and weak. He also faces daunting daily challenges from invisible quarters. Hence, we all require the enablement of the Spirit of God, and regular assistance from Him.
Jesus Christ clearly posited that the Holy Spirit is utterly connected with power (Luke 24:49). He said the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples would wrap them up with God’s power, predicating that they would then serve God in His own roles upon the earth (John 20:21).
True empowerment for life’s assignment, and real equipping against the uncertainties of life comes to man only by the touch of the Holy Spirit.Therefore, pursuing the power of the Holy Ghost is not an option, but a clear divine imperative for the believers.
Understanding the Holy Spirit
Most people don’t understand the ways or the workings of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they neither recognize nor partake of the power He imparts in our world today.
The early apostles were all spiritually weak before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But things changed dramatically and rapidly afterwards, particularly after the Pentecost day experience (Acts 2:1-4). They were practically transformed, and enabled for their assignments of destiny: as witnesses of Christ’s power and resurrection.
Now, a better grasp of the personality, power and the workings of the Holy Ghost will be established when we have a robust understanding of the concept of a “spirit” and what it represents.
Commonly translated from “ruach” (Hebrew) and “pneuma” (Greek), “spirit” stands for an immaterial, invisible but powerful entity. This truth is clearly evidenced by the fact that “ruach” also translates to “breath”, “air” and “wind”.
Thus, the Holy Spirit is a spirit entity. As such, He’s Somebody we cannot see physically, but is capable of tremendous influence upon our lives and destinies. He is the Wind of Ages, and He’s capable of carrying everything along in His course in our world!
He blows as He chooses, moves as He wishes, and nobody can question His authority when He enlists anyone or anything for His special powers, blessings, honour and anointing (John 3:8).
Ezekiel was operating under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit when he received an instruction to prophesy to the Wind. He obeyed, and the inexplicable happened: out from the valley of dry bones came forth an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:1-10).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Almighty God, and the third member of the Godhead. He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), omnipotent (Luke 1:35), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7) and omniscient (1Corinthians 2:10-11).
He is invisible and immaterial, yet the Most Powerful Entity, whose tremendous influence upon our lives and destinies cannot be downplayed or ignored. In fact, the Holy Ghost and Ultimate Power are synonymous in the realm of the spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Very Presence of God that works actively in His people. Any man that wishes to see great accomplishments on earth must rely heavily upon Him and His power.
His power is the explosive spiritual dynamite or force that comes from God upon the believers at the instance of the Holy Spirit baptism, which empowers them for incredible works, miracles, might and virtue in their operations.
Even Jesus Christ ministered in that power (Luke 4:14-15; Acts 10:38). It is only in Him and through Him that we can find answers and minister solutions to all the complex questions in the world today.
Whenever the Holy Spirit is fully involved, He doesn’t hide or pull back in shame. He rather fearlessly pushes through until the desired wonders are birthed (2 Timothy 1:6-7). And, much more than a tornado in the course of His operations, the Holy Ghost can be very devastating to the dark kingdom of hell.
The Works of the Holy Spirit Then and Now
Operating in the power of the Holy Ghost is a very clear command of Christ to His followers (Matthew 10:7-8). Why? The very grounds we fail to cover is what is left for the devil to oppress. We must stand our ground in the power of the Holy Ghost, to glorify God and better the lots of other citizens on earth.
The following are some of the regular works of the Holy Ghost in the lives of men till today: He enables desirable changes in the lives of men (1Samuel 10:6), and He incubates power for inexplicable and undeniable miracles (Luke 1:35,45).
Again, the Holy Spirit imparts boldness to make His men valuable, vocal, vital and valid witnesses of the power of God (Acts 1:8). He also gives power for discernment, reveals future events, unfolds the mysteries of God and testifies against sin (Amos 3:7; 2 Kings 17:13).
Everyday can be exciting for the Christian who knows that reality of being filed with the Holy Ghost and who lives constantly, moment by moment, under His direction. His directions often lead to distinction, and because He’s eternal, there’s nothing He has done before that He cannot do again and again!
Now, on the authority of the Word, we can confirm that all the miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus Christ did in His earthly ministry were to make people believe the gospel (Matthew 12:38; John 6:30). He even said people won’t believe except they see signs (John 4:48).
Beloved friends, I reasonably assume that you want to be relevant to God’s agenda for the ages. If yes, then, you must readily pay the price to start operating in the fresh power of the Holy Ghost for higher performances (Mark 16:17). You must go for a renewed experience of the Pentecostal infilling (Acts 4:31-33).
Be determined to glorify God in all your walks on earth. Yield to a lifestyle of accord with the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-12). Cry passionately for His grace, and honestly abstain from sin. Thereafter, He will suddenly appear through you to help you and your world. You won’t miss it, in Jesus Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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