What do these events from the Book of Acts have in common?
- Peter’s standing up and speaking on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40)
- Peter and John’s healing the lame man at the Temple gate (Acts 3:1-10)
- Stephen’s doing great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8)
- Philip’s preaching Christ and doing miracles and healing people in the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5-8)
- Paul’s declaring the one true God on Mars’ Hill in Athens (Acts 17:16-34)
All of these events were carried out by born-again believers who manifested holy spirit power. Did you know that this power didn’t die out with the apostles? It is still available today to anyone who is born again of God’s spirit. This means that we can live just as powerfully today as the believers of the first century did. We simply need to know about the power we have and believe to manifest it.
The Bible is full of references to the power of the holy spirit, not only in the Book of Acts, but also in the Church Epistles. In fact, these books constantly make reference to the power of the holy spirit or else demonstrate the power which the first-century believers knew they had. As recorded in I Thessalonians, Paul, Silas, and Timothy not only preached the Word to the Thessalonian believers, but they also demonstrated holy spirit power.
I Thessalonians 1:5,6:
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit in manifestation], and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].
The result of the power of God in operation was that the Thessalonians became followers of these spirit-filled leaders, and thus of the Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, in our day and time, what gets people’s attention is not just the Word of God we know and speak, but also the power of God that we demonstrate.
I Corinthians 2:4:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit [the gift of holy spirit in manifestation] and of power.
I Corinthians 4:20:
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
The Church was given great ability with the coming of the inherent power of the holy spirit. But this power is not automatically brought forth into manifestation. How then do we manifest the power we’ve been given? By believing what God’s Word says and by putting ourselves in a position to act on it. First we go to God’s Word to build our believing. Here are some verses to get us started:
Ephesians 1:19:
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
II Timothy 1:7:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Then we put ourselves in a position to act on the Word—to rely on the greatness of God’s power. Peter put himself in a position to act by standing up to speak on the day of Pentecost. He and John put themselves in a position to act by going to the Temple, where they would find people who needed God’s Word. Stephen too put himself in a position to act by accepting leadership responsibilities in the Church. Philip put himself in a position to act by going to Samaria to preach the Word. And Paul put himself in a position to act by accepting an opportunity to address a city that was wholly given to idolatry. As each of these believers acted, they brought forth the manifestations of holy spirit in the senses realm. We can do the same.
We too can live powerfully today, just as the believers of the first century did. When we know about the power we have, we can believe to manifest it. We can do this by putting ourselves in positions to act. As a result of the power of God in operation, others can become followers of us and thus of the Lord Jesus Christ. What will get their attention is not just the Word of God we know and speak, but also the power of God that we demonstrate. What a privilege we have to show forth God’s power in this day and time.