WALKING IN POWER

After Jesus had risen from the dead, He walked with and taught His disciples for 40 more days after His resurrection.  His time of ascension was drawing near but His disciples did not realize it. They were thinking their resurrected King was going to take the authority and rule away from the Romans and restore the land back to Israel with Jesus setting up His rule and reign as King of Israel. (Acts 1:6)

Their mind was on an earthly kingdom which is temporary, but Jesus was trying to get their focus on the Heavenly Kingdom which is eternal. He told them it was not for them to know the times or the seasons….in other words, He was saying not to worry about who’s in charge and who’s not. Focus on the spiritual Kingdom of God because that is what matters in eternity. 

He left them with one last Promise before He began to ascend up into the clouds.

And ye shall receive POWER,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…
Acts 1:8

Power?  What did Jesus mean?  What kind of power was He referring to?

The Strong’s definition for Power means: (Greek #1411)
           force; specially miraculous power
           (usually by implication, a miracle itself – i.e. a worker of miracles)

We don’t think about that…. 
           We focus on the need to repent and turn from our sins. 
           We know we need to get baptized in Jesus’ name. 
           We know we need the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other 
                  tongues. 
           We know we need to strive to live a holy life, pleasing unto the Lord. 
           So we come to church and try to be good saints.
           We pray and read our Bibles.

But we overlook this verse of Promise where Jesus said we shall receive POWER! 

He wants to work through us and use us in the miraculous!  Once we receive the Holy Ghost, God wants each of us to develop into a ‘worker of miracles’! 

We read about the miraculous things that Jesus did while on the earth…..
          * He healed the sick                         * made the lame to walk again
           * unstopped deaf ears                     * restored sight to the blind
           * raised the dead back to life         * healed a man of palsy
           * walked on water                            * multiplied loaves and fishes (twice)
           * delivered those who were tormented and demon-possessed
           * on a couple occasions, He commanded the storms with His Word
              saying, “Peace, be still!” and they immediately became calm.

These are only a few of the many miracles Jesus did that are recorded in the Bible. 

John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which, if they should be written every one,
I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that should be written.

If everything Jesus did while on earth was to be written down in books, there would not be room enough on the earth to fit all the books written about His mighty deeds.  That is mind-blowing to think about! 

But even more mind-blowing is another Promise Jesus gave to us in:

John 14:12
Verily, Verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on Me,
the works that I do shall he do also;
and GREATER works than THESE shall he do…

EVERYTHING Jesus did, He’s given us the authority and power to do as well… and GREATER! When we pray, we should BELIEVE and EXPECT great things will happen!

The Apostles walked in POWER and AUTHORITY!

Not only did the Apostles travel around from city to city and region to region spreading the Gospel, commanding people to be baptized in the name of Jesus, and praying with those they encountered to receive the Holy Ghost….

But they also grasped what Jesus was saying and walked in that power and authority through the Holy Ghost doing many mighty miracles.

Acts 2:43
and fear came upon every soul:
and MANY WONDERS and SIGNS (supernatural miracles)
were done by the Apostles.

(Reference also: Acts 4:30, 5:12, 14:3 + Romans 15:19 + 2 Cor 12:12 + Heb 2:4)

A man who was lame since birth was miraculously healed and labeled as a ‘notable miracle’ by those who opposed the Gospel of Jesus. (Acts 3 + 4:16)

They healed many who were sick and others who were vexed with unclean spirits.  (Acts 5:16)

The Apostles were put in prison but were found the next day preaching in the Temple because God sent an angel to open the prison doors and set them free.  Yet, when the officers went to check on them in prison, they found the prison doors still securely locked. (Acts 5:17-25)

Peter was also miraculously delivered from prison on a separate occasion.  (Acts 12)

A young girl who was bound by a fortune telling devil was delivered and set free.  That made the men who had enslaved her angry and so they had Paul and Silas beaten and put in prison.  But they were also miraculously delivered from prison when their worship caused and earthquake and the prison doors flew open.  (Acts 16)

These are just a few of the miracles God worked through them.

HOW did they walk in POWER and see miracles?

They knew the power came through staying prayed up and FULL of the Holy Ghost!  God wants to use each of us.  He wants us to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit.  God doesn’t have it reserved for just a few great men and women of God such as Bro. Lee Stoneking or Sis. Nona Freeman or Bro. T.W. Barnes or Bro. Billy Cole. 

God wants to use each and every one of us…but we have to be men and women of prayer!  We have to get prayed up and stay prayed up and be FULL of the Holy Ghost.  We have to be willing to sacrifice the will of the flesh through fasting.

Sometimes we have to MAKE our self pray but we NEED to pray!

Deny the flesh of its wants (turn off movies or tv shows, put down novels, turn off social media) and take time - make time to pray!  Prayer is what breaks chains of darkness and open prison doors…not only for our self but it can also have an effect on those around us.

Paul and Silas were bound – the only crime they committed was telling others about Jesus and setting a demon possessed girl free through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 16)

They could have sat there in prison and complained about where they were at.  They could have been depressed and cried wondering WHY they were in the situation they were in. 

But you know what they did instead? 

First they prayed – next, they began to sing songs of Praise to God.

It was midnight (the darkest hour) but still they prayed and praised!
I’m sure it was pitch black inside that prison but still they prayed and praised!
They were hurting from the beating and dirt may have been getting into their open wounds but still they prayed and praised!
They didn’t know what tomorrow held – freedom or death – still they prayed and praised!

The Bible said the other prisoners heard them. 

Acts 16:25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.

Because of their prayers and praise instead of moaning and groaning, the miraculous began to happen….

Acts 16:26
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 bands were loosed.

Earth shaking prayers and worship!

The other prisoners were not praying. 
The other prisoners were not singing. 
Yet, the prayers and songs of praise that Paul and Silas prayed and sang loosed the bands and opened the prison doors for EVERYONE around them!

If you feel bound – pray and sing songs of praise.
If you have a family member who is bound – pray and sing songs of praise.

Keep praying!  Keep singing songs of praise!

The devil is going to fight you because he doesn’t want you or your family members loosed but keep praying and keep singing songs of praise anyway! 

Pray and praise your way out!

YOUR prayers and YOUR songs of worship can cause the chains that are binding your loved ones to fall off and set the captives free!

Walk in and possess the power and authority God has given you through the Holy Ghost!