The Power of the Holy Spirit
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DEPENDING ON CHRIST’S POWER
Ephesians 1:19 I pray that you may personally know His incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace through the working of His power.
Ephesians 6:10 Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. . .put on the whole armor of God.
Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.
GOD HAS THE POWER
In Numbers 13, the Lord told Moses to send twelve leaders to explore the land of Canaan. The focus of this moment was one question: Was God able to do what He promised? Joshua and Caleb saw the power of God. They said, “We can certainly do this. If God is pleased with us, He will lead us into the land. There’s no reason to be afraid of these people; we will swallow them up because their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us.”
By contrast, the other ten leaders saw nothing but problems. They said, “It’s impossible! The people are powerful; The cities are fortified and very large. We saw giants! We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are. The land we explored devours people.”
GOD EMPOWERS HIS PEOPLE
God provides the “power” and man provides the “means.”
Exodus 14:21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and all night the Lord drove back the sea with a strong east wind.
I Samuel 17:47 David said, “It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s.”
Luke 1:31 “You will be with child and give birth to a son….the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
John 15:5 “I am the vine and you are the branches; apart from me you can do nothing.”
JESUS: GOD IN HUMAN LIKENESS
Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Luke 1:35 He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
Luke 2:40, 52 He grew in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit
Luke 3:21-22; 4:1 He was full of the Holy Spirit following his baptism
Luke 4:1 He was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert
Luke 4:14; 18 He began his ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit
Luke 10:21 He drew his joy from the presence of the Holy Spirit
Hebrews 9:14 He offered himself to God through the power of the Holy Spirit
Romans 1:4 He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit
THE FATHER WAS THE SOURCE FOR JESUS’ ACTIVITY
John 4:34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and finish his work.”
John 5:19 “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing.”
John 5:30 “By myself I can do nothing.”
John 7:16 “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”
John 12:49 “I did not speak of my own accord; the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.”
John 14:9-10 “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather it is the Father living in me who is doing His work.”
Acts 2:22 Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him.
JESUS TODAY
II Corinthians 4:6 We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Author:Paul Schlieker www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com
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| All of the inspirational Christian stories, teachings, and illustrations (and more) in The Power of the Holy Spirit may be found in Paul's book
What's Missing Inside You?
It's engaging for your individual study as well as for small group curriculum. Continue your study of the Holy Spirit with the next sermon in this series. |
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean to depend upon Christ’s power?
2. What is the difference between trying harder and trusting Christ?
3. What makes it difficult to recognize that you are only the “means” and the Jesus is the “power?”
4. Why does making disciples of all nations require the power of the Holy Spirit?
| Here's a Sunday School lesson about the Holy Spirit. |
| God showed his power at The Battle of Jericho |
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