You Shall Receive Power
Scripture: Acts 1:8Devotional Series: Why Tongues
Teaching: Why Tongues? pt. 4 (SUN_AM 2023-07-23) by Pastor Star R Scott
In Acts 1:9 we see, “the Lord ascending into heaven,” the Scripture says, “back to the right hand of God, the Father.” The Scripture says “He is there at this very moment making intercession for us.” Can you say, “Praise God.” for that? Do you feel down a little bi? Jesus is praying for you at the right hand of God; hallelujah. He can call you by name; amen? He already knows the outcome of the trial you’re in, and let me just give you a hint. It’s victory. I don’t know how you’re going to get there. You may be delivered out of it, you may be a recipient of grace to go through it, but we will not be tempted past that that we’re able to stand; hallelujah. And with every temptation the Lord makes that way of escape, sufficient grace to stand; hallelujah.
So, the Lord’s praying for us. He’s gone and ascended to that place of praying for us. One of the things He petitioned and was the fulfillment of the promises He made as He ascended to the right hand of God, the Father, He said, “If I go, I’m going to send the Comforter to you.” You remember He told Mary, “Don’t hold Me, don’t try to retain Me here at the tomb. I have to go to the Father. It’s necessary that I go to the Father.” Preparations are being made for our soon homegoing, praise God for that. “I’ve gone to prepare a place for you and while all this is taking place, I will send you another Comforter.” He said the Comforter that comes and indwells us will enable us to do the things that He did and greater things than those because He’s gone to the Father. Greater, multiplied effort. “Little Christs” or Christians; amen? Christlike. Loved of the Father. He said this. It’s beyond our belief. If it was not out of His mouth, if it is not recorded in these inspired words, we couldn’t comprehend it. We’re loved by Father just as much as He was; hallelujah. “Father’s loved you. You won’t be left alone. We’ll come and abide in you.” We talk about the infilling of the Holy Ghost, but in reality we are indwelt by the Godhead. The fulness of the Godhead dwells in us. The Scriptures indicate all three Persons coming and tabernacling within the believer (Hallelujah.), this body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. This body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. He’s with us today. His power is present today. His ability to purify inhabits us this morning, praise God. Why would we live short of this great victory that’s been given to us?
“I’m going to go to the Father and I’m going to send you the Comforter and you will receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). Much of our reason for the supernatural lacking, for the power of God lacking, is our inability, by faith, to reach out and take, to apprehend, what belongs to us; amen? We don’t “take” the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost has come and indwells us, has taken residence up within us. We take the power that’s been made available to us. Lambano dunamis, we see in Acts, Chapter 1, verse 8, in the Greek, and you shall “take power.” Take power, not just authority, exousia, we’re talking about dunamis, power, the actual divine forces of God. Power to be witnesses, power to cast out devils, to heal the sick. There’s nothing else that needs to be done, it’s already provided for us. We just have to reach out and take it, appropriate it. That’s done when we’ve invested ourselves in ministry. We don’t have power, if I can use this as an example—there isn’t power just residing in us at all times, bubbling over with power. The power comes when the need is there; amen? It doesn’t flow until there’s a purpose for it.
When we involve ourselves in ministry and we begin to converse with somebody and share our testimony with them, share with them the resurrection of Jesus, the next thing you know there’s an empowering that comes. You begin to remember Scriptures that you’ve memorized. You begin to speak with an unction and confidence. You speak as someone assured who has been born again, a life transformed. You are a new creation and you begin to convince them of that because of the anointing that abides within us.
So, the Lord’s praying for us. He’s gone and ascended to that place of praying for us. One of the things He petitioned and was the fulfillment of the promises He made as He ascended to the right hand of God, the Father, He said, “If I go, I’m going to send the Comforter to you.” You remember He told Mary, “Don’t hold Me, don’t try to retain Me here at the tomb. I have to go to the Father. It’s necessary that I go to the Father.” Preparations are being made for our soon homegoing, praise God for that. “I’ve gone to prepare a place for you and while all this is taking place, I will send you another Comforter.” He said the Comforter that comes and indwells us will enable us to do the things that He did and greater things than those because He’s gone to the Father. Greater, multiplied effort. “Little Christs” or Christians; amen? Christlike. Loved of the Father. He said this. It’s beyond our belief. If it was not out of His mouth, if it is not recorded in these inspired words, we couldn’t comprehend it. We’re loved by Father just as much as He was; hallelujah. “Father’s loved you. You won’t be left alone. We’ll come and abide in you.” We talk about the infilling of the Holy Ghost, but in reality we are indwelt by the Godhead. The fulness of the Godhead dwells in us. The Scriptures indicate all three Persons coming and tabernacling within the believer (Hallelujah.), this body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. This body being the temple of the Holy Ghost. He’s with us today. His power is present today. His ability to purify inhabits us this morning, praise God. Why would we live short of this great victory that’s been given to us?
“I’m going to go to the Father and I’m going to send you the Comforter and you will receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). Much of our reason for the supernatural lacking, for the power of God lacking, is our inability, by faith, to reach out and take, to apprehend, what belongs to us; amen? We don’t “take” the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost has come and indwells us, has taken residence up within us. We take the power that’s been made available to us. Lambano dunamis, we see in Acts, Chapter 1, verse 8, in the Greek, and you shall “take power.” Take power, not just authority, exousia, we’re talking about dunamis, power, the actual divine forces of God. Power to be witnesses, power to cast out devils, to heal the sick. There’s nothing else that needs to be done, it’s already provided for us. We just have to reach out and take it, appropriate it. That’s done when we’ve invested ourselves in ministry. We don’t have power, if I can use this as an example—there isn’t power just residing in us at all times, bubbling over with power. The power comes when the need is there; amen? It doesn’t flow until there’s a purpose for it.
When we involve ourselves in ministry and we begin to converse with somebody and share our testimony with them, share with them the resurrection of Jesus, the next thing you know there’s an empowering that comes. You begin to remember Scriptures that you’ve memorized. You begin to speak with an unction and confidence. You speak as someone assured who has been born again, a life transformed. You are a new creation and you begin to convince them of that because of the anointing that abides within us.