Step In To Power

“All Scripture is inspired (or ‘God-breathed’).
And is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 RSV

Step In To Power – Day 50

A Supplement to the “Step Up To Victory”

This material is designed to help arm you with power beyond the 49-day material, “Step Up To Victory”. It is with great expectation that this study is being done, for it is insufficient to lay down our “lower power”, without the ability to attain that greater power.

As you study this, you will see how it is possible to live in victory, forgiveness, love and fruitfulness. Why?

Because The Source of the power is God, and that power is a Person, not a program! Furthermore, this person takes us into the battle.

In any warfare, we need to have an armament. In the Greek the word for warfare is “strateos”, and from that root word we get our word “strategy”. Our weapon, therefore, in this battle is to have a strategy mapped out by God whereby we know the tactics of the enemy, as well as the constant position of the Captain of our Salvation. It is imperative that we know the presence of God each day and each moment and the PERSON we will deal with will give us the knowledge of that presence.

Please keep in mind that no matter what your denominational affiliation, you want to step in to what God has for you. This material shows you how to go beyond your “steps” of involvement, and how God wants to take you by the hand and lead you further.

God’s work in you is only beginning, and yet His work is also complete. The One who is called Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, wants to take you deeper in Him. He seeks to provide you with power so that you can live the Christian life and be a vital witness for Him.

God bless you as you step in deeper…..

In awe of His power,

Rev. Jean Halvorson
Pastor, Majesty Tabernacle
Minneapolis, MN
May, 1992

“What will you do on the day of
appointed festival, and on the
day of the Feast of The Lord?”

Hosea 9: 5 RSV

  1. Definition of important terms:
    1. The 50th day in the Bible refers to the feast of Pentecost:
      1. The word “pente” in the Greek means “fifty”; hence, the 50th day;
      2. The location of this festival is on the 50th day after the feast of the first fruits or its New Testament equivalent, Resurrection Day;
      3. Either definition makes it the day of springing up of new life – Leviticus 23 and 1 Corinthians 15;
      4. The First Fruits or Resurrection Day is the beginning of the harvest season.
        1. As beginning of harvest brought joy;
        2. So, Jesus being buried was the seed put in the earth and His rising from the dead was the hope for the rest of the harvest.
    2. The New Testament word for power is “dunamis”. It is the same word from which we derive our word “dynamite”.
      1. As dynamite explodes and breaks up blockages, so the God-kind of power explodes among us, seeking to dismantle “religious philosophies”, “factions”, “bondages”, and so forth;
      2. It is the only power that is able to free us from bondage’s, concrete hinderances, while its force does not destroy us;
      3. It has the similarity of the walls of Jericho, where the walls fell out and did not destroy he people within.
    3. The purpose of studying festivals in the Bible:
      1. We learn the history and celebrations of Jewish life;
      2. We see the victory in them and gain a physical awareness of our spiritual life;
      3. We gain an understanding of the spiritual order of God’s plan;
      4. We gain a historical accuracy and timetable whereby we assess the Lord’s purpose;
      5. We get a fuller perspective of the New Testament events as they unfold:
        1. Feast of Tabernacles corresponds with the birth in Bethlehem (Where God came – “dwelt among us” – definition of Tabernacle) – John 1: 14;
        2. Feast of Passover corresponds with Calvary, when God saw the blood and “passed over” our sin – John 1: 29;
        3. Feast of First Fruits corresponds with the Resurrection, as Jesus was the “blade” of new life – 1 Corinthians 15: 20;
        4. Feast of Pentecost corresponds with the experience in the Upper Room – Acts 2, as it is the fullest harvest bringing in souls.
      6. In that sense, we need each feast to have its work in us:
        1. Jesus born in us – see John 3:7.
        2. Jesus died for us – see Galatians 2: 20.
        3. Jesus lives in us – see Ephesians 3: 17; James 1: 18.
        4. Jesus flows through us – see John 7: 37-38; Matthew 9: 37.
    4. The place where festivals were celebrated:
      1. Festivals were to be celebrated in Jerusalem, the city of Kings;
      2. Part of the name of the city is “salem”, which comes from the root word “shaloam” in the Hebrew. The word means “peace”;
      3. We need to celebrate our joyous times (salvation, new life, etc.) in the presence of the King of Kings;
      4. Christendom really does need joyous celebrations of the works of God;
      5. Tuning in to joyous celebrations brings the peace, for our focus is on the eternal God.

“Behold the former things have
come to pass, and new things
I now declare; before they spring
forth I tell you of them.”

Isaiah 42: 9 RSV

  1. Pentecost in the Old Testament.
    1. There is no historical event being commemorated.
      1. Passover and Tabernacles were festivals to remember the respective events of coming out of Egypt and the time they lived in booths in the wilderness;
      2. Since there is no past occurrence recalled in regards to the Pentecost, it is seen, hence, as a day imperative to the future of God’s plan;
      3. The Minor Prophets give us glimpses into the future unfolding of God’s plan: Micah 5: 2 (place of birth of Christ); Zechariah 9: 9 (time of triumphal entry); Jonah 1: 17 (time frame of penalty Christ paid); Joel 2: 28-29 (future hope for outpouring).
    2. In Leviticus 23: 15 we see that Pentecost comes after Passover and that it is a separate event.
      1. The timetable is seven sabbaths later (equivalent to seven weeks – 49 days);
      2. Pentecost itself would be the 50th day;
      3. Though God does not dwell in time, He works within time and He is ON time!
    3. The festival was for males only. Notice in the New Testament, however, that men and women were in the upper room awaiting Pentecost. There was to be liberation for all.
    4. Pentecost was a one-day festival. One day would become synonymous with harvest and joy.
      1. Remember that though it is one day only, it has residual effects;
      2. Is akin to action in grammar that is in the aorist sense; namely, that one event continues to have a rippling effect (i.e. skipping stones);
      3. Pentecost, though it is one event, will have continuous effect – Leviticus 23: 31.
    5. It was also to be a day of rest. There was to be no service rendered.
      1. Pentecost is another reminder that we are saved by grace and that we can have liberty or rest for our souls (2 Corinthians 3: 17);
      2. In that regard it is similar to the Jewish day of Sabbath;
      3. We need to cease from our works of flesh (Hebrews 4: 9-10), and enter into the rest of God (with knowledge that all depends on Him).
    6. One part of the festival was when two loaves of bread were offered as a thanksgiving and peace offering.
      1. At Passover, all sin, guilt and fellowship offerings were secured;
      2. What was to be added in this festival was a time for thanksgiving and worship;
      3. Calvary took care of our sin, guilt and the broken fellowship with God, but there is an additional need to develop a deeper relationship with God that comes through power and praise;
      4. Paramount in importance here is the fact that there is one particular key to our continuing spiritual health: instead of concentrating solely on our sin, imperfections, guilt or whatever, our new life should be more focused on being thankful and worshipful. This cannot be done in our carnal nature; it must come through a person-Ephesians 5: 18-20.
    7. Leaven, itself, was an ingredient in these offerings (Leviticus 23: 17).
      1. Leaven was not accepted in the offering of unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23: 6). The festival of unleavened bread culminated in the Passover;
      2. Leaven is seen as sin when used as an illustration in the Bible. Leaven or sin was absent in the preparation for Passover, for Jesus took away our sins through the blood;
      3. Though leaven is used in the offering at Pentecost, it does not signify that sin is to be a part of our lives. Rather, it speaks of the presence of sin as having no power over us. The power God offers us can be near sin, but not affected by it.

“Have you not heard . . . The Lord is the Everlasting
God . . .
He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is
unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might
He increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men
shall fall exhausted:
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their
strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and
not faint.”

Isaiah 40: 28 – 31 RSV

 

  1. Pentecost in the New Testament.
    1. Though Pentecost was a festival in Paul’s day (Acts 20: 16), the significance in Acts 2 is more a matter of the heart.
      1. The very events of chapter 2 were reserved as a private gathering for only those who were obedient to the known command of Jesus (Acts 1: 4-5);
      2. Being obedient to the word of God is necessary in gaining further power;
      3. The scene is one of solemnity – their leader is gone and they must re-structure their hopes and plans;
      4. The risen Christ gives them one last directive: the message was…wait…I’m sending you a gift. In times of weariness and confusion we need to wait – Isaiah 40: 27-31;
      5. This event is not to be a public scene, though it will affect the public persona of the disciples and followers. We need to fight the idea that our relationship to God is to be publicly on view:
        1. To be sure, our witness and public testimony must be true and vibrant;
        2. Our true relationship, though, needs to be nurtured in an intimate, set apart atmosphere;
        3. Emphasis, here, is on the need to live for Jesus privately too, and not allow our Christianity to be public only.
      6. Again, because Pentecost is a separate event from Calvary, it seems that the last concern of Jesus before ascension was to have each follower experience the significance of Pentecost;
    2. Important here also is the days in between the ascension and Pentecost.
      1. After the resurrection, Jesus was seen alive by many during a period of 40 days;
      2. In Acts 2 we see the day of Pentecost had come. This would correspond with the Pentecost festival (50th day after resurrection, first fruits);
      3. This leaves ten (10) days between the 40th and 50th days. What did they do?
        1. They waited like Jesus told them to do;
        2. To wait in a Biblical sense does not mean to just kill time. It means to prepare one’s heart and mind and to wait expectantly for the promise;
        3. This is the sense in which we are to wait for His coming. We are to “occupy” and be ready for what He is doing;
        4. What possible things occurred in that upper room?
          1. If Calvary brought a scattering, then Pentecost brought a gathering;
          2. The patience of the people must have been put to the test;
          3. Individual repentance for failure to believe the words of Jesus;
          4. Individual gratefulness for the resurrection and hope for the future;
          5. Reconciliation and forgiveness towards each other, otherwise the atmosphere could not have been of “one accord”, which means “one-minded”;
          6. All sense of personal goals and perspectives were halted as they waited for what God was going to do. There must have been an electricity, and sense of
            expectancy in that room;
          7. Since they were nestled in one area, among the threats of the political and religious world, they might have felt like living targets;
          8. This might be the reason that the Psalmist said, “I have set before you a table in the midst of your enemies”, (Psalm 23: 5). The table being referred to here is not a physical table, but a high plateau, usually a flat-top range in the high mountain country. The sheep would be fed there, and it was usually a place that was hard to find and it demanded a Shepherd that would make sure they all arrived there
            secure and safe. Notice that the following line in Psalm 23: 5 speaks of the anointing. They waited in the upper room for the anointing that is impossible to locate without the presence of the Shepherd’s guidance. Jesus led them there before He ascended;
          9. God anointed them right in front of the enemy and He privately prepared them for a very public ministry;
          10. Oil on the head of sheep kept away the flies and pests that made them irritable, restless, aggravated. We need to be saturated!
    3. Tri-purpose of Pentecost:
      1. Unify the church;
      2. empower the church;
      3. organize the church.
    4. Is there any specific glory in the ten (10) day period?
      1. No, but Daniel did spend 10 days showing the greatness of His God (Daniel 1: 12-15; and 17-21).
      2. The results of that time period were: a) Daniel and three friends were more alert; b) They were more powerful in dreams, visions, understanding; and c) They were more physically strong than the others;
      3. Note that these results come also as a result of the power of Pentecost (Joel 2: 28).
    5. What kind of power were they waiting for?
      1. The Greek idea of power was abstract. They thought in terms of a force, an inanimate object, as opposed to the Old Testament concept of images, fire, signs and wonders;
      2. Parallel to the Greek thought is the attitude today. The New Age message in our world is this: the power is already within you; you must release it by being one with yourself. Their power is not from an outside source. It is self-oriented;
      3. 3. The Christian world, on the other hand, views power as being only in terms of miracles, signs, images, etc., and while that is true, it is not the full view of God that He wants us to have;
      4. The power from on high was sent to help us live a Christian life in this hell-bent world, and to be an effective witness. Signs and wonders may add to a man accepting God, but only the true power freeing us from sin to live in a righteous way, will affect the lost permanently. The power of God literally transformed weak, willful, rebellious, fearful disciples into gallant followers. The signs and wonders followed after the power worked within the disciples first.
    6. Why was the power seen in outward manifestation?
      1. When Jesus was baptized in water, the dove came upon Him as a visual to the people round about. It was a likeness of the dove, but it served to equate that experience with the approval of heaven upon the earthly ministry of Jesus;
      2. The power falls upon the people in the form of cloven tongues of fire:
        1. Comes from above to show its origin – heaven;
        2. Comes from outside the room to show it was not within them;
        3. Comes as tongues to show its destination – our tongues;
        4. Comes in a manifestation to show that God is real and powerful. He is not a figment of our imagination;
        5. Comes to show the world that God approves of His people.
      3. It became an experience they all shared together. No one person had this power in their pocket, so to speak. It was obvious to all that the power was available for as many as would wait for it;
      4. In the ultimate sense, the outward manifestation was a way for the unsaved world to know that something unusual happened.
        1. The tongues spoken were in the various dialects and languages of those present;
        2. Remember that the area is probably filled with people coming to celebrate the religious festival of Pentecost;
        3. The people here are experiencing the fullness of that festival, while those around are only experiencing the empty shell of religion;
        4. One must conjecture that the tongues spoken must have been the gospel message in various languages. Those listening knew they were unlearned people and that they could not have studied these and been so fluent;
        5. The same God who confused the languages at Babel because they unified to try and find God humanistically, unifies this group of followers through His language. The greatness of God is not that we climb to find Him, but that He comes down seeking us; seeking those who will worship Him – John 4: 23-24.

“And you call on the name of your
god, and I will call on the name of
the Lord: And the God who answers
by fire, He Is God.”

1 Kings 18: 24 RSV

  1. Details of the Manifestation.
    1. Suddenly the wind changed – the atmosphere of the room changed.
      1. It went from a “waiting” room to a “changing” room;
      2. The formation of the church began and the harvest really started;
      3. It came like birth: it seemed to take forever, but then it came quickly.
    2. Why fire?
      1. It is equated with fire from the bush in Moses’ time.
        1. Means God Himself is present;
        2. Means God is summoning people to be messengers (Isaiah 6: 6-10);
      2. Fire is an element that melts, molds, takes care of dross;
      3. Fire also broke the chains in the fiery furnace of Daniel’s time;
      4. The fire sounded as a roaring; similar to a brush-fire, where the wind moves it and it spreads. It is the reason Jesus said the Spirit was a wind (John 3: 8).
      5. If we are filled with the “oil” of gladness, the “fire” of the presence will ignite the oil in us and set us aflame for the glory of God;
      6. It will send us forth to be used as a vessel to free others (Isaiah 61: 1-4).
    3. What was the posture of the fire?
      1. It came and sat upon each one of them (no respect of person or partiality here);
      2. Sitting is the posture of the teacher (another name for the Spirit – John 14: 25-26). The teacher instructs, reproves, helps to remind students (which we are students if we are disciples – the word disciple means “disciplined LEARNER after the Lordship of Christ”);
      3. Sitting is also the position of the one “resting” or who has “completed” something. It is used of Christ – Mark 16: 19;
      4. The power here teaches us and brings us into the knowledge of our rest; namely, that we know Christ has already finished the work for us.
    4. What did the fire touch?
      1. It touched their tongues. Why?
      2. The tongue is the most important part of the body – James 3: 1-12. It is the control center and it controls the rest of the body;
      3. The tongue needs to be controlled by the Spirit, especially since our purpose is to be a witness for Christ – Acts 1: 8;
      4. We cannot be a gossip, complainer, reviler and then expect that our words are going to be powerful in witness, nor can we expect God to accept our worship;
      5. Our tongue must be melted, molded, and formed by and for God’s glory. This is the reason God wasn’t concerned about Moses’ stuttering, Jeremiah’s youthfulness, or Timothy’s timidity. It will be God’s words, not ours;
      6. The speaking in tongues that occurred was vital to the witness around them and it took them deeper in their relationship to God:
        1. Our heavenly language unites us with God;
        2. Our heavenly language helps us pray according to the will of God;
        3. Our heavenly language helps us pray beyond our understanding – Romans 8: 26-27;
        4. The devil cannot invade our intimate worship. He doesn’t have the manual for the heavenly language.
      7. Though this writer concurs that the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the initial result of speaking in tongues, is necessary for our lives today, we must not forget that the working of the Holy Spirit ON our tongues is vital also, for more people are turned off from Christianity because of words of accusations, insults, hypocrisy, and prejudice than they are by a lack of understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit;
      8. If you have a history of occultism, eastern philosophy, or new age mind set, please be wise. Make sure all past involvements are broken in Jesus name, so no other “powers” interfere with your seeking.

Breathe on me, breath of God.
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou
doesn’t love,
and do what Thou wouldst do.

– Edwin Hatch –

 

  1. Details of the Person who brings the power.
    1. Remember that the power is a person, not a force, energy, image, or any concoction of man’s imagination.
      1. If this power were to be a part of our imagination, it would be, by definition, under our control. It would be less mighty than we, for it would be subject to us and our understanding;
      2. It is, by biblical definition, separate from us and it brings us the strength and might we need. We do not conjure it up.
    2. The Bible gives particular names to this power:
      1. The wind – as has been stated already – it is untraceable but noticeable;
      2. The comforter (John 14: 16-17):
        1. Notice Jesus said “another” comforter, meaning that He, Jesus, is one also;
        2. The word “comforter” means “coming to the side, aid of someone”;
        3. The Holy Spirit is all knowing, all powerful, all present, so He can come to as many at one time as who call upon Him;
      3. The breath of God (John 20: 22); the One who breathes life in the church, universally and locally. 2 Kings 4: 8-37 tells us of another messenger of God who went into an upper area (roof chamber) and breathed life into a dead child. This was Elisha, who was filled with the same spirit as Elijah – 2 Kings 2: 15. Elisha also came to the side of this one as a comfort;
      4. The teacher – see section IV., C., 2.
    3. The power is equated with the person of the Holy Spirit.
      1. He is the third person of the Godhead. Without His involvement in your life, you do not experience the fullness of God’s purpose – Ephesians 3: 20;
      2. The Holy Spirit was involved in creation (Genesis 1: 2), in the creating of man and woman (notice the “Us” of Genesis 1: 26 – it includes the Father, the Son (John 1: 1-3), and the Spirit). Genesis 2: 7 gives us the means of the creation of mankind: God used breath. It was the Spirit that brought life – 2 Corinthians 3: 6;
      3. The Holy Spirit was involved in the resurrection – Romans 8: 11. Here, again, is the dynamite that breaks up sin, death, gravity, and any such “power” that stands in the way of our Lord;
      4. The Holy Spirit brought the church to life in the book of Acts. It came about because they focused their lives on the person of Jesus Christ. The Spirit never lifts Himself up; He always exalts the Son, as the Son exalts the Father.
    4. Common misconceptions about the Spirit:
      1. He will make us do something ridiculous. No, God does everything decently and in order – God’s kingdom is not a circus;
      2. He will make me do something I don’t want to do. No, God gave us a free will. His desire is that we would weld our will with His;
      3. He is less than divine. No, if He is, then His presence in us would not give us eternal life;
      4. He is not really that important, is he? Yes, He is. From the opening of the book of Genesis to the conclusion in the Revelation, we see the presence of the Spirit. If you take away the Spirit’s important part, you inadvertently take away a good section of the Bible: the prophets spake by the Spirit; Jesus’ baptism shows the work of the Spirit; the book of Revelation was given when John was “in the Spirit’ – Revelation 1:10; the history of the Kings reveal His power through them, as does the time of the judges;
      5. All He does is give gifts like speaking in tongues. If that is the case, what did He do in the Old Testament? Speaking in tongues is certainly one of the works of the Spirit, but it is not the measurement of our spirituality, nor is it to be focused upon to the exclusion of the rest of the work of the Spirit.

Search me, O God, and know
my heart today:
Try me, O Savior, know my
thoughts I pray.
See if there be some wicked
way in me:
Cleanse me from every sin
and set me free.

I praise thee, Lord, for
cleansing me from sin,
fulfill Thy word and make
me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once
I burned with shame.
Grant my desire to magnify
Thy Name.

– J. Edwin Orr –

  1. What help does this power give?
    1. Gives us lasting fruit – Galatians 5: 22-23.
      1. Remember that Pentecost is the time of harvest, so it would only be proper that we grow in fruitfulness and in character;
      2. Fruit comes from relationship to the source, God, and fruit only grows where there is a planting, root system;
      3. The fruit of the Spirit is not nine different fruit; it is one fruit which has nine parts to it. Therefore, if one part of the fruit is stunted, it will affect the growth of the other eight;
      4. The fruit grows as we allow God’s character to work in us.
    2. Imparts love to us – Romans 5: 5.
      1. Note that the love here is agape, the self-sacrificing love of God;
      2. The work of the Holy Spirit is to “lavish” or pour this love on us;
      3. We cannot know the full love of God without the work of the Spirit.
    3. Gives gifts – 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11.
      1. Notice that these are “graces” or gifts. They cannot be purchased, neither can the work of the Holy Spirit be bought (Acts 8: 18-24);
      2. Remember the “love chapter” (1 Corinthians 13) is nestled in between the chapters regarding gifts and offices in the church. Again, love needs to be the basis of all we do;
      3. The gifts were given to build up the church itself, not promote the people;
    4. Bears witness in our soul of our salvation – Romans 8: 16.
      1. Have you ever said, “How do I know I am saved? Can anyone tell me that?” Yes, this is part of the work of the Spirit;
      2. Who else but the Spirit could inform you that you being to God:
        1. He inspired the Word that you heard (Acts 10: 44);
        2. He convicted you that you needed Christ (John 16: 8);
        3. He is the third person of the Godhead and is, in effect, the spokesperson of the Trinity.
    5. He teaches us – John 14: 26.
      1. Because He is God, He is all-knowing;
      2. He is our continuous, personal tutor.
    6. He helps us to become like Christ – 2 Corinthians 3: 18.
    7. He brings liberty – freedom to us – 2 Corinthians 3: 17.
    8. He brings hope to us – Galatians 5: 5, for He gives us an eternal view.
    9. He is the secret to the victory over our flesh – Galatians 5: 16.
    10. He gives us direct access to the Father – Ephesians 2: 18.
      1. In prayer, He gets us through any interferences with the enemy;
      2. His presence in us gets immediate response from the Father.
    11. He is the physician who works on us through the Word – Ephesians 6: 17.
      1. The Word is the sword that carefully is used to heal us;
      2. Consequently, the One who created us is the only One who can work on us without doing irreparable harm.
    12. He gives us fellowship – Philippians 2: 1. (Means we are participating with the Spirit; we are “fellows”, which is a position of unearned privilege in a college or higher institution. We are working with Him, as we are co-laborers with God.)
      1. We are fellows in relationship and service;
      2. We are in a privileged position – Ephesians 1: 3;
      3. That is the reason we often feel unworthy; we realize more and more that we have not deserved the position He has given.
    13. He helps us obey the truth – 1 Peter 1: 22.
    14. He invites us into the presence of everlasting joy – Revelation 22: 17.
      1. Invitations in Bible times were given in two sections: oral and written;
      2. Any invitee received both forms of welcome;
      3. The Bible is our written invitation, and the Spirit is the one who whispers in our ear that we are wanted eternally by God.
    15. He helps us to pray when we don’t know how to pray – Romans 8: 26-27.
      1. Our spirit inside wrestles with the anticipated answer;
      2. Only the Spirit of God can identify what heaven is doing.
    16. He liberates our worship – Ephesians 5: 18-19.
    17. He helps us to be thankful Ephesians 5: 20.
    18. He works in all of us – there is no prejudice with God – Acts 15: 8-9.
    19. He seals us with the assurance of God’s approval – Ephesians 4: 30.
      1. Is akin to the signet ring of the Old Testament where a King would give a ring, robe to identify ownership and authority;
      2. The Holy Spirit’s presence in us is the way we are identified as a Christian and He gives us the authority to be an ambassador for the King.
    20. He frees us from shame and disappointment – Romans 5: 1-5.
      1. The Holy Spirit in us is God’s way of saying He is not ashamed of us;
      2. Our hopes may be shattered from time-to-time, but God’s work in us will never be a disappointment, nor will it cause shame.
    21. He sends us forth with the message of the gospel – Acts 13: 4. This, of course, is the ultimate purpose of Pentecost – Acts 1: 8.
      1. The gospel is the power of God – Romans 1: 16;
      2. The good news is just that because the Holy Spirit makes it alive in us;
      3. The Spirit takes this message from the time period of the Bible and makes it relevant and personal today.
    22. In summary, Colossians 1: 9-14 gives us a brief look at what the apostle Paul sought to see in the believers. This, again, is the work of the Spirit. Notice how many have been listed so far:
      1. He gives knowledge (The Spirit affects our mind, study, and comprehension);
      2. He shows us the will of God (He affects our decisions, plans);
      3. He helps us bear fruit (He affects our behavior);
      4. His presence in us is the only power we need (He affects our weakness);
      5. He helps us to be thankful (He affects our responses);
      6. He qualifies us to be an inheritor:
        1. This comes through the blood of Christ; and the death of the Testator – Hebrews 9: 15 -22;
        2. He lets us know that we are in the will of Jesus (we are part of the inheritors of the estate) – 2 Peter 1: 3-11;
        3. He quickens or makes alive, so we can jointly enjoy eternity with Jesus Christ, whose death made the will valid, and who’s resurrection gives us the opportunity to share it with Him – Romans 8: 15-17.
      7. He delivers us from darkness (He is the One who moved across the dark waters and then God brought forth light – Genesis 1: 2-3);
      8. He witnesses in our hearts that we are forgiven – 1 John 3: 19-24. He lets us know that we are not under condemnation, but we are under construction. Brethren, if God put His Spirit in us (I John 3: 24), He did so because the sin was washed away and the vessel was an acceptable house for a holy God. It proves we belong to God – Romans 8: 9-10.

“Have thine own way Lord,
have thine own way.
Wounded and weary,
help me I pray.
Power, all power,
surely is Thine.
Touch me and heal me,
Savior Divine.

Have thine own way Lord,
have thine own way.
Hold o’er my being,
absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit
till all shall see,
Christ only, always,
living in me.”

– Adelaide A. Pollard –

  1. Pentecost in you.
    1. Are you in a place of disarray, as were the disciples in the aftermath of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
      1. They were under threats and all they could do was wait for the promise;
      2. Make sure you spend this time meaningfully and get your “house in order”; namely, restitution, forgiveness of others, and learn to listen to God’s voice.
    2. Remember that the purpose of Pentecost was for this:
      1. To provide a festive mood around the harvest (biblically that means souls);
      2. To provide an opportunity for worship and thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord;
    3. Pentecost, therefore, is not fully realized in our lives without the following:
      1. A desire to praise and thank our great God continuously. The Spirit’s work in us should be melting us and molding us into being a praiser of God, which is the original intent of God for His people – He wanted fellowship;
      2. An empowerment with the message of the gospel. The Spirit empowers those who obey, yield, and who allow their tongues to be changed;
      3. A yielding to the work of the Spirit. To resist the Spirit is to resist God Himself – 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-20;
      4. A knowledge that we need not be afraid of the work of the Spirit, for He does not use His power aggressively, nor does He manipulate, push, threaten, intimidate, or abuse His strength. Open yourself up to the One who respects the creation of God.
        (Special note: If you have a history of being abused by authority or those close to you, remember that the Spirit is meek and careful with us and He knows your hesitation. Let Him prove His tender love for you.)
    4. How do you know if the Spirit is working in you?
      1. You will be lifting up Jesus instead of your own work;
      2. You will see the Bible come to life in your heart;
      3. You will not feel pushed, but led;
      4. You will sense more of God’s feelings, and you will be driven less and less by your own experience;
      5. You will notice a change in your tongue;
      6. You will react differently in situations;
      7. You will exhibit gifts and talents you weren’t aware existed;
      8. You will sense an awareness of being part of the body. Any separatist, isolation feelings will get smaller. You will begin to see the bigger picture from God’s perspective;
      9. You will grow in an authority of prayer and intercession;
      10. You will grow in your concern for the lost and you will trust God for your concerns, that they will be automatically taken care of;
      11. You will gain a respect for God’s presence, but any fear or terror of Him will slowly subside, for you will realize that the Spirit is God’s means for saying, “It is all right. I’m not mad at you. I welcome you.”;
      12. The Holy Spirit is the organizer of the body. You will become less and less overwhelmed as you detect God’s timeline, and you will see better how God does have an order and plan for your life and for this world;
      13. You will stir up the enemy because remember, Satan saw God in heaven and he talked to Christ on earth. How he trembles when he sees God reside in you.

“Sow to yourselves righteousness,
Reap the fruit of steadfast love.
Break up your fallow ground
(fallow ground is unused ground).
For it is time to seek the Lord,
That He may come and rain
salvation (or righteousness) upon you.”

Hosea 10: 12 RSV

  1. The Keys to the unlocking of the Spirit’s work in your life.
    1. Worship must be present – is identified when we give ourself in true intimate fashion – similar to the giving of oneself in marriage;
    2. Praise must be present – is identified as we give honor and glory for who He is. This aspect is not contingent on our circumstances. God is forever God and He deserves our praise no matter what;
    3. Thanks must be present – is identified when we give thanks in all things.
      1. We cannot always thank Him for hard things, but we do this . . .
      2. We thank Him that in this situation He can work all things together for good (Romans 8: 28). Actually, everything God does is rendered as good;
      3. An unthankful spirit is a part of the spirit of this age – 2 Timothy 3: 2, so we choose, instead, to identify with the people of God – Hebrews 11: 24-25;
    4. All elements involved in Acts 16: 25-26, where Paul and Silas have church:
      1. They are in prison, so the current surroundings are not helpful to spiritual growth;
      2. These circumstances did not dictate their worship;
      3. They sang praises and worshipped automatically. We need to get to a place where worship is not merely part of a Sunday service, but it is a response of our relationship to a loving God;
      4. Then God exploded the foundations of the jail and tore apart their chains;
      5. God responds to true worship. Even if we are chained to this world or we are bonded by painful fetters, it does not keep God from showing up. Remember, God did not wait to save you until you were perfect, and He is not waiting to free you from
        bondages until you are where you think you should be. He is waiting for you to worship and adore Him anyway, despite your lot;
      6. This is the power, dynamite of God that releases us from bondage and destroys age-
        old foundations in our lives. It does not destroy the servants, however;
      7. The greater result was the conversion of the jailer, whose life was seen as dead by the Romans if the prisoners were freed (If prisoners escaped, the life of the guard or jailer was taken in their place.)
        1. The power first liberates the follower of God;
        2. The power then affects the lost world;
        3. By seeing God’s liberating power in us, the world will want some of it.
        4. God will see to it that no threats against the seekers will keep them from coming to know Him.
    5. The things for which you have sought deliverance will automatically fall off as you center your life in thanksgiving and worship and praise.
    6. The order of Pentecost, finally, is this:
      1. Wait – The Holy Spirit wants to instruct you;
      2. Worship – The Holy Spirit responds to the intimacy of worship in you;
      3. Witness – The Holy Spirit will ignite us to win a lost world to Christ
  2. Summary

This summary will take the form of a questionnaire. Ponder the following:
1) Have you come as far as your strength, gifts, vision will provide?
2) Are you sensing the worldly threats and intimidation against the cross?
3) Is there room in your life for restitution, forgiveness, compassion, or is your life filled only with concerns of yourself?
4) Do you long for true power, but the word power frightens you?

I trust this material has been helpful to you in your Christian walk. The third person of the Godhead has been sent to us because we can only make progress in 2/3 percent. Only the true power of God can take us where we need to be. He brings us into the knowledge of our completed state and He explodes any foundations beneath us that are unstable. In fact, it is better to have God dismantle things than to let them erode themselves.

The final questions for you are these:
1) Do you continue to go over and over the same things in your life?
2) Do you find yourself going back and forth over the same bridge – the bridge of change? You want to go forward, but you find yourself stumbling backwards;
3) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of change. Are you ready to let Him take you past this bridge and leave it behind you?
4) Did you know that the bridges in Minnesota are sometimes dangerous because of the “stress” of the structure? This is the reason why there is only limited travel on unsafe structures;
5) When we continue to go over and over the same bridges and we go back and forth too much, we put great strain on ourselves, our hope, our spiritual and emotional structure. Isn’t it time for you to let the power or dynamite of God destroy that bridge to fear, regret, failure, or whatever. Why continue any longer on unsafe terrain? It cannot hold up;
6) Do you believe that God is ready to take you by the hand and put you on safe ground – His power for living?

My friend, the only way for these things to be released in your life is through praise, thanksgiving, and waiting on God.

If you are in a hurry, going nowhere, you must stop and hear what God has in store for you.

The greatest thing is this: as you allow the Spirit to unravel your past, He will bind you together in the power of God for a great future. And this structure will be able to sustain any stress, strain, changes, because our God never changes; He only changes those people who come humbly before Him!

And in the process, our lives become a living testament to a living God. We then, become ambassadors with the full authority of the crown to speak on His behalf. God must touch our tongue, our dreams, and our “busy-ness”, before we experience the fullness of the 50th day.

Oh may our Shepherd guide us to that place of still waters and the table of God’s anointing, to seek His beauty, His grace and His presence in the secret place; gaining new power to run the race.