GREETINGS, beloved nation, in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 states, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
In these last days, we need a restoration of the power of the Spirit of God in the church, for the gospel to be fully preached.
It is disheartening when we talk about the power of the living God, yet that power is not evident in us or demonstrated through our lives. Much of this stems from our neglect of the Holy Spirit, both individually and as the body of Christ.
Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot afford to ignore the Holy Spirit if we wish to see tangible results in our lives, families, ministries and communities. In this end time, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to fully preach the gospel before the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
To effectively preach the gospel, it is the manifestation of God’s power that will compel those around us to recognise that there is a God among His people, who is not only present but also mighty. Unfortunately, I have observed that many believers pray, fast and read the Word of God, yet lack a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Many believers do not fully understand (i) the person of the Holy Spirit and (ii) the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Understanding both the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit and learning how to relate with Him, is crucial for fulfilling our God-given mandate on Earth.
There are several key aspects of cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit that believers should recognise:
(a) Intimacy with the Holy Spirit
Every relationship requires communication, and intimacy deepens through shared moments. Spending time with and communicating with the Holy Spirit fosters greater intimacy. While engaging in ministry work and church programs is essential, neglecting our intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit will hinder our ability to fully preach the gospel.
(b) Brokenness
The Holy Spirit relates to people from a perspective of brokenness and contriteness. You cannot truly walk with the Holy Spirit without a willingness to be continually broken. Brokenness in your daily life attracts the Spirit of the Lord like nothing else.
(c) Obedience to the voice and instructions of the Holy Spirit
Without obedience, there can be no intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit functions as an extension of the Father’s will through Christ, revealing the mind of God to us. As stated in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
Understanding the ministry of the Holy Spirit is vital in a believer’s life. Primarily, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and helps us realise that we cannot achieve the righteousness of Jesus on our own, warning us of the judgment awaiting those without a Saviour (John 16:8-11). As we repent and receive salvation, the Holy Spirit regenerates our inner spirit, tuning it to God’s spiritual truths (John 3:1-16; Acts 2:38). The ministry of the Holy Spirit encompasses many important dimensions, but I want to highlight one— the power of the Spirit of God.
As I pointed out last week, we need the Holy Spirit’s power manifested in our lives during these end times. The Bible tells us in Luke 24:49, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Jesus instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were clothed with the Holy Spirit’s power.
This indicates that the disciples required the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to undertake greater works, as mentioned in John 14:11: “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; because I go unto my Father.”
Acts 1:8 reinforces this by stating, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To preach the gospel effectively, the disciples needed the Holy Spirit’s power and we as believers do too.
Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “It is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord.” We cannot achieve anything solely through our strength; it is by the power of the Spirit of God. Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Even Jesus needed to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to fulfil His ministry. How much more do we, as believers? In Luke 10:19, the Bible states, “Behold, I give unto you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” We too have been endowed with power to perform the works that Jesus did and even greater ones.
However, without the Holy Spirit’s power and a relationship with Him, we cannot carry out these greater works or fully preach the gospel across the world.
I invite you to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is Lord. Through this, you shall be saved.
May God bless you all. Amen.
