EXHORTATION ON ACTS 4:13

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 4:13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Background

§   A time that Jesus has ascended to heaven but prior to that he promised the disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit.

§   That the Holy Spirit shall give them power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the outermost part of the earth.

§   Truly, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost – where there were a lot of gathering that bore witness to the coming of the Holy Spirit.

§   Peter filled with the power of the Holy Spirit addressed the crowd and about 3,000 people were saved.

§   Then another power of the Holy Spirit was made evidence when Peter healed a cripple/beggar who had been sitting for a long time.

§   This, the Priest and Sadducees (did not believe in resurrection) became alarmed and grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus, the resurrection of the dead.

§   Peter still and being under the unction of the Spirit, confirmed and witnessed Jesus as the only means for salvation.

§   This response confirmed Peter was not speaking by his own power and strength because verse 13 confirmed the boldness of Peter and John though they were known as unlearned and ignorant men – that they had been with Jesus, Amen.

Note This

§   When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, He gives you boldness to declare Jesus.

§   The Holy Spirit makes us learned and knowledgeable – not by classroom or degree qualification (1 Cor. 1: 27-29)

§   When you avail yourself to the Holy Spirit, He will use you to the marvel of the worlds learned.

What is it to be with the Holy Spirit

§   You have boldness to declare the truth.

§   No timidity.

§   Become learned not by worldly standard of degree, etc.

§   Testimony extraordinaire by your accusers.

To Us

How do people see you at Home, at the workplace, at the market and at social gatherings? Is it as a drunkard, quarrelsome, gossip, immoral person, thief, cheat, fornicator, adulterous etc. (Gal. 5: 19-21). When you have the Holy spirit, these characters are evident: love, joy, boldness, learned, not by worlds standard, gentle, faithful etc (Gal. 5: 22-24) and we witness.

Conclusion

§   If we are walking with Jesus, let us walk in the Spirit. Let us not desire vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

§   The devil is a liar; he uses fear and threatening to defeat our faith in Jesus Christ.

§   Let us avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit to use us accordingly. Do not look at your level of education, age or financial standing. Those are the qualities of the world. Amen!