«

Empowered for Effectiveness

October 28, 2016

“But you will 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.” Acts 1:8

1. CLOTHED WITH GOD’S POWER. These famous last words of Jesus before He ascended to heaven show that He did not leave us powerless. We can go out into the ridiculousness of a challenging world with confidence, knowing that He has clothed us with “power from on high” (Luke 24:49), and that it’s as available for us in the twenty-first century as it was for the Early Church.

2. POWER TOOLS. Just like emergency teams use the Jaws of Life to rescue people trapped in their vehicles, God has given us power tools—like the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Word of God—to pry people free from sin and death. Our Rescuer redeems our lives from the pit (Psalm 103:4)! The point of these tools is not for looks or status, but to rescue someone and make us more effective in the kingdom of God.

3. DELEGATED POWER. What the Lord has called us to do cannot be done by human strength but only by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has empowered you to take the Name of Jesus and break off every weight and encumbrance. You are authorized to preach the Word of God boldly, pray for others to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and lay hands on the sick and they will recover.

Press on!
Pastor Jeff

DAILY CONFESSION: BECAUSE OF JESUS…
I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). I am complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10). I have the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16). I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).

em·pow·er, noun
To give or delegate power or authority to; authorize. To give ability to; enable or permit.

Copyright © 2016 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. “empower.” Collins English Dictionary. Web. 24 Oct 2016 .