Lesson
8
The
Power of the Holy Ghost
VII. The Power
of the Holy Ghost
A. The Spirit Gives
Immortality at Christ's Return
The baptism of the
Holy Ghost is the very power that resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead. This
fact alone demonstrates that it is essential that we be baptized with His
spirit. Without the Spirit of Christ dwelling within, there would be nothing to
raise us up to meet the Lord when He returns the second time. This is why Paul
said in Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." See also
Romans 8:9 and I Corinthians 15:51-53.
B. The Spirit Gives
Power
The baptism of the
Holy Ghost gives the believer tremendous power to witness for the Lord. Without
the Holy Ghost, the early disciples would have been powerless to save the
hostile world of their day. But through the power of God within them they were
able to conquer even the mighty Roman Empire with the good news of Calvary.
This same power is available if men will only have faith to reach out and claim
it. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy
Ghost shall come upon you. . ."
C. The Spirit
Teaches
The Bible is not
merely a product of man's mind and ability, "but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21). Since it required the
inspiration of the Spirit for the writing of
the Scriptures, it also requires the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost to understand God's Word. Jesus promised the
Spirit would "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).
D. The Spirit Shows
Things to Come (John 16:13)
The Lord gives an
understanding of His prophetic Word to those who walk with Him. He also gives
understanding of the direction His church, and the world are taking in the end
time. See I Thessalonians 5:4.
E. The Spirit Gives
Righteousness, Peace and Joy (Romans 14:17)
The Apostle Paul's
adjectives are self-explanatory. The Holy Ghost gives power not only to live a
holy, clean life, but also the accompanying joy and peace that only the
infilling of the Spirit of Christ can give. It is, "Joy unspeakable and
full of glory" (I Peter 1:8).
F. The Spirit
Imparts the Love of God
Romans 5:5 says,
"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
given unto us." The gift of the Holy Ghost is a baptism of the love of
God. A boundless love that proceeds from God himself, fills our souls, and then
overflows from our lives like a mighty rushing river. It is a love that cries
earnestly to every thirsty heart, "Let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"
(Revelation 22:17).
Floating
one summer night down one of America's rivers, a man and his companion sought
vainly for the sign of a human habitation where they could spend the night, or
a place along the steep bank where they could pitch their camp. At last, wet
and cold and exhausted, they drew up their boat on a sand bar. There groping in
the darkness, they gathered together a few pieces of driftwood, and after
several ineffectual attempts, succeeded in lighting a fire. How carefully they
tended that fire, brooding over it until they were certain that it was going to
burn; and when, at length, it began to burn briskly and brightly, illuminating
their dismal surroundings and warming their cold and weary bodies, they
realized as never before what a friend fire is to man. The metaphor
used by the apostle when he says, "quench not the Spirit" (I
Thessalonians 5:19), is that of putting out a fire.