"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Power from God
Adapted from the Book "Power from God" by Charles Finney
ELCOG 3/11/07
Text: Matt. 28:18-20
The Mission of the church is to preach to all nations the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make them disciples. Every member of the church is obligated to maker his lifework to convert the world. What do we need to ensure success in this great work and how can we get it?
The answer to the first question; "what do we need to be successful?" is found in Luke 24:49.
Luke 24:49
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
In order to be successful in delivering the gospel and winning the lost is power from God. During His ministry, Christ had informed the disciples that without Him they could do nothing.
John 15:5
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jesus promises that he will send us the power from on high if we would be willing to tarry.
Acts 1:5
5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This promise is found in this baptism of the Holy Spirit, this thing promised by the father from on high is essential. Christ told us that we needed this power in order to be successful in our work for him.
How will we get this power from on high? Christ expressly promised it to the whole church and to everyone who has the duty to labor for the conversion of the world. He admonished the first disciples not to undertake the work until they had received this outpouring of power form on high. Both the promise and the admonition apply equally to all Christians of every age and nation. No one has, at any time, any right to expect success unless he first obtains this outpouring of power from on high.
The examples of the first disciples teach us how to obtain this outpouring.
1. They first consecrated themselves to this work
2. Then they continued in prayer and supplication until the Holy Spirit fell on them on the day of Pentecost, and they received the promised outpouring of power from on high.
God is more than willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him than we are to give good gifts to our children.
Luke 11:13
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
This text informs us that it is very easy to obtain the Holy Spirit, or this out powering from the Father. This outpouring is made a constant subject of prayer for many people. Everybody prays for this repeatedly, and yet, with all this intercession, how comparatively few are really clothed with this spiritual power from on high. This need is NOT being met. Lack of power is a subject of constant complaint, but Christ says, "everyone that asketh receiveth"
Matt. 7:8
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
So why is the church not receiving this power form on high? Why are so many people praying for this power but not receiving it?
Why is this outpouring not being received?
1. We are not willing to have what we desire
2. God has expressly informed us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, He will not hear us.
Psa. 66:18
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
3. The petitioner is uncharitable
4. He is critical
5. He is self-dependent
6. He resists conviction of sin
7. He refuses to confess to all parties concerned.
8. He refuses to make restitution to injured parties.
9. He is prejudiced and biased
10. He is resentful
11. He has a revengeful spirit
12. He has a worldly ambition
13. He is dishonest
14. He is selfish
15. He resists the teachings of the Holy Spirit.
16. He grieves the spirit by dissension
17. He quenches the spirit by continuing to justify his wrong
18. He lacks a watchful spirit
19. He his dishonest in business.
20. He is lazy and impatient
21. He is negligent in business, in study and in prayer.
22. He lacks entire consecration.
23. He has unbelief
He prayers for this outpouring without expecting to receive it.
***There is a great difference between peace and power.
The disciples were Christians before the Day of Pentecost, and as such, had a measure of the Holy Spirit. They must have had the peace of sins forgiven and a justified state, but yet they did not have the infusion of power. They had peace that Christ had given them, but not the power he had promise them.
This is may true with all Christians, that is a big mistake of the church and of ministry. People rest in conversion, and they do not continue seeking until they obtain power from on high. That’s why so many professing Christians have no power with either God or man. They cling to a hope in Christ and even enter ministry, over looking the need to wait to be clothed with power. They over look the fact that Jesus gives us the command to tarry until we receive the power.
We need the same power that the apostles received on the day of Pentecost. They received a powerful baptism of the Holy Spirit, a vast increase of Divine illumination. The baptism imparted a great diversity of gifts that were used for the accomplishment of their work.
The outward gifts:
1. The power of a holy life
2. The power of a self-sacrificing life
3. The power of a cross-bearing life
4. The power of great meekness
5. The power of loving enthusiasm in proclaiming the gospel
6. The power of teaching
7. The power of loving and living faith
8. The gifts of tongues
9. An increase of power to work miracles
10. The gift of inspiration
11. The power of moral courage to proclaim the Gospel and do the bidding of Christ, whatever it cost them.
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All these gifts were essential to their success, but neither separately or all together did they constitute the power from on high.
The most important means of success was the power to prevail with both God and man, the power to fasten savings impressions on the minds of men.
I begin to close: They did in fact receive the gifts that I have already mentioned, but they received the power to make saving impressions on men. It was manifested on the spot. They began to address the multitude and 3,000 were converted the same hour. No new power was manifested by them, except the gifts of tongues. They had worked no miracle at that time. They had no time to exhibit any of the gifts that I mentioned. They did not have a chance to live their lives in front of them. But what they did say to them was said with a new power. It was spoken with power from on high!
The power was not the power of inspiration.
It was not the power of human learning.
It was not the power of human eloquence.
It was the power from on high. It was God in them making a saving impression on those to whom they spoke. This power stayed upon them for a long time. Sometimes with this power a single word or even a gesture will convey this power.
When Christians humble themselves and consecrate their all afresh to Christ and ask for this power, they will often receive such a baptism that they will be instrumental in converting more souls in one day than in a life time.
Close with Story about factory from Charles Finney – page 20-21.