In the last two weeks I have preached about the person and purpose of the Holy Spirit. Today I bring you a message about the power of the Holy Spirit. What we just read were the last words ever spoken by our Savior to the apostles. He chose not to answer their question about restoring the earthly kingdom to Israel but maintained focus on the kingdom of God and spoke of the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they could start their ministry. This is part of a pattern that Jesus Christ himself followed by not starting his earthly ministry until He was endued with power by the Holy Spirit coming upon him. This teaches us that it is not only hard but it is impossible to do the work of God in the power of the flesh. We are in a spiritual battle with the kingdom of darkness and that battle must be fought with spiritual power.

The night before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, he walks with his disciples and encourages them concerning what is about to happen. He tells them that the time has come for him to go back the Father from which he came but that he would not leave them comfortless. The word comfortless is translated from the Greek word “orphanous” which is where we get our English word orphans. He was saying that he would not leave them without guidance, comfort or fatherless. He begins to tell them about the Comforter that will be coming in His name to be with them and in them for ever. He then reveals that this Comforter is the Holy Spirit and gives them a briefing about what his mission is.

One of my favorite things about the Old Testament is that pictures of New Testament truths are contained in the stories. God knows that some of us learn better visually so He has set up His book to teach us visually as well as cognitively. Also one of my favorite Bible characters is Samson. There is not another person like Samson in scripture and God used him in unique ways. Now Samson had flaws and failures and most of us that read about his life and the choices he made tend to dwell more on the failures then we do on the victories. But Samson is an Old Testament type of Jesus Christ.

In the last evening that Jesus would spend with his disciples before the cross, he began to disclose new information to them. He told them that the time was approaching for him to go away but that he would send them another Comforter. He then gave glimpses into what the work the Spirit would do in the world and in believers, even telling them that it was for their benefit that he go away. They couldn’t possibly fathom how it would be more beneficial for them that he go away, but Jesus said the Comforter would not come unless he went away.

Sermon Notes Available Here