| I. The Early Church Had Power
1The 1:2 (KJS) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in
the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were
among you for your sake.
A. There Was No Power Shortage
1Cor 2:1 (KJS) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God.
II. We Can Be A Powerful Church Today
Ephe 6:10 (KJS) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might.
1. All Power Has Been Given To Jesus, And He Has Told Us To Go, And That He
Would Be With Us
Matt 28:18 (KJS) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
2. Paul Told Timothy That The Power Would Be Denied By Some In The Last Days
2Tim 3:1 (KJS) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away.
3. He Said That Even Though They Denied The Power, The Power Would Still
Manifest
2Tim 3:9 (KJS) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be
manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was.
4. In Order For The Church To Manifest The Power Of God, The People Of God
Must First Obtain Power
Acts 1:8 (KJS) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Luke 24:49 (KJS) And, 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.
5. Second, We Must Increase The Using Of The Power We Already Have Obtained
1Pet 4:10 (KJS) As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all
things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
6. The More You Use It, The More You Will Receive
Matt 25:14 (KJS) For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a
far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to
every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
7. The More You Receive, The More You Are Required To Use
Luke 12:42 (KJS) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise
steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them
their] portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so
doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he
hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and
shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be
drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for [him],
and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will
appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not [himself],
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be
beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be
much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the
more.
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