CHRIST’S AUTHORITY AND THE SPIRIT’S POWER
LESSON # 3
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

  1. Power to be Christ’s witness :
    • Christ warned His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, before they begin to be His witnesses – Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49
    • The disciples obeyed Jesus and they waited in the upper room until Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down on them, as tongues of fire rested on each — Acts 2:1-4
    • Just like Jesus had the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, come upon Him, the same happened to the disciples.

    • Just like Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) and empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 4:14), the same happened to the disciples.

    • Without the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel of the Kingdom cannot be proclaimed. It will be done in the flesh and it will yield no fruits. Every gift and every ministry in the Body must be done with the power of the Holy Spirit.
    • Each worker in the Harvest must receive the infilling and the power of the Spirit to do the work in the Harvest.
    • It does not matter how many people raise their hands to receive Jesus, unless their hearts have been changed by the Holy Spirit, they are not born again.
    • We must ask Jesus to give us the Holy Spirit and to fill us with the Holy Spirit in order to have the power to be His witness.

  2. Peter — the disciple
    • The fisherman Peter called to be a “fisher of men” — Matthew 4:18-20
    • Peter receives teachings from Jesus on Kingdom principles: Sermon on the Mount — Matthew 5-7
    • Peter is sent out along with the other eleven disciples on the first commission to bring the gospel of the Kingdom to all of Israel, to heal the sick and to cast out demons — Matthew 10
    • Peter asked Jesus to let him walk on water; but then became afraid and began to sink. He was rebuked by Jesus for his lack of faith. Matthew 14:25-31
    • Peter identified Jesus as the Christ; but moments later, he was rebuked by Jesus for trying to stop His sacrifice on the cross — Matthew 16:15-23
    • Peter was at the transfiguration of Jesus and spoke without thinking. Matthew 17:1-13
    • Peter was there during Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and participated in all that took place during Jesus’ last days in the city.
    • Jesus predicts the disciples’ betrayal, but Peter replied that he would never betray Jesus; then Jesus stated that Peter would deny Him 3 times — Matthew 26:31-34
    • Peter slept while Jesus asked him to pray; rebuked by Jesus for not watching with Him — Matthew 26:40
    • Peter tried to defend Jesus by cutting the ear of one who came to arrest Jesus; was rebuked by Jesus for trying to stop His death — John 18:10-11
    • Peter lied and denied Jesus 3 time; but repented — Luke 22:54-62

  3. Peter — after the resurrection
    • Peter was together with the other disciples hiding in fear of the Jews; then Jesus appeared to them — John 20:19-23
    • Peter first to run to the tomb when he heard that Jesus had resurrected — John 20:2-10
    • By the Sea of Tiberias, Peter goes fishing with other disciples — John 21:1-14
    • Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him; 3 times Peter said Yes, Lord, You know I love You. Then Jesus told Peter to take care of His sheep — John 21:15-25

  4. The Apostle Peter — after Pentecost Acts 2:1-4
    • The Lord tells them to wait in Jerusalem where they will receive the power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the whole world — Acts 1:8
    • Peter was in prayer and supplication along with the other disciples, with Mary, and the other women waiting for the Promise of the Father — the Holy Spirit
    • The Holy Spirit falls on them, as tongues of fire on each head.
    • Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit along with the other disciples in the upper room.
    • Peter was empowered by the Holy Spirit for the work of proclaiming the gospel.

  5. The Apostle Peter — The Witness
    • Filled and empowered by the Spirit, Peter makes first sermon — over three thousand people repented, believed, and were added to the church — Acts 2:14-41
    • Peter along with the other apostles and disciples did many signs and wonders — Acts 2:43
    • In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Peter causes a crippled man to walk — Acts 3:6
    • Peter’s second sermon anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit causes five thousand men to believe in Jesus — Acts 4:4
    • Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit speaks to the religious leaders about Jesus — Acts 4:8
    • Peter was guided by the Holy Spirit to speak at Cornelius’ to the first Gentiles — Acts 10:34