Title: The Ultimate Power Plant
Bible Book: Acts 1 : 4-11
Author: Mark Wood
Subject: Power, God's; Holy Spirit Power; Power in the Church
Objective:
Introduction
Acts 1”4-11: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
What do you think of when you hear the word power?
Some may think:
Muscle Power or Horsepower
For me I think of electrical power
Electricity Travels at the speed of light = more than 186,000 miles per second
A spark off the tip of your finger can measure up to 3000 volts
A bolt of lightning can measure up to 3 million volts
Man has achieved the task of generating electricity
There are two types of fuel that power the plants that make electricity (Non-Renewable and Renewable)
Non-Renewable fuels are:
Nuclear - Uranium - Fossil fuel – Coal, Gas
Renewable sources:
Wind, Tidal - works with the rising and falling Tide Wave - Works with the ebb and flow of the ocean
Solar, Hydroelectric.
Biomass - Burning waste products
Geothermal - Naturally heated water
World electricity produced by:
21% Renewable
16% Nuclear
63% Fossil fuel
The first power produced was generated by a Dynamo generator. (Like a bicycle Generator) How do we tie this in to this morning's message?
The passage is a conversation with the disciples and Jesus that took place between His resurrection and his ascension. Look at some aspects of God's power and distribution of that power.
I. The Plan 1:4,6
A. Being Assembled Together (4)
B. Come Together (6)
God has a specific plan and all things must come together in order for that plan to work perfectly. We say that if God wants it to happen it will happen. I say that God's plan will happen if God's people are together with Him. We see not only the picture of God's people being unified with each other, but we see that they were also unified with God Himself.
Consider how electrical power is produced. There are several parts and pieces to make electricity. The water must meet the turbine and the turbine must turn the generator. The magnets in the generator must work together to produce electricity. In the same way, there are spiritual components involved in experiencing God's power in our lives and in our churches.
Look at Paul's concern to the church at Corinth as described in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
II. The Patience 1:4,6
A. The Question
Note the question of verse 6. We see the impatience of the disciples. Verse 4 tells them to go and wait for the promise. It is not up to us to know how long we will wait for a blessing or what we get at the end of the wait. God is always right on time. Even at the death of Lazarus God was there right on time.
B. The Timing
God's timing and power works much like natural power and energy. It takes hours for a coal fired boiler to come up to temperature before is produces steam and start turning the turbine that turns the generator. Note verse 7 = God knows just the right time.
III. The Product 1:8
A. God's Power Is For Christians
God gives this power to Christians. Look at the latter part of verse 6 - the Greek word exousia = Authority.
B. God's Power Is A Choice
God has the power by His choice to share His power. The word power of verse 8 comes from the Greek word dunamis; and, dumamis is the word from which we get our word dynamite.
Think about dynamo power as produced by a bicycle generator. The harder you peddle The brighter the light you get. The more we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives the brighter the Gospel of Jesus will shine from us.
C. God's Power Can Flow Constantly
The dynamic power of the Holy Spirit will be constantly flowing from us if we remain plugged into Him by communication. We are the conduit and wire that distribute the power of God.
In Acts 1:9-11 we see the distribution of God's power. When electricity is produced, it must be sent out into the distribution system. It leaves the power plant and goes through transformers and power lines until it reaches the people who need it. Note the angels in verse 11.
Note where the power of the Gospel is to be distributed. First, Jesus mentioned Jerusalem, which speaks of that place nearest to us - home! Often the hardest place to share the gospel is in the home. The hardest ground to plow is near the house. Second, Jesus mentioned Judea. Judea speaks of that place just beyond our personal Jerusalem - the State in which we live. Next, Jesus mentioned Samaria, which speaks of our country or nation. Finally, Jesus spoke of the ends of the earth. The power of God is available to help us take the Gospel of Jesus from the place nearest us to the place the most distant from us and to every place in between.
In Verse 10 we read that Jesus went up - ascended into heaven. He was lifted up so that we may be lifted up! We are to be more than churchgoers; we are to gospel distributors.
Vance Havner, the late great evangelist said, "The Gospel is not something we come to church to hear; it is something we go from church to tell."
Conclusion
God's power is a power we have!
