Empowered by the Spirit
02022020
Let’s begin by discussing last Sunday—it was an interesting day. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, was a palindrome. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a palindrome is a word, verse, sentence or number (such as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward. Last Sunday, 02-02-2020 read the same backward and forward, a palindrome. The last time this occurred was the year 11-11-1111; 909 years ago! Last Sunday was a once in a “millennium” day.
Last Sunday was also the NFL Super Bowl Championship, between the San Francisco 49rs and the Kansas City Chiefs. Before last Sunday, the Chiefs hadn’t been to the Super Bowl in 50 years.
Prophet Bob Jones before his passing in 2014, reportedly told Shawn Boltz, another prophetic minister, that when the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl revival would break out. On Facebook last week Shawn wrote, “Bob Jones told me at least 10 times, ‘When the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, you will know that revival is about to come. God is raising up his apostolic chiefs.’” [1]
I told our church last Sunday, “Whoever wins the Super Bowl, Jesus will have His revival!” But it turns out the Chiefs did win in a dramatic 4th quarter come-back. Further, with the win, the Chiefs head coach Andy Reid not only won his first Super Bowl as head coach but accomplished 222 wins overall on 02022020! An interesting palindrome day of 2’s!
The number 2 biblically represents God’s second act of creation, “Let there be light.” (Gen. 1:3). By the way, last Sunday happened to be my 60th birthday. The Lord reminded me of Isaiah 60:1, “Arise and shine for your light has come…” Of course, Isaiah was speaking prophetically of the coming of Jesus, He is the light of the world. But on this interesting day of 2’s, with prophecies of revival, perhaps the light of Christ is about to shine brighter in our world! Perhaps awakening is at hand! I encourage you to watch the message from last Sunday below, I think you will be blessed!
The Holy Spirit is Accelerating the Church
The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our future inheritance in Christ (2. Cor. 1:21-22), the one who transforms us into Christlikeness, and empowers us for mission. By the power of the Spirit, God’s Kingdom is enlarging and accelerating. We’re living in a time of unprecedented acceleration in God’s Kingdom. Amos foretold our day,
Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed;” Amos 9:13 NKJV
God is closing the gap between seedtime and harvest. The Holy Spirit is closing the gap between your prophetic words and their fulfillment. It’s a powerful place to live, in the fulfillment of what is promised. When God gives us a prophecy, He is empowering us to move faster, to receive what has been promised for Kingdom purpose.
What would take years, may only take months. What would take days may be fulfilled in hours. It’s a time where what is revealed, that which is declared, will quickly be fulfilled. Jesus said, “the time is coming, even now is …” (John 4:23) The gap between prophecy and fulfillment is narrowing. Remember, 1000 years is as a day, and a day is as 1000 years. God determines the times and seasons, but we can hasten the fulfillment of prophecies over our lives.
We’re called not just to walk with God, but to run with Him. He needs an overcoming people who will run with Him in the earth in this hour.
Five years ago, Feb. 1, 2015, we had a prophetic minister at our church. He began to give my wife and me a personal prophecy that had several aspects to it. One of the things he prophesied was that I would be “used in Ohio among the Methodist Church.” When he gave this part of the word, I didn’t fully see or understand what God was revealing, but I prayed into the word. Less than six months later, I was invited to help teach and mentor doctoral students in Dayton, Ohio at United Theological Seminary. United is one of thirteen Methodist seminaries in our nation! I’ve been mentoring doctoral students there for nearly five years, many of whom are Methodist pastors and leaders! God is quickening and hastening His word for the harvest that now is and is coming before the return of Christ.
Prophecy is an invitation to run and become with God. Prophecy empowers us to accelerate and to become what God has said we are. David said, “by His Spirit I can run against an army, and by His Spirit I can leap over a wall!” When we are living from our union with Christ, empowered by His Spirit, what is impossible becomes probable—for all things are possible with God!
We are united with Christ in His resurrection glory. We have favor with the Father because of who Jesus is. We’re in Christ, united together with Him in His resurrection life, and our past dealt with through the cross. We have a new nature, a new identity; we are daughters and sons of the King. He doesn’t see what is wrong with us; rather, He brings us into who we are destined to become through the word and prophecy spoken over our lives.
Many struggle to walk with God, let alone run with God, because they don’t understand their identity in Him. Don’t allow your past to dictate your future! In Christ, you are an overcomer and destined to fulfill His purposes!
Clothed by the Spirit
Do you remember the story of Gideon? (See Judges 6-7) Gideon, and the nation of Israel, were under the oppression of the Midianites. The nation, and Gideon’s family, had stopped worshipping God to worship Baal. God sends an angel to Gideon to call and empower him by the Spirit for mission. Gideon, feeling the shame, guilt, and condemnation of his family’s sin and his own lack of self-esteem, says, (my paraphrase) “God you’ve called the wrong man! I’m not qualified to lead this people or am I worthy of this!” Perhaps some of you have had a similar response to God when He calls.
However, as Gideon responds to God’s calling, God empowers him.
Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. Judges 6:34-35 NLT
The phrase, “… the Lord clothed Gideon …” is from the Hebrew word לָבַשׁ (lā·ḇǎš) which means, “to cover as with clothing.” But the phrase also implies, “The Spirit of the Lord clothed Himself in Gideon,” or “put him on life a glove!” [2] In Gideon, God found a human vessel in whom He could empower.
With Gideon, we see that his family’s iniquity, the enemy’s oppression, and his own fear and timidity could not keep God from empowering him! Consider that in this New Covenant age of grace and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, our very bodies have become the temples of the Holy Spirit.
We have been empowered by the Spirit, despite our past, to become agents of His grace and power in our world.
Run Empowered
We’re living in a time to run and enjoy this empowerment by the Spirit! His anointing is unto a purpose: to proclaim the gospel and free the captives! We are an accelerating people because the harvest is ready! It’s a time to dive into the fulfillment of things—don’t hold back.
David could run toward Goliath because he had a prophecy, a word from God that he would be the next King. Prophecy pushed fear aside and faith rose in his heart. David was becoming what was prophesied. There is a place for you and me in Christ, where we overcome because we are united to Him. It’s His grace, His divine power, at work in us—not ours!
Prophecy is not about survival but learning how to overcome and prosper because you have the word of the Lord.
When God gives us a word, He is revealing what He is seeing, what He has determined. We now have His favor and permission to see the same way. I don’t see my life, my family, or my ministry from my perspective, but from God’s. The Spirit has made me “a sufficient minister of the new covenant.” (2 Cor. 3:6)
The Holy Spirit Helps and Empowers Us
In John’s gospel, Jesus teaches us:
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14 NKJV
Notice that Jesus tells His followers, those who believe in Him, that the same works He did we would do also. What did Jesus do? He healed the sick, performed miracles, multiplied food for the people, and even raised the dead. Jesus says, “the same works…” Works is from the Greek erga, which means the same types of miraculous works! (I explain in detail in my book Receive Your Miracle Now!) But how does this happen? In short, the authority given to us by Jesus through His resurrection and the empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Jesus continues in John:
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 NKJV
The word “another” is from the Greek word allos, meaning: one besides, another of the same kind. Jesus’ use of allos for sending another helper equals, “one besides Me and in addition to Me but one just like Me. He will do in My absence what I would do if I were physically present with you.” Jesus is saying clearly that there is continuity with what He did and taught through the person of the Holy Spirit.
The word “helper” is from the Greek word parakletos, a word that is derived from para “beside” and kaleo “to call”; meaning “called to one’s side.” The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate and counselor. In nonbiblical literature parakletos had the meaning of “an attorney who appears in court in another’s behalf”.
The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, would come along side of us to help us, One who is just like Jesus! He reveals the Father and the Son to us, He leads us into truth, He guides and directs us, He gives us strength, and He comforts us. This help is more than just comfort during difficult days, it is an empowerment to do the greater works Jesus mentioned in John 14:12!
The Holy Spirit wants to envelop you in His presence. He really cares for you and wants to be your best friend. Our Christian life was meant to be an ongoing experience in the life of the Holy Spirit. To live a victorious Christian life, you must know what God has promised to you in His word, know your new identity in Christ, and learn how to fellowship and partner with the Holy Spirit.
Communion with the Holy Spirit is the launching pad to a life of supernatural power and consistency.
This communion with and empowerment from the Holy Spirit changes our lives, marriages, families, churches and society!
Jesus adds later in John:
I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion (advocate, helper) won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 CEB
The greatest gift Jesus gave to humanity was Himself. The greatest gift God gave the church was the Holy Spirit. To begin real fellowship with the Holy Spirit, you must know Him first as a person, not just by His power.
However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. John 16:13 CEB
The Greek word for Spirit pneuma would normally take the pronoun “it.” But in this verse, Jesus spoke of the personhood of the Holy Spirit by speaking of “he.” Just as you have a unique personality, so does the Holy Spirit. He is full of love, peace, joy and truth.
Like any person, He thinks, hears, speaks, and has emotions and a will. He can be hurt by our careless words and actions. Since He is a person, and not just a power, we will want to build relationship with Him and yield to His leading and power.
God is looking for loyal friends, for those who will hunger for the Holy Spirit and who have a passion to get to know Him.
Through Jesus, we know the love of the Father, and our communion (fellowship) with God and God’s people is given by the Holy Spirit. There is no fellowship with the Holy Spirit apart from a life surrendered to Jesus. Paul explained:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion (koinōnía: fellowship) of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Cor. 13:14 NKJV
The Holy Spirit is the agent of the Godhead that is the key to conquering humanities greatest foe—death. But is the Holy Spirit a force or a friend? Is the Holy Spirit a power or a person? He is a person, but is he your friend?
Surrender to the Holy Spirit is Essential
Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your heart. You want nothing in your life that will grieve Him. The Holy Spirit is a person. He has a will—and you have a will. Can you ask Him for more? Yes, but to be filled you must yield your will so that He can possess you!
It’s not about how much you receive, but how much can He possess you! Impartation is important but must allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. Kathryn Kuhlman, a twentieth-century healing evangelist, known for her intimacy with the Holy Spirit and miracles, said, “It’s not your prayers, it’s not your ability, but it’s your surrender.”
God’s invitation to surrender is your pathway to destiny. Your destiny hinges on your continued surrender to God. You must daily die to self and surrender to God’s will.
When you walk closely with the Holy Spirit, living surrendered becomes second nature to you. For example, we often do things in our own strength and abilities. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to consume and guide us, we begin to move in God’s supernatural power to do what is humanly impossible!
We don’t heal the sick or work miracles; God does. We stay surrendered. The heart of the Father is to embrace the people. The humbler and more yielded we are, the more God’s love and power can flow through us. When we come with a humble heart, the Holy Spirit, the dove, rests upon us. Maintain your spirit: keep no resentment, bitterness, hurt, or offense. Guard your heart (Prov. 4:23).
Paul taught us we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13 NKJV) Later Paul warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit by whom we were sealed. (Eph 4:30 NKJV)
Kathryn Kuhlman said, “I don’t fear the devil, I fear losing the presence of the Holy Spirit.” We must protect the anointing; for the presence of the Holy Spirit is like a dove. When we sin, it hurts the Holy Spirit—sin quenches the anointing. When we don’t have faith, it quenches the anointing.
Pursue a lifestyle that seeks to walk in fellowship with God, His holiness, His power, His anointing in order to do the greater works. Do you know what grieves Him? Do you know what pleases Him?
Here are some keys to Kathryn Kuhlman’s anointing by the Holy Spirit:
She honored the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit on earth.
She believed in miracles. In every meeting, she would proclaim, “I believe in miracles”.
She set an atmosphere (arena) where the Holy Spirit had freedom to move. Structure is good, but God must be allowed to move.
Begin today to develop a walk of daily communion with the Holy Spirit! Let Him be all He wants to be in your life—your source of wisdom, power, and strength to launch you forth into God’s victory.
For a more in-depth look at this week’s topic, watch the Passion Church message, “Empowered by the Spirit”
[1] https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/mikaela-matthews/viral-prophecy-claims-revival-will-come-if-kansas-city-chiefs-win-super-bowl.html
[2] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
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