Three Keys to Power
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Zech 4.6 “…it is not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.”
1. The Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The church is not just an organization whose purpose is to bring social change to the world. It is not a
humanitarian organization offering people a better quality of life. If that was the case, there are other
organizations better equipped and better funded to do that.
It is our job to bring spiritual change in this world.
Paul tells us in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.
We are not operating in the realm of the physical but in the realm of the spiritual. So, we need the
power of God.
2. The Presence of Jesus:
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled,
ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.”
Peter said to the religious leaders:
Acts 4:9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked
how he was healed,
Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
The secret of their power was that they had spent time with Jesus. Anything that we may accomplish of
any lasting value will be done only in the name of Jesus and through the power of his name.
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Demons fear him:
Matthew 8:28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed
men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.
Matthew 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture
us before the appointed time?"
But I must caution you, the name of Jesus is not a magical formula to get things done. In Acts, there
were 7 men who tried to cast a devil out of someone using the name of Jesus, and they were sorely
beaten by the possessed man. The problem was that they tried to use the name, but they didn ‘t know
the man.
The disciples who filled the world with the gospel didn’t just know about Jesus – they knew Him.
In every church around the world, there are people who believe in Jesus and who love the church, but
who do not really KNOW Jesus. It is essential that we KNOW Him – the relationship is more important
than the doctrine.
Bold prayer:
Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness.
Acts 4:30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name
of your holy servant Jesus."
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The prayer of Abraham:
“Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if
there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the
sake of the fifty righteous people in it?Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the
wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth
do right? "The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place
for their sake. "Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord,
though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will
you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it.
"Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will
not do it. "Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found
there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there. "Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as
to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not
destroy it. "Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten
can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."” (Genesis 18:23-32 niv)
Why did Abraham care? He could have just prayed for Lot’s family. Why did he care about this city and
these people?
Why wasn’t Lot praying?
If Abraham cared that much for strangers, and sinful ones at that, why do we not care more for our own
people?
Have you prayed for Albania the way Abraham prayed for Sodom?
1. The Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The church is not just an organization whose purpose is to bring social change to the world. It is not a
humanitarian organization offering people a better quality of life. If that was the case, there are other
organizations better equipped and better funded to do that.
It is our job to bring spiritual change in this world.
Paul tells us in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.
We are not operating in the realm of the physical but in the realm of the spiritual. So, we need the
power of God.
2. The Presence of Jesus:
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled,
ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.”
Peter said to the religious leaders:
Acts 4:9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked
how he was healed,
Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
The secret of their power was that they had spent time with Jesus. Anything that we may accomplish of
any lasting value will be done only in the name of Jesus and through the power of his name.
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Demons fear him:
Matthew 8:28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed
men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.
Matthew 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture
us before the appointed time?"
But I must caution you, the name of Jesus is not a magical formula to get things done. In Acts, there
were 7 men who tried to cast a devil out of someone using the name of Jesus, and they were sorely
beaten by the possessed man. The problem was that they tried to use the name, but they didn ‘t know
the man.
The disciples who filled the world with the gospel didn’t just know about Jesus – they knew Him.
In every church around the world, there are people who believe in Jesus and who love the church, but
who do not really KNOW Jesus. It is essential that we KNOW Him – the relationship is more important
than the doctrine.
Bold prayer:
Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness.
Acts 4:30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name
of your holy servant Jesus."
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The prayer of Abraham:
“Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if
there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the
sake of the fifty righteous people in it?Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the
wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth
do right? "The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place
for their sake. "Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord,
though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will
you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it.
"Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will
not do it. "Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found
there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there. "Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as
to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not
destroy it. "Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten
can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."” (Genesis 18:23-32 niv)
Why did Abraham care? He could have just prayed for Lot’s family. Why did he care about this city and
these people?
Why wasn’t Lot praying?
If Abraham cared that much for strangers, and sinful ones at that, why do we not care more for our own
people?
Have you prayed for Albania the way Abraham prayed for Sodom?