Message
In today’s memory verse, Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon them, and it happened exactly as He had said (). The moment the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will suddenly become strong. You will become bold and empowered to achieve great things because says, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Many people have failed in various endeavours because they have been trying to function solely by their own power. As long as a person keeps trying to do things solely by his or her own strength, there is a high probability that such a person will fail. However, when the Holy Spirit empowers a person, he or she is assured of a positive outcome.
The power of the Holy Spirit turns cowards into mighty men and weaklings into great terrors to the kingdom of darkness. When this power came upon the apostles, the men who had been hiding from the religious leaders of their time began to confront them boldly. Today’s Bible reading reveals how Peter, who denied knowing Jesus when a maidservant pointed out that he was one of His disciples, boldly spoke about Jesus before those who threatened his life.
I recall vividly that after I got born again at the University of Lagos in 1973, I had a Head of Department whose name was Professor Chike Obi. He was the greatest mathematician Africa had ever produced. Humanly speaking, he was a very good man, but I wondered how someone could be that good and not know the love of Christ. One Sunday evening in church, we prayed and were told to go and win souls, and I said, “When I get to the office tomorrow, I’ll preach to my Head of Department.” When I got to the office, I went to him to say, “Good morning, sir,” and he thanked me in such a way that I froze and ran away. When I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, however, I became bold to preach to him. I received the power to succeed, win souls, and plant churches, and the power to win in life was also given to me.
Beloved, I pray for you today that you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit just as I did and be empowered to reign in life and be a fruitful witness for Christ, in Jesus’ name.