Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Definitions:

Power: the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality:

Authority: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience:

Promise: a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen

When the Holy Ghost comes to dwell in us, it automatically positions the believer to live “above”,

We were all deep in, and dying of sin. However, with Jesus’ death at Calvary’s Cross, burial in a borrowed tomb, and rising again the 3rd day, victory was won. He rose with all power in his hand. Including the power of death and the grave. 

This great plan of salvation is sufficient to save the world, past, present and future!

The Upper Room Experience, Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Lead to Peter explaining the plan of salvation as given by Jesus. Acts 2:38-39, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

We are a part of the promise. Acts 2:40, “

I always talk about the responsibility of salvation. It is the believers job to take the necessary steps to live “above”. Deuteronomy 28:13, “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;”

However, our responsibility is found in the later part of that same verse: “if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”

So when Peter tells us to save ourselves from this untoward generation, he is implying that you have work to do, choices to make, and you must endure to the end. For he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).

So yes, Peter explained what was going on in Acts 1 and 2, but the people still needed to take action. It was they who cried out in Acts 2:37, What shall we do?

The answer to this question remains the same today – Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!

But just as the people then had to take action, so must we today. By taking on Jesus, through salvation, you also gain the power he promised in Acts 1:8. This Holy Ghost power will keep you, will give you power to overcome, to rebuke the devil, and to live a life that pleases God. It will help you love and respect people – even when they do not deserve it. It will give you power to endure to the end, and to be a witness of Him to all.

God is faithful! Yes, he has expectations of his people. But because he IS so good, he gives us power to fulfill these expectations.

Yes, he wants you to love all. But he gives you power to do it.

Yes, he wants you to forgive. But he gives you power to do it.

Yes, he wants you to trust him. But he gives you power to do it.

Yes, he wants you to walk in obedience. But he gives you power to do it.

We just have to choose to access the power to live “above” and be great in him!

Holy Ghost Power!!