KJV Sermon Outlines

The Power of His Spirit

Acts 1:4-8

I. The Promise of Power

First of all, this book is called “The Acts” because it lists the “acts” of the apostles. You’ll notice in reading this book that the only act that Jesus performs is that of ascending unto heaven. Therefore, this book is a wonderful example of how God can use His people to do powerful exploits for Him through His Spirit!

1. Jesus is no longer with them in the flesh.

2. They now must fulfill the Gospel without Him doing it for them.

C. So, what was this Promise?

1. That, they (and we) would receive power from on high when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

2. The word “power” here in the Greek is “dunamis,” which means “power and authority.” It’s where we get our word “dynamite.”

3. In Luke 24:49 , Jesus had just told them, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

4. Again, the word “endued,” coming from the word “dunamis” which means to be clothed with power.

What the word endued actually means is to “sink into” the power!

D. So, there was a Promise of Power! But not just any power!

1. This would be power from on high! The Power of The Spirit!

II. The Purposes for Power

A. Why do we need His power?

B. God wants us to understand that we must stop trying to do things in our own strength when we can have the power of His Spirit to help us accomplish mighty works! Think about it for a moment…. God’s Spirit, working through us! Now that’s power!

C. Power to do what? The Spirit empowers us to:

1. Have the Courage to Rebuke Sin.
“But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8)

2. Become Mightier Than Physical Forces.
(a) We read of the power of the Spirit that was upon little David. In I Samuel 16:13, after Samuel anointed him to be the future king, the Bible says that, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”
(b) Then, the very next chapter is where we read the famous account of David slaying Goliath.
(c) People looked at David and told him not to go and fight Goliath. They said he would be a fool for attempting to fight such a giant!
(d) But David’s response was (in essence), ‘the battle’s not mine. It’s not by my might, not by my power, but by the Spirit of God that I go!’
(e) They told David, ‘Goliath is so tall, you’ll never be able to hit him.’ David’s response? “He’s so big, I can’t miss!” (That’s the attitude of the person empowered by the Spirit when the enemy comes to attack!).

3. Speak With Authority.
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts. 4:33)
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6:8) This word “power” used in speaking of Stephen is the same word used in our text, meaning the power of the Spirit.

III. The Indwelling.

A. Probably one of the most controversial principles of the Holy Spirit today is that of the indwelling of the Spirit and the outpouring of the Spirit.

B. But, I want to show you today, with Scripture to back me up, the difference between the two.

C. The indwelling means that the Holy Spirit comes to reside, or live, inside of us when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

The Spirit comes and lives within us at the point of salvation for the purpose of guiding us in our walk with Jesus. He comes to convict us when we’ve done anything contrary to God’s Word.

IV. The Promise Fulfilled

A. So, the Promise of the Spirit is to empower us for the work (or “acts”) of God in order to continue fulfilling the Great Commission.

B. He has empowered us to become witnesses of Jesus Christ.

C. The Spirit has empowered us to do the works of God with authority and power…His power!

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