Entering Into God’s Presence- Knowing God Through His Works & Ways

God Enables (Empowers)

To Study and Ponder:

• To ‘enable’ is to give the means to do something - to empower. Jesus promised to send a counsellor, a helper, commanding his disciples “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4b-5) then telling them “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses.” (v.8)

• When the Holy Spirit came as promised (Acts 2:1-4) we see the followers of Jesus enabled by the Spirit to speak boldly, pray for miracles in Jesus’ name, face danger and death.

  • -  Peter who had in fear denied he even knew Jesus, steps forward and preaches a message that leads to 3,000 being added to the church in a day! (Acts 2:14-41)

  • -  A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. Acts 2:43 (Acts 3:1-8; 6:8 etc.)

  • -  The church then had peace .... and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. Acts 9:31

  • -  The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

  • -  Jesus has said But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11

• God is powerful, but he is not stingy with his power. He generously shares it with us so that we are equipped to do whatever he calls us to do. He never asks us to do something without giving us the resources/capacities to be able to obey him.

  • -  Paul affirms that God enables us “to will and to act according to his good purpose” Phi 2:13

  • -  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy & peace because you trust in

    him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13

  • -  Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be

    able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

• God equips and empowers us with the gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12:3-8; 1Co 12:4-11; Eph 4:7-13)

• It is the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in His children that enables them to live holy lives.

  • -  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Gal 5:16

  • -  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:love, joy, peace, patience,

    kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a

• People who experienced the unique events surrounding the coming of Jesus, Messiah, were encouraged by the strong presence of the Holy Spirit to believe God:- in John’s birth and ministry (Luke 1:14-17), the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:35), prophesy and creative songs (Luke 1:46-55,67; 2:25-32),. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was able to be victorious over Satan in the temptations that followed. (Luke 4:1-2) and was anointed to bring good news and proclaim freedom. (Luke 4:18)

• Enabling from God implies trusting and leaning on him. Jesus himself walked in dependence on His Father. I am able to do nothing from myself - independently, of my own accord; but as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. Even as I hear I judge and my judgement is right because I do not seek or consult My own will - I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose, but only the will and pleasure of the Father who sent me. Joh 5:30, Ampl. (Acts 10:38)

• God strengthens us to do his will.

• -  Paul affirms, I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

• -  Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please

  strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the

  loss of my two eyes. Judges 16:28

• -  I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Psalm 119:28

• -  I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even

  know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God.... Isa 45:5-6a

• -  I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me. Hosea 7:15.

• -  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak

  and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find

  new strength.... Isaiah 40:29-31a

• -  That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have

  been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as

  well. Acts 23:11 (In custody in a Roman fortress after facing violent mobs & arrest)

• -  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God

  wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

  • Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians show his earnest desire that they truly grasp God’s enabling.

• -  I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe

  him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the

  place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20

• -  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength

  through his Spirit. Ephesians 3:16 Meditation/Memory:

  Lower Grades: He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29 (NLT) I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

  Middle Grades: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (NLT)

  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. .... Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:16, 20 (NLT)

  Upper Grades: He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)

  I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)