Text : Acts 1:6-8; Memory Verse : John 1:12 – KJV.
INTRODUCTION:
How does any government get started and what is the difference from anarchy looking at the time before any government is inaugurated or installed? What will a given government get from its subjects as evidence of its acceptance? Those questions are begging for answers as we enter the body of this discourse. Try to read through because we are READ AND REAP.
OBJECTIVE:
What we intend to see will include (i) That power is the foundation upon which any government is built. (ii) That positive change is evidence of divine power presence and (iii) That acceptance of any government or power by the citizenry is shown in obedience.
PRESENTATION
STEP 1: GOVERNMENT STARTS WITH THE GIFT OF POWER
a) The Father’s gift of all power to Jesus qualifies Him as King over all He made. (cf. Matt. 28:18,19; John 5:16-23; Col. 1:15-19; Acts 17:30,31)
b) God’s gift of power to us qualifies us as cabinet members with Christ. (cf. Eph. 1:18-22; 2:6; 3:16-19; Luke 10:19)
STEP 11: POSITIVE CHANGE AS EVIDENCE OF DIVINE POWER PRESENCE (Our lead text)
a) The word for power is ‘dunamis’ which refers to ability to effect changes that benefit the neighborhood. (cf. Matt. 5:13-16)
i. With this power, we change the bitter taste of our world – cf. Acts 1:7,8.
ii. This power from God’s Spirit also enables us to repent or have a change of heart and life to be fit for the government or Kingdom of Christ – cf. Eph. 5:5; Matt. 3:2; Ex. 19:6.
STEP 111 : OBEDIENCE AS EVIDENCE OF ENDORSEMENT OF ANY GOVERNMENT
a) If we accept and/or love the government of Christ, we serve and/or obey Him – cf. Luke 6:46; John 21:15-18.
b) Accepting His government, we join Him to do the very things He did while in the body – He went about doing good. (See Acts 10:38; John 17:18; 1Cor.3:9)
CONCLUSION:
God knew we would not be able to achieve anything except by the power of His Spirit and, therefore, to save cost and wastages, has demanded through Christ that we get empowerment by His Spirit before attempting anything concerning Him. “The flesh (visible dependence) does (and will) not profit us anything”, Jesus warns. (See John 6:63 and Acts 1:4-8)
EVALUATION
- 1.What is the difference between changes effective by God’s Spirit and that effective by evil spirit
2. Why was Jesus declared by God an overall King to rule over all God owns
3. By what means does God communicate to us the power by which we become His children?
4. What kind of seed did Jesus plant in His believers that always makes them want to be like Him all their lifetime on earth?