Bible study for the 28^th of September

Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11,

 “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.” (Acts 1: 8)

I believe in miracles and have experienced God’s manifest presence leading to outstanding miracles in ministry, but some of the weird and unethical conducts we see and hear of today all in the name of miracles or demonstration of power call for reexamination of power ministry. Power ministry is given to the Church to point sinners to Christ and not to point them to ourselves as the wonder workers. If it is not about the former, then, we have lost the focus and the essence of the gospel. Therefore, it is important that we consider what power ministry is all about from Biblical perspective.

In this week bible study, we shall consider the following:

1. We define power ministry
2. Consider the reasons for power ministry
3. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit
4. All believers are in spiritual warfare
5. Satan and its agents have power
6. The task of evangelism is great
7. Power ministry worked for them of old

Discussion and conclusion

Why Power Ministry is to point sinners to Christ.

 “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.” (Acts 1: 8)

I believe in miracles and have experienced God’s manifest presence leading to outstanding miracles in ministry, but some of the weirdness and gospel contradictions all in the name of miracles or demonstration of power call for reexamination of power ministry. Power ministry is given to the Church to point sinners to Christ and not to point them to ourselves as the wonder workers. If it is not about the former, then, we have lost the focus and the essence of the gospel. Therefore, it is important that we consider what power ministry is all about from Bible perspective.

What is Power Ministry and Purpose?

Power ministry is any ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God in the earth. It includes signs, wonders, healing, anointed preaching, the casting out of demons, the manifestation of spiritual gifts, or any other demonstrations of God’s power and presence.

All Power was given to the Church for the purpose of getting the job of evangelizing the entire world before He comes again done (Matthew 24: 14). With this power, the early church went out and ministered in great power and with amazing results.

The church today still needs power to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19) because:

1. All believers are in a War: The Bible teaches that all children of God are involved in a spiritual war. We wage this war against the devil and his demonic agents. Jesus taught that our “enemy … is the devil” (Matthew 13:39, cf., Luke 10:19). Paul also spoke of this spiritual conflict believer are involved in (Ephesians 6:12).  Paul further wrote that we must use spiritual weapons to wage this spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians. 10:4). The strongholds that the apostle spoke about are spiritual strongholds set up by the enemy of our souls, the devil. The power is given to the church to fight and overcome this warfare.
2. Satan and his Agents Have Power: A second reason for power ministry is that our enemy, the devil, is a powerful foe. Jesus spoke of “all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Satan is still mobilizing a vast army of dedicated demonic forces, who are bent on opposing the spread of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore, we must use greater power to defeat these demonic forces. This we can do only in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. The task of evangelism is Great: Another reason for power ministry is that the task to preach to the whole world is so great that it can only be accomplished through supernatural means (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16) Jesus promised us that He would give us power to accomplish this task (Acts 1:8). He also said that, as we go to preach the gospel, He would confirm His word with powerful signs following (Mark 16:15, 17). And according to Jesus, we can only advance His kingdom in the world by force (Matthew 11:12).
4.  Power Ministry Worked for them of old: Finally, another reason for power ministry in my reckoning is because power ministry worked in the first Church and it still works today. The success of the early church is attributed largely to the move in supernatural power. What was true for the early church is also true today. So many lives are being transformed today through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion, power was given for these reasons, it was not given for personal aggrandizement or to be used to manipulate vulnerable people and turn them zombies. If anyone is doing otherwise, he is doing so to the shame of the gospel and to detriment of his or her soul. If we are only preaching and demonstrating power to make people feel good and to increase our church membership but not to convict sinners of sin, we are not preaching in the power of the Holy Ghost.