June 11, 2025 • 28 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of doctor Graham's book Angels. But first,
here's the message powering up.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
All of us need times in our lives, day by
day in which we power up spiritually.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And that's what Acts, chapter one is about.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
When Jesus gathers his disciples after his resurrection, before he
is ascending up into heaven, those disciples heads were spinning.
They'd been through three years of ministry with Christ. They
had experienced the Cross, and now the resurrection. Jesus had
taught them. But now he is about to go back
to heaven, to the right hand of the Father, and
(00:52):
they are wondering what is next. And Jesus took time
to speak to them and to counsel them. Jesus wanted
to make sure that his disciples did not quit, that
they continue the work that he had begun. As a
matter of fact, Acts is a continuation of the Gospels
written by doctor Luke, the same gentleman.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Who gave us the Gospel of Luke.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And in the book of Acts we see the exciting
story of Christ at work by his spirit through his Church,
through his people, beginning of verse four, And while staying
with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for the promise of the Father, which
(01:36):
he said, you heard from me.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
For John baptized with.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now. So, when they had come together,
they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore
the kingdom of Israel. He said to them, it's not
for you to know the times or seasons that the
Father is fixed by his own authority. But you will
(02:01):
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Before Jesus left the earth for heaven, he wanted to
(02:21):
make sure that his followers understood exactly what he.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Was asking them, commanding them to do.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And so he gave them this great challenge, this great call,
this great commission, and he promised them the power to
carry it out, because he said, you'll not be on
your own. I'll be with you always, and we will
(02:52):
win against all odds. We will win the world to Christ. Now,
what is spiritual engagement. When we talk about powering up
the spiritual power of engagement, what are we talking about.
(03:15):
I'm talking about a daring, vital faith. I'm talking about
a passionate witness for Christ. I'm talking about a life
lived in loving obedience to Christ. Spiritual engagement is Jesus Christ,
God in us, empowering us for life, changing the world,
(03:37):
overcoming the enemy, winning life's most important battles. Spiritual engagement
it is a prayer life that is effective, a prayer
life that is connecting with God. It is worship that
is exhilarating and uplifting and elevating. It is life and
a new dynamic with another dimension. And the Book of
Acts is a demonstration through and through of this powerful
(04:02):
spiritual engagement, as we see that small band of believers
turning into a powerful force on the earth, literally spiritually
turning the world upside down. And when you read the
story of Acts, you realize that what took place in
that day, there's no explanation.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
For it apart from the power of God.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
There is no human explanation for what happened in the
explosion of the church in its early hours, but that
the work of the Holy Spirit. And did you know
that God is still at work in his people. God
is still calling his people to spiritual engagement, and He
is made available to us spiritual power. Throughout the Book
(04:51):
of Acts, we are reference to the Spirit of God,
the promise of the Spirit, the outpouring of the Spirit,
the bad ba of the Spirit, the felling of the spirit,
the power of the Spirit, the witness of the Spirit,
the guidance of the Spirit. This is spiritual engagement, the
(05:16):
power of Christ by his Spirit living in us.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Now. The Disciples were.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
A strange, unusual conglomeration of misfits. They were untrained and uneducated,
but they had been with Jesus. They were transformed by
his presence and now by the power of His Spirit.
What happened through these men and the early followers of
Christ can only be explained by the arrival and the
(05:45):
anointing of the Holy Spirit. Later on, these disciples would
explain what was happening. They said, we are witnesses of
these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit. And
the Holy Spirit revolutionize the lives of these men. These reluctant, fearful,
(06:10):
miscast men were turned into brave hearted warriors for God
to engage the culture with the Gospel and change the world.
And the same Holy Spirit that controlled their lives desires
to control our lives as we execute the mission. The
gain plan of God and Acts tells us how This
(06:33):
story tells us how. So the question is how do
we engage spiritually?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
How do we power up? I want to.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Mention first of all, the prelude for spiritual power. The
first thing Jesus told them to do was not to go,
but to wait. He said, before you go, wait at
Jerusalem until you are in endued, until you are immersed.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
With power, the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Now, this is one thing so many of God's people
have failed to do today. We have failed to pray
and to wait on God for his feeling. Therefore, is
an absence of power in the church today. We have plans,
we have programs, we have buildings, we have resources, but
so often we don't have power, and many Christians are
(07:25):
personally feeling powerless today. I talk to so many who say,
I don't know how to overcome temptation in my life.
I don't know how to deal with the problems in
my marriage. I don't know how to struggle with the
tests of life.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I don't know how.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
To worship joyfully. I don't know how to witness effectively.
And so many today are defeated in their Christian life
rather than winning, they're not spiritually engaged. You see, before
you can engage, you must disengage and get before God
and wait and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There's
so little dynamic, there's so little joy, there's so little
(08:06):
power because we have not taken the time to prepare
and to pray. And too many Christians are tired of
superficial living. They want something supernatural in their lives. They
realize something. Maybe you realize something is missing in my life.
And that's something that is missing is spiritual engagement. It
(08:28):
is the work the power of the Holy Spirit controlling
your life. So how do you experience God's power, the
power of the Holy Spirit in your life? How do
you know that God will still do great and mighty
things through your life? Does God still lead us? Does
(08:50):
God still change us?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
If we're sick? Can we still.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Cry out to God to heal us? If we're tempted?
Can God deliver us from temptation? If we're weak and
sharing our faith? Can God enable us and empower us
to be a testimony for Christ.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yes he can.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But the prelude to power is prayer and to wait
upon God. And if you are spiritually dry, if you
are physically drained, if you are emotionally depleted, the first
thing you need to do in order to power up
is to get with God and ask God in prayer
(09:29):
to deliver the promise of His Spirit to you. To
many believers, the Holy Spirit is a stranger. For some
that's a matter of ignorance.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
They just don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Of his power, of his presence in their lives. And
others are indifferent to the Holy Spirit. They're saved, going
to heaven, but they're satisfied there and they're okay with that.
But let me tell you, God's not okay with that,
Christian God's not okay with our coast. So Jesus is
(10:03):
getting his disciples and you and me ready for the
greatest experience of purpose and passion in life. He taught them,
according to the second verse, the Commandments through the Spirit.
In other words, he taught them about the Holy Spirit.
He showed himself alive to them, and then and then
he declared that he would live in them. That not
(10:24):
only is he alive, but that He is alive in us,
and that's where we find our purpose. That's where we
find our passion and our power. I'm reading a wonderful
book right now is the story written by Tony Dungee
called Quiet Strength, regarding his life and his testimony of faith.
(10:48):
And in his book Quiet Strength, there's a chapter called
Defining Success. And I want to share the words of
Tony Dungee with you this morning regarding real success in life.
He said, the competing views of success in our world
often create an interesting tension. Society tends to define success
(11:12):
in terms of accomplishments, awards, material possessions, and profit margins.
In the football business, winning is the only thing that matters.
God's word, however, presents a different definition of success, one
centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ and a love
(11:33):
for God that allows us to love and serve others.
God gives each one of us unique gifts, abilities, and passions.
How well we use those qualities to have an impact
on the world around us determines how successful we really are.
And if we get caught up in chasing what the
world defines as success, we can use our time and
(11:54):
talent to do some great things. We might even become famous.
But in the end will mean and listen to this,
What will people remember us for? Are other people's lives
better because we live? Did we make a difference? Did
we use to the fullest the gifts and abilities God
gave us? Did we give our best effort? And did
(12:15):
we do it for the right reasons? God's definition of
success is really one of significance, the significant difference our
lives can make in the lives of others. This significance
does not show up in win loss records. Long resumes
are the trophies gathering dust on our mantles.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Watch this.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It is found in the hearts and lives of those
who come across. We come across who are in some
way better because of the way we live. That is
spiritual engagement. That is a Christian full of the spirit
of God, who understands that life is about the journey
(12:56):
of faith, the lives that we touch, the legacy that
we live and leave, and the world that we.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Change to the power of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and his
message powering up Pastor. This month, we have a special
gift for our listeners who give a gift to PowerPoint,
it's a copy of your book Angels. Can you tell
us about this powerful resource?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Hebrews one pin fourteen says, are not all angels ministering
spirits sent to.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Serve those who will inherit salvation.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
These powerful angel beings are working and warring on our
behalf this very day, Christ and his angels to care
for his church, to protect you the Christian, to encourage
you and inspire you to push back the enemy and
boldly live out your faith every single day. When you
see that you're a part of a much bigger story
(13:50):
playing out in both the spiritual and physical realms, it
realigns your heart to the truth, help make sense of
your struggles, and inspires you to stay and firm with
your angelic allies for the cause of Christ. That's why
I'd like to send you my book Angels, to help
encourage you to find your God given support to stand
(14:11):
firm and stay the course in the spiritual battle that's
being waged today. Angels is my way to say thank
you for your financial support to help us proclaim the Gospel.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Of Jesus through PowerPoint.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So be sure to request your copy of Angels today,
when you give your best.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Gift, call today and get a copy of doctor Graham's
book Angels. When you give call one eight hundred seven
ninety five four six two seven. That's one eight hundred
seven ninety five four six two seven, or text the
word Jesus to five nine, seven eight nine. Now let's
get back to today's message, powering up.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
The second thing is the promise of spiritual power. Throughout
the Word of God. We have promised spiritual power and
the presence of God's Spirit in verse.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Eight of Acts, chapter one, he speaks.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Of the arrival of the Holy Spirit in a very
special and supernatural way. He said, you shall receive power
after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses. And the word that he uses
for power there the promise of this spiritual power is
dynamite or dunamus is the Greek word, and we get
(15:28):
our word dynamite from that word. But perhaps and sometimes
God shows up with explosive dynamite power. But really the
best description of this kind of spiritual power and engagement
is the word dynamic or dynamo, a constant, continual source
of strength and energy in us. The fact is that
(15:51):
God is able, and the same word used in the
Bible to describe the ableness of God, the greatness of God,
describes this power that is given to us, this.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Resurra direction power of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
For example, in Romans fifteen thirteen, God fills us with
the power of hope. In one Corinthians ten thirteen, we're
told that this power delivers us from temptation. In Ephesians
three point sixteen, we're told that this same power equips
(16:23):
us to serve God effectively. In Ephesians three twenty we're
told that God is able to deliver a power that
can do in us more than we could possibly imagine, ask,
or think.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Acts six eleven, we're told.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That this power, the power of God's Spirit, enables us
to resist satan and to win life's most important spiritual battles.
In Colossians one eleven, we're told that God is able
by this power to give us perseverance and discipline in life.
In Colossians one twenty nine, we're told that God's power
(16:59):
assists us, enables us, and helps us in the work
that we do for Him.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
One Peter one to five.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
God's power is able to protect you. Second Peter one three.
That God's power provides everything that you need to live
a godly life. That is spiritual engagement.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
It is the power of God's Spirit. And of this power.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Jesus said in John fourteen twelve that the works that
I have done, the Father sent me to do. He said,
following me, you will do greater works than I have done.
Imagined that Jesus saying that we would do greater works,
certainly in the sense of the scope of the work
(17:45):
of Christ on earth. When Christ was in a physical
body at one time, one place, one location, there was
a certain limitation. But now Christ is no longer in
his physical body. He is in his spiritual body of
the Church. And the Son never goes down. The witness
of Jesus, Christ, his works, his words, his powerful presence
is spread throughout the world in the power of his spirits.
(18:10):
And God has promised you spiritual power. And so if
you're empty and powerless and weak and struggling, what do
you need. You need the power the promise of God's
Spirit in your life. Finally, what is the purpose of
this spiritual power? Because there is a purpose, And Jesus
(18:34):
said in verse eight that you shall receive power after
the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will
be my witnesses.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Right in the margin of your bible, not an option.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You will be my witnesses five times in five different
books of the Bible, all four Gospels and the Book
of Acts. Jesus said it five times. Go go, go, go,
go into all the world and be my witnesses and
(19:14):
make disciples.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
It is as though Jesus.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Is saying, I'm gonna say it again and again and
again because I don't want you to miss this. Be
my witnesses, and I will empower you and that witness,
that testimony wherever you take it, and like a huge
(19:39):
spiritual tsunami, a tidal wave sweeping the earth. These early
believers shared the Gospel, the witness of the Gospel. Jesus said,
you will be witnesses unto me, my witnesses. The Gospel
is the one message the world must here.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Period.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Everyone everywhere needs to hear the story of Jesus. And
the very best thing you can do for another person
is to tell them about Jesus. We can feed the poor,
(20:29):
we can comfort the hurting, we can heal the sick,
we can strengthen the weak, we can feed the hungry,
but above all else, and we should do those things.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But above all else.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
People's greatest need is Jesus. And everybody needs Jesus. And
the mission is clear. You are my witnesses into all
the world. So on a personal level, as God fills
(21:09):
us with his spirit, then we should spend the rest
of our lives.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Spreading the gospel.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Using the platforms that we have, not as professionals, not
as preachers, but using the platform that God has given
every one of us to proclaim the message of Jesus.
That's young and old, new believers and older believers. Did
(21:40):
you know that retire is not in God's vocabulary.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
It's not in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No one is allowed to retire from God's work. And
the witness of Christ following Jesus is a full time
job until Jesus comes again. And it starts right at home,
because Jesus said, go into all the world, beginning at Jerusalem,
your own home base, and then to Judea and Samaria
(22:10):
and the uttermost parts of the earth. Take it from
here to there. As you go.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
God wants to use you to share Jesus. Where you are.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Witnessing is not for the professionals. It's not for the
religious types. It's for Christians full of God's spirit, who
are willing to simply share their faith wherever they go, anywhere,
any time, any place. And James Kennedy said this, and
I quote, the solution to the desperate problems of our
world is for us to become involved in our culture
(22:48):
and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Christians
would do those two things, our nation and ultimately our
world would be transful, almost overnight. The purpose of spiritual
power is to energize us and equip us to witness
(23:09):
of Christ.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Now, the disciples, they didn't quite get it yet.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
They started talking about the coming kingdom of God. They
wanted to know when Jesus was going to establish his
messianic reign, his millennial kingdom. And he said, enough of that.
Don't worry about that. Don't focus on the trip ahead.
You focus on the task at hand. Be my witnesses
(23:34):
if you want to help bring in the second coming
of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Jesus said, when.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
The Gospel has preached to all the nations, then the
end will come, and we could be a part of
his soon arrival by sharing Christ during the reign of
Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England, there was a
shortage of silver coins nation, so he sent some soldiers
(24:03):
around the country to try to find more silver. The
soldiers came back and said, the only silver we can
find is in the statues of the saints that are
standing in the cathedrals of England. Cromwell smiled and said, good,
go and melt down those saints and put them in circulation.
(24:25):
That's what God wants to do with us, by the
baptism of the fire of God's Spirit, to melt us
down and to put us in circulation that the world
may know Jesus, and.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
He's given us the spiritual power to do it.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
powering up. On June thirtieth, we will close our books
on another year of ministry, and it's critical we end strong.
That's why generous friends have stepped forward with a two
hundred thousand dollars matching grant, which means every dollar you
give by June thirtieth will be doubled. Your gift to
help meet this grant in full is so important. We'll
(25:06):
send you doctor Graham's powerful book Angels. It's our special
gift and thank you to you. This encouraging book reveals
what Scripture says about God's messengers and how their presence
reminds us that Heaven is always near. Request your copy
when you call and give today. Call one eight hundred
seven nine five four six two seven. That's one eight
(25:28):
hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. You can
also text the word angels to five nine seven eight nine.
That's angels to five nine seven eight nine, and thank
you for your deeply valued support. And don't forget to
visit Jack Graham dot org where you can shop our
East store, give a gift online, or sign up for
(25:49):
doctor Graham's free daily email devotional. Our website again is
Jack Graham dot org. And also be sure to sign
up for doctor Graham's podcast Bible in a Year pastor
what is your power point for Today?
Speaker 5 (26:05):
You know, it's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
The first thing Jesus said about powering up in life
is not to go, but to wait right here. At
the beginning of the Book of Acts, he said, what
I want you to do is to wait right here
in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit and
the scripture tells us that's exactly what the followers of
Jesus did.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
They waited and prayed.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Together as one heart and one soul, and as a result,
they received the power and the very presence of the
Holy Spirit in their lives. So what about you today?
Are you ready to see the evidence of the work
of God's Spirit in your life. I meet so many
followers of Christ who want to see Christ change their life.
They want him to revolutionize their family. They desperately desire
(26:47):
for Him to give them the power to overcome temptation.
But as we talked about in today's program, the first
step in tapping into this power, in embracing and engaging
this power, is to do what the followers of Jesus did,
and that is to wait and pray, engage God in prayer,
and trust in him. That's my encouragement to you today.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life,
that He will fill.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
You and use you, and just wait and see then
what God accomplishes through your life.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a
gift of ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll send
you doctor Graham's book angels as our thanks call one
eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. That's
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word angels to five nine
(27:39):
seven eight nine and join us again next time as
doctor Graham brings a message about how ordinary you can
do extraordinary things. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry, Say
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of doctor Graham's book Angels. But first,
here's the message powering up.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
All of us need times in our lives, day by
day in which we power up spiritually.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And that's what Acts, chapter one is about.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
When Jesus gathers his disciples after his resurrection, before he
is ascending up into heaven, those disciples heads were spinning.
They'd been through three years of ministry with Christ. They
had experienced the Cross, and now the resurrection. Jesus had
taught them. But now he is about to go back
to heaven, to the right hand of the Father, and
(00:52):
they are wondering what is next. And Jesus took time
to speak to them and to counsel them. Jesus wanted
to make sure that his disciples did not quit, that
they continue the work that he had begun. As a
matter of fact, Acts is a continuation of the Gospels
written by doctor Luke, the same gentleman.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Who gave us the Gospel of Luke.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And in the book of Acts we see the exciting
story of Christ at work by his spirit through his Church,
through his people, beginning of verse four, And while staying
with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for the promise of the Father, which
(01:36):
he said, you heard from me.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
For John baptized with.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now. So, when they had come together,
they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore
the kingdom of Israel. He said to them, it's not
for you to know the times or seasons that the
Father is fixed by his own authority. But you will
(02:01):
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Before Jesus left the earth for heaven, he wanted to
(02:21):
make sure that his followers understood exactly what he.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Was asking them, commanding them to do.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And so he gave them this great challenge, this great call,
this great commission, and he promised them the power to
carry it out, because he said, you'll not be on
your own. I'll be with you always, and we will
(02:52):
win against all odds. We will win the world to Christ. Now,
what is spiritual engagement. When we talk about powering up
the spiritual power of engagement, what are we talking about.
(03:15):
I'm talking about a daring, vital faith. I'm talking about
a passionate witness for Christ. I'm talking about a life
lived in loving obedience to Christ. Spiritual engagement is Jesus Christ,
God in us, empowering us for life, changing the world,
(03:37):
overcoming the enemy, winning life's most important battles. Spiritual engagement
it is a prayer life that is effective, a prayer
life that is connecting with God. It is worship that
is exhilarating and uplifting and elevating. It is life and
a new dynamic with another dimension. And the Book of
Acts is a demonstration through and through of this powerful
(04:02):
spiritual engagement, as we see that small band of believers
turning into a powerful force on the earth, literally spiritually
turning the world upside down. And when you read the
story of Acts, you realize that what took place in
that day, there's no explanation.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
For it apart from the power of God.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
There is no human explanation for what happened in the
explosion of the church in its early hours, but that
the work of the Holy Spirit. And did you know
that God is still at work in his people. God
is still calling his people to spiritual engagement, and He
is made available to us spiritual power. Throughout the Book
(04:51):
of Acts, we are reference to the Spirit of God,
the promise of the Spirit, the outpouring of the Spirit,
the bad ba of the Spirit, the felling of the spirit,
the power of the Spirit, the witness of the Spirit,
the guidance of the Spirit. This is spiritual engagement, the
(05:16):
power of Christ by his Spirit living in us.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Now. The Disciples were.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
A strange, unusual conglomeration of misfits. They were untrained and uneducated,
but they had been with Jesus. They were transformed by
his presence and now by the power of His Spirit.
What happened through these men and the early followers of
Christ can only be explained by the arrival and the
(05:45):
anointing of the Holy Spirit. Later on, these disciples would
explain what was happening. They said, we are witnesses of
these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit. And
the Holy Spirit revolutionize the lives of these men. These reluctant, fearful,
(06:10):
miscast men were turned into brave hearted warriors for God
to engage the culture with the Gospel and change the world.
And the same Holy Spirit that controlled their lives desires
to control our lives as we execute the mission. The
gain plan of God and Acts tells us how This
(06:33):
story tells us how. So the question is how do
we engage spiritually?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
How do we power up? I want to.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Mention first of all, the prelude for spiritual power. The
first thing Jesus told them to do was not to go,
but to wait. He said, before you go, wait at
Jerusalem until you are in endued, until you are immersed.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
With power, the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Now, this is one thing so many of God's people
have failed to do today. We have failed to pray
and to wait on God for his feeling. Therefore, is
an absence of power in the church today. We have plans,
we have programs, we have buildings, we have resources, but
so often we don't have power, and many Christians are
(07:25):
personally feeling powerless today. I talk to so many who say,
I don't know how to overcome temptation in my life.
I don't know how to deal with the problems in
my marriage. I don't know how to struggle with the
tests of life.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I don't know how.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
To worship joyfully. I don't know how to witness effectively.
And so many today are defeated in their Christian life
rather than winning, they're not spiritually engaged. You see, before
you can engage, you must disengage and get before God
and wait and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There's
so little dynamic, there's so little joy, there's so little
(08:06):
power because we have not taken the time to prepare
and to pray. And too many Christians are tired of
superficial living. They want something supernatural in their lives. They
realize something. Maybe you realize something is missing in my life.
And that's something that is missing is spiritual engagement. It
(08:28):
is the work the power of the Holy Spirit controlling
your life. So how do you experience God's power, the
power of the Holy Spirit in your life? How do
you know that God will still do great and mighty
things through your life? Does God still lead us? Does
(08:50):
God still change us?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
If we're sick? Can we still.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Cry out to God to heal us? If we're tempted?
Can God deliver us from temptation? If we're weak and
sharing our faith? Can God enable us and empower us
to be a testimony for Christ.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yes he can.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But the prelude to power is prayer and to wait
upon God. And if you are spiritually dry, if you
are physically drained, if you are emotionally depleted, the first
thing you need to do in order to power up
is to get with God and ask God in prayer
(09:29):
to deliver the promise of His Spirit to you. To
many believers, the Holy Spirit is a stranger. For some
that's a matter of ignorance.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
They just don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Of his power, of his presence in their lives. And
others are indifferent to the Holy Spirit. They're saved, going
to heaven, but they're satisfied there and they're okay with that.
But let me tell you, God's not okay with that,
Christian God's not okay with our coast. So Jesus is
(10:03):
getting his disciples and you and me ready for the
greatest experience of purpose and passion in life. He taught them,
according to the second verse, the Commandments through the Spirit.
In other words, he taught them about the Holy Spirit.
He showed himself alive to them, and then and then
he declared that he would live in them. That not
(10:24):
only is he alive, but that He is alive in us,
and that's where we find our purpose. That's where we
find our passion and our power. I'm reading a wonderful
book right now is the story written by Tony Dungee
called Quiet Strength, regarding his life and his testimony of faith.
(10:48):
And in his book Quiet Strength, there's a chapter called
Defining Success. And I want to share the words of
Tony Dungee with you this morning regarding real success in life.
He said, the competing views of success in our world
often create an interesting tension. Society tends to define success
(11:12):
in terms of accomplishments, awards, material possessions, and profit margins.
In the football business, winning is the only thing that matters.
God's word, however, presents a different definition of success, one
centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ and a love
(11:33):
for God that allows us to love and serve others.
God gives each one of us unique gifts, abilities, and passions.
How well we use those qualities to have an impact
on the world around us determines how successful we really are.
And if we get caught up in chasing what the
world defines as success, we can use our time and
(11:54):
talent to do some great things. We might even become famous.
But in the end will mean and listen to this,
What will people remember us for? Are other people's lives
better because we live? Did we make a difference? Did
we use to the fullest the gifts and abilities God
gave us? Did we give our best effort? And did
(12:15):
we do it for the right reasons? God's definition of
success is really one of significance, the significant difference our
lives can make in the lives of others. This significance
does not show up in win loss records. Long resumes
are the trophies gathering dust on our mantles.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Watch this.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It is found in the hearts and lives of those
who come across. We come across who are in some
way better because of the way we live. That is
spiritual engagement. That is a Christian full of the spirit
of God, who understands that life is about the journey
(12:56):
of faith, the lives that we touch, the legacy that
we live and leave, and the world that we.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Change to the power of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and his
message powering up Pastor. This month, we have a special
gift for our listeners who give a gift to PowerPoint,
it's a copy of your book Angels. Can you tell
us about this powerful resource?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Hebrews one pin fourteen says, are not all angels ministering
spirits sent to.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Serve those who will inherit salvation.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
These powerful angel beings are working and warring on our
behalf this very day, Christ and his angels to care
for his church, to protect you the Christian, to encourage
you and inspire you to push back the enemy and
boldly live out your faith every single day. When you
see that you're a part of a much bigger story
(13:50):
playing out in both the spiritual and physical realms, it
realigns your heart to the truth, help make sense of
your struggles, and inspires you to stay and firm with
your angelic allies for the cause of Christ. That's why
I'd like to send you my book Angels, to help
encourage you to find your God given support to stand
(14:11):
firm and stay the course in the spiritual battle that's
being waged today. Angels is my way to say thank
you for your financial support to help us proclaim the Gospel.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Of Jesus through PowerPoint.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So be sure to request your copy of Angels today,
when you give your best.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Gift, call today and get a copy of doctor Graham's
book Angels. When you give call one eight hundred seven
ninety five four six two seven. That's one eight hundred
seven ninety five four six two seven, or text the
word Jesus to five nine, seven eight nine. Now let's
get back to today's message, powering up.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
The second thing is the promise of spiritual power. Throughout
the Word of God. We have promised spiritual power and
the presence of God's Spirit in verse.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Eight of Acts, chapter one, he speaks.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Of the arrival of the Holy Spirit in a very
special and supernatural way. He said, you shall receive power
after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses. And the word that he uses
for power there the promise of this spiritual power is
dynamite or dunamus is the Greek word, and we get
(15:28):
our word dynamite from that word. But perhaps and sometimes
God shows up with explosive dynamite power. But really the
best description of this kind of spiritual power and engagement
is the word dynamic or dynamo, a constant, continual source
of strength and energy in us. The fact is that
(15:51):
God is able, and the same word used in the
Bible to describe the ableness of God, the greatness of God,
describes this power that is given to us, this.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Resurra direction power of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
For example, in Romans fifteen thirteen, God fills us with
the power of hope. In one Corinthians ten thirteen, we're
told that this power delivers us from temptation. In Ephesians
three point sixteen, we're told that this same power equips
(16:23):
us to serve God effectively. In Ephesians three twenty we're
told that God is able to deliver a power that
can do in us more than we could possibly imagine, ask,
or think.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Acts six eleven, we're told.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That this power, the power of God's Spirit, enables us
to resist satan and to win life's most important spiritual battles.
In Colossians one eleven, we're told that God is able
by this power to give us perseverance and discipline in life.
In Colossians one twenty nine, we're told that God's power
(16:59):
assists us, enables us, and helps us in the work
that we do for Him.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
One Peter one to five.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
God's power is able to protect you. Second Peter one three.
That God's power provides everything that you need to live
a godly life. That is spiritual engagement.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
It is the power of God's Spirit. And of this power.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Jesus said in John fourteen twelve that the works that
I have done, the Father sent me to do. He said,
following me, you will do greater works than I have done.
Imagined that Jesus saying that we would do greater works,
certainly in the sense of the scope of the work
(17:45):
of Christ on earth. When Christ was in a physical
body at one time, one place, one location, there was
a certain limitation. But now Christ is no longer in
his physical body. He is in his spiritual body of
the Church. And the Son never goes down. The witness
of Jesus, Christ, his works, his words, his powerful presence
is spread throughout the world in the power of his spirits.
(18:10):
And God has promised you spiritual power. And so if
you're empty and powerless and weak and struggling, what do
you need. You need the power the promise of God's
Spirit in your life. Finally, what is the purpose of
this spiritual power? Because there is a purpose, And Jesus
(18:34):
said in verse eight that you shall receive power after
the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will
be my witnesses.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Right in the margin of your bible, not an option.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You will be my witnesses five times in five different
books of the Bible, all four Gospels and the Book
of Acts. Jesus said it five times. Go go, go, go,
go into all the world and be my witnesses and
(19:14):
make disciples.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
It is as though Jesus.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Is saying, I'm gonna say it again and again and
again because I don't want you to miss this. Be
my witnesses, and I will empower you and that witness,
that testimony wherever you take it, and like a huge
(19:39):
spiritual tsunami, a tidal wave sweeping the earth. These early
believers shared the Gospel, the witness of the Gospel. Jesus said,
you will be witnesses unto me, my witnesses. The Gospel
is the one message the world must here.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Period.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Everyone everywhere needs to hear the story of Jesus. And
the very best thing you can do for another person
is to tell them about Jesus. We can feed the poor,
(20:29):
we can comfort the hurting, we can heal the sick,
we can strengthen the weak, we can feed the hungry,
but above all else, and we should do those things.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But above all else.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
People's greatest need is Jesus. And everybody needs Jesus. And
the mission is clear. You are my witnesses into all
the world. So on a personal level, as God fills
(21:09):
us with his spirit, then we should spend the rest
of our lives.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Spreading the gospel.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Using the platforms that we have, not as professionals, not
as preachers, but using the platform that God has given
every one of us to proclaim the message of Jesus.
That's young and old, new believers and older believers. Did
(21:40):
you know that retire is not in God's vocabulary.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
It's not in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No one is allowed to retire from God's work. And
the witness of Christ following Jesus is a full time
job until Jesus comes again. And it starts right at home,
because Jesus said, go into all the world, beginning at Jerusalem,
your own home base, and then to Judea and Samaria
(22:10):
and the uttermost parts of the earth. Take it from
here to there. As you go.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
God wants to use you to share Jesus. Where you are.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Witnessing is not for the professionals. It's not for the
religious types. It's for Christians full of God's spirit, who
are willing to simply share their faith wherever they go, anywhere,
any time, any place. And James Kennedy said this, and
I quote, the solution to the desperate problems of our
world is for us to become involved in our culture
(22:48):
and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Christians
would do those two things, our nation and ultimately our
world would be transful, almost overnight. The purpose of spiritual
power is to energize us and equip us to witness
(23:09):
of Christ.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Now, the disciples, they didn't quite get it yet.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
They started talking about the coming kingdom of God. They
wanted to know when Jesus was going to establish his
messianic reign, his millennial kingdom. And he said, enough of that.
Don't worry about that. Don't focus on the trip ahead.
You focus on the task at hand. Be my witnesses
(23:34):
if you want to help bring in the second coming
of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Jesus said, when.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
The Gospel has preached to all the nations, then the
end will come, and we could be a part of
his soon arrival by sharing Christ during the reign of
Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England, there was a
shortage of silver coins nation, so he sent some soldiers
(24:03):
around the country to try to find more silver. The
soldiers came back and said, the only silver we can
find is in the statues of the saints that are
standing in the cathedrals of England. Cromwell smiled and said, good,
go and melt down those saints and put them in circulation.
(24:25):
That's what God wants to do with us, by the
baptism of the fire of God's Spirit, to melt us
down and to put us in circulation that the world
may know Jesus, and.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
He's given us the spiritual power to do it.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
powering up. On June thirtieth, we will close our books
on another year of ministry, and it's critical we end strong.
That's why generous friends have stepped forward with a two
hundred thousand dollars matching grant, which means every dollar you
give by June thirtieth will be doubled. Your gift to
help meet this grant in full is so important. We'll
(25:06):
send you doctor Graham's powerful book Angels. It's our special
gift and thank you to you. This encouraging book reveals
what Scripture says about God's messengers and how their presence
reminds us that Heaven is always near. Request your copy
when you call and give today. Call one eight hundred
seven nine five four six two seven. That's one eight
(25:28):
hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. You can
also text the word angels to five nine seven eight nine.
That's angels to five nine seven eight nine, and thank
you for your deeply valued support. And don't forget to
visit Jack Graham dot org where you can shop our
East store, give a gift online, or sign up for
(25:49):
doctor Graham's free daily email devotional. Our website again is
Jack Graham dot org. And also be sure to sign
up for doctor Graham's podcast Bible in a Year pastor
what is your power point for Today?
Speaker 5 (26:05):
You know, it's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
The first thing Jesus said about powering up in life
is not to go, but to wait right here. At
the beginning of the Book of Acts, he said, what
I want you to do is to wait right here
in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit and
the scripture tells us that's exactly what the followers of
Jesus did.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
They waited and prayed.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Together as one heart and one soul, and as a result,
they received the power and the very presence of the
Holy Spirit in their lives. So what about you today?
Are you ready to see the evidence of the work
of God's Spirit in your life. I meet so many
followers of Christ who want to see Christ change their life.
They want him to revolutionize their family. They desperately desire
(26:47):
for Him to give them the power to overcome temptation.
But as we talked about in today's program, the first
step in tapping into this power, in embracing and engaging
this power, is to do what the followers of Jesus did,
and that is to wait and pray, engage God in prayer,
and trust in him. That's my encouragement to you today.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life,
that He will fill.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
You and use you, and just wait and see then
what God accomplishes through your life.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a
gift of ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll send
you doctor Graham's book angels as our thanks call one
eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. That's
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word angels to five nine
(27:39):
seven eight nine and join us again next time as
doctor Graham brings a message about how ordinary you can
do extraordinary things. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry, Say
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