The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Part Two: Constant Access to Extreme, God-sourced Power
This is the second of a four-part series on “walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.” The previous article looked at constant access to the Holy Spirit. In this article, we will discuss constant access to extreme, God-sourced power. The article that follows later will discuss constant access to spiritual wisdom and understanding; and the final article will be on constant access to “uncommon sense.” Each of these four, working together in us, offers unlimited potential for walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
In the previous article, I called your attention to the Apostle Paul’s desire for God’s people to obtain something more than the average Christian experience with God. Paul saw the opportunity for us to live an above-average spiritual life, by accessing the fullness of our experience with the Holy Spirit. He saw this as an experience in “all” God has to offer us. It is a life overflowing with the Holy Spirit, that will be “fully pleasing Him.” Now, let us continue to build this picture of a “fully pleasing” life in the Holy Spirit. We will begin with the familiar Scriptures of Acts, Chapter 1.
Acts 1:4-5, 8 (NKJV)
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; {5} for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… {8} “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus promised that we would receive divinely sourced power when the Baptism in the Holy Spirit came to God’s people. This would fulfill God’s earlier promise, recorded in Joel 2:28-32. Knowing this, I have often asked myself why so many Christians (and perhaps most of us) lack this power, and especially all of its fullness? Today, Spirit baptism is a vital step in our spiritual growth. We ought to receive it and then, do our best to walk in the fullness of what we have received. It needs to be a reality in our lives. It is a gift that allows us to gain the potential to see the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit come alive, within us. Jesus knew that having this power would be conditional. It would depend upon our willingness to believe, receive and then, demonstrate the power through faith and obedience. Having God’s power begins by believing God is who He says He is and will do what He said He would do. Constant access to the fullness of His power follows, as we habitually draw into a deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Degrees of Power
Luke 3:16 (NKJV)
“John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.””
Degrees of power are determined by degrees of faith. This is a “cause and effect” principle. We could classify these degrees of power according to the following table.
|
Degrees of Power |
|
| Cause | Effect |
| No Faith | No Power |
| Low Levels of Faith | Low Power(Doubt and second-guessing work together to deny that God is who is said He is and will do what He said He would do.) |
| Normal Levels of Faith | Average, Everyday Power(Most Christians are content with this level of faith.) |
| High Levels of Faith | Great Power(There is no doubt or wavering, just a strong sense of belief.) |
| Fiery Faith(Baptized with Fire or “Fire Power”) | Constant Access to Extreme God-sources Power(This is a condition in which the fullness of our potential to walk in the power of Holy Spirit is reached. It is a refusal to be denied what God has promised you. Your confession becomes: “I am on fire and the devil is a liar.”) |
There are many New Testament examples of people who operated in the fullness of their faith and had access to extreme God-sourced power. Their examples are very different, but they share the same divine power-source. The power manifested, depending on the circumstances at the moment of their need, or opportunity. It was always the power of the Holy Spirit that moved through them. Let us begin by looking at Stephen, a man full of faith and power in the Holy Spirit.
Stephen: Full of Faith and Power
Acts 6:2-6 (NLT)
“So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. “We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program,” they said. {3} “Now look around among yourselves, friends, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. {4} Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word.” {5} This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian). {6} These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.”
The power of the Holy Spirit was so strong in Stephen that he could stand without fear, facing the enemies of the Lord, proclaiming the Gospel. He rebuked them, knowing it would lead him to a violent stoning and death. His power was not only to endure the torture and death, but at the same time, to deliver the word of the Lord with authority and truth. As you read Stephen’s accusation to his persecutors, feel the fullness of the power in his words.
Acts 7:51-53, 56 (NKJV)
“You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. {52} Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, {53} who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it… {56} Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Stephen’s narrative teaches us that when we have a constant, intimate, Spirit-filled relationship with God, we will see far beyond the circumstances of the moment. We will not be alone. We will see Jesus.
Paul and Silas: Full Faith and Power
In the previous article, I wrote, “Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that you have all that He makes available to you. It is a picture of the abundant potential that has been deposited within you and can now be realized.” Acts 16 records that Paul and Silas demonstrated this abundant potential, when they confronted a demon that possessed a young girl in Philippi. Paul and Silas, walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, were preaching the Gospel. The demon possessed slave girl began to follow them, mocking their message and ministry. However, Paul and Silas had constant access to the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul used his access to take authority over the demon.
Acts 16:16-18a (NKJV)
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. {17} This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” {18} And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. {19} But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.”
The Greek word in Verse 17 that is translated “cried out” is “krazo (pronounced krad’-zo”). It implies making a loud croaking sound like a frog or a shriek like a wild animal in the forest. You can imagine how disruptive and distracting the demon in that slave girl must have been. The shrieking demon in that poor girl was on an assignment from hell. Its assignment had to be broken. The slave girl had to be freed from it. Paul cast it out of her. As a result, he and Simon were seized, beaten and imprisoned in a dark, inner part of the jail. This was no surprise to God. It was part of His plan for them to bring salvation to their jailer. Their imprisonment and chains were stepping-stones within this plan. Their faith and obedience were not to be denied. The jailer and his family found the Lord. The beautiful thing about walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit is that it will release others from their personal prisons. (It might even deliver you out of yours.)
We can learn so much about walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit from the examples of these three men of God. Stephen accessed supernatural boldness, as he displayed fiery zeal for the Lord in the face of imminent death. Paul and Silas walked in faith and power through every difficulty and never wavered. In both cases, the will of God was accomplished. God was glorified and the devil was horrified! Constant access to extreme God-sourced power always glorifies God and horrifies the devil!
I want to encourage you to think through these three questions. (You might also find them useful in a small group setting.)
1. What impresses you most about the divided tongues of fire sent by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost?
2. How did Stephen, even as he died delivering the Word of the Lord to his killers, demonstrate constant access to extreme, God-sourced power? Explain in detail.
3. How close are you to walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit? What can you do to increase your access to His power, so that it becomes constant and always available?
Please look for the final two parts of this series. I know they will bless you.
Dr. Bob Abramson
Dr. Bob Abramson