YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER
"BUT YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU; AND YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES TO ME [Jesus] IN JERUSALEM, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
Comment: The coming of the Holy Spirit on whoever confesses Jesus as Lord and Saviour is the baptism of power—the receiving of power.
This power from the Holy Spirit would enable the believer to do many things he was unable to do before:
a. Power received through the incoming of the Holy Spirit would primarily enabled or emboldened the believer to be a witness to Christ Jesus (Acts 1:8; 4:31).
b. Signs and wonders will follow him or her: having the power to lay hands on the sick, cast out demons, and being immune or protected from poisonous things and venoms (Acts 5:12).
The work of witnessing or ministry cannot be done effectively without the help of the Holy Spirit, thus, Jesus said the Disciples should tarry in Jerusalem until they are endued with power: “BEHOLD, I SEND THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER UPON YOU; BUT TARRY IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH" " (Luke 24:49 NKJV).
"AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM, HE [Jesus] COMMANDED THEM NOT TO DEPART FROM JERUSALEM, BUT TO WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me."
Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
The first encounter with the Holy Spirit of whoever is coming to God through Jesus Christ is the reborn or rebirth or being born-again.
The reborn of the human spirit of someone who comes to God through Christ Jesus is done by the Holy Spirit; It is known as being born of the Spirit: "JESUS ANSWERED, “MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (John 3:5 NKJV).
This also is referred to by Jesus Christ, when He was talking to the woman of Samaria by the well; as having a well or spring or fountain of water on the inside of you: "BUT WHOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER THAT I WILL GIVE HIM WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY AGAIN. THE WATER THAT I WILL GIVE HIM WILL BECOME IN HIM A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE” (John 4:14 ESV).
Whilst the second encounter with the Holy Spirit of a believer is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, being endued; filled or deluged or drowned or saturated with power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).
This was also referred to by Jesus Christ as the rivers of living water that will flow out of a believer's heart (John 7:38,39).
With the first encounter which is the well or spring or fountain level, a believer would be able to relate with God; study the Word of God, the Bible, pray and commune with God. However, there is a limit to what he or she could do. This is the reason why Jesus strictly told the Disciples not to go out for witnessing without having the second encounter, being endued or filled with power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8).
It is at the second encounter, the rivers level, that you would be able to flow and be used to meet other people's needs. You would be used to witness Christ to others and be accompanied with signs and wonders to attest to your words and work (Acts 4:31; 5:12).
Whoever ignored this procedure would not have the results expected of him or her in witnessing and the work of ministry in general.
This procedure is seen in Samaria, under the ministry of Philip, when people were saved and the news got to Jerusalem; the Apostles, Peter and John, were sent to minister baptism of the Holy Spirit to the people (Acts 8:14-17).
Are you born-again? If you are; Have you been endued or filled with power?
If you are not; ask God to fill you now. If you did ask in faith you will receive now (Luke 11:13).
Peace.