Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by the Father
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The concept of the Holy Spirit's power, as promised by the Father, is a central theme in Christian theology, reflecting the divine enablement and presence bestowed upon believers. This promise is rooted in the Old Testament and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament, particularly through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and the early Church.

Old Testament Foundations

The promise of the Holy Spirit is foreshadowed in the Old Testament, where the Spirit of God is depicted as a source of empowerment and guidance. In Joel 2:28-29 , the prophet declares, "And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days." This prophecy anticipates a future outpouring of the Spirit, transcending social and gender boundaries, and signifies a new era of divine interaction with humanity.

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of this promise through the ministry of Jesus Christ and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, frequently spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit. In Luke 24:49 , He instructs His disciples, "And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." This "power from on high" refers to the Holy Spirit, who would equip the disciples for their mission.

In Acts 1:8 , Jesus further clarifies the nature of this empowerment: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Holy Spirit's power is thus directly linked to the mission of the Church, enabling believers to bear witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pentecost and the Early Church

The promise of the Holy Spirit is dramatically realized at Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. The disciples, gathered in Jerusalem, experience the outpouring of the Spirit, marked by the sound of a rushing wind and tongues of fire. Acts 2:4 states, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This event signifies the birth of the Church and the beginning of its global mission.

The power of the Holy Spirit is evident in the boldness and effectiveness of the apostles' preaching, the performance of miracles, and the rapid growth of the early Christian community. The Spirit's presence is not limited to extraordinary manifestations but is also seen in the transformation of believers' lives, the unity of the Church, and the spread of the Gospel.

Theological Implications

The promise of the Holy Spirit underscores the Trinitarian nature of God, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working in harmony to accomplish the divine plan of salvation. The Holy Spirit's power is essential for the believer's sanctification, spiritual growth, and participation in the mission of the Church. As the indwelling presence of God, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out their faith, resist sin, and bear fruit in accordance with God's will.

In summary, the power of the Holy Spirit, as promised by the Father, is a foundational aspect of Christian belief, providing the necessary strength and guidance for believers to fulfill their calling in the world. This divine empowerment is both a gift and a responsibility, inviting Christians to live in the fullness of the Spirit's presence and power.
Nave's Topical Index
Luke 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Holy Spirit of Promise
... of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on ... he may abide with you forever;
even the Spirit of truth ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter iv the holy spirit.htm

The Apostles Teach that it was Neither Christ nor the Saviour, but ...
... disciples after the Lord's ascension, having power to admit ... Wherefore also the Lord
promised to send the ... partakers of Himself, sending the Holy Spirit upon all ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvii the apostles teach that.htm

The Holy Spirit and the World.
... dispensation will be one of great power in prayer ... end of the chapter of all he has
before promised. ... when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, and ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the holy spirit and the.htm

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
... intellectual and moral apprehension; "Counsel and might," the power to scheme ...
1:13""Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." The Spirit is the ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the holy.htm

The Advocate Promised.
... to the saints in general is that the Spirit will aid ... contained in the completed
revelation of the Holy Scriptures. ... hand of God and to have "all power in heaven ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the advocate promised.htm

The Attractive Power of God
... the heavenly Father with the might of His divine power. ... into the land which I have
promised, the land ... Now when the Holy Spirit saw that the Only Begotten Son ...
/.../eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/i the attractive power of.htm

The Voice in the Wilderness
... Soon after the birth of the promised child, the father's ... and through the aid of the
Holy Spirit he was ... to detect Satan's approaches, and to resist his power. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 10 the voice in.htm

How the Word is the Maker of all Things, and Even the Holy Spirit ...
... God which He promised before by His prophets in Holy Scriptures, concerning ... the flesh,
determined the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/6 how the word is.htm

John Chapter xiv. 15-17.
... as the Lord is pleased to grant us the power, and in ... may abide with you for ever:
[even] the Spirit of truth ... We have here, at all events, the Holy Spirit in the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxxiv john chapter xiv.htm

Jesus Gives his Last Commands to his Helpers
... wait for what the Father had promised""the promise ... have passed you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit.". ... own authority; but you will receive power when the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus gives his last commands.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about how much power Christians possess? | GotQuestions.org

How can we rely on the power of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is there power in the name of Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Power: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Power

Power of Christ is Able to Subdue all Things

Power of Christ: As Man, is from the Father

Power of Christ: As the Son of God, is the Power of God

Power of Christ: Bodies of, Will be Changed By

Power of Christ: Described As Supreme

Power of Christ: Destroying the Works of Satan

Power of Christ: Enabling Others to Work Miracles

Power of Christ: Everlasting

Power of Christ: Exemplified in Creation

Power of Christ: Forgiving Sins

Power of Christ: Giving Eternal Life

Power of Christ: Giving Spiritual Life

Power of Christ: Glorious

Power of Christ: Helped By

Power of Christ: His Teaching

Power of Christ: Ministers should Make Known

Power of Christ: Over all Flesh

Power of Christ: Over all Things

Power of Christ: Overcoming Satan

Power of Christ: Overcoming the World

Power of Christ: Performing Miracles

Power of Christ: Present in the Assembly of Saints

Power of Christ: Preserved By

Power of Christ: Raising the Dead

Power of Christ: Rests Upon Saints

Power of Christ: Rising from the Dead

Power of Christ: Saints Made Willing By

Power of Christ: Salvation

Power of Christ: Strengthened By

Power of Christ: The Wicked Will be Destroyed By

Power of Christ: Unlimited

Power of Christ: Upholding all Things

Power of Christ: Will be Specially Manifested at his Second Coming

Power of Christ: Will Subdue all Power

Power of God in Delivering his People

Power of God in Establishing and Governing all Things

Power of God in Making the Gospel Effectual

Power of God in the Creation

Power of God in the Destruction of the Wicked

Power of God in the Miracles of Christ

Power of God in the Resurrection of Christ

Power of God in the Resurrection of Saints

Power of God is a Ground of Trust

Power of God is the Source of all Strength

Power of God: All Things Possible To

Power of God: Can Save by Many or by Few

Power of God: Delivered By

Power of God: do not Know

Power of God: Effectual

Power of God: Efficiency of Ministers is Through

Power of God: Everlasting

Power of God: Exalted By

Power of God: Exerted in Behalf of Saints

Power of God: Feared

Power of God: Glorious

Power of God: Great

Power of God: Have Against Them

Power of God: Have Confidence In

Power of God: Incomparable

Power of God: Incomprehensible

Power of God: Irresistable

Power of God: Kept By, Unto Salvation

Power of God: Magnified

Power of God: Mighty

Power of God: Nothing Too Difficult For

Power of God: One of his Attributes

Power of God: Pleaded in Prayer

Power of God: Receive Increase of Grace By

Power of God: Saints Long for Exhibitions of

Power of God: should be Acknowledged

Power of God: Sovereign

Power of God: Strengthened By

Power of God: Strong

Power of God: Supported in Affliction By

Power of God: The Arm of God

Power of God: The Faith That Saints Rely On

Power of God: The Finger of God

Power of God: The Hand of God

Power of God: The Heavenly Host Magnified

Power of God: The Thunder of his Power

Power of God: The Voice of God

Power of God: Unsearchable

Power of God: Upheld By

Power of God: Will be Destroyed by

Power of God: Works in and for Saints

Power of Keys

Power of the Holy Spirit is the Power of God

Power of the Holy Spirit: Abound in Hope by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Commenced his Ministry In

Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Worked his Miracles By

Power of the Holy Spirit: Enabled to Speak the Truth Boldly by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Giving Spiritual Life

Power of the Holy Spirit: God's Word the Instrument of

Power of the Holy Spirit: Helped in Prayer by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Making the Gospel Effective

Power of the Holy Spirit: Overcoming all Difficulties

Power of the Holy Spirit: Performing Miracles

Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by Christ

Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by the Father

Power of the Holy Spirit: Qualifies Ministers

Power of the Holy Spirit: Raising Christ from the Dead

Power of the Holy Spirit: Strengthened by

Power of the Holy Spirit: The Conception of Christ

Power of the Holy Spirit: The Creation

Power of the Holy Spirit: Upheld by

Power of Words

Power: Spiritual

The Power of Christ is Able to Subdue all Things

The Power of Christ: As Man, is from the Father

The Power of Christ: As the Son of God, is the Power of God

The Power of Christ: Everlasting

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Destroying the Works of Satan

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Enabling Others to Work Miracles

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Forgiving Sins

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Giving Eternal Life

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Giving Spiritual Life

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in His Teaching

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Overcoming Satan

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Overcoming the World

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Raising Himself from the Dead

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Raising the Dead

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Salvation

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Upholding all Things

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Working Miracles

The Power of Christ: Glorious

The Power of Christ: Ministers should Make Known

The Power of Christ: Over all Flesh

The Power of Christ: Over all Things

The Power of Christ: Present in the Assembly of Saints

The Power of Christ: Rests Upon Saints

The Power of Christ: Saints: Bodies of, Shall be Changed By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Helped By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Made Willingly By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Preserved By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of Christ: Shall be Specially Manifested at his Second Coming

The Power of Christ: Shall Subdue all Power

The Power of Christ: Supreme

The Power of Christ: The Wicked Shall be Destroyed By

The Power of Christ: Unlimited

The Power of God is a Ground of Trust

The Power of God is One of his Attributes

The Power of God is the Source of all Strength

The Power of God: All Things Possible To

The Power of God: Can Save by Many or by Few

The Power of God: Effectual

The Power of God: Efficiency of Ministers is Through

The Power of God: Everlasting

The Power of God: Exerted in Behalf of Saints

The Power of God: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of God: Exhibited in Delivering his People

The Power of God: Exhibited in Establishing and Governing all Things

The Power of God: Exhibited in Making the Gospel Effectual

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Destruction of the Wicked

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Miracles of Christ

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Resurrection of Christ

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Resurrection of Saints

The Power of God: Expressed by the Arm of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Finger of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Hand of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Thunder of his Power

The Power of God: Expressed by the Voice of God

The Power of God: Glorious

The Power of God: Great

The Power of God: Incomparable

The Power of God: Incomprehensible

The Power of God: Irresistible

The Power of God: Mighty

The Power of God: Nothing Too Hard For

The Power of God: Saints: Delivered By

The Power of God: Saints: Exalted By

The Power of God: Saints: Have Confidence In

The Power of God: Saints: Kept By, to Salvation

The Power of God: Saints: Long for Exhibitions

The Power of God: Saints: Receive Increase of Grace By

The Power of God: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of God: Saints: Supported in Affliction By

The Power of God: Saints: Upheld By

The Power of God: should be Acknowledged

The Power of God: should be Feared

The Power of God: should be Magnified

The Power of God: should be Pleaded in Prayer

The Power of God: Sovereign

The Power of God: Strong

The Power of God: The Faith of Saints Stands In

The Power of God: The Heavenly Host Magnify

The Power of God: The Wicked: Have Against Them

The Power of God: The Wicked: Know Not

The Power of God: The Wicked: Shall be Destroyed By

The Power of God: Unsearchable

The Power of God: Works In, and for Saints

The Power of the Holy Spirit is the Power of God

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Commenced his Ministry In

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Wrought his Miracles By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Giving Spiritual Life

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Making the Gospel Efficacious

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Overcoming all Difficulties

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Promised by Christ

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Promised by the Father

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Raising Christ from the Dead

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in The Conception of Christ

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Working Miracles

The Power of the Holy Spirit: God's Word the Instrument of

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Qualifies Ministers

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Abound in Hope By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Enable to Speak the Truth Boldly By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Helped in Prayer By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Upheld By

Related Terms

Virtue (21 Occurrences)

Charm (5 Occurrences)

Stretched-out (21 Occurrences)

Capacity (5 Occurrences)

Attraction (3 Occurrences)

Surrender (18 Occurrences)

Scorched (21 Occurrences)

Ability (34 Occurrences)

Agent (4 Occurrences)

Spirit's (6 Occurrences)

Sharing (18 Occurrences)

Surpassing (21 Occurrences)

Sorts (65 Occurrences)

Scorpions (9 Occurrences)

Spring (122 Occurrences)

Syrians (63 Occurrences)

Sense (195 Occurrences)

Surprised (46 Occurrences)

Command (442 Occurrences)

Accordance (118 Occurrences)

Apocalyptic

Speech (107 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Vest (11 Occurrences)

Key (8 Occurrences)

Kingly (7 Occurrences)

Cilicia (8 Occurrences)

Crucify (20 Occurrences)

Awe-struck (9 Occurrences)

Abolish (6 Occurrences)

Ascribed (7 Occurrences)

Seeing (442 Occurrences)

Submission (10 Occurrences)

See (8256 Occurrences)

Sufficient (28 Occurrences)

Strengthened (113 Occurrences)

Keys (2 Occurrences)

Accord (43 Occurrences)

Simply (27 Occurrences)

Attention (236 Occurrences)

Strength (517 Occurrences)

Sidon (35 Occurrences)

Amazed (75 Occurrences)

Apollyon (1 Occurrence)

Snakes (25 Occurrences)

Signs (127 Occurrences)

Curse (211 Occurrences)

Stroke (26 Occurrences)

Various (52 Occurrences)

Queen (59 Occurrences)

Communion (8 Occurrences)

Splendor (87 Occurrences)

Sort (143 Occurrences)

Astonished (92 Occurrences)

Act (204 Occurrences)

Asmoneans

Sending (188 Occurrences)

Amen (74 Occurrences)

Submit (36 Occurrences)

Stands (111 Occurrences)

Sword (427 Occurrences)

Adoption (5 Occurrences)

Common (118 Occurrences)

Assurance (16 Occurrences)

Armour (32 Occurrences)

Complete (246 Occurrences)

Shattered (42 Occurrences)

Able (730 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Attackers (41 Occurrences)

Hittites (39 Occurrences)

Sick (117 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Sitting (201 Occurrences)

Sky (278 Occurrences)

Strengthen (105 Occurrences)

Ashamed (131 Occurrences)

Arm (110 Occurrences)

Yours (226 Occurrences)

Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by Christ
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