Activate the Power
Pastor Erickson preaches from Acts 3 and 4, where Peter and John see a lame man at the temple gate and give him what they have in the name of Jesus. He calls believers to activate the power of the Holy Ghost by looking toward the needs around them, letting signs follow them, and becoming disciple makers in their community.
The message in 6 points
Practicing the power
Reading Acts 4, the rulers ask Peter and John by what power or by what name they have done this. He compares them to doctors who keep practicing medicine: Peter and John are putting into practice the power they received on the day of Pentecost.
36:59Activation is required
He tells of replacing his wife's broken phone and reading that activation is required. No matter what is on a phone, it is useless until it is activated. In the same way, the power of the Holy Ghost only works when we activate it and do something with it.
40:02Don't look away from the need
In Acts 3 Peter and John fasten their eyes on the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, when most people would look away. He says the church must not look away from needs, and points to the church's recovery class, marriage retreat, Christian school and new training centers.
44:24Such as I have give I thee
Peter tells the man to look up, and Pastor Erickson says God wants to lift people out of shame. Peter had no silver or gold but gave what he had. The Holy Ghost was not given only for our own enjoyment, but so we could share it and be witnesses.
58:00Purpose, problem and power
He says three things must be present: a purpose, a problem and power, and our purpose is revealed in someone else's problem. The man who had never walked rises up walking and leaping and praising God, and all the people are filled with wonder.
1:05:24Signs following the believer
He asks what we are doing with our power. From Mark 16 he says signs follow every believer, not only preachers. One healing in Acts led to about 5,000 believing, and he calls the church to look for people in need, give them hope, and become disciple makers.
1:11:28
In his words
“The power of the Holy Ghost, [it] only works if you activate it, it only works if you do something with it.”
“That's truly not why the Holy Ghost was given. It's the benefit of the Holy Ghost, but that's not why the Holy Ghost was given. The Holy Ghost was given so we could share.”
“We already possess the power we need to make a difference in our family, in our home. We already possess the power that we need to make a difference on the workplace, but are you doing something with the power that you possess?”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added. Words in [brackets] were fixed so the line reads clearly.
Scripture
He reads
Acts 4:5-7
5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
King James Version.
Acts 3:1-8
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
King James Version.
Psalms 24:7-8
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
King James Version.
Acts 3:9-10
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
King James Version.
Acts 1:8
8But 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.
King James Version.
Mark 16:15-18
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
King James Version.
Mark 16:20
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
King James Version.
Acts 4:1-4
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
King James Version.
Related messages
I Already Possess Exactly What I Need
Also about the Holy Ghost, purpose, the name of Jesus
Also about the Holy Ghost, purpose
Also about the Holy Ghost, purpose, revival