EMPOWERED FOR IMPACT
Power is the ability to do or undergo something
It’s always relative to a task
So Power is the ability to do work
Empowered would then mean to give permission, Power or legal right to do something (work)
Impact: A significant or strong influence; an effect
This would mean an enabling capacity to be able to exert a significant strong influence with a definitive resultant effect
The Power enables me to so something tangible that people can see—Impact
In 2Kings 2:1-13 we see Elijah and Elisha story
Elisha was not the only one in the school of prophets but he’s the PA to Elijah
He asked for the double portion of Elijah’s anointing
Let me explain double portion as a practice in Israel
In terms of material possession, if a man has 6 son for instance, he divides his possessions into 7
He gives each of them a portion then the last portion to the first born hence the term double portion
There is also something called “heir”
Heir is not really about someone that will inherit your properties per say though it’s related to double portion too
It Is someone that would continue your role or Ministry on the earth after you’re long gone
Naturally or culturally, it should be the Firstborn but in practice according to God’s Election which is by Grace, it’s mostly the opposite
God made a Promise to Abraham “In Your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” Genesis 12, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4
Ishmael was the Firstborn who should continue Abraham’s role or ministry on the earth
But God chose Isaac (the second born instead) as the heir of Abraham—Election
Isaac had both Esau and Jacob for which Esau by default should be the heir by birth
Esau himself sold that right to Jacob, He cried for it later but it was too late
The Messiah can legitimately come from either Esau and Jacob as they’re both descendants of Abraham
But instead of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau we now have, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
So when Elisha asked for the double portion now you understand the implication of what he asked for
He’s basically saying I want to continue your work here on the earth as the head of that school of prophets
2 Kings 2:15
[15]And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
They will now take instructions from him henceforth and so it was
Acts 1:8
[8] But 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.
Let’s back track a bit
The context for this statement was the hallmark event of all the prophetic scriptures—Christ risen from the dead
Jesus upon the Ressurection appeared to his disciples (Luke 24)
Luke 24:25-27,44-49
[25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to BELIEVE ALL that THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN:
[26] Ought not CHRIST TO have SUFFERED these things, and to ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?
[27] And BEGINNING AT MOSES and ALL THE PROPHETS, HE EXPOUNDED unto THEM IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES the THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF.
……
[44] And he said unto them, These are THE WORDS which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE fulfil3led, which were WRITTEN in THE LAW OF MOSES, and IN THE PROPHETS, and IN THE PSALMS, CONCERNING ME.
[45] Then OPENED HE THEIR UNDERSTANDING, that they MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES,
[46] And said unto them, Thus IT IS WRITTEN, and thus it behoved CHRIST TO SUFFER, and TO RISE FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY:
[47] And that REPENTANCE and REMISSION OF SINS should BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.
[48] And YE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS.
[49] And, behold, I SEND THE PROMISE of MY FATHER UPON YOU: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be ENDUED WITH POWER from ON HIGH.
So Jesus upon the Ressurection expounded all of scriptures to the disciples
Acts 1 let us know that it happened in the space of 40 days. Jesus gave them convincing PROOFS that He indeed wasn’t a Ghost, He rose from the dead bodily
Acts 1:3
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many INFALLIBLE PROOFS, being seen of them FORTY DAYS, and SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD:
So they saw it with their korokoro eyes (eye witness account of the Ressurection of Christ) then they received instruction to tarry until they receive power
Receive is the word Lambano which is a very active word (a verb) it means to take or layhold on something
While the word power is the word dunamis. It’s simply power in action
What were they doing when they got the instruction to tarry?
Were they just playing?
Acts 1:12-14
[12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
[13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
[14] THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER and SUPPLICATION, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Notice he didn’t say they started praying, it says they continued
This is arguably a daily practice for at least 9 days
The day of Pentecost is a feast in Israel usually celebrated 50th day after the passover (I.e 50th day after 7 Sabbaths) and Jesus was with them for 40 days
So on the day of Pentecost what happened?
They received the Holy Ghost
They prophesied too according to Peters sermon and what was the result?
Peter preached the Gospel as a WITNESS of Christ’s Ressurection and 3,000 souls got saved
Acts 2:41-43
[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
[42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
[43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
What else here? They continued the works of Jesus on the earth
They wrought mighty signs and wonders
They were simply doing the works of Jesus on the earth, Christ continued His work in them (John 14:12)
What was the secret?
They received the Holy Ghost
They were full of prayer too
Acts 3:1
[1] Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at THE HOUR OF PRAYER, being the ninth hour.
It was in the hour of prayer that Peter and John healed the lame man at the gate called beautiful
After the healing, crowd gathered together
Acts 3:12
[12] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Acts 4:4
[4] Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Again 5,000 men were saved again
What an Impact! Acts 1:8
After this impact they were threatened and persecuted what did they do?
Acts 4:31,33
[31] And when THEY HAD PRAYED, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and THEY SPAKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS.
[33] And WITH GREAT POWER gave THE APOSTLES WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus: and GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM ALL.
When food could have distracted them from making impact, what did they do?
Acts 6:4
[4] But we will GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER, and to the MINISTRY OF THE WORD.
So they chose those to serve tables
Now those they chose as Decons to help them were also empowered For the same impact by the Holy Ghost
Acts 6:5-8
[5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
[6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7] And THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED; and THE NUMBER of the disciples MULTIPLIED IN JERUSALEM GREATLY; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
[8] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
At this point they multiplied beyond 5,000 and like Acts 6:1 they really can’t put a number to it again
Stephen was killed, they were scattered yet they were empowered by the Holy Ghost to Witness Jesus everywhere they go
Acts 8:4-6
[4] Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
[5] Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
[6] And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
After this Philip preached to an African man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-40) he had Supernatural transportation after that to other cities
This means their impact went beyond the chores of Israel
Paul witnessed Jesus throughout Asia
Acts 19:9-10,20
[9] But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
[10] And this continued by the space of TWO YEARS; so that ALL THEY WHICH DWELT IN ASIA HEARD THE WORD OF THE LORD JESUS, both Jews and Greeks.
[20] SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD and PREVAILED.
Is Acts 1:8 being fulfilled?
Jerusalem?
Judaea?
Samaria?
Asia?
Andrew took the Gospel of the risen Christ as a witness to Asia minor, Soviet Union, Turkey and Greece
The so called doubting Thomas reportedly took the Gospel to India
Mathew in Persia and Ethiopia and so on
They died being a witness in the uttermost part of the world according to Jesus in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8
So as believers today do we have the Holy Ghost? Yes!
Can we also pray? Sure!
So what’s stopping us from having the same impact the Apostles had all over the globe?
It’s simply because we have relaxed probably due to lesser persecution plus other distractions in the world today
Also, we have lost focus! Our definition of impact has changed from the Apostolic’s definition of impact
Acts 2 where about 3,000 souls were saved, immediately began discipleship with a systematic theology called Apostles’ Doctrine
Acts 2:41-42,46
[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
[42 ] And they continued stedfastly in the APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
[46] And they, CONTINUING DAILY with one accord IN THE TEMPLE, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
The Apostles’ doctrine is simply put the Apostles explanation of scriptures just as they were taught by Jesus Himself during the 49 days as seen in Luke 24:25-27; 44-45; Acts 1:1-8
Also in Acts 6, Food was never a distraction from what’s really important—Labour in word and doctrine and prayer
We can’t afford to be distracted from what really matters
Isaiah 52:7
[7] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Daniel 12:3
[3]And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Mark 16:15-16
[15]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
They simply obeyed the Instruction
Mark 16:20
[20] And THEY WENT FORTH, and PREACHED EVERY WHERE, the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with SIGNS FOLLOWING. AMEN.
They fulfilled Matthew 28-18-20
To make disciples of all nations (Jews and Gentiles alike)
To observe the very things Jesus Himself had commanded them. That is, they stayed with the syllabus already given to them by the Master
Jesus had earlier said there were many things He wanted to tell them but they couldn’t bear it yet but when the Spirit of Truth comes, He would testify of Him and guide them into all of the Truth John 14-16
Now Jesus the Christ upon the Ressurection told them explicitly those things they couldn’t bear earlier, He did that arguably for 40 days post Ressurection
So there were no grey areas in their understanding or explanation of scriptures
Hwnce they weren’t adding or complicating it with extracurricular activities like some of us do today
After the 40 days, they were still concerned about earthly Kingdom “When is the Kingdom going to be returned to Israel...” and the master told them what their focus should be hence Acts 1:8
I call you blessed
14th September, 2021
Victor O. Fabuluje (Physical Therapist) 