WEST AFRICA HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE
POWER FOR SERVICE
POWER FOR SERVICE: ENGAGING IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND KINGDOM
BUILDING
(1988)

SYNOPSIS
This sermon emphasizes the Church’s mission, which requires the Holy Spirit’s power for
spiritual warfare, societal liberation, proclaiming Redemption, and building God’s Kingdom.

PREAMBLE
As we have found out this afternoon, the mission of the church involves spiritual warfare
not only for purposes of evangelisms, not only for the sake of establishing the converts
in the faith and righteousness and holiness and effective service in the church and the
world but also to Liberate society, the peoples and nations of the world from the bondage
from the rebellious systems of the world and the quell the rebellion itself.
We have realized that the rebellion in the world has entangled all reality in the world
except the word of God and the Redeemed in Christ Jesus. Thus, every aspect of human
society, human culture as a whole is taunted with SIN, (Disobedience) and the fruit
therefore decay. The Redemptive system in Christ, His Word of faith and Reconciliation,
His Spirit of Liberation and Redemption, His Blood of Purification and the Power of the
Holy Spirit must be applied to all Reality to Save, Redeem, And Restore, and bring under
the reign and rule of God, the Father, the Kingdom of God.
The Church has been called, commissioned with authority, the Divine charter of
authority and lover in Christ and sent out to proclaim Redemption, Liberation and
Deliverance unto all creation. Before Jesus would commission the church, He carried out
and experiment, a pilot project to see whether the church left on her own, in the power of
His word of authority, could undertake the tasks of the mission. Having been convinced
of the feasibility of the tasks, He rejoiced and told the church “I can see Satan as
lightening fall from heaven. Behold l given unto you power to trend on serpents and
scorpions, and over all power of the enemy; and nothing shall be any means hurts you.”
Then He said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou has hid these
things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babies even so, Father, for
so it seemed good in thy sights.” (Luke 10” 18-22)
As we learnt this afternoon, the church’s mission is to go and proclaim the Good News
and Build the Kingdom of God, Jesus knows not only that the battle line had already been
drawn but also that the church cannot undertake the tasks involved in the power of
human spirit, mind and abilities. For the battle is not by might nor even power, it can only
be done by the Spirit of God. The Redemption of man which begins with Evangelism –
proclaiming the word of faith for Salvation and the conquest of evil for the liberation of
man all both a spiritual proposition. Jesus told His disciples that it is His Fathers wish to
give them the Holy Spirit, so they can properly enter the Kingdom of God, so they will be
baptized with fire and works, the works of God. (Luke 11: 9-23)
Accordingly, when the times was due for Him to depart the earth (i.e. the end) His ministry
– the flesh, He told the disciples in Luke 24: 49, just before His ascension, again He said
in Acts 1: 5-8, please note verse 6-7. The Disciples know or heard an ………. that the
coming power of the Holy Spirit has something to do with the Kingdom of God. Their mind,
not fully informed yet of all the spiritual reality, led them to consider the Messiah earthly
Kingdom said by the prophets. Jesus did not correct them but instead ask them to wait
for the Holy Spirit who shall not endue them with power only but will bring understanding
of all issues. (John 16: 13-15). The Bible teaches us that the coming of the Holy Spirit on
the Day of Pentecost created a new spiritual, emotional and physical Power, Boldness,
Utterance, and Strength. We see also Knowledge expand, gifts of the Holy Spirit, Love.
The church got out of hiding and hit the road, Preaching, Teaching, Fellowshipping,
Breaking Bread, Prayers, Winning Souls, Sharing in Love, Healing, Deliverance etc. They
had an impact on the people. Praising God and having favor with all the people (Acts 2:
41-47). The church has been at her task since then. What is the present state of the
church? Our ministry at the four main gates of concern or for the church activity for the
past two thousand years approx. has shown that much is amused with the church. It
seems Christ’s headship of the church itself is only in His name, the word of God not
accepted fully as God’s revelation dealing with all reality, divisions and strife’ in the
church, apostasy seems to be an expansion, the zeal of the Lord which will perform the
tasks seem to be in question mainly because of the power of the Holy Spirit in ministry
seem to have been rejected at least not appreciate and exercised in full.
It is for this reason the conference has been considering how the church can STAND UP,
as indeed it must continue with her mission in the world. God will not abandon His
sovereignty nor His vision for man and interest in His creation and Kingdom. The work
must continue. He is working for faithful’s, a remnant to continue the journey. Will you
join the enlisted – the Lord’s Army properly now for the mission, the proclamation of the
full gospel of the Kingdom of God? So once again, we need Power from above, Holy Spirit
Power as the disciples did before they launched out.
See the Army. Joel Chapter 2: 1-12, 15-23, 28-32. Now is the TIME to join the Army of the
LORD. Now is the time to fast and pray, for power, to mourn for the church and for the
land, to go out in the Power and Authority of the Name of Jesus to compel all things with
Christ. We NEED POWER! COME O SPIRIT COME!