Religious Focus: Reverend Michael Hammond, Theologian and Educator spoke on “The Spiritual Power”

The power of the Holy Spirit is there for everyone free of cost. It is also accessible and readily applicable for the child of God

April 27, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

“I got a call from my daughter one evening that it appears that we have no light. I told her to wait until it got dark to see if it was only our house that was without power. It later turned out to be so …. well we won’t go there … to prolonged laughter.

Light was available, applicable but not accessible. There had to be other prerequisites. It is not your accomplishment that gives you Holy Ghost power. Not your education nor your status.

Earthly power is tribal and is transient but spiritual power is eternal. The Holy Ghost is resident and also president of our lives … in the life of the Christian. This can be transformative. There is promise through the Holy Spirit to all generation for all times.

The 21st century church has more people with degrees, than a thermometer, but does it have the Holy Spirit?. In Acts chapter 4, the disciples had “goodness.” They were fearless even as people wanted to attack them. A man had been healed by Jesus.

Anointing

Your association or friends in high places will not give you the
Holy Spirit power. You shall receive power and later by way of the anointing.

The anointing is what promotes you to eternal life. God has a way of opening some doors. The anointing is personal and gives glory to God.

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you can be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” reference Bible: Revised Standard Version.

Convention

Reverend Michael Hammond was speaking at the closing day of the Eastern Regional Convention of the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica.
The attitude for the anointing is complete submission.

And thou shall be witnesses ….” You were called to be witnesses”

God empowers us to employ us to evangelize everyone and everywhere. Even if you witness only with your lips you are hypocrites. If you witness with your life you are true Christians. Vanna White on Jeopardy, gets millions of US dollars to look good and point. You get the point? Verse 13 to the end … the uttermost part of the earth. Jesus sent them back to Jerusalem. This was the greatest area of their weakness.
We too as Christians should look good also so we can point people to Christ. Our personal lives must be spotlessly clean.

Go back to the place of your greatest weakness. Go back to Judea, a place of confusion. Let them know that God has changed you and you are a new person. Jesus said Peter lovest these more than me? They had returned to fishing …their Lord had been crucified. It is not everybody who smile with you loves you. Some people hard to love. Jesus has never called us to do anything too easy. People whom you don’t love, they also don’t love you too. If you want to move forward go back to the place of your greatest fear. You have the power to tell them … everyone needs Jesus. There are souls to be rescued … send the light, the blessed gospel light …. let it shine forever more. Send the light. Amen. Quoted from song “Send the light” first verse.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie was a congregant and recorded this most inspiring sermon for Religious Focus. Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is SiC for Vision Newspaper Canada