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The sermon presents the Holy Spirit as a divine person whose omnipotent power belongs equally to God and is displayed in creation, Christ’s resurrection, miraculous attestation, and saving grace. Spurgeon strongly emphasizes human inability: ministers cannot convert hearts or bend wills, but the Spirit makes sinners willing and brings spiritual life. Sanctification is begun in regeneration and will be completed when believers are made perfectly holy. The same Spirit who raised Christ will raise believers, giving the church grounds for confidence, prayer, labor, and hope for revival.
Theological center: The Holy Spirit is fully divine and omnipotent, actively creating, raising Christ, regenerating sinners, sanctifying believers, reviving the church, and raising the dead.
Applications: Trust the Spirit’s power · Pray for hardened people · Pray for spiritual revival · Recognize divine sovereignty
Primary texts: Romans 15:13 · Romans 8:11 · Psalms 62:11
“The power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13 POWER is the special and peculiar prerogative of God, and God alone. “Twice have I heard this: that power belongeth unto God” (Psa 62:11). God is God: and power belongs to Him. If He delegates a portion of it to His creatures, yet still it is His power. The sun, although he is “like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his race,” yet has no power to perform his motions except as God directs him. The stars, although they travel in their orbits and none could stay them, yet have neither might nor force except that which God daily infuses into them. The tall archangel, near His throne, who outshines a comet in its blaze, though he is one of those who excel in strength and hearken to the voice of the commands of God, yet has no might except that which his Maker gives to him. As for Leviathan, who so makes the sea to boil like a pot that one would think the deep were hoary. As for Behemoth, who drinks up Jordan at a draught and boasts that he can snuff up rivers. As for those majestic creatures that are found on earth, they owe their strength to Him who fashioned their bones of steel and made their sinews of brass. And when we think of man, if he has might or power, it is so small and insignificant, that we can scarcely call it such. Yea, when it is at its greatest—when he sways his sceptre, when he commands hosts, when he rules nations—still the power belongs unto God. And it is true, “Twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God.” This exclusive prerogative of God, is to be found in each of the three persons of the glorious Trinity. The Father has power, for by His word were the heavens made and all the host of them. By His strength all things stand and through Him they fulfill their destiny. The Son has power, for like His Father, He is the Creator of all things, “Without him was not anything made that was made,” and “by him all things consist.” And the Holy Spirit has power. It is concerning the power of the Holy Ghost that I shall speak this morning and may you have a practical exemplification of that attribute in your own hearts, when you shall feel that the influence of the Holy Ghost is being poured out upon me, so that I am speaking the words of the living God to your souls, and bestowed upon you when you are feeling the effects of it in your own spirits. We shall look at the power of the Holy Ghost in three ways this morning. First, the outward and visible displays of it. Second, the inward and spiritual manifestations of it. And third, the future and expe…