1 Thess 3: 12+13 …and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 
	As we have been dealing with this Epistle to the Church at Thessalonica, we should be struck with something very much in evidence throughout the Apostle Paul’s consideration of the members of this church. This is a letter of encouragement, of admonition, of counseling, and of hope. The Apostle is calling to mind the work of God’s spiritual power within these believers, a power that is inherent in the Church, the Beloved of God. After all, the Church only exists because of the power of God. It is the power evidenced in Genesis Chapter 1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then, in John 1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 
Apart from the power of God, apart from the resurrection life of Christ, apart from the might of His Word, there is no Church. That is why Rom 8:11-14, is the vital proclamation of the perfect work of God as His Omniscience, His Omnipresence, and His Omnipotence have brought into being, the true Church, the Beloved, the Bride of Christ.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. We are made to be brothers in Christ, fellow heirs in the Glory of God. We are now made, by virtue of His Supreme Power and Love and Grace, the Church. 
	This third chapter concludes with a most authoritative statement that shows the direct effect of the Omnipotence of the Holy Spirit upon and within the Church. Again, verses 12+13, …and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 
It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the Church is caused to increase and to abound. There is no other power on earth that can cause this perfect spiritual growth except that of the Holy Spirit. As such, it is imperative that the Church has a better understanding of the Holy Spirit at work within us. Yes, we can simply say that God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to behold, which is very true. However, to come into a fuller understanding of the Magnificent Grace of God in action in the Church, requires that we are completely submitted to the Holy Spirit, and that we are learning of His ways and His path of righteousness.
	As part of that more complete knowledge of the manner in which God has created and maintains the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit, we must consider some of the key aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is in His Being of Power and Holiness that life is established in the Church and in each member of the Church. The Apostle Paul gets very specific as to the work and power of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 12:4-11, Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 
	As is evident in this passage, there is very much that the Holy Spirit establishes in the Church. His spiritual power must be in evidence within the Church. One of the first aspects is the fact that the Holy Spirit gives people courage to rebuke sin. We are not talking about claiming to have some special power to rebuke sinners. That is a haughty and arrogant manifestation of self-righteousness and self-importance, which has no place within the Church. Neither are we talking about the judgmental attitude as was evidenced in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, with the Pharisee proclaiming his greater spirituality over that of the sinner. No, rather, we are to be humbly before the Lord as the Church, in reverence and prayer, for the sake of ourselves and each other. We must be humbly and earnestly on our knees before the Throne of God’s Grace. It is there that the Holy Spirit reveals the need of His mighty hand of conviction in our lives, for the sake of the testimony of the Church. We should ever live forth the Love of God knowing that err for the Grace of God go I. 
What we must realize, however, is the fact that if we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, in our complete subordination to His will, to talk to a brother or sister about an activity which has no place within the Church, let it first be done in our hearts in all prayer and intense anguish for that beloved one. Then, when we are absolutely certain that it is the Holy Spirit bidding us to speak, we must seek to do so the courage of His power, with no thought of ourselves at all. We must rely on Him for the words of truth and the heart of love that needs to be perfectly expressed in that matter. Mic 3:8 On the other hand I am filled with power — With the Spirit of the Lord — And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin. 
	If one carefully studies the lives of the prophets of God, those who were called to deliver His Word of repentance to the people of God, to the Kings and Rulers of ancient days, it was never done in anything other than fear and trembling before the awesomeness of God. Quite literally, they were facing torture and death as they delivered that which God told them to deliver. It took unfathomable courage to stand before the guilty and proclaim Thus saith the Lord. But they did it because they had the courage of the power of the Holy Spirit within them causing them to rely upon Him in all that befall them. They chose the path of obedience, even unto death, instead of turning away from the course of God out of fear of the earthly consequences. 
The Holy Spirit is the power of courage to declare the name of Jesus Christ in the midst of this world. Jesus Christ is the name that is met with anger and hatred and ridicule. Yet, His is the name that is the only hope of salvation for the world. It takes courage to live a life that is under the direct Hand of the Holy Spirit in testimony to the life of Jesus Christ. His life is so opposite to what this world sees and accepts as safe and secure. The hope of this age is set in wealth and power and fame. The hope of a Spirit-led life is Jesus Christ.
In His hope, in His courage, we find another element of the spiritual power that indwells the Church. It is the fact that the Holy Spirit is stronger than any other force. Zechariah declares this in Zech 4:6, Then he answered and said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. There is no might or power, in all of creation that can stand against the power of the Holy Spirit. He can remove any impediment to His work within the Church and unto the Church. Nothing can thwart His action as He shows forth the life of Jesus Christ unto this world through the Church. This is a key truth on which to seize hold and never give up, no matter how things look. There is no one and nothing that can withstand the power of the Holy Spirit as He expresses God’s Love and God’s Holiness and God’s faithfulness in all of creation. (Joseph – brothers - slave – Potifer – prison – cupbearer – year after year – became second only to Pharaoh in Egypt) 
The greatest expression of the supremacy of the Holy Spirit over all the powers of this realm is the utmost example of Jesus. As The Holy Spirit led Him out in to the wilderness and gave Him the strength and the wisdom and the power to stand against all the tempter’s offers, we are shown the spiritual power of God in life. After the temptations, we read the following in Luke 4:14, And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. His ministry was established in the rule of the Holy Spirit and that power saw Him through to the very conquest of the greatest weapon of this age, death. Death could not stand against the authority of the Holy Spirit as He breathed life, eternal life in His Supremacy as evidenced in Christ’s triumphant resurrection. 
	This provides another of the key elements of the Holy Spirit at work within the Church. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that is in evidence within the members of the Body as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is embraced and treasured. Christ did not go forth into the wilderness until the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him from Heaven. We must receive the Holy Spirit in order to live by Him. We know that there are many different doctrinal stands throughout the denominations of today’s churches with regard to the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Rather than considering each group’s arguments, what we need to focus on is the common denominator which is that as the Holy Spirit guided the steps of Jesus Christ, so also, He guides the every step of the Church in His Omnipotence, in His Omnipresence, and in His Omniscience. 
	We have this promise from Jesus as recorded in Acts 1:8, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." The true witness of Christ can only be in place as the Holy Spirit is the life-giving force within it. Many people can deal intellectually with the great man of history called Jesus of Nazareth. Many can accept the fact that He lived and taught great truths of peace and love and joy. But that intellectual basis is not life. Our eternal life is established as the Holy Spirit brings forth the very life of Christ from within our beings. It is as the Holy Spirit makes Christ’s life our life, that we are enabled to live forth the testimony; the true and honorable testimony of the One Who now indwells us. As Christ lives His life in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so will our lives draw forth a response from those who witness our walk in the Lord. There will be a livingness about us that attracts the attention of those in need. They will want to know what the difference is within us, and we will be empowered to give expression to the life that is found only in Jesus Christ. 
	Consider the effect that the baptism in the Holy Spirit had upon the cowering Apostles. They were in fear of their lives at the hands of the Jewish leadership. Then, on that day, before the throngs of visitors to the city of Jerusalem, the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ was fulfilled and they received the power to proclaim life in Jesus Christ to the multitudes. Many were added to the Church that day because of the power of the Holy Spirit as He filled up these Apostles with Himself as recounted in Acts 2:1-4, And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 
	It was in the power of the Holy Spirit that these men, uneducated and fearful men, were enabled to speak with authority. And there is no greater authority than that of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was not a temporary strength of authority, as we read later in Acts. Acts 4:33, And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For the rest of their earthly days, these men faced the trials and the tribulations and the assaults of the powers of this age, and met them all in the triumphant power of the Holy Spirit. They were fully assured of their trust and commitment to the Lord of lords and King of kings. As the Apostle Paul would later write to Timothy, in 2 Tim 1:12, For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 
	Another example of being fully indwelled with the power of the Holy Spirit was Stephen. As we read in Acts 6:8, And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Oh that it could be said of us that we are filled with grace and power. Not our own, but that of the Holy Spirit as we are lead forth in the victory of Christ to face everything that lies before us. So often, we are timid and afraid to obey the Holy Spirit in our lives because we feel that we are put into precarious places when we do so. We would prefer to just stay within our cocoon of safety and live out our days in quiet anonymity. Rather, we should view the example of Stephen with joy that the Lord can provide such love and such a heart of service as to face trial and tribulation with complete reliance upon Him to see us through. 
Take the opportunity to read through Acts 7, as the Holy Spirit gave the words to Stephen for his defense before the council. Stephen expressed an understanding and grasp of God’s plan and purpose throughout the history of the Israelites that evidences a heart that could have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Then, even when he was suffering the tremendously painful death by those thrown and crushing jagged rocks, the Lord lovingly showed Himself to Stephen, to let him know that He was awaited in Christ’s glorious presence. This was such an impact that even as he died, it was with the cry, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. By the power of the Holy Spirit, in his earthly death, Stephen was received into the eternal life and glory of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God.
	In line with this power of life is the Holy Spirit’s ministry of healing. He fills our lives with curing influences. There is a renewing property that is inherent in His comforting dealings within us. That is one of the main functions of His work in the lives of those who turn their hearts to God. The Holy Spirit opens the doors of healing, emotionally, physically and most especially spiritually. That power of the Holy Spirit is so overwhelming that it even infused the cloths used by the Apostle Paul in the healings performed by the Holy Spirit. As we read in Acts 19:11+12, And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 
	This is a key fact that the Church leaders of today need to realize. Persuasive words and charismatic delivery can attract a large group of people, but it is only the power of the Holy Spirit that can cause them to see the life of Christ in true, Biblical teaching. They desire to see life, Christ’s life in action. So many of us are of the mentality that we can be told the things and the principles, but think that we must witness an action in order to believe. Sadly, we think that we must see the proof of the power of a miracle as if it were at the very beck and whim of a carnival barker with a top hat. That is not the manner in which we see the hand of God in His Omnipotence and Omnipresence and Omniscience. 
We see Him in life, day to day, week after week, and year after year, as He manifests Himself in lovingkindness and tender mercies of Grace. We may not witness the full outcome of His tremendous work of love and life on this earth, but we do know that He is at work. We know that we can trust Him to do exactly what He tells us He will do. He may choose to allow us to see with our own eyes, to touch with our own fingers, to taste with our own tongues the miracles of God’s active grace. Or, He may choose to guard it closely unto Himself, just as He faithfully guards the creation of the Church from all the intrusions of this world. Whether instantaneous, or life-long, we do witness the demonstration of the healing power of the Holy Spirit. He heals our hearts and brings life to our spirit and that causes us to see Him ever more clearly established as the Lord God Almighty. In 1 Cor 2:4+5, we read, And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 
	The Spiritual Power of the Holy Spirit is not couched in phraseology or convincing argument. Man’s mind will never be able to comprehend the fullness of the work of God. It will take all of eternity just to come to a basic comprehension of the great love with which He loves us in Jesus Christ. No, our understanding of God and His ways and His means of spiritual power rests in the life that He is in our hearts. It is evidenced as we are brought livingly, moment by moment, and day by day into the complete assurance that God does have all things well in Hand. That He does love us and that through us, He has chosen to love others unto Himself. Eph 3:14-19 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. 
	We conclude this morning with a portion of the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy as we have it in 2 Tim 1:7-11. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. Amen
This is an encouragement for all the members of the Church to count on the Lord. In Him, Alone, will we find life and truth and holiness and strength from which to daily draw as we sojourn on this earth. He has not left us as beggars in a foreign land. He has covered us with His Grace and Love and Power in the Holy Spirit. In Him, we face every challenge to His Lordship. Our lives are hid in Christ Jesus and we are enabled, through the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit, to declare His victory, no matter what weight and pressure is thrown against us. We stand in His name, covered with His righteousness, fortified in His power, to show forth His love unto those is such dire need. He is our rock, our salvation, our harbor in the storm, our security, our very life for all the eternal ages to come.  
…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen

	Our benediction this morning is Isa 25:6-9, And the Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." Amen