Power Then and Now: From Moses to the Ministry of Reconciliation

In our previous fellowship, Alicia showed us how we do greater works than Jesus Christ through the ministry of reconciliation, which had two parts - helping people become born-again and teaching them spiritual truths. Today, let's explore how God's power has worked through His people across different administrations, and why what's available today is so much greater than what came before.

Understanding God's Seven Administrations

Before we dive in, let's review the seven administrations - periods of time in God's historical and spiritual timetable. Understanding these helps us know which parts of the Bible are written directly TO us and which are written to LEARN from.

Think of it like reading someone else's text messages - you can learn from them, but they're not meant for you. Same with God's Word. Some parts of the Bible are written TO us, and many parts are written FOR our learning. Please turn to Judges 14.

The seven administrations are:

1. Original Paradise - Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 1:3 - 3:24)

2. Patriarchal - From Genesis 3:24 - Exodus 19)

3. Law - From Mount Sinai until Jesus's baptism (Exodus 20 - Malachi; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John contain both Law and Christ administrations)

4. Christ - Jesus's earthly ministry when he fulfilled the law (Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

5. Grace (or Church) - From Pentecost until the gathering together - where we are now! (Acts 2 - Revelation 3; specifically TO us: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians)

6. Appearing (or Revelation) - When Christ returns with his saints (Revelation 4-20)

7. Final Paradise (or Glory) - The new heaven and earth for all eternity (Revelation 21-22)

We're living in the Grace Administration - that's Romans through Thessalonians in the Bible. These letters of the Bible are written specifically TO anyone who believes today! It's like having a message with your name on it - if you choose to receive it.

Understanding the Giver and the Gift

Now, here's something that might be new to some of you, and it's going to help make sense of everything. There's a big difference between:

• God, the Holy Spirit (capital H, capital S) - He's the Giver

• holy spirit (lowercase h, lowercase s) - this is the gift God gives

God is Spirit. He's the Creator, the Giver of all good gifts. And one of His greatest gifts is holy spirit - spiritual power that He makes available to people. If you're wondering "What exactly is this holy spirit?" - stick with me, because understanding this changes everything. Turn to Judges 14.

Spirit "Upon" vs Spirit "In" - The Old Way vs The New Way

In the first four administrations, when God wanted to empower someone, His spirit came upon them - like putting on someone else's jacket. It was temporary, like borrowing something valuable that you might have to give back.

Let’s read Judges 14:6 about Samson: "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid."

The spirit wasn't IN Samson permanently. It came upon him for specific moments. Imagine having incredible super powers, but never knowing when they might disappear.

Same pattern with King Saul in 1 Samuel 10:10: "And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them."

But then 1 Samuel 16:14: "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul..." It left him! Can you imagine living with that uncertainty? That's why King David desperately prayed in Psalm 51:11: "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

Even the great King David - who killed Goliath and wrote beautiful psalms - worried that God's spirit could leave him. Now here's the good news - nobody has to pray that prayer anymore. Let me show you why. Please turn to Exodus 4.

Power in the Law Administration - The VIP System

During the Law Administration, God's power was exclusive - like a VIP pass that only certain people got. Moses, Deborah the judge, King David, the prophets - they had special access that regular people couldn't get.

Let's read Exodus 4:1-9. (read the verses) Moses doubts that people will believe him, so God gives him these dramatic signs - rod to serpent, leprous hand, water to blood. But notice - these were external proofs for specific situations. Moses couldn't share this power with others. He couldn't tell his friends, "Hey, you can do this too!"

Think about Deborah in Judges 4. She was a prophetess and judge, and God worked through her to deliver Israel. But she couldn't pass that ability on to other women. Miriam, Moses's sister, prayed and prophesied, but again - it was exclusive to her.

If you lived back then and you weren't Moses, Deborah, or a prophet, you were out of luck. You could watch, but you couldn't participate. Please turn to Luke 3.

The Christ Administration - Something Better is Coming

During Jesus's earthly ministry, even he operated under the old system. Let's look at Luke 3:22: "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him."

But Jesus knew something revolutionary was coming - something that would be available to everyone, not just special people. He told his disciples in John 16:7: "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (holy spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him (it, holy spirit) unto you."

Jesus was saying it was actually BETTER for him to leave so something greater could come. That's like a season of your favorite Netflix series ending, but what comes next will blow your mind. Please turn to Acts 2.

The Shift at Pentecost - Everything Changes

The Grace Administration began on Pentecost, and everything changed. Let's read Acts 2:4: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit, the gift], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit [God the Giver] gave them utterance."

Notice it says "they were ALL filled" - not just Peter, not just the men. This included Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women who were there. For the first time in history, God made His gift available to dwell IN people permanently. Not borrowed. Not temporary. Not conditional. Not just for special people. Available to anyone who wants it.

What's Available Today - For Everyone

Here's what's amazing about what God offers today:

1. It's Permanent: Timothy 1:7 says: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Once you receive this gift, it's yours forever. It's not like the old system where it could leave.

2. It's for Anyone Who Wants It: Acts 2:38-39 says: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off..." Not just for the spiritually elite. Not based on your family background, your education, or how religious you are. God made this available to anyone who simply believes.

3. It Addresses Real Life: Feeling overwhelmed by decisions? This gift includes a sound mind. Dealing with fear about the future? It includes power. Struggling with feeling alone? When you have holy spirit, God is literally with you 24/7.

How Do You Get This Gift?

If you're sitting here thinking, "This sounds amazing, but how do I get this holy spirit?" - it's simpler than you might think. God didn't make it complicated.

Romans 10:9-10 shows exactly how: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

That's it. No complicated rituals. No earning it. Just believing that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead. When you do that, you’re born again, and you receive the gift of holy spirit - permanently.

Why This is "Greater Works"

Here's what Alicia was talking about last week. In the old days:

• Moses could part the Red Sea, but he couldn't give anyone permanent holy spirit.

• Deborah could judge Israel and win battles, but she couldn't help someone be born again.

• King David could slay giants and write psalms, but he lived in fear of losing God's spirit.

• Even Jesus, during his earthly ministry, couldn't yet give this gift because it wasn't available until after his death, resurrection, and ascension. It finally became available on the day of Pentecost.

But today? When someone shares Romans 10:9-10 with another person, they're offering something that wasn't available for thousands of years. They're literally doing something greater than what Moses, Deborah, David, or even Jesus could do during their time.

What This Means for You Today

If you already have this gift of holy spirit, you have the ability to share it with others - that friend who's struggling, that family member who's searching, anyone who wants what you have.

If you don't have this gift yet, it's available to you right now. Today. You don't have to wait. You don't have to earn it. You don't have to be "good enough." God made it simple because He wants everyone to have it.

We're living in an incredible time - the one administration out of seven where regular people have access to permanent spiritual power. Whether you've had this gift for years or you're hearing about it for the first time today, this is something worth celebrating.

That's not arrogance. That's not disrespecting Moses, Deborah, King David, or Jesus. That's recognizing the incredible gift God has made available in this Grace Administration - a gift that's available to every single person in this room.

Amen?