The Working Of The Spirit by Apostle Emmanuel Iren: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Surrounded by a Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

The powerful imagery here is the relay race. The moment you hand over the baton in a relay, you become a spectator — but not just any spectator. You are part of the race. You have run your leg. And now you are cheering on the person who received it from you.

That is what the cloud of witnesses is doing. These are not mere observers — they are people who stood exactly where you now stand. They ran their leg. They are done. And now they are saying to you: you can do it. We've been there. Go.

When you say, "They're persecuting me at work because I'm a believer," Peter is saying: "Tell me about it. Have they put you on a cross yet? No? Then what are you crying about?"

God Has Provided Something Better for Us

Hebrews 11:40: "God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us."

As great as Moses was, as incredible as Abraham, Elijah, Daniel — they cannot conclude without you. You have your leg. And note: the best leg in a relay is usually the anchor — the last. You were born in this generation because God believes you can do better.

Not because you are naturally superior, but because you have been born into a generation with more opportunity for the gospel to spread further and faster than any generation before.

What Can You Do With the Holy Ghost?

The Bible tells us that all Jesus was able to do in His earthly ministry, He did by the Spirit. And before going to heaven, He left you that same Holy Spirit. Not an inferior version. Not a downgraded edition. The same one.

So the question is: what can a man or woman with the Holy Ghost do? We have the archives — the book of Acts, Hebrews 11. What will you add?

Hebrews 11:33-34: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."

By the same Holy Ghost — what will you do?

Stir It Up

The Holy Spirit is like a muscle — present but needing exercise. You can be full of the Spirit on Sunday and near-empty by Wednesday because you have not been stirring it up.

Acts 4:31: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness." The filling is connected to the praying. When you pray, expect to be filled. Expect to leave a prayer time better than you came.

• Be full of the Spirit — not just occasionally, but as a consistent state
• There is a tap that only opens when you get into the work of ministry
• The gifts are for this age — use them now, before He returns