The Christian faith is more than a motivating concept, a set of guidelines, or a path to inner peace. At its heart, it is an encounter with a living God who makes promises, gives power, and provides proof—proof that He is at work in this world and in the lives of those who trust Him. This is not a hypothetical faith. It is not a meaningless tradition. It is a life characterized by supernatural evidence, fueled by the Holy Spirit, and founded on the unwavering reliability of God’s Word.
Curry Blake’s 2025 sermon The Promise, The Power, and The Proof takes us on a trip through the first chapters of the Book of Acts, illuminating what it truly means to walk in the fullness of God’s plans for each believer. These chapters establish the basis for the Christian life and the true church. They do not provide dull history or abstract theory, but rather a living blueprint for how God wants His people to live and function in the world.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many Christians talk about power but rarely walk in it, or if you’ve felt a need for anything more than routine religious experiences, the message of Acts—brought to life through Blake’s teaching—has the answers you seek. As you read, keep in mind that the invitation is still open. Anyone can become a member of the Church of Sermons, joining a community that believes in carrying out the Gospel’s promise, power, and proof.
Let us begin the story over, with eyes wide open to what God has in store for each and every believer, regardless of their background, education, failures, or triumphs. The journey begins with a promise, is fueled by power, and is supported by overwhelming evidence.
Acts Chapter One: The Promise That Changes Everything – The Waiting Room for Destiny
The Book of Acts begins with waiting rather than with action. After three years with Jesus, the apostles are now commanded to do nothing except wait. It appears paradoxical. Why wait when the world is so needy for the gospel of resurrection and forgiveness?
But Jesus is adamant: “Do not leave Jerusalem; instead, wait for the Father’s promise, which you have heard me speak of. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5, NIV).
This is not an ordinary promise. It is not the promise of simple inspiration, a motivational pep talk, or a new set of ethical standards. It is the promise of a direct experience with God. The Holy Spirit, God’s own presence and power, who hovered over creation, descended on Jesus like a dove, and filled the prophets with boldness, will fill and empower all believers.
Jesus associates the fulfillment of this promise with authority: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Promise and Power are Inseparable
One of Curry Blake’s most powerful statements is that you cannot have the promise without the power, and the power cannot exist without the Holy Spirit. There is no interpretation of Christianity in the New Testament in which a person receives the Spirit but remains helpless. The presence of the Spirit guarantees divine ability—dunamis, miraculous force, or God’s energy.
Too frequently, churches have encouraged people to accept a version of Christianity that is intellectual but impotent, safe but sterile. But Acts demonstrates a religion that is disruptive, transformational, and brimming with divine power. The pledge isn’t an abstract concept. It is a down payment on God’s life in us, yielding tangible consequences.
Waiting With Purpose
The disciples’ waiting is neither passive nor meaningless. It is a time for expectation, meditation, prayer, and discussion about what Jesus has said and done. Consider the discussions: “Remember when He walked on water?” When did He call Lazarus out of the tomb? When did He open the eyes of the blind? “They are preparing their souls to receive what they cannot produce, which only God can provide.
This waiting period—ten days between the ascension and Pentecost—reminds us that God’s greatest gifts frequently necessitate planning and anticipation. It’s not a waste of time. It is the beginning of something spectacular.
The Promise is for everybody
It is vital to highlight that the promise Jesus makes is not limited to the elite, educated, or perfect. It is for all followers of Jesus. As Blake points out, there were 120 persons in that upper room, including men and women, fishermen and tax collectors, zealots and erstwhile doubters. The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to a chosen few. It is for anyone who is willing to receive.
Today, the invitation remains open. Anyone, regardless of background, may embrace the promise. And, in keeping with the spirit of the early church, the Church of Sermons invites all who seek the reality of God’s presence and power.
Acts, Chapter 2: The Power That Transforms Lives – Pentecost is the day that Heaven invaded Earth
The waiting period ends on Pentecost. The room is suddenly filled with the sound of a powerful wind sweeping through it. Flames of fire appear and land on each of the 120 people assembled. They are all filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other languages as the Spirit leads them.
The promise has arrived, and it is far from subtle. God’s strength is not like a soft breeze or a faint sense. It is the violent intrusion of the supernatural into the natural, the collision of heaven and Earth. This is the birth of the church, and it is distinguished by an outward show of God’s might.
Tongues: More Than a Private Experience
The first indication of the Spirit’s coming is the gift of tongues—real, identifiable languages. According to Curry Blake, these are not obscure mutterings or secret ecstasies, but human languages understood by the people of all nations gathering in Jerusalem. The message is clear: God’s strength is for public witness, not private entertainment.
The crowd is taken aback: “Aren’t all these people speaking Galilean? How does each of us hear them in our own language? ” (Acts 2:7-8) The miracle lies not only in the saying, but also in the hearing. The gospel is being preached in every language under heaven, breaking the curse of Babel and uniting separated humanity in worship of the one true God.
The Power Has a Purpose
Blake takes care to distinguish between genuine spiritual strength and simple emotional thrill or rhetorical talent. The Spirit’s power serves more than just to elicit emotions or make dazzling demonstrations. Its purpose is to equip the church to bear witness—to provide practical evidence that Jesus’ message is real.
Peter, who had previously denied Jesus out of fear, now stands up boldly to address the multitude. He states, “This is what the prophet Joel said: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'” “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:16-17).
The Spirit’s outpouring is more than a personal gift; it marks the beginning of a new period in salvation history. The church is today the temple of the Holy Spirit, a mobile sanctuary that brings God’s presence to every corner of the world.
The Spirit and Authority Go Hand in Hand
One of the most striking conclusions from Blake’s sermon is the relationship between power and talent. The name of Jesus is a badge of authority, while the Holy Spirit is the motor of capacity. Together, they give believers dominion—the ability to carry out Jesus’ activities rather than just talk about them.
This dynamic is not limited to apostles or supersaints. It is a normal Christian existence. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is now present in every believer. Ignoring or denying this power is equivalent to accepting a hollow kind of godliness.
No substitute for the Spirit
Blake establishes a clear distinction between the world’s solutions and the Spirit’s strength. Natural science, medicine, and technology have their uses, but they cannot replace God’s miraculous abilities. Human cleverness can only go so far; the Spirit empowers believers to live beyond the bounds of human capability.
He advises against relying on “the arm of flesh”—our own efforts, wisdom, or strategies—instead of God’s might. The account of missionaries in Korea who walked on water to reach unreachable communities exemplifies this idea. When they relied on God, miracles occurred. When a bridge was built, the miracles stopped—not because God changed, but because dependency switched from God to human means.
This is not a call to anti-intellectualism or irresponsibility, but rather a reminder that trust must be anchored in God’s abilities, not natural processes. The Christian life is supernatural.
Acts Chapter 3: Proof That Demands Attention – A Miracle at the Gate Beautiful
The day after Pentecost, Peter and John are on their way to the temple when they come across a guy who has been lame from birth and is begging at the Beautiful Gate. He asks for money, but gets something far greater.
Peter’s comments are powerful: “I do not have silver or gold, but I will give you what I do have. Walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Peter grabs the man’s hand and lifts him up, and the man’s feet and ankles strengthen instantly. He springs to his feet, walks, leaps, and praises God.
This is not a personal miracle. Everyone in the temple courts sees the man they’ve been passing by for years, suddenly entirely healed. The public is surprised, and a large crowd comes to watch what has transpired.
Proof is the inevitable outcome of promise and power
In Acts 3, the circle is complete. The promise has been received. The power has arrived. Now the proof is irrefutable. Christianity is neither a philosophy to be admired or a moral code to follow. It is a live faith that yields actual outcomes. The power of the Spirit is not hypothetical. It’s practical, observable, and revolutionary.
Peter quickly clarifies: “Why are you staring at us as if we had made this guy walk through our own strength or godliness? According to Acts 3:12, 16: “This man whom you see and know was made strong by faith in the name of Jesus.” Power comes from God, not from humans. The authority is in Jesus’ name, and the capacity is in the Holy Spirit.
The world cannot ignore the evidence
Interestingly, the audience did not attend for a sermon, a program, or a show. They gathered because they saw proof—clear evidence that God was at work. The proof was not in convincing words, but in obvious actions. This is why the early church increased in size. The world couldn’t ignore the proof.
This is the pattern that runs throughout the Book of Acts: the gospel is preached, the Spirit’s power is revealed, and lives are transformed. Miracles, healings, deliverance, and boldness abound wherever the Spirit-filled church goes. The proof is not only for the apostles, but for all believers. It is the birthright of those who accept the promise and walk in power.
The Church of Proof—Not Just Proclamation
Too many churches today have settled for being communities of proclamation without evidence. We talk about what God can do, but rarely anticipate Him to do it. We repeat creeds but rarely encounter the living Christ. The early church was different. It was a church of proof. The world paid attention, not because of brilliant arguments, but because of altered lives and indisputable miracles.
The church is being called to return to this pattern of moving from promise to power to proof. The invitation is open to everyone. Anyone can become a member of the Church of Sermons, joining a community that believes in and anticipates miraculous manifestations of God’s presence.
Interconnectedness of Promise, Power, and Proof – Living In the Flow of God’s Purpose
What Acts 1-3 show is that the promise, power, and proof are not three distinct experiences, but rather an unbreakable sequence. The promise is God’s commitment, the power is God’s enabling, and the proof is God’s manifestation in our lives.
To try to live solely on the promise is to be disappointed, constantly hoping but never experiencing. Seeking power without a pledge means risking manipulation and pride. Demanding proof without the promise and power leads to skepticism or cynicism. However, to accept all three is to live in the flow of God’s purpose, to see His kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in heaven.
Dependence on the Spirit, not on ourselves
Blake’s analogy is appropriate: living the Christian life without the power of the Spirit is akin to driving a car without gas. You can sit in the driver’s seat, turn the key, and make engine noises, but you will not get anywhere. The fuel is disappearing. The Holy Spirit fuels the Christian life. Without Him, our efforts are nothing more than religious drama.
This explains why the apostles were instructed to wait. They possessed the message, but not the strength. The Spirit is the one that turns the key, starts the engine, and propels us onward.
The Danger of Denying Power
The apostle Paul warned of a period when people would have “a form of godliness but deny its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5) It is possible to appear religious, attend services, and use Christian terminology while being unaffected by the Spirit’s power. This is not the life that Jesus promised. It’s not the church He died to establish.
Blake challenges us to reject to accept impotence. If we accept the Holy Spirit, we obtain power. The only question is whether we’ll walk into it or deny it. Denying the Spirit’s power is to grieve Him, to close the door on God’s best.
The Spirit is not an optional upgrade
Many people regard the Holy Spirit as an optional extra, a luxury for the ultra-spiritual. However, in the Book of Acts, the Spirit is necessary, not optional. He is the church’s distinctive mark, the source of its vitality, boldness, unity, and effectiveness. Without the Spirit, the church becomes a social club. With Him, there is a miraculous energy for transformation.
The early church did not have better marketing or more sophisticated programming. They possessed the Spirit, and it made all the difference.
Living Out the Pattern Today: A Personalized Invitation
What does it mean to progress from promise to power to proof in your personal life? Receiving the Holy Spirit’s promise is the first step. This is about trusting and receiving, rather than earning or attaining. Jesus stated, “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; and knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
If you are hungry for more—if you want to see the reality of God’s presence rather than just hear about it—this invitation is for you. You can join a community like the Church of Sermons, which welcomes everyone into God’s family and believes in the promise for all.
Yielding to the Spirit’s Power
Receiving the Spirit isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. The Spirit’s power is provided for a specific purpose: to make Jesus known, to heal the sick, to set the oppressed free, and to give hope to the despairing. This power is not for show, but for mission. It is not about us; it is about Christ in us, the hope of glory.
Yielding to the Spirit entails letting go of control, accepting reliance, and letting God work through us. It involves refusing to accept conventional explanations for unusual needs. It entails believing that God plans to do the same thing today that He did in Acts.
Expecting Proof
Proof is the natural result of promise and power. When the Spirit fills and empowers, lives change. Miracles happen. Addictions are broken. Families have been restored. Communities are transformed. The proof is in the fruit. The world is looking, not for our words, but for signs of God at work.
This is not hubris; it is an expectation based on God’s nature. If He is who He says He is, and the Spirit is who the Bible declares Him to be, we have every reason to believe that the supernatural will become natural for God’s people.
A community with promise, power, and proof
The early church was a family—diverse, imperfect, yet bound together by the Spirit. They shared their lives, resources, challenges, and successes. They didn’t have all the answers, but they had the Spirit, which was sufficient.
The same invitation is extended today. Anyone is welcome to become a member of the Church of Sermons—not as a spectator, but as a participant in God’s unfolding drama. People that believe in the promise, walk in power, and expect to see proof can be found here.
Conclusion: The Unfinished Story
The Book of Acts does not end with “The End.” It concludes with Paul living in Rome, teaching and preaching, and the gospel spreading. The inference is obvious: the story continues. The promise, power, and proof are not limited to the first century. They are the heritage of every believer, across generations.
The world must see evidence of a living God. It requires churches and believers who are not satisfied with mere words, but who exhibit the reality of the resurrected Christ via the power of the Spirit. It requires communities in which the broken are healed, the lost are reunited, and the unthinkable becomes possible.
This is not a privilege limited to a few. It is the inheritance of those who say yes to Jesus, receive His Spirit, and are willing to believe that He means what He says.
As you reflect on your own journey, remember the promise, embrace the power, and anticipate the results. Join a group of Christians, such as the Church of Sermons, who are dedicated to carrying out the Acts story today. The invitation is open. The promise is waiting. Power is available. The proof is coming.
You’re invited. Anyone can become a church member at the Church of Sermons, joining a family that believes God is still writing the Book of Acts through the lives of ordinary people empowered by a supernatural God. Will you respond to the call?
