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"THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS!"
or the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
TEXT:
Acts 1:8
INTRO:
One of the greatest events in the New Testament was Pentecost. The
Baptism of the Holy Spirit did more to transform the spreading of the
Gospel than any other single event.
These believers were
filled with power after Pentecost ... yet so often many misunderstand
the nature of this power. The church today still needs this great gift
this promise of the father to be endued with power from on high.
ILLUS:
THE
NIAGARA FALLS
ARE AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT, SO MANY NEWLYWEDS HAVE GONE THERE TO SEE THE
BEAUTY OF THE FALLS AND TO DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF EACH OTHER IN THE
PROCESS. THE RIDE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLS ON THE MAIDEN OF THE MIST
IS IMPRESSIVE AS YOU GO NEAR THE FALLS AND THE SPRAY FROM THE MIGHTY
RIVER FALLS GENTLY ON YOUR FACE. THE LIGHT SHOW IS IMPRESSIVE TOO AS
THEY LIGHT UP WITH COLORS THE FALLS AT NIGHT. IT IS QUITE A BEAUTIFUL
SIGHT AND NICE FOR A HONEYMOON ... BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE IN
NIAGARA FALLS
YOU WILL DISCOVER QUICKLY THAT WHAT YOU APPRECIATE IN THE LONG RUN IS
THE POWER THAT COMES FROM THESE SAME FALLS. THIS IS POWER TO LIVE BY!
THIS IS LIKE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE TONGUES AND OTHER
MANIFESTATIONS WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE HAD THEM, BUT THE MAIN FOCUS OF
THIS BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER IT GIVES US TO LIVE BY!
THEREFORE, IT IS A VITAL NEED FOR EVERY BELIEVER.
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
ILLUS:
AS ONE MINISTER SAID IT, "THOUGH EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT
(SALVATION), THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT HAVE EVERY BELIEVER!" (BAPTISM OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT)
When you
were baptized for the remission of sins, you received the gift of the
Holy Spirit. What have you done with it?
We truly need this power
of the Holy Spirit in our lives today; We need to understand the nature
of this power, and we can best do this by looking at God's Word:
PROP.SENT:
The Bible teaches us that we need the power of the Holy Spirit and that
God has made this power available to all who will ask and receive in
faith.
This power is the power
“TO BE” witnesses ... with the emphasis on the two words "TO BE!" Like
the Army slogan, Be all that you can be!
We
learned last week the Holy Spirit does not divide, he only brings
together. If we trusted the teacher, the Holy Spirit, to explain to us
the scripture, we would not have hundreds of religious groups. We know
the Holy Spirit would not use Spiritual gifts to divide God's Kingdom.
Yet we have religious orders who claim to have "special gifts" like the
apostles had. Would the Holy Spirit grant one group a "monopoly" on
miraculous gifts, while other faithful Christians would be left out
entirely?
Claim everyone should have the gift, it was promised to every Christian!
Acts 2:38 They are right! But what gifts are promised?
Confusion!
Why
is there so much confusion about the Holy Spirit, the indwelling, and
the Gifts?
Confusion occurs because we fail to accept there were 2 different types
of gifts of the Holy Spirit. Assume everyone was promised a gift, it
was to be the same gift (that wasn't even true in the first
century, how could it be true now?)
1. Miraculous gifts (received by the laying on of hands of the
Apostles as the Holy Spirit willed) Miraculous wisdom, knowledge,
faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning the
saints, tongues and interpretations of tongues
2. Non-miraculous gift (received though baptism for the
remission of sins) Acts 2:38 The Gift was not given by the Holy
Spirit, it WAS the Holy Spirit Gift of Freedom is
freedom itself, Same as gift of Holy Spirit
Which gift did the apostles receive? Which was promised to everyone,
even today? Which gift is more important?
For
the apostles: They NEEDED both, and GOT both Miraculous was to
establish and confirm the word. In the beginning, this was the most
important. Once the word was established, the gift that empowered them
to be better examples for Christ was more important
For
us: We don't need the miraculous gifts to establish the word, but
we do need help being the best we can be, we receive the provision we
need!
I.
PROVISION 1:8a
A.
Type
1. There are two
different Greek words for “power.”
a. One is
“exsousia” ... which is translated
"authority" in
1:7b.
We get our English word
“exertion” from this; it has more to do with conferred power.
b. The other word is
"dunamis" which is translated here in
1:8a as
“power.”
We get our English word
"dynamite" from it ... it has to do more with power in the sense
of "ability."
2. Though Jesus had
finished all His work and was ready to return to glory He knew that
these believers were not ready to go out into the world in their own
power or strength.
a. He had already
given them His authority but now they would need another kind of power.
b. They would need a
type of power that literally could transform them!
3. Doing any ministry
in our own power will not work well, the world today is full of examples
of Christians attempting to minister in their own strength!
4. Jesus here would
not permit them to do anything. He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem
for the promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit ... this will empower
them the way they need to be empowered for doing the work Jesus was
leaving them to do!
5. They needed
something more than just authority, they needed transforming power!
B.
Touched
1. The first part of
this verse is very clear: "For you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…"
a. This touch of the
Spirit will be a real experience, one that is noticed!
b. This experience of
the Holy Spirit is different from what they had received before, these
people had already received the Holy Spirit; Jesus had
"breathed on
them" earlier and said
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn.
20:22)
...
2.
This is where they who already had the Holy
Spirit would now have the Holy Spirit have them!
3. This “Baptism of
the Spirit” would deliver to them real POWER ... "dunamis,"
meaning "ability."
4. While there have
been arguments for centuries over the tongues part, there has been
agreement over the fact of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a work of
grace from God!
There can be little
doubt that Pentecost had a dramatic effect on the early believers and
their ability to witness for Christ and change the world!
ILLUS:
THE STORY OF JONATHAN EDWARDS AND THE GREAT
NEW ENGLAND REVIVAL THAT CAME FROM HIS PREACHING STARTED WHEN HE
DETERMINED HIMSELF TO RECEIVE GOD'S POWER. HE SPENT 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS
FASTING AND PRAYING AND THEN HE PREACHED HIS MESSAGE "SINNERS IN THE
HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD." THOUGH IN MANUSCRIPT FORM, AND THOUGH HE READ
IT FROM THE PULPIT THE POWER OF GOD WAS SO GREAT THAT PEOPLE LITERALLY
CRIED OUT DURING THE SERMON, SOME HELD ONTO THE POSTS FOR FEAR OF
SLIPPING INTO A FLAMING HELL, PEOPLE GRABBED ONTO CHAIRS, PEWS, POSTS
... ANYTHING THEY COULD FIND BECAUSE THE POWER OF GOD TOUCHED THEM ...
SCORES WERE SAVED, AND THE POWER FILTERED OUT OF THE CHURCH AND INTO ALL
OF NEW ENGLAND! THIS IS POWER!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. Their new ABILITY
clearly came as a result of being baptized in the Holy Spirit!
6. We need the touch
of this Spirit today as well!
II.
POSITION 1:8b
A.
Transformation
1. Jesus states here
that when the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them they WILL BE
witnesses. THIS IS WHAT THE GIFT WAS FOR!
2. The emphasis of
this passage is on these two little words --
TO BE or
WILL BE!
a. The transformation
of their character is in view here ... they will be dramatically
changed!
b. What is recorded in
Acts following this Pentecostal experience is proof positive of that
transformation!
3. These men and women
who earlier had been afraid, had hidden for fear of their lives, who
often squabbled among themselves now are united, bold, and have a clear
sense of mission with power!
a. Peter stands up in
the midst of the crowd to explain what was happening ... he clearly
connects it with Scripture lest the crowd think something bizarre was
taking place!
b. He preaches with
new power, this was a transformed Peter!
c. The rest speaks for
this new power as well, at least 3,000 people got saved that very day, a
new record for ministry for these guys!
4. The Baptism of the
Holy Spirit did not make Peter better than the other brothers in Christ
but it did make Peter better than Peter!
a. The Baptism of
the Holy Spirit doesn't make us better than other Christians, but it
does make us better than ourselves!
b. Hence the real
value of this gift of the Spirit and its power!
5. They looked the
same but they were different, even the crowd took notice of the
transformation of these guys and gals, they were asking if these were
the same guys and gals they had known before?!
ILLUS:
LIKE TWO NEEDLES THAT LOOK IDENTICAL ... IF YOU TOOK ONE OF THEM AND PUT
AN ELECTRIC POWER THROUGH IT, IT WOULD BECOME MAGNETIZED AND THOUGH IT
WOULD LOOK THE SAME AS THE OTHER ONE IT WOULD ALWAYS POINT IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION NOW THAT IT HAD BEEN EMPOWERED! IT NOW CAN HAVE A NEW AND
IMPORTANT USE OTHER THAN JUST SEWING!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
6. The transformation
is that of the person ... not just the tongue!
a. It was
"power TO BE."
b. The emphasis of the
verse is on the "you will be."
c. Charismata without
character is not the work of the Spirit of God ... God’s Spirit works
character transformation!
7. Paul alludes to
this same principle with the Corinthians who had an abundance of
manifestations but were lacking in the character of love, the fruit of
the Spirit!
8. The Work of the
Spirit is to transform and empower us!
This is why the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit is so important for believers!
a. Anything that
empowers us TO BE better than
we can be in our own strength should be sought!
“To
be or not to be, THAT IS THE QUESTION!”
b. There is little
room in Jesus' statement here for guesswork on the results of being
baptized in the Holy Spirit; He clearly says that they WILL BE
WITNESSES!
B.
Testimony
1. What a testimony
this power gave these guys, their transformed lives became so evident
that the whole community was awed by their testimony of change!
a. As Jerusalem
watched, these newly empowered saints became a powerful community of
believers, sharing with each other, encouraging each other, serving one
anotherout of a powerful love, all evidences of a true revival!
b. Yes there were
great miracles of healings, great prophecies, great manifestations in
other ways, but nothing gripped the community as much as the testimony
of these believers and the change in their lives!
2. As wonderful as the
miracles were, what really transformed the world was the testimony of
the people who were radically changed by God's power, the miracles
attracted attention but the changed lives attracted converts!
a. Many times the
miracles performed were explained away by the unbelieving.
b. But they couldn't
explain away the changes in people lives!
ILLUS:
IN
EAST LONDON, MOODY HAD TRAVELED AND HAD RENTED A HALL TO GIVE A SERMON.
HE INVITED FOR THAT EVENING ATHEISTS, SKEPTICS, AND FREETHINKERS. A MAN
BY THE NAME OF BRADLAUGH, WHO WAS THE AREA CHAMPION OF ATHEISM, HEARD OF
THE MEETING AND QUICKLY CALLED UP ALL HIS LEADERS FROM ALL HIS CLUBS TO
HAVE THEM ALL ATTEND THAT NIGHT THE MEETING. ALL THE CLUBS OBEYED AND
OVER 5,000 OF THEM SHOWED UP THAT NIGHT. THEY ALL LAUGHED WHEN MOODY
OPENED THE SERVICE BY ASKING THEM TO SING ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE HYMNS,
FOR THEY HAVE NONE! MOODY THEN WENT ON TO SPEAK, READING A TEXT AND
THEN SHARING A GREAT NUMBER OF STORIES ABOUT THE DEATHS OF SAINTS AND
SINNERS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. HE SHARED THE TESTIMONIES
OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE LORD ... AND THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO DIED
WITHOUT CHRIST. WHEN DONE, HE ANNOUNCED A HYMN AND THEN ASKED ANYONE
WHO WANTED TO, TO LEAVE. NO ONE MOVED! MOODY THEN WENT ON AND ASKED
THIS, “ALL YOU WHO WOULD RECEIVE CHRIST PLEASE STAND AND SAY ‘I WILL.’”
ONE PERSON STOOD, THE LEADER OF ALL THE ATHEISTS AND THE CLUBS, HE STOOD
AND SHOUTED, "I WON'T!" MOODY THEN SAID, "MEN, YOU HAVE YOUR CHAMPION
HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HALL WHO SAID, 'I WON'T,' I ASK EVERY ONE HERE
WHO BELIEVES THAT MAN IS RIGHT TO RISE AND SAY, "I WON'T" WITH HIM." NO
ONE MOVED! MOODY THEN EXPRESSED A "THANK GOD!" AND THEN ADDED, "NOW
WHO'LL RISE AND SAY, "I WILL"?
3. Witnessing is not
just a work of verbal skills, it is the work of the Spirit of God in
the life yielded and this transformed life shouts of the power of God!
The term "witnessing" has been hi-jacked by some who just don't get it.
They say it means getting up and telling about how you were converted.
But that's not it. Proper witnessing, you don't have to say a word, you
just LIVE THE WORD!
4. WE testify about
God with not just words, but also our walk!
5. This is where the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit finds its greatest work, in the transformed
lives of those who receive this gift, not in some strange manifestations
some believe may come!
a. It is what the Holy
Spirit does IN us, not some miraculous release of power through us!
III.
PLACEMENT 1:8c
A.
Tactical
1. The last part of
this verse stresses how this power will find its tactical expression.
a. First in Jerusalem,
then Judea, then Samaria, then uttermost parts of the Earth!
b. The impact begins
at home! First among the brothers and hometown people!
2. The Power of the
Holy Spirit should make itself felt first in our homes!
a. God's love should
shine forth toward others.
b. There should be a
greater desire to serve!
c. There will be a
great desire to know God's Word.
d. There will be
humility in great abundance.
3. The first city to
be impacted by all this power was Jerusalem! Their changed lives made a
great impact on the hometown folks!
a. Notice later what
happens, the church is united and loving!
b. The saints shared
with one another; in humility they considered others first and sought
ways to serve one another.
c. They met daily to
study the Word of God and the Apostle's teaching!
d. They took a loving
interest in the lost of the world.
e. They were a people
of prayer!
4. As they spread out
S0 did the Gospel, the whole world took notice of their lives, not just
their worship style!
5. The more they were
scattered the more the power of God revealed itself through their lives
and ministry!
6. The Lord today
still tactically puts Christians in unique places to show the world what
a transformed Christian really is!
ILLUS:
LARRY MCKENZIE, WAS THE 1951 POLIO POSTER BOY. HIS PICTURE AND STORY
HAVE BEEN USED BY THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR INFANTILE PARALYSIS TO
HELP THOUSANDS OF OTHER STRICKEN CHILDREN ... BUT HE IS ALSO A WONDERFUL
CHRISTIAN. FREQUENTLY AS HE TRAVELED AND SPOKE HE ALWAYS INCLUDED HIS
TESTIMONY OF FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIS LOVE FOR THE LORD STRENGTHENING
HIM. HIS TESTIMONY HAS BEEN PRINTED UP IN A TRACT ENTITLED, "RISE UP
AND WALK!" BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. IN THAT
TRACT LARRY STATES HOW HE MET SUCH FAMOUS PEOPLE AS PRESIDENT HARRY S.
TRUMAN, J. EDGAR HOOVER, CHIEF OF THE FBI, AND OTHERS. BUT HE SAYS, "I
THINK OFTEN ABOUT THE TIME I WILL MEET THE LORD JESUS, AND UNTIL THEN I
REALLY WANT TO SERVE HIM ANY WAY I CAN"
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
a. We would be amazed
to discover how much of our history has been influenced by Christians in
tactical places!
7. This occurred all
through the pages of the New Testament and is still happening today!
a. God has a PLAN!
b. God has given us
the POWER!
B.
Time
1. Some say the last
phrase of this verse might mean not only to the ends of the known earth
but until the end of time as well!
How does that work?
Suppositions one would have to make:
He was talking expressly
to the apostles at this time and told them THEY would receive this
special baptism shortly (I wasn't an apostle)
The people who were to
receive this would begin their message in Jerusalem (I didn't start in
Jerusalem, so it must not have been me) Then they would go into Judea
and Samaria (not me and not me) After the entire verse was talking about
locations, say the end of the verse now switches and means time
They say:
a. This Baptism of the
Holy Spirit was not just for the first century saints as though we are
better than they were, as if we don't need what they needed!
b. It was the Gift of
the Spirit for them ... and for us today!
c. It was meant for
all believers, for all time!
All this is true, we
need the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit WAS promised to all
ages, but what is that gift? The same gift the Apostles received?
If all people from all
ages were to receive these gifts (they were promised to all after all)
why didn’t everyone get them in the first century?
There are 2 gifts of the
Holy Spirit.
Universal gift
Everyone baptized received it Acts 2:38
Miraculous gifts
Distributed as the apostles saw fit
I just missed
out. If I had been born just 2000 years earlier
2. We all need the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit!
In Acts, the Apostles
were “ALL FILLED!” They were
all told to “wait” until
the promise came.
3. Peter in his sermon
mentioned Joel's prophecy, which stated
"in the last days."
4. If the early church
needed the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the miraculous gifts, using
miracles to confirm the word!
Word has been
established and confirmed. We don’t need the miracles, but we need the
power of the Holy spirit to help us become better evangelists
5. We might do well to
heed Jesus' word "to wait"
until we are “endued with power from on
high” too ... it is a gift for all … for all time! Our gift
is to make us better, to help us be a strong force for Christ
CONCLUSION:
What is the power of the Holy Spirit?
Is it power just to express
manifestations? No, it is power TO BE witnesses!
The Spirit's principle
power is that of transforming us!
The disciples before
Pentecost were weak and wavering, after Pentecost they were a force to
be reckoned with!
The Power of the Spirit
made them witnesses not just in word but also in character.
The baptism of the Holy
Spirit makes me better than me, not necessarily better than others!
Have you received power,
and why wouldn’t you?
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