Sunday January 01, 2023
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever experienced something good when you could have experienced something better?
Being able to talk to my wife while in Tanzania was good, but talking to her in person is so much better.
Biscuits soaked in butter is good, but biscuits soaked in butter and covered in sausage gravy, that’s much better!
When you hear about my famous barbecue chicken on the grill, that’s good, but being there and having it just minutes off the grill, that’s better.
When you watch the Dallas Cowboys lose on TV, that’s good, but if you could there in person to watch them lose, that’s better!
When you hear about someone’s encounter with the Holy Spirit, that’s good, but your own personal encounter with the Holy Spirit, that’s much, much better!
Hope is here, because the Holy Spirit is here.
Having hope in this world and its system, it can be good, for a season, but I promise you, the hope this world gives is temporary and will disappoint you!
But when hope is in you because the Holy Spirit is in you, it’s so much better and will never disappoint you!
So many people have never heard of the Holy Spirit and many of those who have heard, have a negative perspective about the Holy Spirit.
Much because of us charismatic, pentecostal Christians. I’m talking about myself.
Those of us who flow in this stream, have you ever used or heard this phrase, “Slain in the Spirit.”
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD “SLAIN!”
Slain- to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers, to strike down : KILL!!
Synonyms of slain- killed, murdered, destroyed, slaughtered, croaked, assassinated,
knocked off, taken out, annihilated. Just to name a few.
Antonyms of slain- resurrected, raised, revived, restore.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT SOMEONE TO FEAR, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SOMEONE TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH!
LET’S LOOK AT THE WORDS OF JESUS.
John 14:15-18- “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 15:26- “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
John 16:7- “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”
The coming of the Holy Spirit will more than compensate for the loss of Jesus bodily presence!
THREE THINGS TO MENTION TODAY
- The Priority of the Holy Spirit
Luke 24:49- “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Before the disciples were to begin there public ministry Jesus say, “It’s priority guys, before you go out and fulfill the ministry I’ve called you to, GET FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Acts 1:4-5- “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 19:1-7- “While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”
Being filled with the Holy Spirit was a priority for Paul and it should be for us today!
It is the Holy Spirit’s priority to fill you!
THE PRIORITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The distinctive purpose of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts is to empower the church for ministry!
Power! (dunamis)- energy, power, might, great force, great ability, strength!
The dynamos in Jesus resulted in dramatic transformations! This should be the norm for the Spirit-filled and Spirit- led church!
Acts 4:33- “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Great grace is upon the person that is with great power being obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ!
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
3. The Presence of the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 2:13-14- “The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”
You and I don’t need to fear the Holy Spirit we need to be friends with the Holy Spirit!
It’s the priority of the Holy Spirit to fill you with his power and be your friend!
Romans 5:3-5- “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
We know that hope of great future blessings will not turn out to be false, because the Holy Spirit gives lavish evidence in our hearts of God’s love for us!
Friends the Holy Spirit is here and since He’s here HOPE IS HERE!
Conclusion: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today?
Let’s begin this New Year full of the Holy Spirit!