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Sunday March 7, 2021
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 2:1-4- “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
This had not happened on the earth! So some things had to be explained to the thousands of people who had heard what just happened.
They thought these people were drunk!
Acts 2:16-17- “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.”
“The Last Days” refers to the era of the church from Pentecost to the return of Jesus Christ.
So today we are living in the last days. And I may not be able to give you a date when Jesus is going to return, BUT I can say without reservation that we are called to live a life FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Spirit empowered life!
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
- The Priority of the Holy Spirit
“Do not leave Jerusalem until…” “YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT!”
Acts 19:1-2- “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.”
It was a priority for Paul for these believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6- “Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.”
It should be priority for us to live a Spirit filled life!
WHAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT? TO FILL YOUR LIFE
Ephesians 5:18 – “And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 4:31- “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”
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…”
dunamis- power, force, ability
Instead of me trying to explain dunamis let me SHOW YOU!
Luke 22:56-57- “A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
THIS IS PETER BEFORE HE’S FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT! The guy who could get nothing right. He had a sickness called “foot in mouth disease.”
BUT AFTER PETER IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 2:14- “Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.”
The guy who could do nothing but make mistakes, is now saying “make no mistake about this.”
One of the most important days in the history of the church, and God chooses the guy who could not get anything right to stand up and explain what’s going on and preach the first gospel message since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and thousands recognize their need for a Savior and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ!
THAT’S THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
3. The Presence of the Holy Spirit
John 14:16,17- “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth….”
Advocate- parakletos- called to ones aid, helper, counselor, comforter, encourager
2 Corinthians 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.”
CONCLUSION:
Father, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you to stir up within me the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to grow in my relationship with the Third Person of Your Trinity and to live in His power and use His gifts.
Lord Jesus, You promised, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in your name, will teach me all things and will remind me of everything you have said to me” (John 14:26). Help me to remember that I don’t know everything, and that this is okay, because the Holy Spirit understands it all. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and His understanding of everything that is happening in my life.
Father help me to capture the priority of the Holy Spirit. Help me to walk and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. And Father give me assurance that your Holy Spirit wants to be my friend and He will never leave me and I can enjoy His presence every day for the rest of my life!
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?