The Pre-Persecution: Withstanding Challenges To The Gospel By The Spirit Series

INTRODUCTION:

In the modern world is was the German Schleiermacher who first argued that because of the love of God and because heaven would be spoiled if its inhabitants knew of a place of eternal torment, that all individuals must ultimately be saved; Bruner, and Barth followed suit, as did Paul Tillich the University of Chicago theologian. Now we have Clark Pinnock and John Sanders have arisen as two of the most prominent evangelical spokesmen in regard to the inclusivist position. Sanders firmly believes that "people can receive the gift of salvation without knowing the giver or the precise nature of the gift."{32} Pinnock affirms this conviction, "Faith in God is what saves, not possessing certain minimum information."

OUTLINE

1) The Spirit fills His People to give a bold witness to Christ, in accordance with the promise (Acts 1:8_9; John 14_16, Comforter).

2) The Spirit testifies to the uniqueness of Christ _ no other name! (John 14:6)

Calvin on this point is instructive: Whatever title then men may hold, they are to be listened to only on the condition that they do not lead us away from obeying God. So we must examine all their traditions by the rule of the Word of God. We must obey princes and others who are in authority, but only in so far as they do not deny to God his rightful authority as the supreme King, Father, and Lord. (120)

This passage contains three truths about the relationship of the Church to the Spirit which will help us withstand challenges to the Gospel:

. The Spirit fills His People to give a bold witness to Christ, in accordance with the promise (Acts 1:8-9; John 14-16, Comforter). APPLICATION - SO Ask the Lord to grant you the opportunity to speak boldly the Word as a witness for Him.

. LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID - 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Luke 21:13 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.

. LOOK AT WHAT THEY PRAYED FOR -4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

If one looks at all the examples of Filling with the Spirit in the Bible, then a great many are found in Luke-Acts.

Do you know, however, the first occassion of which Scripture speaks of "Filling with the Spirit" - ?

WORKS OF ART FOR THE TABERNACLE

NKJ Exodus 31:3 "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

NKJ Exodus 35:31 "and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship,

JOHN

NKJ Luke 1:15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

NKJ Luke 1:41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Zacharias

NKJ Luke 1:67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

Jesus

NKJ Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Disciples/Pentecost Church

NKJ Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Peter

NKJ Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

The Church

NKJ 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.

Saul/Paul

NKJ Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."