Our Mission Series

This is, in essence, Paul’s mission statement. Mission statements are wildly popular today.

A. The Spirit PROMISED

Joel, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (2:28). Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” Ezekiel 36:27 “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” John the Baptist (Mark 1:8) “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus (Acts 1:5) “for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Throughout the Bible the Holy Spirit was promised. God always delivers on his promises. What doe God’s promise mean to you?

B. The Spirit PRAYED for

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he commanded his disciples to stay put and wait for the Spirit. Acts 1:14 tells us, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.”

Acts 8:14, 15, 17 says, “Peter and John…came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…and they received the Holy Spirit.” We receive the Holy Spirit through prayer. God promised the Spirit through his prophets and Jesus. It was also noted that it would come by prayer. The Sprit, which has amazing effects on us, is no accident. Nothing that God does is an accident. Have you prayed for the Spirit for yourself? your church?

C. The Spirit POURED out

A funny thing happens when we pray, God answers. Jesus said, (John 14:13-14) “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Everyone who is a Christian is called to receive the Holy Spirit. God graciously gives us the Spirit when we ask.

So many Christians live without being filled with the Spirit. Many Christians haven’t heard of it. When Paul went to Ephesus, the exchange happened: “And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’” And they said, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit’” (“Acts 19:2)

It is God’s desire that we receive the Holy Spirit. Have you received the Holy Spirit?

D. The PURPOSE of the Spirit’s blessing

The purpose of the Spirit’s blessing is to remove sin. We have seen that sin is the main problem facing humanity. Adam messed it up for everyone, but Jesus Christ fixed it for everyone. The Spirit cleanses from sin.

1. To cleanse US from sin

First off, the Spirit cleanses us from sin. We can’t do it on our own. We are powerless to follow the Law on our own. We are to seek this for ourselves. It’s not like a treasure hunt. We don’t have to run around here and there looking for it. It’s right in front of our face.

This blessing brings victory in our daily life. It bends us away from sin toward God. The Holy Spirit only removes sin. The Law cannot do it. Our willpower cannot do it. Have you been cleansed?

This leads us to the second part of the purpose.

2. To cleanse ALL from sin

Not only are we cleansed, but also we are called to take the message to the world. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). He also said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

What does that tell you? We are to take the message to the world, the whole world, starting right where we live. We are to “shout to the north and south/sing to the east and west/that Jesus is Savior to all/Lord of heaven and earth.”

As a minister to the Gentiles, Paul was working with a population that was for the most part completely ignorant about God. In many ways we live in a time where many people are ignorant of God. Many have no Christian memory.

When you take someone to God, you are a priest. A priest in one who represents another before God. It is a duty, service, and a minister that each one of us has. Paul saw it as his duty to bring Gentiles to God. It is our duty to bring others to God. What are you doing to be a priest for the people you know? Who are they?