Empowering Of The Holy Spirit: The Spirit Is Upon Us And Within Us

Antonio The Garbage Man.

Antonio’s huge truck would arrive, backing up with that horrific big truck back up sound. Ding ding ding ding! He would jump out and start pounding on the door, shouting over the unbelievably loud truck,

"Garbage Man, Garbage man, Garbage man is here!"

Well, no kidding, a side from the incredibly loud volume– we could smell the truck before it came around the corner.

Antonio would not stop shouting and pounding until we opened the door. “It’s Antonio – I am here to get your garbage” Ok. Please take it.

He did this twice a week for ten years. “It’s Antonio – I am here to get your garbage”

It didn’t matter how often we would tell him, "You don’t have to tell us you’re taking the garbage, we know you’re taking the garbage." Or "feel free to come and go without checking in". We even checked with his boss, “no he doesn’t have to tell you he is taking the garbage”. We told him, “Please, don’t tell us anymore.”

It didn’t matter. Twice a week we would hear: “It’s Antonio – I am here to get your garbage”

Antonio was to satisfied to just go about and do his job. He wanted everyone to know who he was and what he was doing. He was thrilled to be taking our garbage.

Likewise, we should not be satisfied with our Christian lives as they are. We should be at a place were we want, everyone to know who we are and what we are doing.

The Holy Spirit fell upon them, baptized with the Holy Spirit, they received the Holy Spirit, Endued with power from on high.

All these and more, are ways in which Scripture points to the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. At times

either the meaning has not been clear or non biblical meanings have been attached to these phrases. Perhaps causing some confusion in understanding the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We saw last week that the Spirit regenerates us, in other words it is through the power Holy Spirit that we become Christians. We also saw that the Spirit sanctifies us. In other words the Spirit works within us to change our character. (we’ll look at this more today) And we also saw that the Spirit empowers us. This is known as the filling of the Holy Spirit. This filling is an impartation of power. It is not a one time occurrence but can happen over and over again.

This morning we’ll look at the act of the Holy Spirit in empowering us.

What we will see is that the Holy Spirit comes upon us and the Holy Spirit is within us.

Upon and Within

I have an outline if you would like to follow along. Though we have a main Scripture today. We will be referring to several Scriptures today so we can more fully understand the act of the Spirit upon us, and within us.

The Spirit Upon For Power.

The New Testament consistently uses the image of the Spirit Upon someone. As we look at these verses you will notice the reference of the Spirit on and upon, this is the same meaning from the same root word.

Jesus

Matt. 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

John 1:32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.….

The Holy Spirit worked with Jesus, giving him power for ministry

All Christians.

Luke 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 2:17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

This is not only for Christians found in the Bible, but is assumed to be without time limit - which means for both you and I.

As Experienced by Christians in the Early Church.

Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.